Like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, we're not going to give you anything you don't already have. We're just going to show you where it is.
Your odds of getting a firefighter badge are not the best you've ever had, right? But consider this. Those candidates, who get a proven oral board interview program, practice with a hand held recorder and get in a recorded private coaching session with a reliable coach with a good track record can improve their chances dramatically in obtaining their badges. That's right!
If you are testing and your results letter doesn't have a score in the hiring range you have to start asking yourself why. How can you make the difference to be over forty on the list and to be in the top ten going to the chief's oral to nail a badge? Did you ever see a batter change his stance after a few words from his coach? And then see his batting average go higher? Of course. As a firefighter candidate coach along with our son Captain Rob, we have been there, done that. Got the ball cap, T-shirt and played the game. We've seen beyond the horizon where you can't see.
I'm a coach and a seasoned veteran, someone who knows the game inside out, upside down, backward and forward. I let these experiences and insights keep you on the high road to a badge.
I have coached candidates who had no experience and those who have been trying up to 18 years to get a firefighter job or promotion. One thing is common with most. After beating their heads against the wall trying everything possible to get this job, they figured out that the real secret is being able to pass the oral high enough to get a shot at the badge. Because in most cases 100% of your score to get hired is in the oral board interview!
Can you do it on your own? It's certainly possible if you don't run out of money, jobs, family, friends and hope before you figure it out. Almost immediately candidates who get coaching figure out what they're doing wrong, get unstuck, improve their scores and get a real shot at a badge. You can look at the results other people just like you have gotten by using a proven formula. They simply got positive results by putting simple techniques into action. You can review what they have to say HERE.
What have you done so far that is going to get you the badge?
Do you spend money on classes? Books? Academies? Training? Then how about the oral board? Oh, yeah I forgot, you're good to go with the oral board right? You've got that wired. You can wing the oral. Right? Then where is your badge? I talked to a candidate the other day who had his chest pushed out saying he was number 15 on this list, twelve on that list and on and on. After several years of testing, he was still another bride's maid.
"There is no free lunch . . . But there are better places to eat."
How important is it to figure out what might be keeping you from getting a badge?
Our son Captain Rob and I are real lucky guys. We are able to figure out where candidates are stuck in this hiring process. We get to be part of the life changing experience of watching candidates use new skills getting the job of their dreams. This is our reward. It's very emotional.
This is an amazing story. I feel like I got the call. A large department sent out invitations for their chief's orals. A 20 year-old non- medic candidate called on short notice to get in for a coaching session. We did the session the next day.
On Friday a more seasoned medic called that his interview with the same department was on Monday (three days away). I asked, OK, have you been practicing with a tape recorder? Well, no. . . . You need to hear what the panel is going to hear out of your mouth? Yes. I know it's my fault. I just bought a tape recorder and will start practicing tonight. Any chance I can get in? Sorry, we don't do coaching sessions until a candidate has been practicing their script with a tape recorder. It's like pulling teeth for us and a waste of your time and money.
Well, both candidates took their orals on Monday. On Tuesday, I got a call from the very excited 20-year old candidate that he just got a job offer. He said what really helped him was to connect all the dots and find out what needed to be taken out of his presentation. He had good stuff. In the coaching session he was able to put together a segment of his personal life experiences that could be used as an answer to a particular oral board question or in his closing statement (yes, 20 year olds have valuable life experiences). When he was asked this question in his oral he was loaded for bear. He told me as he was finishing his answer to this question he saw the chief's begin to get this little smile. It only added to the energy. He knew when he left the room he had the job. He did!
On Wednesday, I got a call from the medic candidate saying he got a call that he didn't make the cut. They called the first 15 candidates. He placed above 30 on the list. This was the forth time this medic candidate had taken this cities test. Twice he did not make it past the chief's interview.
Part of the call from the city was to invite him back on Thursday to take the fire/medic chief's oral. He said he felt only a coaching session before his next interview on Thursday, was keeping him from getting the job. Yes, he had been practicing with a tape recorder since last Friday. It would be a challenge with such short notice. It was grueling trying to remove the embedded bad stuff with his better-personalized stuff.
Twenty minutes into the coaching session he said he knew why he had been failing his interviews. This candidate didn't receive anything that he didn't already have. Like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, we're not going to give you anything you don't already have. We're just going to show you where it is.
It was the same panel members from his interview on Monday for the fire/medic chief's oral. The difference was this was not the same candidate. Four hours after his chief's interview that morning his phone rang with a job offer. That has to be record time.
As I was putting the finishing touches on this article I received an e-mail that only confirms the importance of a complete program:
Captain Bob, Captain Rob
I worked hard, begged and borrowed for over five years in order to get a badge and not until I followed your instructions (tape recorder, video taping, and writing down my script) and got some coaching from Captain Rob did everything come together. . . Not only did I get this job, but I had to turn down some (4 to be exact) Chief's interviews during the academy from other fire departments.
Please add me to the long list of people who have received a badge because of your help. I thank you and my family thanks you. I am writing to inform you that I am a probationary Firefighter for a dream Fire Department and am relaxing at home on my first 4-day off. You and Rob helped me with my preparation and direction going into my oral interviews. Not only did I get this job, but I had to turn down some (4 to be exact) Chief's interviews during the academy from other fire departments. I worked hard, begged and borrowed for over five years in order to get a badge and not until I followed your instructions (tape recorder, video taping, writing down my script) and got some coaching from Captain Rob did everything come together. As I mentioned, not only did I get a job, I made it to the chief's interview every test that I took afterwards. Now I get to live the dream.
Respectfully, Fernando
Do yourself a favor and not waste any more opportunities in trying to gain your badge. Have someone in the know review what you're doing. More on coaching HERE.
And when you make it big-time and get that badge, as with so many before you, I will bask in the glow of your success. But, as a coach I take no credit, accept no credit. A great coach insists that since you were on the field of play, since you were the one making the moves, the credit all goes to you.
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"Get a bonus when you sign up for our F-r-e-e Newsletter HERE. Over 300 pages of f-r-e-e information on our web site.
Fire "Captain Bob" Author of Becoming A Firefighter, Conquer Fire Department Oral Boards, and It's Your Turn in the Hot Seat!
