1. Using mediocre examples

Too many applicants use examples which seem to fit what the question is asking, without considering whether the answer is actually strong enough to stand out. If it isn’t something pretty impressive, it simply won’t make the grade. If you aren’t sure that you have anything that fits the bill, start thinking about ways you can broaden your experiences. This will give you more varied and impressive examples to draw upon.

2.Not providing enough evidence

You need to provide EVIDENCE that you behave in the way the FRS is looking for. The way you prove this is to give an example of a time you have behaved like this before. This gives a good indication of how you are likely to behave in the future. If you focus too much on describing the context of the situation, you aren’t using the opportunity to explain how you BEHAVED, which is the whole point of the exercise.

3. Not proof reading.

When we write or type anything, we make mistakes. Remember- we read what we think we wrote, not what is actually in front of us (Which explains any mistakes in this newsletter!). Get someone else to read your application form for you. Sentences which may make perfect sense to you will mean nothing to someone else. It is crucial to make sure your application form conveys exactly what you want it to say about you.

• The 3 biggest mistakes that will put an end to your Firefighting career before it’s even started (and how to avoid them!);
• Why 90% of Application forms are disregarded straight away (and how to make sure yours isn’t one of them);
• How to make sure you don’t scupper your chances of passing your Interview with flying colours;
• How to get the competitve edge over all your competitors and sail through every one of the selection stages;
• The short-cuts to getting set for the written tests and making sure your answers are SPOT ON every time;
• The IMMEDIATE actions you can take to make you stand out a mile from everybody else;
• The best ways to prepare your fitness so that your body won’t let you down, it’s not just as simple as being fit!
• Which pieces of advice on the Internet about becoming a Firefighter are downright wrong (you MUST know this to do well);
• The easy way to fill in your Application form and open the door to the next stages (so you get a chance to storm the fitness tests and impress real firefighters in your interview);

Click the ‘Add to Cart’ button below to register your details-

1. Start preparing now!

Seriously, however early it is, now is the time. Ever wonder how those winter Olympians made it to the finals? Well it wasn’t because they left their training to the last minute, that’s for sure! Once you have started to clearly visualise yourself doing the job you want and realise you can absolutely make that happen, the rest is easy.

As with all of life’s challenges, the easiest way to overcome is to get expert help.

At FRSdevelopment our easy to follow instructions and clear sequences of steps take away the worry to let you concentrate on ‘doing’ it really well.

2. Work out what you are good at

You need to know what you do well and what you aren’t so good at. Unfortunately, organisations with a positive approach to providing feedback are few and far between. Does ‘you only need to know how you are doing if you are getting it wrong’ sound familiar?! The only real way of learning about your strengths as well as any weaker areas is through detailed, constructive, specific feedback. How else can you get an objective account of what you are doing right and what you could do better? Think about ways you can get regular feedback in the workplace, and work out what might be the value in you finding out exactly how you are doing before all important assessments.

3. Learn by doing.

The PQAs can be a dry subject when reading them from a page, but Firefighters have told us again and again that they make MUCH more sense when you actually try to do them. Think about ways to build different aspects of the PQAs into each day. Choose one or two elements, and see how many times over the course of the week you think you did it. It may seem a lot of effort, but you’ll be surprised how many PQAs you actually demonstrated the last time you did something at work you were proud of. Give it some thought - the more you become aware of performing to high PQA standards in the workplace, the easier it will be for you to demonstrate these in assessment activities.

Technique

Technique provides you with the structure you need. Imagine building a house without giving due attention to building regulations or construction standards. You might be able to get the walls and roof up, it may even look ok, but as soon as the weather changes, or you start to live in it, the cracks will start to show. Without structure, it’s just not going to do the job long term.

Using the right technique during your FRS assessment provides you with the ideal platform to show your potential. It doesn’t matter how good you are, if you haven’t understood the techniques, you won’t be able to show what you can do in the right way.

Content

So where does content fit it? If technique is the structure, content refers to the quality. You could paint a picture following all the instructions and structure available, but without passion, commitment and skill– it’s never going to jump off the page. Excellent content is the difference between a fantastic PQA application or interview example and an uninspiring one; a convincing role play performance and an ineffective one; a top scoring group discussion performance and a candidate who never makes an impact.

So how do you make sure that you have both the technique and content right? You do the same as you would if you planned to build a house or paint a picture; you plan, you prepare, you practice. And if you need a helping hand for feedback or advice, you ask an expert.

Plus, we have also included a comprehensive extra bonus which explores the Group Discussion exercise in addition to the 2 role-plays! This product really does create the perfect package to improve your confidence, understanding and management potential. Take the sleepless nights out of your ADC preparation, and find out what to expect by ordering now!

Covers:

• One to One Role-play
• Multiple Role-play
• Group Discussion Exercise

So, how is the ITOP process relevant to whether a Firefighter would make a good crew manager?

A useful way of looking at this is to make a list of actions and behaviours you would like to see more of in the workplace. If you are a manager these will be the things which, if your team did more of, would make your life a whole lot easier. If you are a Firefighter, these may be things which you would secretly like your colleagues to do a bit more of. Every list will be a bit different, but will often include some of the following:

• Come up with more suggestions to fix problems

• Be more prepared to listen to other’s point of view

• Willing to consider doing something differently

• Deal with problems instead of leaving them for someone else to do
  not take things so personally

What would your list be?

Whatever your list is, there will be some cross over between these and the PQAs (not sure what a PQA is? Click here to find out- this is stuff you need to know!) It’s hard sometimes to see it, especially when the PQAs can seem like a list of words in a long document which don’t seem to have much relevance to the day to day roles of a Firefighter. But if we take our list above, we can start to see how the PQAs link in to the workplace. For instance:

• Coming up with suggestions to fix problems- this action links into looking for solutions, relevant to the PQA ‘Problem Solving’

• Listening to other’s point of view- this behaviour is relevant to the PQA ‘Effective Communication’.

  

• Being more open minded when something has to be done differently- this attitude ties in with being able to see new possibilities and being ‘Open to Change’.

• Dealing with problems instead of leaving them for someone else- is part of being practice and ‘Problem Solving’

• The ability to control your emotions and not let things get to you is an element of the PQA ‘Confidence and Resilience’

As I said, the answers are there if you look. We had some fantastic suggestions from the managers in Norfolk about how to run practical session to help the team see the PQAs in action- from a blindfolded task to highlight verbal and non-verbal communication styles, to watching episodes of Big Brother to see which of the PQAs the house mates are (and more commonly are not) meeting! (Look out for Commitment to Diversity & Integrity, Working with Others, Confidence & Resilience in particular!)

• Shares with you the ONLY formula you need for Application form success;
• Provides you with over 10 examples of application form answers for you to compare to your own;
• Covers ALL possible PQAs, and therefore applicable to both parts of a 2 stage interview process;
• Coaches you to improve your answers through step by step exercises;
• Includes detailed analysis of good and weak answers;
• Explains what the FRS needs and how you can demonstrate this;
• Describes what the application form assessors are looking for and what they do not want to see;
• Includes questions to help you identify your best quality answers.
• This is exceptional quality product; if you use this workbook you will dramatically improve your chances of getting your Promotional Applicaton Form accepted.

PLUS!

The UNMISSABLE opportunity to submit your completed application form to an Occupational Psychologist to-

• Gain feedback on up to 3 full application form submissions (up to 5 PQAs);
• Find out which answers are your strongest;
• Find out which answers may let you down;
• Receive detailed instructions on how to improve your evidence;
• Find out if your examples are good enough to be accepted;
• Learn which mistakes you keep making and how to avoid these;
• Where you may need to alter your behaviour to be accepted for promotion;
• Be guided on when it is necessary to select alternative examples;

This is an exceptional value product for guaranteed outstanding results.

• Shares with you the ONLY formula you need for Application form success;
• Provides you with over 10 examples of application form answers for you to compare to your own;
• Covers ALL possible PQAs, and therefore applicable to both parts of a 2 stage interview process;
• Coaches you to improve your answers through step by step exercises;
• Includes detailed analysis of good and weak answers;
• Explains what the FRS needs and how you can demonstrate this;
• Describes what the application form assessors are looking for and what they do not want to see;
• Includes questions to help you identify your best quality answers.
• This is exceptional quality product; if you use this workbook you will dramatically improve your chances of getting your Promotional Applicaton Form accepted.

PLUS!

The UNMISSABLE opportunity to submit your completed application form to an Occupational Psychologist to-

• Gain feedback on up to 3 full application form submissions (up to 5 PQAs);
• Find out which answers are your strongest;
• Find out which answers may let you down;
• Receive detailed instructions on how to improve your evidence;
• Find out if your examples are good enough to be accepted;
• Learn which mistakes you keep making and how to avoid these;
• Where you may need to alter your behaviour to be accepted for promotion;
• Be guided on when it is necessary to select alternative examples;

This is an exceptional value product for guaranteed outstanding results.

• Shares with you the ONLY formula you need for Application form success;
• Provides you with over 10 examples of application form answers for you to compare to your own;
• Covers ALL possible PQAs, and therefore applicable to both parts of a 2 stage interview process;
• Coaches you to improve your answers through step by step exercises;
• Includes detailed analysis of good and weak answers;
• Explains what the FRS needs and how you can demonstrate this;
• Describes what the application form assessors are looking for and what they do not want to see;
• Includes questions to help you identify your best quality answers.
• This is exceptional quality product; if you use this workbook you will dramatically improve your chances of getting your Promotional Applicaton Form accepted.

 PLUS!

The UNMISSABLE opportunity to submit your completed application form to an Occupational Psychologist to-

• Gain feedback on up to 3 full application form submissions (up to 5 PQAs);
• Find out which answers are your strongest;
• Find out which answers may let you down;
•  Receive detailed instructions on how to improve your evidence;
• Find out if your examples are good enough to be accepted;
• Learn which mistakes you keep making and how to avoid these;
• Where you may need to alter your behaviour to be accepted for promotion;
• Be guided on when it is necessary to select alternative examples;

This is an exceptional value product for guaranteed outstanding results.

• Shares with you the ONLY formula you need for Application form success;
• Provides you with over 10 examples of application form answers for you to compare to your own;
• Covers ALL possible PQAs, and therefore applicable to both parts of a 2 stage interview process;
• Coaches you to improve your answers through step by step exercises;
• Includes detailed analysis of good and weak answers;
• Explains what the FRS needs and how you can demonstrate this;
• Describes what the application form assessors are looking for and what they do not want to see;
  Includes questions to help you identify your best quality answers.

This is exceptional quality product; if you use this workbook you will dramatically improve your chances of getting your Promotional Applicaton Form accepted.