Have you ever listened to wind chimes? One hangs in our backyard. It contains six chimes. When there is not much breeze, only one chime is heard. It's a constant monotone gong, gong, gong, gong. When the wind changes direction ever so slightly all six chimes begin to play a melody.
It would only take you a short time as an oral board rater to hear the same constant drone when too many candidates use a flat monotone voice. It sounds like they were giving a patient assessment, sounding like the gong, gong, gong, blah, blah, blah of the one lone wind chime.
Then a candidate, who knows what the panel is going to hear out of his mouth, because he has prepared with a tape recorder, sits down in the hot seat and comes out swinging. Hitting all the notes, with the necessary timing, inflection, enthusiasm and volume polished. Just like the slight increase in a breeze to activate all the notes on the wind chimes, if candidates only knew it would only take a few minor changes to orchestrate their interviews closer to their badges.
It doesn't take long on a phone conversation with a candidate to realize why they are having problems.
A recent candidate had such a monotone voice I asked if he knew? He said yea, but that's just my voice. I told him I didn't believe that for a second. What can I do about it, he asked. I've been testing where I can for four years, going to school and work as a federal firefighter.
Trying to get on his turf, I asked him during a coaching session what do you do with your time off? What are your interest, hobbies? What really rings your bell? Nothing seemed to work to break his monotone voice.
That was until a few days later I get a call from an energized candidate. I didn't recognize the voice. Yes, it was Mr. Monotone. He told me he didn't realize how bad it was until he listened to the tape recording of his coaching session. He said, "Man I sounded retarded. I can't believe how much stuff I left out. How many times I said "Whatever" and other stupid pause fillers I didn't know I was using."
The mystery of why this super qualified candidate could not get hired was solved by listening to a tape of what the panel had been hearing for four years.
You too can create the winds of change that can turn things around and ring all the chimes; coming out of the fog with the chimes that turn into tones dropping and you're moving towards the rig on another call. The fifth call in a row. It started at shift change. You haven't had a chance to stop for anything more than to restock and get the rig ready for another run and not getting anything to eat. You're not hungry anyway. Because you're working with a crew where the red-hot captain tells dispatch you're available from the scene you are on so you won't miss any calls. You're living the dream of a lifetime. Riding big red. The monotone voice a distant memory.
"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
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"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
Fire "Captain Bob" Smith is the author of the new book, Becoming a Firefighter - The Complete Guide to your Badge! He has coached countless entry-level and promotional candidates to get their badges. Over 2,260 candidates have received their badges from this program. He is a retired, 28-year veteran firefighter from Hayward, CA. "Captain Bob" is a well-known speaker, author of the CD/DVD programs "Conquer the Job Interview", "Conquer the Promotional Interview" and the books Eat Stress For Breakfast and Fire Up Your Communication Skills. You can book him as a speaker or get a copy of his books and tapes by calling toll free at 888-238-3959. E-mail: [email protected] or website: www.eatstress.com
