FacebookInstagramYouTube

Get Your Badge!

Yearly Archives: 2022

Who Are You Sending to the Oral Board?

2023-01-20T19:40:45+00:00

Who Are you Sending to the Oral Board? Picture this. You are sitting on the Firefighter’s Oral Board and candidate after candidate comes in, sits down, and sounds just like the person before. I am not kidding. Each candidate repeats the same things as if they memorized each other’s responses to our questions. As a participant in the Oral Board, there is no greater is disappointment. Here is what I mean… Imagine spending lots of time, money, and effort. You have gone to the same academy as some of your fellow applicants. You have even volunteered in the same department [...]

Who Are You Sending to the Oral Board?2023-01-20T19:40:45+00:00

Trouble with the Written

2023-01-20T19:40:57+00:00

Trouble with the Written If you are having trouble with the written portion of the firefighter hiring process, do not feel bad. You are not alone. Trying to make the cut where departments are raising the bar is a “thing”. Of course, you want to improve your score on the written tests it is still weighted. Even still, the top program for preparing for the written test is the Encyclopedia of Firefighter Examinations (EofFE). This is where you decide to continue reading……. Many of the entry-level books today have multiple practice firefighter written examinations. These examinations cover an assortment of testing subjects. [...]

Trouble with the Written2023-01-20T19:40:57+00:00

Have a Plan!

2023-01-20T19:41:06+00:00

Have a Plan! If you have been trying to get hired by a fire department, you have probably had some interesting experiences – both good and bad. You have run into problems that you may or may not have overcome. Here's an example of a simple fire problem. You give an on-scene size-up at a residential fire. There is smoke blowing out of a bedroom window.  You order your engineer to hook up. You and your firefighters start pulling lines. WAIT! STOP EVERYTHING! If you followed this sequence, you have just lost the fire! Here is the problem. You went [...]

Have a Plan!2023-01-20T19:41:06+00:00

You Must Come Out Swinging!

2023-05-08T23:17:58+00:00

You Must Come Out Swinging! If I have witnessed it once, I have witnessed it 100 times. Too many candidates get sucked into concentrating too much on the check-off list for their tactical without realizing it. In the process, they lose control of the fire and their score gets hammered. Q: What's your best tactic for rescuing or knocking down the fire? A: An aggressive attack on the fire! Yes, you want to cover all the bases to make sure boxes are checked off on the rating sheet. That said, isn’t the best tactic for putting out an aggressive fire [...]

You Must Come Out Swinging!2023-05-08T23:17:58+00:00

Unmasking the Oral Board Question

2022-11-22T21:36:31+00:00

Unmasking the Oral Board Question During my career as a firefighter and Fire Captain, I witnessed about everything imaginable in Fire Service. Having been on more than a few Oral Boards, I believe there are about 30 oral board questions – give or take. That said, these questions can and will be disguised as hundreds of other questions. Buckle up. Be ready! Now is the time to prepare for the ride of your life. Here is the list of the 30+ Oral Board Questions 1. Tell us about yourself. 2. Why do you want to be a firefighter? When did [...]

Unmasking the Oral Board Question2022-11-22T21:36:31+00:00

Fantasy Land – For Real!

2022-11-22T21:35:11+00:00

Fantasy Land – For Real! If you want to become a firefighter, an Oral Board Interview is in your future. There is no way to get around it. So – know this: The Oral Board interview is like Fantasy Land. It is not like the real world. Your answers in the oral board might not be what you would do in real life. The board understands the rules and you can't fool them. Don't try to intellectualize and bring heavy logic to this process. If you do, someone who understands the rules in fantasy land better will get the badge. [...]

Fantasy Land – For Real!2022-11-22T21:35:11+00:00

A Little Advice

2022-10-06T20:42:59+00:00

A Little Advice When I was working at the firehouse, my friend, Paul, was called into work. Knowing I had done some communication and relationship work, Paul took me aside and said, “Bob, my marriage is in big trouble.” As I have mentioned before, the divorce rate of firefighters is extremely high. I asked Paul to tell me more. He told me that six months earlier he and his wife had what I call “the talk.” The talk can come whenever situations build up and aren’t resolved. It usually blindsides one of the partners. I listened as Paul told me [...]

A Little Advice2022-10-06T20:42:59+00:00

If Mama Isn’t Happy

2022-10-06T20:51:34+00:00

If Mama Isn't Happy When you finally get that call and pack up for the academy, do not forget the ones who stood by and encouraged you along the way. Do not forget those who were your sounding board or stayed up with you at night trying to figure out how you could get a badge. Firefighters already have a higher divorce rate than many other occupations. You do not want the additional stress of being a rookie compounded by a divorce. Here is a rule to follow - If momma isn’t happy, nobody is happy. I receive calls regularly [...]

If Mama Isn’t Happy2022-10-06T20:51:34+00:00

Man In the Mirror

2022-09-27T22:48:22+00:00

Man in the Mirror We get it. You want to be a firefighter so badly, that you can taste it. It is all you have ever dreamed of. Right? Right! Here is the key. The best way to get hired and earn that badge is to put yourself in a position where the department can't go around you. Here is what I mean. If you have the attitude that the system is against you, you will give off that vibe. If you have the attitude that you are being passed over because of minority hiring, you will send that message. [...]

Man In the Mirror2022-09-27T22:48:22+00:00

Always the Bridesmaid

2022-09-27T22:49:46+00:00

Always the Bridesmaid Just about every day, Captain Rob and I receive emails from folks who want a career in Fire Service. Some of the emails are written as a thank you. Some are about problems they have run into. Some – like this one – are worth sharing. Doing so might help somebody else. At least, this is our hope. Captain Bob, I was one month from being hired for a notable fire department in Washington when I received a letter stating that I was NOT recommended for hire. I had taken the medical, and psych, and turned in [...]

Always the Bridesmaid2022-09-27T22:49:46+00:00

Title

Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T16:44:54+00:00
Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and now proudly wear the badge for Denver. I would not have been in this position if it wasn’t for “Captain Bob’s” program.  
“I tested for 10 years taking 73 tests. My next oral was in two weeks. I wanted to figure out...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T16:47:33+00:00
“I tested for 10 years taking 73 tests. My next oral was in two weeks. I wanted to figure out what the heck I was doing wrong… with Captain Bob’s program and coaching, I was shocked to see I had ranked number one and got my badge.”  
“The only hinder that I found myself with was not passing the oral… For all of the candidates out there...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T16:51:46+00:00
“The only hinder that I found myself with was not passing the oral… For all of the candidates out there that don’t believe this, try passing and ranking #1 on orals with a stuttering problem…I did.” – Dave, FF/PM  
Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T17:01:21+00:00
Using Capt Bob’s program I was called back for the chiefs oral. I ended up #2 on the list and now proudly wear the badge for Denver. I would not have been in this position if it wasn’t for “Captain Bob’s” program.
“Well, I never thought I would be writing this to you, Captain Bob, but it happened to me also… Out...
Becoming a Firefighter
5
2018-04-22T17:02:45+00:00
“Well, I never thought I would be writing this to you, Captain Bob, but it happened to me also… Out of a possible 120 pts, I scored 119.87 pts! I couldn’t believe it! … Just wanted to say THANK YOU!” – Armando  
5
5
Becoming a Firefighter

Contact Info

Phone: +1 888-238-3959

Go to Top