The most important aspect of construction recruitment is the selection interview. A candidate only has one chance in which to create the right impression and, given that employers have high expectations of potential employees, it is important to make as much of the opportunity as possible. Interview situations of any kind can be stressful and demanding environments; an interviewee can feel under scrutiny and worry about the minutiae involved: should I have answered that question differently? Did I come across as nervous? Did I come across as over-confident? Interviewers are not there to ‘trip you up’ or trick you into saying something that might reflect badly on you; on the contrary, it is in their interests to find out as much as they can about your attitude and potential as part of their workforce. In other words, you stand as much chance as the next candidate, as long as you approach the interview candidly, honestly and have done some preparation and planning in advance. When applying for jobs in construction, there are a number of steps you can take to improve your chances of becoming successful. Prior to the interview, it is worth taking some time to research the companies you are interested in working for. There are many resources available on the internet and, not only will this help you to refine your interview approach, it will also make you appear positive and focused. Using this method, you may find that you are able to answer questions more readily and you can tailor your answers to suit the philosophy of the company. In addition, you may have knowledge of the wage systems involved, in which case it is a topic you can avoid in the interview situation; ideally these should be discussed at a later date or, if the subject is broached, you can make sure that your answers do not appear unreasonable. The aim of the interview is to present yourself as a professional who can work as part of a team. Construction recruitment type jobs rely heavily on ‘team players’ and if you can refer to positive and challenging experiences to reinforce your CV, these can play a useful part in interview technique. Focus on explaining how negative challenges were overcome to a satisfactory and positive resolution. In terms of basic conduct, you want to avoid any behaviour that may present you as unprofessional, negative or unfocused. Ensure that you arrive approximately 10 minutes before your interview is due. Ensure that you project a confident, yet approachable attitude and ensure that you listen attentively to all that is said to you. Listening reinforces the idea that you are able to work as part of a team and is a simple display of respect. In turn, when you come to speak, ensure that you do so clearly and articulately; avoid using slang or mumbling.
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