Firefighter Training – Coaching Insights
Firefighter Training – Coaching Insights
This week on The Fire Recruitment Australia Podcast, I give you a front row seat on one of our group coaching sessions for firefighter applicant training.
There’re two types of examples here.
The first coaching session was for applying for a fire service position at the SAMFS. Every state in Australia recruits at different frequencies and It can seem harder in states like South Australia because it’s a less risky environment in fire brigade terms and the recruitment doesn’t happen as often.
Some key take aways with this recruitment are what I’ve mentioned throughout the podcast series.
Firefighter Training – Tip 1: Have a bit of time up your sleeves!
Some of the Fire Services use their pool of existing applicants or they might run a course out of their merit list. So have enough time to prepare either way.
Firefighter Training Tip 2: Be familiar with the service
When it comes to the time to do your application, you’re able to talk in their language and what’s important to them so you can align your skills and attributes as closely as possible with what they’re asking at the time. If you think about the majority of people, what they do is they’ll just have a look at the website and are done. If you have a look at it and keep looking at it and actually start to understand what’s going on – it could just be the one question: were you are able to demonstrate you understand them and how you’re going to fit into that? And that will put you above the other person. Initially, start and continue to do that– think about their corporate visions. It will all sink in and you’ll remember stuff that you won’t. Look at the aptitude stuff.
The next coaching session is with Nick – he is already a Fire Service Officer who wants to prepare for the final interview of his group assessment test.
This is where they assess your verbal teamwork and problem solving. It’s essentially a mini interview but in front of your peers.
Some key take aways:
Firefighter Training Tip 3 : Have your personal introduction well practiced.
This demonstrates confidence and the ability to communicate with your peers.
Firefighter Training Tip 4: You’ve really got to listen.
This is the most important factor of leadership – being able to listen to an instruction and take direction, and also being able to communicate that to others.
NOTE: This is just a brief introduction into some tips. I do this firefighter training on a recurring basis and we cover what is working NOW and adapt to the ever changing environment of Firefighter recruitment in Australia.
If you would like to join in on my Firefighter Training sessions you can check out the details HERE
I hope you enjoyed the episode and gained something from it.
Talk soon,
Brent
