Tips for a Successful Interview

Be Punctual

Always arrive at least 5 – 10 minutes early when interviewing for a trade or construction company.  Arriving late for an interview eliminates you from the list of potential job applicants.  The construction industry only wants responsible individuals.  No Excuses.  Period!

Research the Company or the Skilled Trade

Construction Contractors and the Skilled Trades offer great careers.  There are many men and women who want these careers and the interviewers will ask various questions to determine which candidates researched the career and which did not.  If you are interested in a career with a contractor, know what type of projects the build, which crafts they hire, and the history of the company.  If you’re interviewing with a professional skilled trade, know what type of work a particular trade performs, working conditions, and the history of the trade.

Be a Construction Professional

The construction industry wants professionals.  The way you dress and conduct yourself in an interview tells a lot about your professionalism.  Most construction professionals work inside of businesses and they must to deal with a many people on the jobsite, most importantly the customer.  Therefore, projecting a professional image is of the upmost importance – whether you’re in management or in the skilled trades. 

Honesty is the Best Policy

Don’t ever lie in an interview.  Ever!  It’s really okay to admit that you don’t know.  In construction, we only want honest individuals.  Integrity pays.  It builds trust and instills confidence.

Have your Elevator Speech Prepared

The interviewer will almost always want you to tell them about yourself.  You need to be able to say who you are, what you do, what you are interested in doing, and how you can be a resource to the interviewers.  Always tailor your speech to your audience so it’s not generic.