Preparing for interviews

[VomSteinbruch]

I guess it's good I don't live there.

Yep.
But it is exported to your places as fast as it can be done.

 

[S.Clancy]

Yep.
But it is exported to your places as fast as it can be done.

Gross.

 

[LongWayAround]

I don't know anything about fire service.

My best interviews have been the ones where I basically interviewed them. Ask questions to them about things you already know they have done. Show that you already know the landscape.

When they ask what you want for compensation, skirt it. If you throw out a number, it could be substantially less than they would have offered you. Likewise, maybe your idea of fair is way above what they were planning to offer. Either way you lose if you give them the number. Tell them that you need to evaluate and discuss with your family.

I personally don't need to outsource my brain to AI to get a job that I am qualified for.

 

[Bearded Bowhunter]

As you are driving to the interview, warm up your brain with a series of simple exercises like saying tongue twisters outload, rapid counting or multiplication problems. Gets your neurons firing and takes the focus away from any nerves.

Also, across various jobs I have interviewed over 100 people. Those that ask well thought out questions that showed they did their homework on the company, current events impacting the business, current initiatives that have been publicly communicated, etc. really separate themselves.

 

[CorbLand]

Find the line between cocky and confident, and stay on the confident side of it.

 

[BLJ]

I wouldn’t cuss.

I’ve only done it once in an interview but I didn’t get the job.

 

[DCWrinkler]

As dumb as it can sound, role playing can help significantly. Have a friend or family member interview you for a position and make sure they ask you a wide range of questions. Doing something repetitive makes it more comfortable and can help out quite a bit.

 

[JFK]

OP is it for a captain/company officer spot?

Talk to anyone who has done it recently and get an idea of what they ask.

Practice questions and do mock interviews in front of people you trust to give good feedback.

Study your dept’s sop/sog’s. They likely won’t ask questions where you have to quote them verbatim, but it’s common to ask questions that require the candidate to have a base knowledge of them. Think progressive discipline for problem employee, timeline for referral to prevention following failed business inspection. Stuff like that.

Where I work the interview is more about who you are. Tactical knowledge is tested using simulations. The interview is more social, how you relate to people, what your values are. Think about this stuff and jot down it down. Further, think about concrete examples that demonstrate it. If you say you have been involved, talk about specific programs. If you’ve done the job in an Acting capacity write down impactful examples, personnel issues, big calls. Have all that stuff wired tight so you are able to draw on it.

Answer questions from the point of view of the role you are trying to fill. A lot of guys answer captains interview questions like a firefighter. Show leadership and accountability in everything you say. Take ownership for the wellbeing of your crew on calls and in the firehouse to the greatest extent possible. With this, also explain you are able to make hard decisions that may ruffle long standing friendships. It’s a balance.

If it includes simulations there are a ton of resources for that. Practice them until they are easy and know your ICS inside and out.

 

[arctichunting]

Treat it like a woman you’re in love with and you’re trying to court her. That’s what I always do.


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[Gunnersdad49]

Look up The Firefighter Interview Coach on IG or FB. He's a buddy of mine, and a hunter. His name is Dwight. Great resource.

 

[MountainTracker]

I've been through a few successful promotional processes in LE, so at least adjacent. I always suggest figuring out the questions you believe will be asked, if its anything like law enforcement some version of the same questions appear on most tests. Crafft your answers that are true to you and do a good job selling yourself for each one. Write the questions on a note card and then put the main bullet points on the back. Put them on the kitchen counter and have the folks at home randomly grab one and ask you.

This helps with a few things. You aren't trying to remember a verbatim answer thanks to just having bullet points, so the answers change a bit each time and feel more natural. Also, if you are like me, in the moment you'll still get nervous and going over them, out loud, to someone else at least helps with the prep so you'll forget less things. In the testing processes I've helped with it is always apparent who is saying these answers out loud for the first time.

Also if this is a virtual interview (teams), post your bullet points on the wall behind the screen just sayin.


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[QuickTrigger7]

Do you have to test as well as interview for the position?

Most firemen I know are good at the social aspect. Know your job and the position you are applying for.

Yes test too

 

[rcb2000]

You can have AI prep you really well for interviews.
I did several practice interviews with it, after telling it what job I was applying for.
It has super helpful feedback and in the process I got more solid answers.

 

[QuickTrigger7]

OP is it for a captain/company officer spot?

Talk to anyone who has done it recently and get an idea of what they ask.

Practice questions and do mock interviews in front of people you trust to give good feedback.

Study your dept’s sop/sog’s. They likely won’t ask questions where you have to quote them verbatim, but it’s common to ask questions that require the candidate to have a base knowledge of them. Think progressive discipline for problem employee, timeline for referral to prevention following failed business inspection. Stuff like that.

Where I work the interview is more about who you are. Tactical knowledge is tested using simulations. The interview is more social, how you relate to people, what your values are. Think about this stuff and jot down it down. Further, think about concrete examples that demonstrate it. If you say you have been involved, talk about specific programs. If you’ve done the job in an Acting capacity write down impactful examples, personnel issues, big calls. Have all that stuff wired tight so you are able to draw on it.

Answer questions from the point of view of the role you are trying to fill. A lot of guys answer captains interview questions like a firefighter. Show leadership and accountability in everything you say. Take ownership for the wellbeing of your crew on calls and in the firehouse to the greatest extent possible. With this, also explain you are able to make hard decisions that may ruffle long standing friendships. It’s a balance.

If it includes simulations there are a ton of resources for that. Practice them until they are easy and know your ICS inside and out.

Company officer spot, way are department is structured it’s a lieutenant

 

[MNGrouser]

Find the line between cocky and confident, and stay on the confident side of it.

@CorbLand nailed it! I've had to interview dozens of candidates over the years. Two stories:

One was an out of town attorney applying for an assistant position in my office. It was winter time and a pretty good snowstorm the morning of the interview. She walked in and introduced herself (5 minutes early! (Do that too.)) I asked about the travel conditions. She said, "Nothing a true Minnesotan can't handle." I learned later that she had spun out and put her car in the ditch. She had to be towed out. Just humble and confident. She got the job. Has since been promoted multiple times. That is the confident side of the line.

Another candidate, for a different job, had an overly flowery resume. She said something about "product marketing with an emphasis on consumer blah. blah. blah." Turns out she stocked shelves at a Target store in college. If she would have owned it as a starting job and a display of her solid work ethic, it would have gone much further towards landing her a job. She was on the cocky side of the line. It came across as fake.

Good luck with your interview!

 

[roosterdown]

I've interviewed a very large number of people.

Go in prepared: read up on their people/leaders.
Go in with questions: a handful of big-picture questions. "How much vacation" is not a good one. Questions get you info you want but the interviewers also use your questions to evaluate how you think.
Be you: trying on a new personality does everyone a disservice.
I saw someone here say 'don't say "we did", say "I did".' Mostly disagree. Some "I" but if it's a leadership role, you have to show some humility. Best answer: "I got a lot of credit for XYZ project, but I let everyone know that it was a team effort, and especially called out Susan, Dave and George for their strong contributions - they were a pleasure to work with." Or something along those lines.
Ask for it (or at least ask for next steps) at the end, and show interest & enthusiasm throughout.

I'm sure I could keep going, but those are pretty important ones. I also have a good spiel for counter-offering techniques during negotiations.

 

[JFK]

Company officer spot, way are department is structured it’s a lieutenant

Have you sat in the seat yet? If so you’ve already started the most important part of the interview.

 

[Erict]

Prove to me you are a good listener.

I interviewed plenty of people through my career and in my line of work it was important my staff heard what was said the first time and followed instructions without having to be told twice. Good luck!

 

[Nuggynuggs]

Nothing amazing, but I do try to think of a good relevant question or 2 to ask them that isn’t something other people will ask.

Asking a few intelligent questions about the job or company is a really great way to show your aptitude and genuine interest.

 

[MTtrout]

Know your resume and think about all your previous experiences. I’ve interviewed people that either choked or were not prepared. I asked questions that I knew they had more experience than they were telling me. Felt bad so sometimes I’d ask additional questions to give them the opportunity.

Propanol if you get nervous. It can do wonders in these situations, if you feel that’s you.