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Getting Hired

Tell Your Unique Story

2023-05-08T23:49:25+00:00

Tell Your Unique Story Earning a firefighter’s badge is a goal! And, your success in a firefighter’s Oral interview is all about your presentation skills. Our many decades of experience tell us that a candidate will do well to weave personal experiences or stories into his or her answers. A candidate’s life experiences are unique. Personal stories can present a clear picture of who the candidate is and how they will or will not be a good fit in the department. Sound simple? It can be. We get it! It is not easy for firefighter candidates to relax and be [...]

Tell Your Unique Story2023-05-08T23:49:25+00:00

Stories Get Badges

2023-05-08T23:51:21+00:00

Stories Get Badges During the interview process, raters are often doing a lot of writing. Time after time, candidates tell me when they start telling one of their signature stories, the raters will stop writing, look up, put down their pens, and are taken on a journey with the story. This adds energy and builds candidate confidence.  Stories work effectively because they go directly to the brain and entertain. They do not require the mental processing of more formal nonfiction writing. Stories have heart and ring true. They are relatable. Stories are more than facts. If you can recreate the [...]

Stories Get Badges2023-05-08T23:51:21+00:00

Captain Bob – A Simple Q & A (part 1)

2023-05-08T23:19:12+00:00

Captain Bob – A Simple Q & A (part 1) Captain Bob” Smith is a retired firefighter and fire captain. As a motivational and public speaker on the topics of overcoming stress and developing superior communication skills, Captain Bob has written 2 books:  Eat Stress For Breakfast and  Fire Up Your Communication Skills.  With three successful start-up businesses, education, and over 40 years of research, Captain Bob thoroughly enjoys helping others. Enjoy this Q & A, part 1,  with Captain Bob. Q. What has been the best thing about becoming a motivational and inspirational personality? A. This is a great [...]

Captain Bob – A Simple Q & A (part 1)2023-05-08T23:19:12+00:00

New Year’s Resolutions

2023-03-07T02:06:27+00:00

New Year’s Resolutions New Year’s Resolutions. You make them. I make them. We all make them. You see – a new year brings hope and optimism for what might come. It brings a fresh start to correct the wrongs of years past. For many, the new year means that the possibilities are endless. A 2023 Forbes Health “OnePoll” Survey found some resolutions more popular than others. The top 3 are improved mental health, improved fitness, and to lose weight. Here is the question – what percentage of New Year’s resolutions fail? Real and lasting change takes time. Setting goals too [...]

New Year’s Resolutions2023-03-07T02:06:27+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

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

A Little Bit About Coaching

2022-09-27T22:50:06+00:00

A Little Bit About Coaching Being a person of faith helps tremendously in this job. Personally, my faith seems to give me a moral compass, a code of honor that keeps us out of trouble and helps with decision-making. I think that it helps many with this. In my experience faith has helped people dig a little deeper when they have needed it the most. You see, as firefighters, we see a lot of things nobody wants to see. Daily, we go into very sad and difficult situations. Over the years, my fire department has lost more on duty than [...]

A Little Bit About Coaching2022-09-27T22:50:06+00:00

The Problem with Pre-Existing Problems

2022-09-27T22:51:56+00:00

The Problem with Pre-Existing Problems Do you have a pre-existing medical problem? Is there a glitch in your personal life that will stop you from moving forward? Maybe there are charges, and you have a record. If there is a chance that any of these will show up on your background, do yourself a favor. Find out early if any of these will interfere with a career in firefighting. All too often, we get calls from candidates who have hit this kind of wall. Candidates have put in the time and energy. Now they are at a dead stop! Pre-existing problems [...]

The Problem with Pre-Existing Problems2022-09-27T22:51:56+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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