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Capt Bob

About Capt Bob

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So far Capt Bob has created 82 blog entries.

NO! You Are Not Ready!

2021-05-27T17:27:21+00:00

NO! You Are Not Ready! Read my lips – or these words. No matter what you think or no matter how much you have been down this road before, you must accept one cold fact. You are not ready for the firefighter testing process that is required of all firefighter candidates. How do I know? Trust me. After 40 plus years in Fire Service and working with firefighter candidates to help them get the badge, I know a thing or two. Yes, I know your story. I have heard it before. I understand that you have been traveling all over [...]

NO! You Are Not Ready!2021-05-27T17:27:21+00:00

It’s a Small World

2021-06-07T16:53:35+00:00

It’s a small world Ever feel like you are living in a fishbowl – or under a microscope? Here is the story of Tom. He is going in for his oral interview in Berkeley, Calif. He has an education, loads of experience, and he's ready to knock 'em dead. Tom is ready!  They asked him to tell them about a stressful situation he'd been in at work and how he handled it. Well, Tom had been on a C.D.F. hele-attack hotshot crew. He tells them about a particular grass fire. Tom felt the captains on the scene were messing everything [...]

It’s a Small World2021-06-07T16:53:35+00:00

Who Are You Sending to the Oral Board?

2021-06-07T16:57:16+00:00

Who Are You Sending to the Oral Board? I can't think of anything more disappointing than to spend lots of time, money, and effort to get your oral board presentation memorized, only to find out that you sound just like the person who interviewed before you. From an interviewer's perspective, there is nothing worse than sitting in a room and listening to person after person come in, sit down, and repeat the same thing the person before them said. In places where the aspiring firefighter candidates went to the same academy, volunteered in the same department, and prepared together, this [...]

Who Are You Sending to the Oral Board?2021-06-07T16:57:16+00:00

Goals and Why We Need Them?

2021-06-07T21:45:18+00:00

Goals and Why We Need Them? Goals – we all have them. We need them. They keep us moving forward and on track with what matters. Goals relate to family, work, education, and just about everything in our life. Ask yourself this – What is your goal? Is it a degree? Is it a firefighter's badge? Once you know what you want, how do you make it happen?  Let's say your goal is to become a firefighter. After all, it is all you have dreamt about since you were a kid. People forget how hard it is to become a [...]

Goals and Why We Need Them?2021-06-07T21:45:18+00:00

Nailing Your Oral Interview

2021-06-07T21:54:01+00:00

Many of our candidates are going for their Oral Boards. For some, this is their first oral. And some scored high enough to get a background packet. This puts applicants in the hiring process. At first, their buddies with far more credentials didn't believe them. Then, they were angry because it wasn't them going forward.  Here are some thoughts.  A candidate wrote to me and told me he had passed his first oral ever and had received his background packet. He couldn't believe it. He managed to make it happen with only three weeks to prepare after receiving our eatstress.com [...]

Nailing Your Oral Interview2021-06-07T21:54:01+00:00

One Step at a Time

2020-10-29T18:13:23+00:00

I had a candidate tell me he went to an interview wearing a tie, suspenders and no jacket. I asked him, "Who did you think you are Larry King?" I a One Step at a Time I get a sinking feeling and my heart goes out to those who call and ask, what they can do after being eliminated. This is even after getting a conditional job offer. My question is why didn’t you call me before you went on to the next step? Often, the answer is that they felt things were going well. They did not think they needed [...]

One Step at a Time2020-10-29T18:13:23+00:00

The Hiring Process

2020-10-29T16:59:44+00:00

The Hiring Process When the scores start coming, I start getting phone calls. I am referring to a testing cycle in LA. Many of our candidates nailed the top three slots to go on in the process. For many, this is their first time in the "Hiring Process". And, after we congratulate our candidates, we tell them to BUCKLE UP! They have already heard the rumors. Often, they are freaked out. As with many tests, there is probably going to be a chief’s oral. They think they have to reinvent themselves to get ready. Here’s my advice to these folks: [...]

The Hiring Process2020-10-29T16:59:44+00:00

Don’t Open a Can of Worms

2020-10-29T15:36:30+00:00

Don’t Open a Can of Worms. I can't believe what many candidates reveal! Candidates often call me after going to an oral board, doing background checks, or psychological interviews. They are concerned by some information they have given. Often it is related to something from their past. My first question is who besides you knows this? Who could they contact that could tell them this information? The usual answer is no one. And, this is my point. Why do so many candidates create a trail that could open a can of worms and keep them from getting the job of [...]

Don’t Open a Can of Worms2020-10-29T15:36:30+00:00

Are You Fire Academy Ready?

2020-10-27T16:54:21+00:00

Are You Fire Academy Ready? Just because you passed the physical agility does not mean you are ready for the fire academy. Whether you agree or not, the physical agility has been watered down to be politically correct. Departments know this. So, the training division will have you jumping through hoops to make sure you can do the job before you go “on line”. And, this is exactly how it should be. Start getting physically ready before you show up at the academy. Be in shape and hit the ground running. It’s tough enough getting a job. Keeping it can [...]

Are You Fire Academy Ready?2020-10-27T16:54:21+00:00

First and foremost – Your mom was right.

2020-09-06T15:59:31+00:00

First and foremost – Your mom was right. Honesty is always the best policy. That said, understand that the Preliminary Background Questionnaire is designed to eliminate candidates early in the process before they spend time and money on those who would not make it. Yes, candidates should live their lives as if their future of being a firefighter depends upon it – because it does. And, some departments include a polygraph test as part of the process in the background packet. Now, folks are panicked. They call me to say the background packet and or the investigator said a polygraph [...]

First and foremost – Your mom was right.2020-09-06T15:59:31+00:00

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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  
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Becoming a Firefighter

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