The way you frame your opening statement in an interview is HUGE. That first question—and really that first minute—is your opportunity to show the panel who you are and what you’re bringing to their department. They’re not just listening to your answer. They’re getting a feel for whether you’re someone they can see working alongside for the next 20–30 years. Can you communicate well? Can you follow direction? Will you fit in with the crew? Are you someone they want as part of their tribe? Will you contribute to the culture and help make their department better? 🔥 Your opening statement needs structure, purpose, and confidence. Don’t just wing it and hope the rest of the interview makes up for it. Listen to how we break down the framework and the importance of those first few moments with the panel. If you feel like you’re struggling with your interviews, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Will. 🔥 For a LIMITED TIME, our interview prep sessions are FREE for our Founding Community members. Right now, we want to dedicate our time to YOU guys—helping you get the reps, build confidence, sharpen your answers, and most importantly, see you WIN. Take advantage of the resources and people inside this community. Set up your FREE session with us and let’s get to work. Your opportunity is coming. Be ready for it. You Go, We Go. 🤙🏽🔥

How was everyone’s week? We’ve had a few people in this community getting results back from departments lately, so let’s hear yours! Did you pass your written? Move forward in the process? Get an interview? Land on a hiring list? Get the call? Or did you get the dreaded “Thank you for your interest, but you are no longer moving forward in the process” email? Trust me, I’ve gotten my fair share of those too. A NO doesn’t mean you stop. It means we figure out what needs work, make some adjustments, and come back better prepared for the next opportunity. Reach out to the community, Will, or me. Let’s work together and start turning some of those NO’s into YES’s. Also, make sure you’re taking advantage of everything inside the Classroom. We’re continuing to add more resources, guidance, and material to help you throughout the entire process. Right now, membership is only $5/month. If you sign up now, you’ll lock in our Founders Rate. By the end of the year, membership will increase to $20/month as we continue adding more resources, material, and value. Our mission is simple: 🔥 Help you get hired. 🔥 Help you pass probation. 🔥 Help you build a long and successful career in one of the best professions in the world. So let’s hear it 👇 What was your WIN or LOSS this week? Good or bad, share it with the community. We learn from it, we get better, and we keep moving forward. PASS THE TEST • ACE THE INTERVIEW • GET HIRED YOU GO, WE GO. 🔥

What an amazing turnout yesterday. I want to thank every single person who showed up ready to learn, work, ask questions, and get better. I also want to give a huge shoutout to Firefighter Jerry Salmeron, Chief Segura, Captain George Rojas, Firefighter Matt Adams, and everyone else who came out and poured their knowledge and experience into you guys. I don’t know if everyone there truly realized the caliber of instructors we had in one place yesterday. These guys are the cream of the crop. The best of the best. The varsity team. Watching them lean into you guys and break down exactly what an interview panel is looking for was awesome to see. How to walk into the room. How to give a firm handshake. How to look people in the eye. When to sit. How to carry yourself. What to say. How to say it. How to tell your story. How to separate yourself from everyone else interviewing for that same badge. Those little details MATTER. And that is exactly why we are doing these events. If your goal is to become a firefighter, the goal shouldn’t be to just pass. You don’t want to just pass your CPAT or Biddle. You don’t want to just pass the written test. You definitely don’t want to walk out of an interview hoping you scored high enough to make a list. 🔥 PASS THE TEST 🔥 ACE THE INTERVIEW 🔥 GET HIRED The goal is to prepare yourself so well that when your opportunity comes, you are ready to separate yourself from the hundreds or even thousands of other candidates fighting for that same position. Yesterday gave you the information. Now it’s on YOU to put it into action. 🔥 AND WE’RE NOT DONE YET! Tune in TONIGHT at 7 PM as we continue breaking down the fire department interview process, along with many of the other pieces that go into getting hired. Bring your questions, take notes, and come ready to learn. If you’re serious about getting hired, these are the reps you need to be getting now so you’re ready when your opportunity comes. For everyone who attended yesterday, drop a comment below with ONE thing you learned and ONE thing you’re going to work on this week.

I’ve had a few of you ask me lately, “Should I wait until I finish school?” or “Should I wait until I finish the academy before I start applying?” My answer is NO. APPLY. Apply whenever you meet the minimum qualifications because you never know what opportunity might come your way. Your goal right now should be to get yourself inside a firehouse and around the fire service as much as possible. We can talk all day about station life, expectations, routines, cooking, cleaning, training, checking equipment, running calls and learning how to carry yourself around a crew. But actually living it and experiencing it yourself is a completely different ball game. That experience starts building structure, discipline and confidence. You start learning how a firehouse operates and, more importantly, how YOU fit into that environment. And yes… that young guy in the picture is me 😂 Right out of my fire academy in 2004, I became an Ambulance Operator with Huntington Beach. I also spent time with Compton and La Habra as an Ambulance Operator / Fire Intern, and even worked for CARE Ambulance for a short stint. I wasn’t sitting around waiting for the perfect opportunity. I was trying to get experience, learn the job, meet people and get one step closer to getting hired. I’ve been in your shoes. I know what it feels like to be trying to figure out the next move and wondering whether you’re doing enough. That’s a big reason why I started Own Your Shift and why I want to help you guys succeed. Keep applying. Keep testing. Keep visiting stations. Keep learning. Keep putting yourself in positions where opportunities can happen. Your first job doesn’t have to be your dream department. It might just be the experience that helps you get there.

I passed my first fire department interview with the help of Will and Jimmy! Full of gratitude!! 🔥🤙🏽