I marvel at
firefighter candidates who have great credentials. Degrees, certificates, experience and some are paramedics. They have all this great stuff and don't realize that if you can pass the oral board, you don't get the
job! Period! They wait until the last minute and think they can wing it. Luck is generally given to the prepared. In the past few weeks several departments have been conducting oral boards.
thinking?
The oral board is where the rubber meets the road. Like any other training, you have to learn this process and practice what you have learned.
A tape recorder
is the best tool you can use. One practice session on a tape recorder is worth 10 speaking out loud. Write out every question you can think of on 3X5 cards.
After you review your taped answer turn the
card over an put anything you don't like on the back. The next time you go after that question turn the card over first so you will know what you don't want to say. Practice makes perfect.
Here is a testimony from one of my candidates:
Dear Captain Bob,
I just wanted to let you know that all of your hard work, research and time does make a difference in other peoples
lives. My name is Jim. I had been trying to become a firefighter for about six years. Sure I had made it to the Basic oral interviews a bunch of times, but I had never had a Chiefs Interview.
I was
loosing hope and did not know what to do. I was doing a ride-along with Daly City and a firefighter told me about you and your services. I had to give it a try.
Nothing else was getting me to were I
wanted to be. I bought your audio and video combo. I listened to the audio tape three time and wrote out my script. I watched the video a few times as well. I did everything that you suggested.
Then came
the time to test it out. I had an interview with a City Department. I felt much more prepared than I ever had. I knew my script and I was ready for whatever came my way. They asked all of the right questions as if I had
told the what to ask me. About a week went by and the phone rang. They wanted to schedule me for an interview with the Chief. Oh man! I almost fell over.
After that interview, I did not get the job.
But, I did get the next 5 Chiefs Interviews in a row. I don't think anyone could deny the fact that something had change. I was on the right track now. The most recent interview that I had was the best. I walked out of
the interview feeling great.
Three nights later, I got the call that I had been waiting for. It was the Chief from the department that I had just tested with. He called to congratulate me.
He told me that I had been selected and that as long as I pass the background and the psychological test I will be getting the badge that I have been waiting for. After that call, I though of how much you
two have done to help me not loose hope and guide me in the right direction. I am still waiting for the psych test and the information that you have sent to me on the psych test is very informative.
I
don't know if I could have ever made it this far without you. Again, thank you so much.
Sincerely, Jim
Oh, Yea, Jim passed everything and got his badge!
