1st oral interview

[jcgafford]

Well finished my first oral interview and none of the why do you want to be a firefighter questions or the why this department. Very professional and straight to the point. I have no idea what their thoughts were but then again maybe thats how it is supposed to work. anyone else get a feeling like that?

[polecat]

Oral interview. Is there a silent interview too ?

Hope your oral interview went well ? What sort of questions did they ask you and how did you reply ?

[CaptBob]

Caution

Be careful in revealing questions about an interview process that might still be going on. Also be careful about giving away your personalized answers that someone might use in your next oral before you show up. It has happened more than you know.

[jcgafford]

was going to post all the questions but think i'll listen to captain bob, i'll just say they were very basic and if my brain would have cooperated the way I expected it to it would have been a breeze. One thing I will say is that if these guys liked or disliked me in any way I had no idea, mental note never play poker with interviewers

[jccrabby3084]

good luck to you, unfortunately you really don't know how you did. If it works out, great. If not, just learn from it. Although do be prepared for the typical questions out there...they may pop up on a 2nd interview.

Why do you want to be a FF....
What have you've done to prepare....
Expect a diversity question...
Expect a situational question...

I found writing out my responses and rehearsing them helped me. When I was in an interview, I did not have the "ahhh...ummms". Good Luck

[CaptBob]

One thing I will say is that if these guys liked or disliked me in any way I had no idea, mental note never play poker with interviewers

You can’t know what the panel is thinking. Once you start trying, you will tank your oral board score. Just give your best performance no matter what you think the oral board is doing. Trying to interpret the expressions, attitudes of the panel, what they are writing, etc., is mental masturbation. I had several candidates contact me after their orals where I was on their panel. They would tell me what they thought I was thinking or doing. They were never right.

[jcgafford]

I figured going into the interview that at least it would be good experience. If I progress great, if not live to try another day. You really don't know what you are getting into or how you are going to react until you have been there. If I end up in the same situation again I'll be much more ready for it.

[djm7881]

I totally agree that you could not read what they were thinking. The interview was not what I expected at all

[jcgafford]

djm8781, clarify for me....i thought you were not a candidate for the Jackson Fire Department, or at least that was what I gathered. But you have knowledge of the interview itself? You did'nt happen to be sitting at a table with me yesterday wearing a white or blue shirt?

[BackStepNBackWards]

I figured going into the interview that at least it would be good experience. If I progress great, if not live to try another day. You really don't know what you are getting into or how you are going to react until you have been there. If I end up in the same situation again I'll be much more ready for it.

EXACTLY! I am in the same spot. Last year, I had my first taste of the process and made it through to the Final/Chief Interview, as a 18 year old, I was pretty happy. To be honest, I just studied up a LITTLE bit on the department, used some advice that I read on here, and put my own flare to it. The panel interview was great. I kind of got lucky, cause on the ride down (5 hours), i played a game and tried to guess the questions they'd ask, and i ended up guessing probably 4 of them. I was a lot more nervous for the Chief interview and I think that's what killed me. I could tell he knew it too. But now I know.

Good Luck Man....I hope you get your job

[djm7881]

no i was interviewed yesterday

[jcgafford]

so i originally thought it was about a half dozen interviewed, but i caught a glimpse of the sign in list and it looked longer. any idea how many?

[djm7881]

from what I have heard they selected the top 25 for interviews. I have also heard that the will be hiring 25 in the next five years due retirement

[jcgafford]

so are you thinking that the rest of the top 25 will remain on a list of prespective candidates, or will they start over next time?

[CaptBob]

Ok

I figured going into the interview that at least it would be good experience. If I progress great, if not live to try another day. You really don't know what you are getting into or how you are going to react until you have been there. If I end up in the same situation again I'll be much more ready for it.

So how many opportunities are you going to waste going to orals not being prepared before you figure out everything you need to know to have a seamless not surprises interview that will stun the oral board into giving you the badge over the other candidates?

Yes you can prepare for the oral board.

A very excited candidate called with a great story recently on a Friday. At age 23 Steve decided he really wanted to be a firefighter. He had no education or experience. Where to start? A couple of firefighters told him to be able to test at many agencies he need to first become an EMT.

While taking his EMT one of the instructors told him about Firehouse.com and our web site. Steve got the program and two months later he had got his EMT cert and signed up for his first test. He made it through the written, agility and was invited to his first oral board. Two weeks later he was invited back to his first chiefs oral. Next thing they called that he’s an alternate for those being considered for the next academy. One of those going for his medical was DQ’d because of lung capacity.

On Monday, Steve gets a call asking if he can complete his psych and medical that week? Oh, yea, he can. On that Friday when Steve called me he just got off the phone from HR asking him if he could start the academy the next Monday. WOW! His wife got a job offer the same day in the same city. Double WOW!

Shhhh. Don’t tell Steve it’s not possible to get hired on his first test with just an EMT. He’s busy in the academy working hard towards badge pinning graduation day.

Is this unusual? Nope, we see it on a regular basis. Most people don't believe it can happen. The proof is in the badge!

As Steve Prziborowski, BC- Santa Clara County Fire Department wrote:

Do what you have to do be more marketable so you can take more tests and have something more to offer a department, but remember that it all comes down to that 15 to 30 minute oral interview. I've seen some awesome candidates with resumes packed full of accomplishments that couldn't sell them self in an interview to even make the top 50%.