Six Steps in Answering Oral Board Question You should have a script that you have rehearsed with a tape recorder of anticipated questions by the time of your oral board. At the interview use these six simple steps in answering an oral board question: A. Actively listen to the entire question. I have seen candidates stop listening when they think they already have the answer. They don't. Listen! B. Make sure you understand the question. If not, have the question repeated or rephrased. C. Pause and gather your thoughts. It might seem like an eternity, but pausing is an acceptable tactic to show interviewers you are paying attention. During the pause, you can figure out the root of what they are asking. D. Ask the question or make the statement to clarify the question. The question might be, "You see your partner pick up something at an emergency scene, what are you going to do?" Taking the question down to its basic form, what is the issue? Stealing. Then, formulate a simple answer. For example, you might say, "I would ask, 'Is that yours?'" The board is going to tell you that he is taking it, but you already scored the points. After asking the question, you determine your partner is stealing, then what do you do? Since stealing is an ethical issue and he won't put it back, you might say, "Why don't we go the our supervisor?" Why? Stealing is against the law. E. KISS. Keep it simple sweetie. Don't start a soap opera. Most candidates complicate the process. They intellectualize their answers, run past the question, decide an answer before hearing the entire question and fail to understand the process. F. Deliver the answers with enthusiasm! Be sure to personalized your answer which will set you apart from the clones. Courtesy of Capt. Bob @ www.eatstress.com Capt. Bob Smith, Speaker, Author, Publisher, Information Products. 5565 Black Ave. Pleasanton 94566 START YOUR CAREER SEARCH NOW AT FIRE CAREER ASSISTANCE ONTINUED BELOW |
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Oral Interview Preparation Simple Tools to Uncomplicate the Process 2. To learn your part, make an outline why you want this position, what you have done to prepare, why do you want to work for this agency, etc. It must be about you; not a clone of someone else. 3. The outline will become your script to audition for the part. Practice, rehearse, and over learn the part with a tape recorder until it becomes second nature to you. This will help prevent stage fright. 4. With tremendous enthusiasm, use your new role to capture the first 32 seconds of your audition. This creates its own energy. 5. Don't reiterate in your closing. Use only the key points not already covered in your script. Without being boring, tell the interviewers how you really want the job and with your qualifications hope to be considered for the |
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