Mention accomplishments from prior career dept. during Lt. oral resume?

[HighOnTheHill]

I have 12 yrs. in the career fire service, 8 of those with a prior dept. I am currently preparing for a Lt. assessment center in my current dept. In my prior dept., I was kinda like a big fish in a little pond. I was in charge of SCBA maintenance, hydro testing, fit testing, assisting in instructing recruit academies and so on. Now that I'm in a much larger dept., I haven't been able to sink my teeth into anything great. It seems in the fire service, unless your going for a chief's job, it's taboo to mention anything about prior departments. I feel, that regardless of what dept I was in, I was able to handle responsibility, delegate projects, and other stuff that sounds great in an oral resume. What does everyone think?

[CaptBob]

I feel, that regardless of what dept I was in, I was able to handle responsibility, delegate projects, and other stuff that sounds great in an oral resume. What does everyone think?

You're right. Who else can tell those stories???? Stories can demonstrate you have taken on projects from inception to end. Getting that next badge is convincing the panel you can do it before you get there. Being able to attach you name to projects is convincing evidence.

This is from a previous posting on oral resumes:

First establish your resume using this sample format: http://www.eatstress.com/resume.htm

An oral resume is really the answer to the question what have you done to prepare for the position. It's your resume verbally. Start out with your education (keep it in chronological order), and then experience, any volunteer work you have done in your life and any projects you can attach your name to. Make it sound exciting.

Nothing more. Nothing less. Practice with a tape recorder to get your timing, inflection, take out pause fillers like an, um etc, until it comes out of your mouth the way you want the panel to hear it.

This is all about presentation skills! Try not to stand behind a lectern. Be out in front with the panel.

Remember this. Nothing can replace the power of your words! Nothing! Keep it simple. Too many candidates will try to pull something off, get delayed and get time called on them just as they were getting to their best stuff.

More on promotional tips here: http://www.eatstress.com/promo.htm