Jobs

[pgomez911]

Hi, I am a experienced fire/medic/captain with an extensive training certifications. I am experiencing a diffcult work situation and looking to move to another dept. If anybody knows of any job opening's I would appreciate if you could let me know. THANKS

[CaptBob]

Interview Skills?

The biggest problem I've seen on oral boards when seasoned veterans take entry level or lateral tests is they can't place themselves in the position they are applying for; that of being a snotty nosed rookie. They try to hammer the oral board with their credentials thinking the board will just hand them the job. Their oral board skills are rusty and antiquated. It's hard for them to remember how it was to be a rookie.

There is a delicate balance here. Leave your time and rank in your locker. You must be humble, place yourself in the rookie position and build a natural bridge to present your education, experience and integrity to the oral board panel. Without this bridge, you're dead meat. This is not easy for many seasoned candidates. An attitude adjustment is needed. Attitude is a small thing that can make the big difference. Remember the position you're applying for.

The seasoned veteran candidate can roar past any of the other candidates if his attitude and game plan are in place.

Volunteer to Paid and Promotional

Do you have to go through all this preparation and auditioning stuff if you're going to an interview as a volunteer going for a paid position, or a promotional interview, and you already know the guys there?

The biggest mistake job interview candidates make in this situation is when they know people on the panel; they don't think they don’t need to do all the work. They figure everybody already knows about them, and they don't have to say anything. Or, entry level, "It's on my resume, it's on my application, and I don't have to say everything." If it doesn't come out of that slot between your nose and your chin (your mouth), you don't get credit. You might as well have never have shown up. This is how important it is to be auditioning for the part. You play your part no matter who's sitting there.

I can't tell you how many times I've talked to volunteers from departments they have desired to work for. They've waited for years trying for that golden opportunity to get hired in that community as a full-paid fire fighter. Then they blow it. Because they went in and saw Paul was on the board. He knows Paul, they bowl together. Randy over there, why he's married to Randy's cousin. My gosh, he knows everything about me. They come out, and somebody else gets their badge! It’s devastating. They failed because they didn't present the package. The other candidates did. It's show time, ta dah! You have to bring out the top hat, the cane, step it out, and give the board the complete show. It's you! It's the bright lights. It's Broadway! You gotta make it happen. You gotta make the magic.

When I said this at a recent firefighters convention, Dan shared the following:

...I went through exactly through what he's talking about at a promotion in my department for the position of lieutenant. I knew all the people on the board including a division chief. I was thinking, "Geez, I've known these guys for 16 years. And, I don't have to say anything, they know me." During my critique afterwards, the division chief said, "You know, Dan, you've got so much going for you, but you didn't blow your own horn. If you would have blown your own horn, you would have said all the things that you got going for you, you'd have had it. Since you didn't say a word, and I can't give you the badge." If you don't say it, you don't get credit for it, period.

For more on interview skills, check out the Career Articles on this web site by clicking here:

http://cms.firehouse.com/content/section/gen_section.jsp?sectionId=8

Captain Bob

https://www.eatstress.com