Interview

[lbfrsedinburgh]

Hi all

I wad wondering if anyone can help me I no that the final interview is PQA based and I have a note of all the PQA's and have learned them all off by heart which I rekon is a good start to preparing for the interview what I was wondering is do you actaully haft to give examples of how you used them or just say them....

''Like I was able to recall and apply the job related information to solve this problem'' or do you actaully haft to say how you did that

[Andy Cole]

You will be asked to describe a situation which relates to a time when you have applied the personal qualities and attributes.

For example  "please describe a situation when you have worked with others as part of a team"

It is important that you say what YOU did in the situation!!!

[lbfrsedinburgh]

Yeah I get that like for that type of sitaution for working as part fo a team I would be like I took the time to introduce myself to everyone to proactivly start good working relationships...and I was concerned about the wider team and and aware of the shared objectives'' is that where i want to be goin wiht something like that

[Kaiser]

I'm not sure that that would be the best example, think about completeing a task.  Say for example you have in previous employment been in a situation where there were problem with achieving a certain task.  Think about how you and the others worked together to complete the task, then explain what you did as part of that team. Did your efforts make the team achieve it's goal, quicker, better or more efficiently and what was the outcome of your participation.

[hannahvca]

A mistake a lot of people seem to make is to focus on the more 'procedural part' than the 'PQA part' of the situation. For example, when using an example of working with others to set up a charity sports event, applicants/ interviewees will often tend to focus more on what needed to be done and the outcome, and skim over the 'working with others part' with a few vague references to 'consulting' or 'supporting others'. There are lots of ways of consulting and supporting others, but people often overlook providing a full description of these activities.

A good rule of thumb is to add 'by' at the end of the sentence eg I supported the others in the group....BY.....!

Hannah

[lbfrsedinburgh]

i see what you mean hannah by saying things like i was able to start good working working by introducing myself to other and getting to know about them by asking questions and finding out about them, is this the type of thing you mean by actaully showing how you where able to use that PQA instead of just mentioning them. I think thats the most difficult part Ive been in alot of sitautions as result of being a train drvier that I can honestly say I have used alot of the good PQA's it take to become a firefighter but it thinking of how to say them and get it across to the interviewer without actaully just saying it.

I no why I want to be a firefighter and I wont stop applying till iam one Iam just looking for all the help I can in getting into the first steps of becoming a firefighter If i could pass all the selection tests including the interview medical and the referances and start training to become a wholetime firefignter it would be a dream come true.

[ruffles1]

lbfrsedinburgh, when answering PQA`s its best to get your grammar and spelling correct, it may seem picky but if its a close call between you and someone else, every point counts

[lbfrsedinburgh]

yeah thanks ruffles lucky the interview is a spoken one so I dont haft to write anything down. Iam just trying to find the bets way to get the right answers across I have loads of excellent eamples to give from my voleenter work and my role as a train driver. Iam thinking of applying to join Fife Fire and Recure this year is anyone on this site currently serving with them hat could give me any help?.

Being a firefighter is my dream!!

[Fireguy1230]

Hi lbfrsedinburgh

 I appreciate that the interview is purely a verbal exercise, but the initial application form is PQA based and consists of written answers (150 words) per answer. Its quite a bit of writing. And when you are at Gullane, and a station afterwards, writing is a big part of your training and development.  I'd definately encourage you to apply for FF jobs mate, but perhaps consider looking at your spelling and grammar (there are a number of courses on offer in the Edinburgh area to improve this). Because everything counts when you apply and everything does count when making decisions on who progresses to the next stage.

[docfin]

LBFRSEdinborough. I apologise if I am wrong but I get the impression that you may be Dyslexic or have a similar learning issue. If you are, be sure to let the service you are applying to know about it when you are asked for the information on your applications. They will need to make arrangements to cater for any needs you have, such as giving you extra time for written tests etc. These adjustments are a legal requirement for them but can only be provided if they are aware of the candidates issues. Many people try to hide learning needs thinking (wrongly) that these will prevent them from applying for posts and then miss out on simple adjustments which could make a big difference for them.

[lbfrsedinburgh]

I am not Dyslexic, I was just in a hurry to write that post as I was leaving for work and wanted to get that post on the site. Allow I fully understand what you mean my writting and grammer is good and I should not have a problem with anything like that in the written exam and in training If iam successful hoopefully in fact I made it to the interview stage the last time I applied and unfortnatly failed at that stage.  I really want to become a firefighter and serve my commmunity and work with different groups of people. Iam applying this year for Fife Fire and Rescue Service and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service as well as Tayside Fire and Rescue Service next year If unseccessful with this year recruitment process.  

The interview stage is the only thing that stands between me and my dream job and I want to achieve the highest marks on it as I understand it is this and written exam is whar decides if you proceed to the medical. I know I have all the PQA's is takesa to become a firefighter and lots of examples I can give of this. i just need help expressing them.

[rips]

I think you need to be a careful Docfin, assuming someone may be dyslexic. The tests to discover if someone is dyslexic are very complex and can only be administered by professionally trained personnel.

Also to get extra time in tests / assessments or similar (if you may be dyslexic) you have to have gone through al the tests and have written proof to provide to the test centre.

Totally different thread to this topic but I thought it needed to be said, sorry.