Fire Department In-Basket

After viewing the video, members can hone their skills using AFO’s in-depth and complex In-Basket exercises.  Each exercise includes 10 components that are commonly seen in In-Basket testing throughout the country. Captain/Lieutenant members have access to five In-Basket exercises. Battalion Chief members have access to an additional four BC level exercises.

Each exercise includes a complete answer key that identifies the correct answers and explains the rationale behind them. Once you complete an in-basket exercise, you can review all the factors and actions you should have considered to maximize your score for that In-Basket exercise. By understanding the reasoning behind the answers and prioritizing, you can more easily apply it to the next exercise.

As a new member, your first step is to watch the training video to learn the system of how to successfully complete an In-Basket Exercise. You will apply the knowledge obtained from the video to complete a 60-minute In-Basket Exercise, then compare your answers to the answer key. Each answer key clearly explains how to manage each component, and why it was prioritized the way it was.

Initially, you will probably find a significant gap between your answers and those provided on the answer key. After practicing with several In-Basket exercises, you should find that your answers are more thorough and prioritized correctly, translating to a higher score on your exam. When competition is fierce, it’s important not to leave any points on the table.

View the bonus video Understanding Raters to gain insight into how the assessment center operates from a rater’s perspective, and how raters from outside organizations are able to effectively score your assessment center.