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A question that comes along in the majority of fire service interviews will contain an
element of this question. I'd like to prepare you for offering an answer that carries more
substance than the usual six word answer that oral panels are accustomed to.
The pat and standard six word answer to this type of question is:
"I have no problem with that."
In a number of my videos I train how to avoid the quick answer and I train that because
the quick answer is often an interview killer. And a quick answer is usually a dead answer.
Here's a text book answer to a pretty standard fire service interview question.
Mr Rolfe, What are your thoughts on tight, restricted
spaces and heights?
There're people that have natural fears, and there are those that have irrational fears
of closed spaces and heights. I've never had a fear of either, but rather, a respect for
both.
Let me qualify that statement. I'm not a thrill seeker, not by a long shot. I'm not so fearless
of heights that I'll be base jumping anytime soon but I am capable of tolerating and functioning
at heights that most people can't.
I'm also capable of working in operating in tight, closed in spaces. Finally, when I say
I respect these two elements, I mean that I wouldn't take my safety, or someone else's
safety for granted in either situation and would act responsibly when I'm called upon
to function in those two environments.
You don't want to simply answer that these don't bother you, because every applicant
is going to say that. They want substance to this answer, like most, and like most other
applicants, you're going to give them the ingredients that make a rock solid answer.
In all of your communications with the oral panel, you want to give them the "Answer to
Beat" and you will with this one. Why? Because you've not only told them you don't have any
form of claustrophobia, or an irrational fear of heights, but because you've also defined,
or at least mentioned, fear, irrational fear and RESPECT for these situations.
What quality to you posses? Respect! You've also noted that you're not a thrill seeker
and you'll manage the responsibility of keeping yourself safe, and others safe. Nobody in
interviewing for your position is going to hit the nail on the head like you just did
with this answer.
If the remainder of your answers carry the quality that this one does, expect a job offer
not long after your interview!