Facing the Promotional Interview – Part 10

PREPARING FOR THE OPENING

If the interview board must ask you about the position you are applying for and your qualifications for that position during the interview, lets take some initiative and incorporate the concept of simultaneously overviewing the position you are seeking, your qualifications for that position, and answering the question that has been asked. To accomplish this seemingly difficult task, lets consider a method to develop an opening statement (which is a difficult portion of an interview), and ensure that you overview and relate your qualifications while answering the opening type question. Most candidates find it difficult to develop an outline that overviews their strengths and qualifications and then be able to also relate these qualities to the new job.

As an example, let’s consider the position of Captain, your qualifications for that position, and a method to quickly develop an outline that will focus on the primary job elements of that position. Any position can be considered multi-dimensional. The horizontal dimension consists of the different elements of that position, and the vertical dimension consists of your qualifications within or under the horizontal elements. Now, lets apply the horizontal and vertical elements to the position of Captain. First, the position of Captain can be conveniently divided into five job elements (which will be the horizontal dimension) as follows:

DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCE
This area consists of actions necessary to mitigate all types of emergency incidents.

FIRE PREVENTION
This area consists of occupancy inspections, pre-fire planning activities, and equitable enforcement of applicable laws and codes.

TRAINING
This area consists of developing and implementing necessary and applicable training programs for personnel under your command.

LEADERSHIP
This area consists of the ability to direct the people under your command.

ADMINISTRATIVE
This area can be utilized as a “catch all,” and include items such as records, reports, goals, routine operations, community relations, customer service, etc.

Notice that these five areas encompass the main areas of responsibility for the position of Captain. Obviously, these five areas and their related contents will vary depending on your opinion. However, they are your opinion and they
also form an outline and a starting point that can be expanded to overview any position or job.

Additionally, these areas are easy to remember in an interview environment, and also happen to be similar or identical to the headings on the resumes in Chapter Three. This approach will result in the following benefits for an interview candidate:

Dividing a position into main areas of responsibility that defines the position, and is easy to remember.
Keeping the information you must remember simple and consistent, yet effective.
Your resume will mirror the areas you feel are important for the position you are seeking, and may entice the board to ask you a question about the contents of your resume.

Next, list all of your noteworthy qualifications under each area similar to the following examples:

DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCE

Engine Company experience.
Truck Company experience.
EMS experience.
Incident Command System experience.
Etc.

FIRE PREVENTION

Fire prevention inspections.
Fire prevention coordinator.
Records and inspection forms.

LEADERSHIP

Navy Officer.
Acting Captain.
Assigned projects which have resulted in you delegating responsibility.
Etc.

TRAINING

Instructor.
Company training programs.
Your educational achievements (school and fire service).

ADMINISTRATION

Familiarity with records and reports.
Set goals.
Involvement in community relations. Remember, this particular area demonstrates your involvement outside your department, and is an opportunity to represent your department in a positive manner to the citizens of your community.
Etc.

Any qualification that you feel is relevant should initially be listed under each appropriate area. This takes work and serious thought. When you are completed, overview the information that you have developed. Now, throw out the items that are not primary qualifications, and items you are not totally satisfied with (eliminate the fluff). Remember, this is not the “Gong Show”. With additional thought on your part, develop four or five items under each area that are relevant, truthful, and you are comfortable with. If you don’t believe it, nobody else will!

With the preceding process, you have now developed an outline of the areas of responsibility for the position of Captain, and your qualifications for the different areas for that position. With additional work, you should now be able to define the position of Captain, define and elaborate on your qualifications for the different areas of responsibility, and be able to RELATE those qualifications to what you have learned and how that will assist you in accomplishing the job of Captain.