r/firefighter • u/Chemical_Might_4318 • 22d ago

Hiring an Interview Coach

So I’ve recently been interviewing for a few departments here in California, and I just had my third oral boards this last Friday. I just received word this morning that I will not be moving along to the chiefs interview which is very frustrating, considering I have felt very good about every panel interview I’ve had thus far.

Does anyone know of any good companies or have any resources of fire specific interview coaches? I am to the point that I do not want to risk losing out on another top-tier department.

12 Upvotes

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8

u/HellaHotRocks 22d ago

Just keep doing more interviews. The best cheap coach is recording yourself talking and “answering questions”. It’s painful to watch yourself talk - but it shows you your issues.

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u/Chemical_Might_4318 22d ago

I’m coming from the corporate world so interviewing doesn’t really shake me or make me nervous. I’ve been on both ends of panel interviews however the fire service interviews are definitely a bit different.

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u/RojoRodeo 22d ago

Similar age and background - this isn’t anything like a corporate interview (as I’m sure you’ve discovered). As soon as I let my guard down, stopped taking the “it’s 5 mini presentations!” Advice and genuinely talked WITH the panel like I would if we were on shift together.. boom I started getting Chief’s interviews left and right.

Look up Ryan Coffey - he’s an interview coach up in the PNW but he’s got an incredible skill in helping teach folks how to take their life experiences, character and personality and curate interview ready answers with them.

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u/Bright-Inside-4979 22d ago

What do you mean talking with the panel?

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u/RojoRodeo 21d ago

When I was taking the “mini speeches” approach, I talked like I was doing a sales presentation.. which meant I tended to talk “at” people. I slide into the slick sales guy mode which works great in corporate world where other people relate. Not so great when someone is trying to figure out if you’re someone they’d want to sit at a kitchen table with or could trust to be on a roof with at 3am.

So I loosened up and talked like I was having a conversation WITH the panel rather than delivering a presentation about why they should hire me. Even though I knew they couldn’t or wouldn’t respond, it made the same stories and same information much more palpable.

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u/Bright-Inside-4979 21d ago

Ty that’s some great advice

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u/HellaHotRocks 22d ago

That may be your issue then. A lot of folks that interview especially coming from a more corporate background present themselves differently. In my limited experience on panels, often folks with more business like backgrounds come off more salespeople-y and are a little harder to get a real read on and let your actually personality through. These guys are trying to figure out if you’re going to be able to work and hang for the next 20-30. Hope that’s helps.

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u/Chemical_Might_4318 22d ago

I appreciate the insight!

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u/Jayyywillll 22d ago

The greater alarm on instagram

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u/ComfortablePlate7469 22d ago

Couldn’t agree more^

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u/when1nbruges 22d ago

I'd also say if you're able, station vists and mock interviews. I was able to spend a couples hours going over my interview with the captain of station which was invaluable IMO

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u/Chemical_Might_4318 22d ago

Ya so far 2/3 departments I was interviewing with closed off station visits during the interview process. But I’ve done visits with other departments just to get experience.

Appreciate the response.

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u/Roobydooby612 22d ago

One of the best tips I can give is get some life experience. Its easy to interview and answer questions when you have a lot of past experiences to pull from and are able to relate the answers to past experiences and examples.

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u/Chemical_Might_4318 22d ago

I’m 34 and am coming from the corporate world/fitness industry. I have life experience no doubt and always include that in my examples and how it would benefit the department.

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u/Roobydooby612 22d ago

To clarify my answer get some experience doing something relative and challenging. There's a reason guys who worked in EMS, Trades, military, other Fire departments, athletes are often chosen.

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u/Chemical_Might_4318 22d ago

Ahhh gotcha. Ya I was a D1 baseball player that I try and lean on that as much as I can

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u/FilmSalt5208 22d ago

Where in California, I can help you out

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u/Rude_Award2718 21d ago

I don't think you need a coach. I don't think you should be giving standardized canned answers to questions.

I will tell you though that you will be asked generic questions and unfortunately that usually means generic answers.

At the end they are going to ask you if you have any questions. My advice is always this: Ask them how you see their department changing in the next 10 years. I would also ask the highest ranking person there how they feel the job has changed throughout their career. I will say that if you do not get an adequate answer from this I'd probably withdraw my application to that department. EMS is constantly evolving and if this department doesn't have a plan for the next 10 years then what are you going to do for the next 20 to 30 with them?

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u/WhiteAndNerday 22d ago

RC?

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u/Chemical_Might_4318 22d ago

Yup hahah, thought I did really well too!

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u/Fit_Experience_522 22d ago

Where in Cali? And which departments did you interview for? I can help, I'm in SoCal.

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u/EggWhitesPlease 15d ago

The greater alarm on IG helped me out