COMMUNITYSERVICES&PROTECTIVESERVICES

FIREDEPARTMENTRECRUITMENT

MAY2010
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PREPARINGFORYOURTARGETEDSELECTIONINTERVIEW

Historically,theinterviewisthestepinourfirefighterhiringprocesswherewelosethemost
candidates.  Often, the main reasons for an unsuccessful interview are due to a lack of
interviewpreparationbythecandidateorhe/sheisunfamiliarwithourinterviewprocess.

Theinterviewisthefirstopportunityforyoutomeetwithusfacetofacetosellyourselfforthe
position.Itisnotenoughthatyouwantthejob;youmustdemonstratethroughawarenessand
pastbehavioursthatyouaresuitableforthistypeofcareer.Dontwaituntilthelastminuteto
prepare.Practiceandpreparationaheadoftimeareessentialtoyoursuccess.

Theinterviewisapproximatelyonehourinlength.Theinterviewpanelistypicallycomprisedof
seniorfirefightingpersonnel.Theirjobistoaskyouaplannedsetofbehaviourbasedquestions
(called Targeted Selection) relating to the following competencies (or behaviours) expected
fromafirefighter.

1.
Customer Focus  Proactively contributes to building and/or maintaining productive
customer relationships by making efforts to listen, understand, and professionally
respondtocustomerneeds.

2.
Judgment / Decision Making  Forms sound opinions and makes sensible decisions
basedonlogicalassumptionsandfactualinformationrelevanttoaparticularsituation.

3.
Initiative  Has the confidence and ability to make decisions, take action, and
demonstratetheresolvetofollowthroughwithaplanorataskwithoutunnecessarily
relyingonhelp,adviceorpromptingfromothers.

4.
Adaptability  Has the willingness and ability to effectively work within a variety of
differentsituations,andpossiblyinconjunctionwithdiverseindividualsorgroups.

5.
Teamwork  Actively participates as a committed member of a team by working
effectivelywithotherstoachieveacommongoal.

6.
Stress Management  Maintains stable performance under pressure, opposition or in
stressfulcircumstances.Handlesandrelievesstressinanappropriatemanner.

As part of your preparation for the interview, consider times when you have demonstrated
thesecompetencies(orbehaviours)inthepast.Sinceyoudonotknowwhatquestionyouwill
beasked,itwillhelptohavemorethanoneexampleforeachcompetencysoyouareprepared
foranyquestion.

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COMMUNITYSERVICES&PROTECTIVESERVICES

FIREDEPARTMENTRECRUITMENT

MAY2010
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You do not require prior firefighter experience to successfully meet the positions
competencies. Consider all your experiences including those gained through work, school,
team/sports activities, volunteer or personal experiences. Be prepared to speak about them
withaspecificexampleandtophraseyourresponsesinaS.T.A.R.format.
TARGETEDSELECTIONANDTHES.T.A.R.FORMAT

Targeted Selection uses a technique that requires interviewers to pose specifically phrased,
targeted questions to you in order to collect behavioural examples.  The major principleof
Targeted Selection is that past behaviour is a good predictor of future behaviour. Specific
questionsaboutsituationsthatyouhaveexperiencedhelpstomoreaccuratelypredicthowyou
willbehaveinsimilarsituationsinthefuture.
SAMPLETARGETEDSELECTIONQUESTIONS

x "Describeatimewhenyouhadtoworkatafastpaceforalongperiodoftime."
x

"Tellusaboutatimewhenyouinspiredsomeonetoworkhardtodoagoodjob."

"Provideanexampleofatimewhenyoutookstepstoimproveyourperformance."

"Describeasituationwhenyoudevelopednew,creativeideastosolveproblems."

THEELEMENTSOFS.T.A.R.

WhentheinterviewersaskyouTargetedSelectionquestions,theyhavebeentrainedtocollect
thedatainaS.T.A.R.format.Youareexpectedtofollowthisformatwhenrespondingtothe
question:

x (S)ituation/(T)askWhatwastheCIRCUMSTANCEorWhatNEEDEDTOBEDONE?
x (A)ctionWhatDIDYOUDO?
x (R)esultWhatHAPPENEDorWhatFEEDBACKdidyoureceive?

Pastsuccessfulapplicantshavetypicallysetuptheirresponsesinthefollowingmanner:

x "Thesituationwas..."or"Thetaskrequiredwas..."
x "Myactionswere..."
x "Theresultwas..."

Anothereasywaytocomposeyouransweristotellitlikeyouarerelatingastorytoafriend.
Tell the interviewers what caused you to act (situation/task), what you did about it (action)
andhowitturnedout(result).

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FireDepartmentRecruitment271MidparkBlvdSE,CALGARY,ABCanadaT2X1S3,4039744850,FAX:4039743107







www.calgary.ca/fire
Email:fire.recruitment@calgary.ca





MAY2010
PAGE3

COMMUNITYSERVICES&PROTECTIVESERVICES

FIREDEPARTMENTRECRUITMENT


Theinterviewersaremainlyinterestedinwhatyouractionswereintheparticularsituation.As
aresult,yourexampleshouldberoughly:
20%Situation/Task 

70%Actions 

10%Result.

Itisalsoimportantthatyousharewhatyouspecificallydid.Whilewerecognizethatpeople
work in teams or may be modest about their actions, this is your time to share what your
contributionwas;usethewordI,notwe.
EXAMPLEUSINGTHES.T.A.R.FORMAT

Tellusaboutatimewhenyouhadtoworkinveryunpleasantworkconditionssuchasheat,
dust,noise,etc.

Situation/Task

Lastsummer,ItookajobinabinderywarehousewhereIhadtowork12hourshiftsstanding
onacementfloorandoperatingloudequipmentintheextremesummerheat.Myjobwasto
takeastackofflyersandloadthemintoastackerwhichthenmovedontoanotherworkerto
bundleandwrapthem.Thisworkerhadbeenwiththecompanyforalongtimeandwasused
toamuchfasterpersonstackingandsendinghimtheflyers.Prettysoonhebeganyellingatme
togofaster,insultmeandgoadmetospeedup.

Action

Atfirst,IwasembarrassedandwantedtoyellbackathimtellinghimIwasdoingthebestI
could. But I realized that that wasnt the best approach and that I needed to change the
situation.  So instead, I decided to wait until break time where I asked him if we could talk
about the situation.  I told him I was trying my hardest to keep up but that I was having a
problem loading all of the flyers in at one time. He said that that was a common problem
becausetheycancatchonanedgeandtwisteasily.IthenaskedhimwhathethoughtIcould
dotofixthatandheofferedtoshowmeatrickwhenwegotbackfromourbreak.

Result

Whenourbreakwasover,heshowedmeawaytoturnthestackofflyersastheywerefalling
intotheloadersotheywouldstackeasily.Ibegantryinghiswayandfoundthathewasright.I
then made it a personal goal to see how much quicker I could fill the stacker using this new
method.Prettysoon,Iwassendinghimstacksfasterthanhecouldwrapthem!Attheendof
ourshift,hecameovertomeandtoldmehewasimpressedthatIhadcaughtonsoquicklyand
thatnowIwasmakinghislifealoteasier.Irealizedthatmyactionshadreflectedonhimbeing
abletodohisjobandthathehadalottooffermeinhisexperience.

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FireDepartmentRecruitment271MidparkBlvdSE,CALGARY,ABCanadaT2X1S3,4039744850,FAX:4039743107







www.calgary.ca/fire
Email:fire.recruitment@calgary.ca





COMMUNITYSERVICES&PROTECTIVESERVICES

FIREDEPARTMENTRECRUITMENT

MAY2010
PAGE4


TIPSFORASUCCESSFULINTERVIEW

Tip#1ConductresearchonBehaviouralDescriptiveorTargetedSelectioninterviews


Internet search engines can help you find more information on this type of interviewing.
Alternately, visit your local library or bookstore to research this interview style. Talking to
peoplewhoknoworarefamiliarwiththisinterviewmethodmayalsoprovehelpful.

Tip#2Committoadequatepreparationbeforeyourinterview


Dont wait until the last minute to prepare!  Practice and preparation ahead of time are
essential to your success.  Our hiring needs may dictate a rapid turnaround between your
aptitude test session and your interview. Its better to start preparing early so you are not
caughtoffguardlater.

Tip#3Knowtheposition,departmentandcityforwhichyouareapplying


YourobjectiveshouldbetodevelopanunderstandingoftheCalgaryFireDepartment,ofthe
firefighterpositionandofthecityofCalgaryasawhole.

Tip#4Presentationisimportantonthedayofyourinterview


This is your opportunity to form a positive impression with your interviewers. A professional
and confident demeanour will go a long way. Your dress, grooming and deportment will be
considered.Erronthesideofconservativeandpresentaprofessionalimage.

Bewellversedwiththedepartmentshairandjewellerystandardsandrecognizethatthefire
deparment is a paramilitary organization which incorporates a rank and structure model.  A
respectfulapproachiswarranted.

Recognize any distracting nervous habits you may have and develop strategies to curtail or
lessen their impact on your behaviour.  Practice maintaining good posture and direct eye
contact.

Plan your arrival for no more than 10  15 minutes before your appointed time to avoid
confusion for the interviewers. Arriving late always creates a bad first impression. If
circumstancesbeyondyourcontrolpreventyoufromarrivingontime,ensureyoucontactthe
RecruitmentOfficeat4039744850todiscussyouroptions.


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FireDepartmentRecruitment271MidparkBlvdSE,CALGARY,ABCanadaT2X1S3,4039744850,FAX:4039743107







www.calgary.ca/fire
Email:fire.recruitment@calgary.ca





COMMUNITYSERVICES&PROTECTIVESERVICES

FIREDEPARTMENTRECRUITMENT

MAY2010
PAGE5


Tip#5Useyourinterviewtimewisely


Ajobinterviewisacommunicationprocess.Honeyourverbalcommunicationskillstoensure
you:

x Listencarefully.(Askforclarificationifneeded)
x Remainprofessionalandpositive.
x Speakclearlyandaudibly.
x Answerthequestionswithspecificexamples.
x Moderateyourvolumeandanimation.

Althoughitiswisetoavoidexcessivelylengthyresponses,ensurethatyouprovidetherelevant
details.YoudontwanttoleaveyourinterviewthinkingOh!Iforgottotellthemabout.

Whengiventheopportunity,askwellthoughtoutquestionswhichdemonstrateyourinterest
intheposition.Letyourinterviewersknowwhyyouwantthejobandwhatyoucanoffer.































AttheCalgaryFireDepartment,we'recommittedtoworkingtogetherwithCalgariansandtheir
communitiesonfirepreventionandpublicsafetyaswellasprovidingworldclassemergencyservice.
FireDepartmentRecruitment271MidparkBlvdSE,CALGARY,ABCanadaT2X1S3,4039744850,FAX:4039743107







www.calgary.ca/fire
Email:fire.recruitment@calgary.ca