#firefighterhiringprocess

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

It’s All in the Presentation!!

2023-05-08T23:52:47+00:00

  It’s All in the Presentation!! When it comes right down to it, your presentation skills are everything! In a group situation like the ORAL, it is even more important. I say this because being able to put your best foot forward while in front of a group is one of the top fears among candidates. In my experience, I have witnessed many who tend to panic. Read this quote: "The toughest thing to do in making a speaking presentation, or an interview, is to be yourself on purpose." - Patricia Fripp, National Speakers Association Now, read it again: "The toughest [...]

It’s All in the Presentation!!2023-05-08T23:52:47+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

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

Read What Others Say: Testimonials

2022-09-27T22:52:24+00:00

Read What Others Say: Testimonials Many of our candidates score high enough on their Oral Boards to get a background packet. Right there and then, this puts them in the hiring process. Their buddies with far more credentials didn't believe them. As a matter of fact, they were angry because it wasn't them going forward. Here are some of these testimonials. Captain Bob, I have passed my first Oral Board ever for LA city and have received my background packet! It's hard to believe! After receiving your packet, I managed to make it happen with only 3 weeks to prepare. If I had [...]

Read What Others Say: Testimonials2022-09-27T22:52:24+00:00

Multiple Job Offers

2022-03-02T23:07:04+00:00

Multiple Job Offers Email from Jimmy who has received 2 offers: Dear Captain Bob - After getting your program, I got offered a job. Today, another job offer came. It's unreal. Thanks for helping me package the product (Me) and sell it. It worked! Here is my dilemma. I received a conditional offer of employment from a County Fire. I have signed it and will mail it out. I need to pass the medical and psych exams. Today, another fire department's Chief called. He gave me a conditional offer over the phone. As I expected, I have to pass the [...]

Multiple Job Offers2022-03-02T23:07:04+00:00

Your Polygraph is Inconclusive

2022-03-02T23:01:15+00:00

Your Polygraph is Inconclusive Part of the firefighter hiring process may or may not include a polygraph test. Do not be surprised if your day with the polygraph examiner comes sooner rather than later. Here is what the poly looked like for Bill. There were six pages of questions. These questions were read out loud by him before he was hooked up to the polygraph. When Bill was hooked up, only ten questions were asked to him. Each question was asked 3x in a different way and in a different order. Confusing right? Well, that is the point. For Bill, everything [...]

Your Polygraph is Inconclusive2022-03-02T23:01:15+00:00

Never Ever Lie!!

2022-03-02T20:27:18+00:00

Never Ever Lie!! According to Doug Williamson, a 35-year veteran polygraph evaluator from www.polygraph.com “It is a very serious mistake to believe that you will pass your polygraph or CVSA tests just because you are telling the truth - they are not "lie detectors". Scientific research proves that simple nervousness will cause a truthful person to fail!” Meet Phil. I got a call from him just after he failed his polygraph. He was a mess and distressed. After talking with him, he realized he had not been as prepared as he could have been. This, I knew. You see, Phil revealed information [...]

Never Ever Lie!!2022-03-02T20:27:18+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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