FireZineSept07

Firefighters and Officers

Since 100% of your score in obtaining a firefighter badge is in the oral
board, what are you missing that's keeping you from gaining that badge?

September 1, 2007

Thousands have been hired by using the free information from our web site and having their questions answered by phone or e-mail.

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Please forward or recommend this FireZine to anyone you
know that wants to shorten the learning curve to get
that badge!

If you are receiving this issue as a forward, and want
your own subscription, visit
http://www.eatstress.com/firezine_signup.htm

1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip

2. Entry Level Skills Tip

3. Robs Corner

4. Promotional Level Skills Tip
     (Entry level should read this too)

5. New Badges

6. Humor

7. Resource Websites for Candidates

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1.      Quick Presentation Skills Tip
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Polygraph

I had a poly today. There were six pages of questions asked verbally by him before he hooked up the poly. When hooked up, there where only ten questions asked 3x in different order each set.

Then he proceeds to tell me that there was one particular question that I had elevation on.

He then proceeds to tell me that when asked" have you ever used drugs" I had an elevation in heart rate and starts showing me the screen graph (confusing) and went on about his concerns and asked again.

Again I said "no, never touched, inhaled, tasted, or injected and that I could not figure out why it was doing that. I stand by my answer."

He seemed dis-satisfied even though one of the recurring questions in the poly were,

" have you answered all the questions asked today, honestly?" and I passed that each time ...so.....

I left frustrated as I have NEVER been involved with drugs and have always stayed away from drugs due to my christian beliefs. On top of all this, I have flown to this location (Virginia) several times in the process, not to mention car rental, etc and this examiner thinks I'm going to hide something and jeopardize the process. Unbelievable!

The only thing that I can think of is when he was asking the question, maybe subconsciously I was thinking "does he even believe me" since he earlier stated that 80% have done some form of drugs in their past and 20% have not.

So Should I wait till I hear or don't hear. Or should I consider or was this all a smoke screen to get a boring person to confess to something? What are my options? Thanks for your Advice, Dave

DM: Or should I consider or was this all a smoke screen to get a boring person to confess to something?

DM: After everything I've purchased (programs), I didn't consider the poly. But after that past experience I looked up polys on your site and that is my next purchase. I hope my oversight did not come back to bite me in the end.

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Check out http://www.eatstress.com and learn how entry
level and promotional candidates are improving their interview scores up
to 15 points and nailing that badge!

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Want Captain Bob to come speak to your group? See
http://www.eatstress.com/seminar.htm

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2. Entry Level Skills Tip
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Can you Follow Directions?

I am really struggling here. I was recently hired by an ambulance company. They have a certain way for doing patient assessments. I would prefer to be more thorough. I feel like I will forget a lot of the stuff I was taught if I don't use it. After all, this is all so I can go to medic school someday. I should be doing everything as completely as possible so I have a stronghold on the basics. Am I looking to deep in this as a new guy? It was recommended that I should change companies. Our FD uses one company in particular. I hear you can learn much more in some environments than others. Guidance please!

Reply: Well, I take this as ambulance companies, fire departments, etc. have certain protocols they want followed. If this guy can’t follow these how is he going to be as a firefighter or firemedic in the field? I hear from EMT's and firemedics all the time that were let go because they went off on their own not following the mandated protocol. They could be 100% right and they show them the door. When oral board panels want to hear is candidates say I want to learn it your way; especially the seasoned and lateral medics.

I have been testing for about a year and had taken 8 tests total. I always found my way to the interview process and in the Seattle hiring process I placed number 260 out of 1500. NOT BAD! Then I realized that 259 other people did better than I did. I placed in the top 40 for a video based test from ergo metrics, which placed me on the list for the South King Fire Department, which incorporates my hometown of Federal Way. This is where I wanted to work and so upon hearing that I was scheduled for an interview, I panicked and asked everyone I knew for help.

I was then directed to your site from one of the fire fighters at that department. I had one week to prepare with your product. I immediately listened to all the cd's, and dvds and even the in the hot seat special cds in one day. I bought the tape recorder and practiced, practiced, practiced and then practiced even more. Needless to say after the three interviews and the Chiefs oral board I was number two on the list and they hired three.

So in other words sir your product worked and I can't thank you enough for your help and I will recommend your product to every one I can. Thanks for showing me how to get the badge!!!

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If someone asks you what you need to help you get a firefighter badge, tell them you want our Gold Package with the companion “It’s Your Turn in the Hot Seat” CD Series!!! Check it out here!:
http://www.eatstress.com/special_offer.htm

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While You’re here get a 10 day test drive of selected inside secrets how to get a badge. Learn more here:

Bottom line getting a badge is all presentation skills!

Check out http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm for the FREE 101 Inside
Secrets How to Get a Badge!

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Ask Captain Bob any questions

E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com

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The secret Formula to get a badge here: http://www.eatstress.com/formula.htm
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3. Robs Corner
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Getting Hired Isn’t the Hard Part.

So many people invest so much of themselves in getting hired, that they loose sight of the whole reason they were doing it.  Years have been spent in gaining education and experience.  Years of preparation, juggling jobs, relationships, testing, making hard decisions, so that one day they would get “The Call”.

     Then there are lots of high fives, partying, calling friends and family to let them know you made it.  Telling the people who told you to give up, they were wrong.  Buying a new car to drive to the first day of the academy.  Yes, they finally made it.  Big sigh of relief.

     Then the shock comes.  The academy is tough, really tough.  They were slowing down after a long race to get the job and they should have been ready to kick it into high gear.  They thought if they could do well in the physical agility, or C-PAT they were ready.  I have news for you, “THAT IS THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATION”.  No matter how in shape you are most academies will kick your butt.

     As Paul stated recently, they seem comfortable calling people by their first names, acting like they are now part of the brotherhood, and accepted.  Everyone you come in contact with, including the janitor, should be addressed by his or her title, or sir or ma’am.

     If you are asked to do something, you should think if there is something else you could do, and ask if it was done properly when finished.  If you run around the track and are hot and dead tired and are asked if you could do another, the correct answer is always yes sir.

     Understand that everyone in the department if forming an opinion of you while you are there, you want it to be a positive one.  In one academy the group was shown a large pipeline fire, after it was out and cooled, the confined space team had to make entry to evaluate body recovery.  From the back of the room a new person says, “I would have to respectfully decline”.  This person was not being asked to go in, but voiced that opinion anyway.  How would you like to start your probation in a department with that rep?

     Most people do not have this problem, but I hear from a lot that do.  We let three go from our last academy and one resigned.  For the most part people aren’t let go for academics, or manipulative skills problems.  It comes down to attitude, most either go in without a knowledge of what to expect, or they didn’t have the fire in their belly.

Where ever you might be stuck in the hiring process from the written or video testing, physical agility CPAT, oral interview, psych interview, background, polygraph, or medical, you can find new powerful information on Captain Rob’s new web site here: www.myfireinterview.com

I’m freaking out here on what to say when asked, “Tell us a little about yourself”.

Reply: This is not a scored question. It’s an icebreaker to get you comfortable in the chair. A minute or less about you and your hobbies. If they look baffled ask them if they want to hear more. They won’t.

Wait! While you're here Captain Bob wants to give you a 10 day FREE test drive of selected inside secrets how to get a promotional badge. Learn more here: http://www.eatstress.com/promointro.htm

For more on our promotional program visit
http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm

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5. New Badges
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Well, I just got my first official job offer. Yay! I ended up in the #1 spot with two different departments, and the #2 spot with two others on my FIRST attempt at becoming a firefighter. I still have two Chief's interviews scheduled in the next couple of weeks (currently #1 and #2 with them respectively) that I will have to cancel because I start work on the 10th. The oral boards and Chiefs I interviewed with these last couple months were all so impressed with my interview skills, original life experience-linked answers, and down-to-earthedness that they couldn't believe I was so new at this.

Working on life stories and how to link them to common oral board questions was really the key. So, thank you for pointing us in that direction. Neil

Hey Capt. Bob,I just wanted to let you know that I got my badge from Las Vegas fire and rescue. It's been a long road and was lots of hard work but your material helped a lot. Thank you. JE

Capt. Bob,
    Just wanted to send you a letter of thanks and let you know that I got hired on at a Fire Dept in Texas! I called you one night at like 10pm the night before my oral board not expecting anyone to answer. The next morning I went in there with confidence and afterwards honestly still felt like I had probably just screwed myself over, but I was definitely a lot less nervous and was able to take the questions as they came with your help and guidance!
    11 people started out in the testing process for 4 open positions. They only hired myself and one other guy. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity and am very excited to see what each day brings!
    So, I just wanted to say thank you so so so much!!! Keep doing what you're doing because apparently it works! Thanks again, Ashley

I was then directed to your site from one of the fire fighters at that department. I had one week to prepare with your product. I immediately listened to all the cd's, and dvds and even the in the hot seat special cds in one day. I bought the tape recorder and practiced practiced, practiced and then practiced even more. Needless to say after the three interviews and the Chiefs oral board I was number two on the list and they hired three.

So in other words sir your product worked and I can't thank you enough for your help and I will recommend your product to every one I can. Thanks for showing me how to get the badge!!!

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3-year-old Reese: "Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen.
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A little boy was overheard praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."
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After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I want to stay with you guys."
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One particular four-year-old prayed, "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
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A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."
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A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
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A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. "Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked. "He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, "Did God throw him back down?"
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A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" ..."I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
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And if you don't send this to at least 8 people, who cares?
Peace, love and happiness!

==> SHARE YOUR TIP or STORY. Send it to captbob@eatstress.com

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Nothing counts til you have the badge . . . Absolutely Nothing!
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Code 3 Publishing. Fire Captain Bob Smith, Speaker, Author, Publisher
Information Products on How to Get a Badge.
Web site: http://www.eatstress.com Over 300 pages of helpful
information.
Phone: 888-238-3959 local 925-846-3959 Fax: 925-846-9650
E-mail Mailto:captbob@eatstress.com

Although our products are sold separately, I would suggest you order Gold Package Program and our companion "It's Your Turn in the Hot Seat" CD series here: Special offer program