Psyching Yourself Out?
With the next round of LA City Oral Boards approaching, how ready are
you for this or any other oral board that will be 100% of your score to get
hired? Especially when you consider this:
I had an opportunity to meet a high ranking Chief for the LAFD and he
congratulated me on passing my oral and told me that only 3% of the people that
take the oral will move forward.
100 = 3
1,000 = 30
10,000 = 300
I thought this would open a few eyes, especially the ones who say; oh I will
just wing it! The individuals moving forward in the process are prepared big
time, they are married to a recorder, checking themselves out in the mirror and
doing whatever it takes. I wonder what the statistics are for the individual who
wings it?
Take Care, Carl
Psyching Yourself Out?
Many candidates are thrown in their oral boards because they can’t tell or get
feed back from the interview panel members on how they are doing.
You can’t know what the panel is thinking. Once you start trying, you will tank
your oral board score. Just give your best performance no matter what you think
the oral board is doing. Trying to interpret the expressions, attitudes of the
panel, what they are writing, etc., is mental masturbation. I had several
candidates contact me after their orals where I was on their panel. They would
tell me what they thought I was thinking or doing. They were never right.
Here is an example. We went to a matinee play in San Francisco. There was a
fraction of the audience this theater could accommodate. You would have never
known it by what took place on stage. During intermission I spotted two of the
lead actors. I told them although the audience was sparse the cast wasn’t. The
energy and enthusiasm were fantastic, as if they were playing to a packed house.
These were professionals. They thanked me for noticing.
Consider doing the same thing going into your oral boards. The door opens and
they call you in. The curtain is going up, it’s the bright lights of Broadway.
It’s show time. You have to grab your top hat, cane and know matter what the
audience (panel members) you have to give it your best shot and step it OUT!
Not floundering trying to remember the lines for your part. Being embarrassed by
stage fright that causes you to forget your best stuff, as your mouth goes dryer
than the Sahara Desert.
Visualizing the tones are dropping and on your going on your first call.
Everything you have worked for is on the line. You’re auditioning for the part
to be a firefighter. You have practiced and rehearsed for this part haven’t you?
You know all the lines for your part don’t you?
The raters pick up on your energy and enthusiasm as we did at the play and
they’re saying in their minds, bravo, bravo, we have been waiting for this all
week. They’re starting to smile. Throwing you lines that you adlib to enhance
your performance. Nothing has stumped you. You know you’re going to make the cut
for the call back. You have never had an interview like this. The hairs start
standing up on the back of your neck and the raters too. You walk off stage
knowing you nailed it!
Haven’t had this feeling in your oral boards yet? Well, do you have a script
that you have been religiously practicing with a tape recorder? It doesn’t
surprise me. Ninety-nine percent of the candidates I ask aren’t either. I asked
a college program recently how many had been practicing with a tape recorder
daily? No hands. How about weekly then? Nope. None. O.K. how about monthly?
Finally three hands went up out of a total of 40. Then, don’t be confused by why
you’re not getting high enough on the list to get a call back to play the part
of a firefighter. The mystery has been solved.
You might not have the oral board skills (the oral is still 100% of the score to
get hired) to convince the producers (raters) you have what is takes. You see
getting this part as a firefighter you have to convince the raters you can do it
before you get it.
For a look at the script to audition for the job of a firefighter job check
here:
http://www.eatstress.com/workboolette.htm
Wait! You can now listen to segments from our Gold Package CD Program here:
http://eatstress.com/mp3entryintro.htm
Capt Bob,
I just finished taking the oral interview with LA City and wanted to write a
quick note.
First I want to thank you for the information and tools that you have supplied
me with in your Gold Package Program
http://www.eatstress.com/goldpackage.htm
It
worked I scored high enough and have a background scheduled.
As you have said before oral board is the most important step in the process and
the step that is least prepared for. Well I can support your statement. As I
watched the recording of my score (reading upside down) I noticed 60's and 70's
on the scores of those that interviewed before me. I would assume there were
about 25 names on the sheet prior to mine. Again the methods you teach do work.
Thanks again for your help Rich
Fire "Captain Bob" Author, Becoming A Firefighter
More interview tools here:
http://www.eatstress.com/oraltools.htm
Check out the 101 Inside Secrets How to Get a Badge here:
http://eatstress.com/faq.htm
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . .
Nothing!"
Fire "Captain Bob" Author, Becoming A Firefighter
http://eatstress.com/goldpackage.htm
www.eatstress.com
888-238-3959
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