FIRST IMPRESSIONS
How long do you think you have in an oral board to impress the raters into listening to you? You have 32 seconds. In that first 32 seconds the board is checking out what you're wearing (the strongest non-verbal statement you can make), eye contact, choice or words and what signature stories you start with to hook the panel into listening to you. The first oral board question could be, "What sparked your interest and why do you want to be a firefighter?" You proceed by giving the same clone answers the oral board has heard from almost every candidate for five days. Public service, giving back to the community, helping people, camaraderie, etc. The magic 32 seconds has passed and you have not made the impression you needed to make. Take the time to develop a unique answer and make sure your appearance is pleasing to the older generation. NO BODY JEWALRY AND COVER THE TATTOS!!!
ADDRESSING THE FIREFIGHTER INTERVIEW PANEL
Usually someone will escort you into the interview room, and introduce you to the panel members. Don't worry about remembering all their names. Often the panel members will be wearing name tags or cards will be placed in front of them. As you're introduced, look the rater in the eye and give a firm handshake. Too many times candidate give a dead fish handshake. When shaking hands with a female rater don't use too much pressure, just match the pressure in their handshake male and female alike. At the end of the interview, the panel will usually stand and shake hands again. If not take the first step to leave a lasting impression, and remember eye contact while thanking them for the opportunity. If you know the panels rank or if ladies are present follow that order.
DON'T BE CHATTY OR HANDOUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Generally handing out material in an entry level oral is not a good idea because it upsets the normal flow of the interview and takes up too much time. The review panel probably won't read them anyway. The time to have this material read is before you walk into the room. Have it placed with your application before the day of the test. Don't Chat! You don't have enough time to chat. I would be careful chatting after your interview. You might say something that you weren't prepared for or something that could hurt you. You are applying for a rookie position. If you came across as too familiar, it could work against you. Explaining past work history like Vol. work/Reserves/Paid call/etc doesn't give you any time in this situation. In fact it can give you false impressions that it can give you an advantage. The reviewers are not your friends. They are looking for reasons to eliminate YOU. The fire service interviews are much different than standard job interviews. Obviously the process is different, but the idea of the fire service interview and testing is to eliminate, not find the right person for the job. (Fire Captain Bob Smith, speaker/author of the audio/video program "Conquer the Job Interview," the book "Fire Up Your Communication Skills." Get a copy of his books and tapes by calling toll free at 888-238-3959

---

---

LOADED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Possible test questions/interview question: You are in a fully involved fire and your partner and an infant are both down, they are both right next to you and you can only grab one which one do you grab and why? Remember to ask the oral board additional questions to draw a better picture, stop and think about it An example reply from a testing candidate was: I first asked if I knew where both of them were located, then I asked if there was anyway possible in all my power to save both of them, then I said I would take the firefighter because if anything goes wrong in a fire with you and your partner you are suppose to get out immediately. Then after that they told me when you get out of the building you see the infants family and what do you say to them. So I said that I would say I was sorry for what happened and explain the situation the best way I was able under the circumstances. Then they told me that next the media approaches me and what do you say to them.

So I said that I would given the circumstances of what I had just been through I would have another officer speak to them because now just wasn't a good time.

Like most candidates he took the bait on saving your partner. So the correct answer is to save the infant? The key here is one word from your EMT training that is "Triage". Which of the two is in worse condition or can not be saved. As for the media, remember the chain of command. Discuss the situation with your supervisor and allow him to address the media. What you say in a stressful moment could cause a lot of trouble for your department. Capt. Bob Smith, Speaker, Author, Publisher, Information Products. 5565 Black Ave. Pleasanton 94566 Phone: (925) 846-3959

FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT ORAL INTERVIEW CLOSING
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 a great job in the body of your presentation, you're not going to make it up in the closing, and repeating it over again will not help. 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.
Some try to do repair work, most of the time if you screwed up the question the first time you will most likely just make things worse. The question is done, move on and leave it alone.

Use only the key points not already covered in your script. Without being boring or lengthily, thank the panel for their time, tell them 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 might say something you regret. 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? Yes!!! By Fire Capt. Bob @ www.eatstress.com