#hiringprocess

To Take the Job or Not!

2022-09-27T22:51:39+00:00

To Take the Job or Not! A few years ago, one of our candidates, Gavin, was going to a chief’s oral for a training position. Several older and in-service firefighters were offering Gavin their advice. They were saying that he should not be doing this. They said it could limit his chances of being hired by another department where he was on the list. Gavin was focused on what "they" said. Gavin decided to play hard to get in the Chief’s Oral. My take on this advice is that after you have been a firefighter for a while, you forget [...]

To Take the Job or Not!2022-09-27T22:51:39+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

Feeling Lucky?

2022-09-27T22:53:31+00:00

Feeling Lucky? With all that this said about being a medic, I must tell you that we help candidates get hired all the time with little or no experience. Introducing Jim. Jim picked up one of our flyers when he picked up an application for the San Francisco Fire Department test.  He saw the ad for the test in the newspaper. Now, Jim was not a kid. With no background, formal education, or experience related to the fire service, Jim thought he would give it a shot. The smartest thing Jim did was reach out to EatStress for help. We [...]

Feeling Lucky?2022-09-27T22:53:31+00:00

Attitude is Everything

2022-02-16T21:12:19+00:00

Attitude is Everything. Attitude – ever since you were a kid, your parents have told you to mind your attitude. Behave yourself. Respect others. Be kind. And, so much more. In school, teachers may have praised you if you had a positive attitude in the classroom. Maybe you helped other kids or stood up to the bully. Your good attitude was noticed. Later in life, your first boss may have noticed you were a positive influence on others because you were a natural leader with a good attitude. What’s my point? My point is this - Although it seems like [...]

Attitude is Everything2022-02-16T21:12:19+00:00

They Call Me Poodle

2022-02-16T21:16:40+00:00

They Call Me Poodle The pressure is on. There is no turning back. You have wanted this your whole life. If there is ever a time when you feel as though you are under a microscope, it is during an intense series of job interviews – like the ones you will experience in the firefighter hiring process. Here is what I mean: A guy goes in for his oral interview in Berkeley, Calif. He had education, experience, and street cred. He is ready to knock 'em dead. He was asked to tell the board about a stressful situation at work. [...]

They Call Me Poodle2022-02-16T21:16:40+00:00

Digging In: Your Background Check

2021-05-24T20:56:55+00:00

Digging In: Your Background Check After 40 plus years in Fire Service, we have seen a thing or two. We have been asked some great questions. This is always the case when it comes to the background check. Here are a few: What exactly happens during a background investigation? What kind of information does the background investigation dig up? Who do they contact and how? Is it likely they will contact the references I give them? Do they contact family members or friends? Do they try to get the phone numbers of people through them? Here is what we know. [...]

Digging In: Your Background Check2021-05-24T20:56:55+00:00

Navigating the Background Appeal

2021-05-24T21:18:54+00:00

Navigating the Background Appeal Even after working with firefighter candidates, we usually hear from them. From time to time, a candidate will call or email when things are good, and when things are not. We are happy to help. Read what situation our friend, John D., ran across. Dear Captain Rob, Once again, I need some advice. About 10 years ago, I got in trouble for having a fake ID. The result was a gross misdemeanor. Because of this, I was recently removed from a hiring process in Washington State. I received a letter from the department that stated I [...]

Navigating the Background Appeal2021-05-24T21:18:54+00:00

When the Wheels Come Off the Wagon!

2021-05-24T21:23:40+00:00

When the Wheels Come Off the Wagon! The firefighter hiring process includes a Psych Test with an evaluation by a psychologist. When the evaluation goes wrong, the firefighter candidate is eliminated from the hiring process. As you can imagine, the wheels start coming off the wagon. Here is how it goes down. Before the interview, the psychologist will often have you take a separate personality test, fill out a personal family history, a biography, and additional information forms. The biggest mistake firefighter candidates make during the psychological evaluation is thinking there is patient/doctor confidentiality. There isn't. The Psych Evaluator is [...]

When the Wheels Come Off the Wagon!2021-05-24T21:23:40+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

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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