One of the first steps in your Fire Lieutenant Test Prep needs to be the understanding of the new job responsibilities this promotion brings. Often a candidate will begin their studies, but will get discouraged because there is so much material to read through and learn. There is so much material because the job responsibilities of a lieutenant are so much greater then the previous rank held. In order to maximize your Fire Lieutenant Test Prep and to ensure the best score, you must understand the roles and responsibilities of the fire lieutenant position. Once you understand and accept the new skills, knowledge and abilities needed to be successful in the new position, you should begin your prep work.

Your Fire Lieutenant Test Prep begins with determining what the upcoming test will entail. You need to find out if there will be a written exam, oral interview, emergency scene simulator, in-basket exercise, an employee counseling session or a writing assignment. Read the notice of the exam carefully so you understand what components will be tested, and how, during the exam. Another avenue is to talk to successful candidates from the previous fire lieutenant’s test and determine what components were tested during their exam. Once you determine which components will be included, you can focus your practice in the areas that the test will evaluate.

Next, gather all the material from the recommended reading or study list. The person or persons creating the test will rely on these materials heavily when they develop the actual test so the wise candidates always spend significant time “in the books”. In addition, the material on the reading list is what you will need to know to be a successful officer so the study time is well worth it.

Build a strong foundation of knowledge from the material in the reading list. Once you have that foundation your Fire Lieutenant Test Prep should broaden to include practice for the components of the actual test that we previously identified.

Many candidates spend all of their time reading and “thinking” about how they will perform or respond during their test. However, the best, and most successful candidates practice the actual “doing” rather then just thinking about. Its like teaching ladders in the academy, which candidate will be more successful: One that only reads and thinks about putting up a ladder or the one that reads, thinks about it, and then puts the ladder up numerous times? I think you’ll agree that the candidate that has hands-on practice will have the greater chance for success.

Therefore, your Fire Lieutenant Test Prep must include practical application of the new knowledge you have gained through your reading and experience. If your organization utilizes a dynamic emergency scene simulator, you should allocate considerable time to practicing running dynamic emergency scene simulators.

If there is an employee counseling session included in your fire lieutenant’s test, you must develop skills, through actual exercises, to manage a difficult employee. If there is a writing assignment, you must practice your writing. The best way to get better as a writer is to write!

Of course practicing emergency scene simulators, employee counseling sessions or writing will only help you if you have a method to receive feedback on how you performed and where you can make improvements. Many times candidates practice within their study group of other hopeful candidates or for friends or family. The problem with this is obvious if you step back. The helpful candidate or family member doesn’t have the skills, knowledge or abilities of the position to effectively help you learn and improve your performance.

Your Fire Lieutenant Test Prep must include a method where you can evaluate your performance against a standard. One of the best methods is to see or hear an example of someone that understands the responsibilities of the position and has the required skills managing the scenario properly. This allows you to compare your performance to the properly managed scenario and to see where you can make improvements in your own performance. This method will help you build a repeatable skill set that will improve your performance during your test. Learn more at AspiringFireOfficers.com