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Fantasyland: The Oral Interview
The oral interview is like fantasyland.
It is not like the real world. What is the biggest problem candidates have going to an oral board? Fear, nervousness, or anxiety? What causes it?
It comes from not feeling that you are prepared. It's not uncommon to open the door to call in the next candidate at an oral board and as they start to stand, they freeze up like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. They
have sweaty palms when shaking hands. This is stage fright in auditioning for the part in our play to become a firefighter. This is not how you want to show up at your oral boards. As I mentioned in a previous
article, everyone has butterflies. The trick is to get all the butterflies to fly in the same formation. Practicing with a tape recorder will remove up to 75% of the butterflies. You will need the other 25% to carry you
through. When you see an actor in a play or a movie, do you see the actor or the part they are playing? Sure, you see them in the part. That's because they have practiced and over learned the part until it
became second nature to them. They were comfortable playing the role. So can you. By getting married to your hand held tape recorder, taking it every where you go to practice, practice, practice, rehearse, rehearse,
rehearse and over learn your script until it becomes second nature to you is where the magic begins to happen. Then, take as many tests as you can get to. The more tests (auditions and performances) you take, the the
more comfortable you get at taking tests. So, when the test for the department you really work for comes along you are up to speed, ahead of the curve to nail that badge! Fantasyland:
The oral interview is like fantasyland. It is not like the real world. Your answers in the oral board might not be what you would do in real life. Don't fall into the trap. The board understands the rules, you can't
fool them. If you try, the board will crank up the music and let you dance your fool head off. Don't try to intellectualize or bring heavy logic to this process. My son's captain was on an oral board panel
for 5 days. One candidate got the top scores from all 3-panel members. As they finished with this candidate and were tallying their scores, the candidate said, "I'm sure glad that's over." The panel members
acknowledged. He said, "Because they're coming." A panel member asked, "They're coming? Who is coming?" The candidate said, "The Martians are coming." The panel members laughed, but the
candidate got mad. He was serious. He was a genuine kook. The reason he did so well in the oral board is he lived in fantasyland and he under stood the rules. This is a true story. Don't forget it. If you do, someone
(maybe the village idiot), who understands the rules in fantasyland better will get your badge. So, please follow the yellow brick road rules in fantasy land and don't look behind the curtain.
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