My Interview is Tomorrow!

[CaptBob]

Got a call from a candidate tonight who said his interview is tomorrow. I remember this candidate because I talked to him 3 months ago.

Now his interview is tomorrow and he is asking if I have any last minute advice. Well, have you been using a tape recorder to practice? A big pause and then, not really. Do you have a tape recorder? No. Didn't we drill you on using a tape recorder to hear what the panel is going to hear out of your mouth? Yea, well they kinda sprung it on me. I told him, no they didn't. You knew this interview was coming up, you just didn't know when. Believe me this guy really needed to hear what was coming out his mouth.

Yea, but I've been talking to the guys on this department who really know what's going on and I've been running this stuff through my head. Hummmmm.

Is there any last minute advice you can give me? Well, use the stories from your recent military deployment. That's all I could offer him since he was resistant, like so many other guys to use the best tool to gain a badge . . . The tape recorder.

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"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"

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[rwaycasy]

Captain Bob,
Iam currently looking for a job and I'm going to try the tape record but what should i listen for? Besides the uumms and the aaas?
Your help would be greatly appricated. Thank You!

[CaptBob]

You need to start using a tape recorder to get your timing, inflection, volume, where to cut out material, get rid of the uh's and other pause fillers, or to find out if you really sound like Donald Duck. You need to get married to your hand-held tape recorder. You need to hear what the oral board is going to hear out of your mouth. It's narrows the distance between you and the badge you're looking for!

What is the first thing a candidate says when he hears his voice on a tape recorder? Yep. That's not me. Yes, it is McFly. You need to get married to a hand held tape recorder and practice everywhere you go.
This is usually a guy thing. Guys think about their answers in their head and write them down. Then they think their answers are going to come out of their mouths like magic in the oral. Trust me, they don't! The brain and mouth don't work that way.

Try this. Take 3X5 cards and write down your oral board questions. Practice your answers with the tape recorder. If you hear something you do not like when you play it back, turn over the 3X5 card and write it down. The next time you go after that question, turn over the card first and see what you don't want to say.

You can find more on testing secrets in the Career Article section from the Jobs drop down menu just above this posting.

"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"

Fire "Captain Bob"

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[rwaycasy]

I have another Question, what type of response are they looking for with "do you have anything to add"? I don't want a clone answer. More of a subect or somthing to responed with, i Know saying nothing is the worst thing

[CaptBob]

First, what would be your current answer if you went to an interview today?

[rwaycasy]

I don't have any idea what to say. Maybe tell them a little about my self, but besides that I'm not sure what to say.



P.S. thanks for your help

[CaptBob]

Closing Statement

I asked a class of fire candidates, "What do you want to say if you're given the opportunity to give a closing statement at the end of your oral?" On candidate said, "I would ask them if they saw any reason why I wouldn't get the job." I asked why would you say that? Because that's what you would ask in a corporate interview. Good point. But, understand this is not, repeat, is not a corporate or regular interview. This is a semi-military organization. I told the class I would never, ever ask this question. Hum, do I see any reason why this candidate wouldn't get this job? I do now with that question.

There are those who would tell you to raise the flag and beat the drum with a lot of fanfare in your closing statement. Please spare us this part. Understand, if you haven't done it in the body of your oral presentation, you're not going to make it up in the closing. REPEATING, IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE BODY OF YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT UP IN THE CLOSING! We had a candidate who tried to show us all his certificates during his closing. McFly?

Don't forget that the closing part of an interview is where you call on the emotions of the interviewers to give you the job. Don't reiterate or try to do repair work. Use only the key points not already covered in your script. Without being boring or lengthily, tell the interviews why you really want the job and, with your qualifications, hope to be considered for the position.

Then shut up and get out of the building. Or, you will say something stupid. We had a guy one day ace his oral. After his closing, he said, "Well, if I don't get this job I can always fall back on that part time painters job." The panel couldn't believe what this guy just said after acing his oral. Did it hurt his score? Enough to keep him from getting a shot at a badge. Last time I heard, he was still painting.

. . . Nothing counts ‘til you have the badge. Nothing!

You can find more on testing secrets in the Career Article section from the Jobs drop down menu just above this posting.

"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"

Fire "Captain Bob"

www.eatstress.com