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One of the guys I work out with at the gym with has a son who has been trying to get a fire job. He has all the usual credentials. Firefighter 1, almost a BA, 3 seasons with CDF yada, yada, yada.
He has been testing for 5 years. His dad gave him a coaching session just prior to his oral for his dream department. Dave had been practicing with a tape recorder. During the coaching session, Dave expressed his burning desire, passion, “my life won't be complete until I get a badge” compassionate longing, agonizing story.
One problem. Dave sucked big time! Even after testing for 5 years, he wasn't ready for any oral board. His answers were garbage. This should be no surprise, because most candidates are not ready either. Coaching usually takes about an hour. We ended at 2 hours. His closing was a dog and pony show (I wished this candidate would just end and get out of the room) pathetic mess.
I asked Dave how he expected to get a badge when he hadn't spent the time to get ready for an oral. He said, like most candidates, (a big clue here), he thought he was. This is what most candidates think. Does this sound like you? SFFD Captain Bill Long was a rater on a recent oral board. He said you knew which candidates were really prepared. Those prepared candidates caused you to straighten up in your chair.
The important point to realize is it doesn't take much to improve your situation and separate yourself from the clone candidates. Dave only had a couple of days to review his coaching tape and redial his approach.
He called me the day after his interview. He sounded like he didn't step on any land mines, wasn't stumped and was able to put it together to make a real good presentation.
A few days later, there was a message on my recorder. A guy was yelling, Captain Bob, you are the man. It was Dave. He had just received the call that he was going to the Chief’s Oral. His first in the five years he had been testing. Not only was he going to the Chief’s Oral. He was number . . . 2! They were interviewing 30 candidates for 10 jobs. How do you like those odds?
When you are going for all the marbles, don't you want an insurance policy to insure your chances for getting that badge?
As my son Captain Rob says, “Wouldn't you want someone to tell you that you sucked big time before you head into your next oral? There's an oral board in your future. Do you want to be telling yourself ‘I suck’ coming out of your next oral and you will do better next time. Or, have that feeling that you knew ‘I smoked it’ and it was going to get you that badge?” When you're ready to come in from the wilderness, drop your ego and get to work we will be ready to help.
Paul said it best:
I didn't realize how incredibly dead in the water I was until I realized that what I thought was unique in my oral boards was truly another fine example of a clone candidate.
Sadly, I know that there are thousands of other candidates shooting themselves in the foot, being difficult on themselves, telling themselves that they aren't cut out for the job because they've tested so many places and keep getting low on the list...or not getting on the list at all.
I FINALLY got the job in a busy, full-time mid western town. All of my dreams have instantly come true. Paul
Candidates like Paul are trying to send the message that this program works and it can happen quicker than you think.
To see who else got their badges click:
For more on coaching check out:
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
Fire "Captain Bob"
888-238-3959
He has been testing for 5 years. His dad gave him a coaching session just prior to his oral for his dream department. Dave had been practicing with a tape recorder. During the coaching session, Dave expressed his burning desire, passion, “my life won't be complete until I get a badge” compassionate longing, agonizing story.
One problem. Dave sucked big time! Even after testing for 5 years, he wasn't ready for any oral board. His answers were garbage. This should be no surprise, because most candidates are not ready either. Coaching usually takes about an hour. We ended at 2 hours. His closing was a dog and pony show (I wished this candidate would just end and get out of the room) pathetic mess.
I asked Dave how he expected to get a badge when he hadn't spent the time to get ready for an oral. He said, like most candidates, (a big clue here), he thought he was. This is what most candidates think. Does this sound like you? SFFD Captain Bill Long was a rater on a recent oral board. He said you knew which candidates were really prepared. Those prepared candidates caused you to straighten up in your chair.
The important point to realize is it doesn't take much to improve your situation and separate yourself from the clone candidates. Dave only had a couple of days to review his coaching tape and redial his approach.
He called me the day after his interview. He sounded like he didn't step on any land mines, wasn't stumped and was able to put it together to make a real good presentation.
A few days later, there was a message on my recorder. A guy was yelling, Captain Bob, you are the man. It was Dave. He had just received the call that he was going to the Chief’s Oral. His first in the five years he had been testing. Not only was he going to the Chief’s Oral. He was number . . . 2! They were interviewing 30 candidates for 10 jobs. How do you like those odds?
When you are going for all the marbles, don't you want an insurance policy to insure your chances for getting that badge?
As my son Captain Rob says, “Wouldn't you want someone to tell you that you sucked big time before you head into your next oral? There's an oral board in your future. Do you want to be telling yourself ‘I suck’ coming out of your next oral and you will do better next time. Or, have that feeling that you knew ‘I smoked it’ and it was going to get you that badge?” When you're ready to come in from the wilderness, drop your ego and get to work we will be ready to help.
Paul said it best:
I didn't realize how incredibly dead in the water I was until I realized that what I thought was unique in my oral boards was truly another fine example of a clone candidate.
Sadly, I know that there are thousands of other candidates shooting themselves in the foot, being difficult on themselves, telling themselves that they aren't cut out for the job because they've tested so many places and keep getting low on the list...or not getting on the list at all.
I FINALLY got the job in a busy, full-time mid western town. All of my dreams have instantly come true. Paul
Candidates like Paul are trying to send the message that this program works and it can happen quicker than you think.
To see who else got their badges click:
For more on coaching check out:
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
Fire "Captain Bob"
888-238-3959
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