This Story Blueprint Template will help you create and refine stories to use in your assessment center. Writing out the story gives you clarity. After writing out the story, practice speaking the story. The Story Blueprint template in The Promotion Playbook will help you prepare for oral boards, presentations, writing assignments, narratives on reports, and many other areas in the assessment center.

There are 5 basic elements to structure your story. Once you have your basic structure, you can expand the story as needed. 

Who: Who is the main character/characters in the story? 

Where: Where does the story take place? 

Want:  What does the character want in the story? 

Problem: What is the problem or conflict that keeps the character from getting what they want? Conflict helps to create an emotional connection.

Resolve: How does the story end? Does the character get what they want? How does the character evolve in the process?

Example: 

Who: Firefighter Jake

Where: Canyon Fire Department, AZ

Want:  He wants to be successful at promotion and follow his father's footsteps. 

Problem: He keeps failing at promotional tests.

Resolve: He finds a mentor who helps him succeed and test #1 on the captain’s test. 

It is important to keep your stories relevant to the position you are testing for. Use your life experience, both personal and professional, as long as it relates to the position you are testing for. 

Some of the stories you should prepare for the test include the following: 

-Why do you want to promote?

-What have you done to prepare for the position?

-The life experience that makes you stand out from the other candidates.

-Example of time you have successfully managed conflict.

-Your strengths

-Your weakness

-A role model in your life and why.

-A time you had to overcome adversity

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To soar through your firefighter promotional test you must be able to answer these three questions.

1. Who are you?

2. Why are you testing?

3. What makes you the best?

The best way to answer these questions is to tell a story that includes facts and is relevant to the position and department you are testing for.

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This marks the start of Season 2 for The Promotion Playbook. 

We cover the tools to guide your path to promotion in 5 minutes or less. 

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The elements of The Promotion Playbook are...

🎯 1 Target

✍️ 3 Stories

🛠 4 Skills

♟ 7 Strategies

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 The Incident Size Up Sheets are simple, one-page size-up forms you can use to give a clear, concise size-up report. There is a form to cover structure fire, wildland fire, and motor vehicle accidents.

The foundation of all these forms is a C.A.N. report:

 Conditions

Actions

Needs 

The initial size-up report is followed by a 360 follow-up report. If you get overwhelmed, just remember to give a C.A.N. report and take command. Everything else is the details related to the type of incident.

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This guide will help navigate various role-play scenarios you may encounter during an assessment center. This model is similar to the steps used in managing an emergency incident. Below is an overview of the Role Play Size Up template found inside The Promotion Playbook.

As you work through the template you will complete the following actions for your scenario…

You will also see the use of a C.A.N. report. (Conditions, Actions, Needs)

When you do counsel an employee it will usually be because of a behavior problem or a performance problem. Performance problems can usually be solved with training and accountability. Behavior problems require good communication and use of the appropriate resources.

Below are some common scenarios you may encounter:

Below are some basic guidelines to consider:

The template inside The Promotion Playbook gives an outline for role-play scenarios.

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There are four areas that create significant problems for you and your organization if not handled appropriately. Anytime you come across one of these “hazard zones”, use caution. Be prepared to navigate these issues during an assessment center. 

Awareness is the first step. Knowing your resources along with understanding policies and procedures will guide you in dealing with these issues.  

The four hazard zones are safety, emergency response, public relations, and legal.

Safety: Anything that compromises the health and wellness of your employees. 

Examples: driving, PPE, emergency scenes, station hazards, etc.

Operational Readiness:  Anything that compromises your ability to respond to emergency calls or perform your required job.  

Examples: mechanical problems, staffing problems, location, etc.

Public Relations: Anything that damages the public perception of your organization.

Examples: social media, behavior while in the community both on and off duty, etc.

Legal: Anything that can create legal problems.

Examples: harassment, discrimination, confidentiality, substance abuse, violence, etc. 

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The Shift Prep Sheet is like an accountability board to help with staffing. It will help clarify who you are working with, along with what qualifications your crew has.  For example, if you are responsible for an ALS engine and have an all BLS crew, that would need to be addressed immediately. 

The Shift Prep Sheet may also reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your crew that day. It will help anticipate and overcome any challenges the day may bring. This will help you to best meet the needs of your crew.

During your assessment center, pay attention to the details of all crew members and take notes. It is common for assessment centers to give you essential information throughout different parts of the testing process. For example, you may have to solve an employee challenge during an in-basket exercise and then see this same employee in a role-play scenario later in the day. 

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To be successful in a promotional test there are 3 areas you must learn to master:

The first is your story. The story you tell about yourself and the promotion will determine how well you do. Your stories direct your mindset and your beliefs on how you see the world.

The second is your strategy. You must have a proven plan and path to follow, otherwise, as Benjamin Franklin declared, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

The third area is your skillset. This includes all the practical skills required for the position and test. Your skills are paramount to your success but if they are not combined with a strong story and strategy, it won't be enough.

The Promotion Playbook has three sections designed to cover the story, strategy, and skillset that will help you succeed with the promotional test. After reading this book you will have a story to follow along with strategies and skills to implement.

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There is both an art and a science to oral boards. The art is your ability to create an emotional connection with your audience; science is the logical data to validate your case.

The Oral Board Prep Sheet consists of three categories you must know for the oral board. The three categories you must know and sell with the oral board are: Self, Position, and Department.

Under each of these 3 categories, you want to prepare in 3 areas: Facts, Stories, and Goals.

The oral board prep sheet helps you organize these ideas and prepare your script for the oral board. This will give you clarity and help you remember the critical information for your oral board. As you complete this document remember to keep everything relevant to the position you are testing for.

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Have you ever gone to write a paper and couldn't think of anything to write?

If so, this template will help.

There are five basic steps to the Essay Blueprint Template.

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