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I keep reading and hearing how no one is testing or hiring.
While my son Rob was doing a coaching session with a candidate who was preparing for a few orals, he asked him, “What are you going to do if you get two job offers?” The candidate laughed out loud. Well, this is just in from that candidate:
Hi Capt. Bob,
How are you doing? I don't know if you remember me, but I came up and had coaching with Rob around April time in preparation for orals in So. Calif. Anyway, just want to let you know that I got a call from the Chief about two weeks ago and am going through backgrounds with them now. I am also going through backgrounds with the other City. I think I might have to make a decision on where to go. One of my questions is, what are some of the things I should look at as far as helping me make a choice?
Also, what can I expect out of the psychological exam. I have two of them coming up and never have taken one before?
Thanks for your reply and making the fantasy land orals so much easier and fun. The Entry Level tapes and video were great tools. It is great to see the light at the end of the tunnel after years of testing and now I might have to make a choice. Thanks again, Bob
Reply:
Candidates don't believe us when we tell them once they get our Entry Level Program working, they could expect multiple job offers. It is my opinion and experience to go forward with both (no don't let them know of each other unless they ask specifically by name the other department) and make the final decision as the process unfolds. You never know what's going to happen in the hiring process. Follow each job offer until the end of the process with a written offer. If you like one department better and tell the other one good by, what are you going to do if the one you like doesn't hire you?
One of our candidates got 3 job offers in 8 days. He went forward in all 3, and then made his decision.
This might help making the decision. Take two pieces of paper and draw a line down the center. On the left put all the pros for both departments. On the right put the cons. Listen to what your wife says. Pray. Prayer is where burdens change shoulders. More will be revealed along with the steps above to help you make a decision. What ever you decide, go through every step of the hiring process until you have an offer in writing. It’s good experience and you have the ultimate hammer to politely say no or pass on the first round.
Since 40% of firefighter candidates fail the psych, you need our special report on how to pass the first time! Don't be surprised if both departments send you to the same psych doctor. Check it out:
Follow up from another candidate:
I went to my psych. with out having enough time to get your special report. One week later I received a letter withdrawing their offer. Thus far I have been unable to find out what component I did not pass. But in other news, the other department sized me for turnouts and issued me all my other gear today. I took the medical last week and as of yet have not been contacted by the background investigator. I got to shake the chief's hand and meet some more of the guys as well. They gave me a helmet with a "Firefighter" shield on it. I am in disbelief and my jaw hurts from smiling. Thanks for the help.
Reply: Our psych report can be e-mailed within hours.
I just got back from our local farmers market. A guy walks up with a Lynnwood Washington FD (he was here visiting relatives). He said, “You’re Captain Bob, right?” Yep. Turns out Scott was a fire explorer with our department. He went to Washington state for his degree, met his wife to be, got our program, tested and was hired by a department and recently lateraled to Lynnwood. Here he is beaming with his chest all puffed out and his wife by his side holding their young daughter. Does it get any better? Made my day.
Our candidates just keep stepping up and taking advantage of the opportunities. It proves that it’s more important than ever to score as high on the oral board to get that shot at that badge. The proof is in the badge!
This from Paul Lepore Captain: As I keep preaching; It's all about the interview. To me it's pretty simple. Once a candidate figures out the interview process he or she scores well on each interview. When you do this over a period of time you end up high on eligibility lists. As a department hires they pull names from the list. As everyone knows we have hired (and continue to do so) hundreds if not thousands of candidates in the last few years.
As a candidate is placed on more eligibility lists his or her chance of getting hired increases.
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
Fire "Captain Bob"
888-238-3959
While my son Rob was doing a coaching session with a candidate who was preparing for a few orals, he asked him, “What are you going to do if you get two job offers?” The candidate laughed out loud. Well, this is just in from that candidate:
Hi Capt. Bob,
How are you doing? I don't know if you remember me, but I came up and had coaching with Rob around April time in preparation for orals in So. Calif. Anyway, just want to let you know that I got a call from the Chief about two weeks ago and am going through backgrounds with them now. I am also going through backgrounds with the other City. I think I might have to make a decision on where to go. One of my questions is, what are some of the things I should look at as far as helping me make a choice?
Also, what can I expect out of the psychological exam. I have two of them coming up and never have taken one before?
Thanks for your reply and making the fantasy land orals so much easier and fun. The Entry Level tapes and video were great tools. It is great to see the light at the end of the tunnel after years of testing and now I might have to make a choice. Thanks again, Bob
Reply:
Candidates don't believe us when we tell them once they get our Entry Level Program working, they could expect multiple job offers. It is my opinion and experience to go forward with both (no don't let them know of each other unless they ask specifically by name the other department) and make the final decision as the process unfolds. You never know what's going to happen in the hiring process. Follow each job offer until the end of the process with a written offer. If you like one department better and tell the other one good by, what are you going to do if the one you like doesn't hire you?
One of our candidates got 3 job offers in 8 days. He went forward in all 3, and then made his decision.
This might help making the decision. Take two pieces of paper and draw a line down the center. On the left put all the pros for both departments. On the right put the cons. Listen to what your wife says. Pray. Prayer is where burdens change shoulders. More will be revealed along with the steps above to help you make a decision. What ever you decide, go through every step of the hiring process until you have an offer in writing. It’s good experience and you have the ultimate hammer to politely say no or pass on the first round.
Since 40% of firefighter candidates fail the psych, you need our special report on how to pass the first time! Don't be surprised if both departments send you to the same psych doctor. Check it out:
Follow up from another candidate:
I went to my psych. with out having enough time to get your special report. One week later I received a letter withdrawing their offer. Thus far I have been unable to find out what component I did not pass. But in other news, the other department sized me for turnouts and issued me all my other gear today. I took the medical last week and as of yet have not been contacted by the background investigator. I got to shake the chief's hand and meet some more of the guys as well. They gave me a helmet with a "Firefighter" shield on it. I am in disbelief and my jaw hurts from smiling. Thanks for the help.
Reply: Our psych report can be e-mailed within hours.
I just got back from our local farmers market. A guy walks up with a Lynnwood Washington FD (he was here visiting relatives). He said, “You’re Captain Bob, right?” Yep. Turns out Scott was a fire explorer with our department. He went to Washington state for his degree, met his wife to be, got our program, tested and was hired by a department and recently lateraled to Lynnwood. Here he is beaming with his chest all puffed out and his wife by his side holding their young daughter. Does it get any better? Made my day.
Our candidates just keep stepping up and taking advantage of the opportunities. It proves that it’s more important than ever to score as high on the oral board to get that shot at that badge. The proof is in the badge!
This from Paul Lepore Captain: As I keep preaching; It's all about the interview. To me it's pretty simple. Once a candidate figures out the interview process he or she scores well on each interview. When you do this over a period of time you end up high on eligibility lists. As a department hires they pull names from the list. As everyone knows we have hired (and continue to do so) hundreds if not thousands of candidates in the last few years.
As a candidate is placed on more eligibility lists his or her chance of getting hired increases.
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
Fire "Captain Bob"
888-238-3959