The best preparation for the interview is to practice using mock interviews with someone who can be helpful. Have someone you know (or ask someone from your city's human resources department) to ask you questions that you can practice answering in an interview setting. Use the interview questions provided in this chapter as a guide. Through repetition your confidence will increase for two reasons:

1. You will be better prepared through studying well. (There'll be fewer pauses using "Uh,")

2. You will be more at ease and confident in this type of practice environment or setting.

Candidates spend hours increasing their strength and fitness level and spend many hours volunteering and taking courses but, only spend a short time preparing themselves for the interview. I guarantee, if you go into an interview just 'winging it' – you will not do as well as you can when better prepared mentally.

The reason you must consider every answer during the interview is you will be nervous and we all know what nerves can do to us. I'm not suggesting that you memorize your answers word for word. But, be sure to review the example interview questions in this book and also review the night before so you have a generalized answer to each question. For example, you know "why you want to become a firefighter", but do you know "Why you would make a good firefighter?" I guarantee if you hesitate telling about why you would make a good firefighter the oral board won't be sure either. However, by already knowing what you're going to say, and being prepared by rewriting the good reason why, you have just reinforced in your mind that you will confidently give the correct answer. Not only will you feel confident, you have answered the questions properly but, the oral board is bound to be impressed as well. So don't be in a hurry they want you to succeed.

**Refer to the book The Complete Guide to Becoming a Firefighter for more articles regarding interviewing and interview preperation.