Smoke Your Firefighter Interview [Paperback]

Paul S. Lepore (Author), Freespool Publications (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2008

This edition of Smoke Your Firefighter Interview book has additional questions and expanded answers. The oral interview is the most important part of the hiring process. Since it is often weighted 100% of the candidate s final score, earning a high score on the interview is essential to getting hired. Fire department oral interviews are unique, which is why most people struggle with them. Successful candidates understand exactly what the raters are looking for in an entry-level candidate. Those who don t may struggle for years, eventually giving up on their dreams. Chief Lepore has proctored hundreds of entry-level interviews. He was amazed at how unprepared most candidate were. He could see that many had the will and desire, but it was very apparent that the vast majority of candidates were ill-prepared for the oral interview. His objective is to show the candidate the interview through the eyes of the raters. The more a candidate understands what the oral board is looking for, the more he or she will be able to present as the candidate they have been waiting for. Smoke Your Firefighter Interview is packed with 330 pages of invaluable information. Chief Lepore covers 85 of the most commonly asked fire department interview questions. The format is simple: question, answer, and reasoning behind the answer. After answering each question, Chief Lepore carefully and thoroughly explains why he has answered the question the way he did. These reasons often delve into the culture of the fire department and the expectations of a rookie firefighter. In short, anyone can memorize questions and answers. Smoke Your Firefighter Interview explains why the answers are correct. In addition to the questions and answers, Chief Lepore explains the rationale for WHY he answers the question the way he does. He includes many follow-up questions as well as explaining the pit falls for many of the questions. Once a candidate understands the interview process and learns how to present his or her answers, it is not uncommon to get multiple job offers. Instead of struggling to land a job, many candidates are blessed with the ability to select from several departments. Getting hired on the fire department is all about learning to take a fire department interview. Those who learn will be successful, while those who don t will always struggle. A candidate may be exactly what a fire department is looking for, but if he or she cannot interview favorably, he or she will never get hired. In addition to 85 questions, answers and rationale for the right answers, Smoke Your Firefighter Interview also includes chapters on: Rules of thumb for handling situational questions What to expect from your first day as a firefighter Sample interview rating sheets Description of the job of a firefighter Monthly probationary evaluations

Editorial Reviews

Review

Finally a worthwhile book to help entry-level candidates compete in the interview process. Chief Lepore's advice will help improve candidates' scores across the country --Deputy Chief Vincent Dunn FDNY

After reading Chief Lepore's book, I feel it is a must for anyone preparing for the entry level oral interview process. As a Training Chief I have conducted and prepared numerous candidates for the process. I feel this book will aid those taking the exam and plan on introducing it in my seminars --Division Chief Randy Scheere, Newport Beach, CA Fire Dept

This book is a muct for firefighter casndidates. It iwll help prepare them for the crucial phase of the interview process, the oral board. Chief Lepore's experience and insight give anyone who studies the book a definite advantage when they sit down before the people who ask the questions --Lieutenant matthew S. Zaleznik, Golden Gate Fire Rescue Naples, FL

About the Author

Paul Lepore is a Battalion Chief with the City of Long Beach, California Fire Department. He entered the fire service as a civilian Paramedic for the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. After completing his education at the Los Angeles County Paramedic Training Institute, Lepore worked in the high impact area of South Central, Los Angeles. Lepore was hired by the Long Beach Fire Department in 1986 and completed their 12-week academy. He spent the next two years working as a firefighter until he was promoted to firefighter/ paramedic. Lepore was promoted to Fire Captain in 1998 and is currently a Battalion Chief. He has conducted hundreds of entry-level interviews as well as served as a rater for dozens of Battalion Chief and Captain's promotional exams. He holds instructor credentials for EMT, Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction. He has conducted numerous seminars at national conventions to teach and mentor both promotional and entry-level candidates alike. He founded EMS Safety Services, Inc., a first aid and CPR training corporation that certifies over 100,000 students each year. Lepore has two daughters with his lovely wife Marian, Ashley and Samantha. He is an avid saltwater fisherman and has written a fishing book titled, "Sportfishing in Baja".

Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Freespool Publications; 4th edition (January 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972993444
• ISBN-13: 978-0972993449
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If youre a serious firefighter candidate you'll read this book., December 7, 2005

By 

AD (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smoke Your Firefighter Interview (Paperback)

This book has helped me immensely in improving my firefighter interview skills. I went from not passing interviews to being hired as a firefighter. The important thing that Chief Lepore does in this book is help people understand the logic and thought processes behind answering interview questions. Anyone can memorize a textbook answer, but once you understand the logic behind it you are then able to dynamically answer any question thrown your way and it will be an answer that is from the heart. Thanks Chief Lepore!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have for Firefighter Candidates, November 23, 2004

By 

Staff Sergeant "U.S. Marine Corps" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smoke Your Firefighter Interview (Paperback)

I have begun the hiring process with local Fire Departments and I feel very confident with the interviews after studying and reviewing this book. Truly there is no other book out there that provides so much information specifically for Fire Department Oral Interviews.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's okay, August 9, 2005

By 

lizyrd (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smoke Your Firefighter Interview (Paperback)

This book gives a lot of good examples of questions asked in an oral exam. I even heard a few of these questions word-for-word in my last interview. However, after the first 15 or 20 example questions, the book's answers become repetitive.

This book is centered around the "what would you do if..." style of questions. If you saw a fellow firefighter stealing at an overhaul scene, if your captain takes the truck out of district to run a personal errand, etc. It contains no general knowledge examples, such as "explain the difference between a heat detector, smoke detector and CO detector" or "give examples of the types of companies in a standard firehouse and what their duties at an incident are."

Overall, a good book simply because it covers several different types of moral dilemmas firefighters may face. Absolutely worth the money to someone pursuing a career in the field.