8 Step Job Interview Preparation Checklist

So, you’ve got confirmation that you’ve been successful to attend interview and maybe you haven’t been on an interview since Mayo last won the All-Ireland and its tomorrow, what should you be doing?

Whether you’re cramming for your first interview ever, or your first since 1951, the fundamentals remain the same. Here’s an 8-step job interview preparation checklist.

The interview Checklist:

1. Arrive early. Fifteen to 20 minutes is sufficient. Especially if the interview is on site. You’ll want to find somewhere to park and as you wait, you can observe employees coming and going, which can give you some insight into the work environment.

2.     Dress and act professionally. The suit is dead. We never advise construction professionals attending interview to wear a suit. Keep it business casual, speak positively and make eye contact.

3.     Bring multiple copies of your CV and portfolio of Projects. You might end up in a group interview, so bring at least 4 copies of your CV and a separate document with a list of the projects you’ve worked on in the past (Directors love this!!)

4. Who are you meeting. Make sure you’ve done your research before walking through the door. Have a search on LinkedIn, make yourself familiar with who you’re meeting. It’s a great wow factor when your able to break the ice having some knowledge on who’s interviewing you.

5. Google Maps. When a site-based Engineer is going for an interview onsite, we tend to send them a pin of the exact location, it makes it much easier to find, especially if the site offices are based in a field in the back of beyond. Do your research on the exact location before you start the car.

6. Have a few Euros handy. You may have to pay for parking.

7. Practice answering questions. Certain questions are inevitable. “What is your greatest strength/weakness?” “What motivates you?” “Why do you want this job?” Be ready to talk about the projects you’ve worked on in detail, a time when you took a risk, and what makes you a good team member. And remember, when they say, “Tell us about yourself,” what they really want to know are the skills and experience you bring to the position.

8. Prepare questions. When asked, “Do you have any questions for us?” it’s the kiss of death to say, “No, I think you’ve covered everything.” Have at least three questions ready. Ask about the company structure and culture. What specific challenges you might face in this position. What a typical day will be like. And, of course, at the end of the interview remember, “What is the next step in the interview process?”

Don’t forget to smile, thank the interviewers for their time and show an interest to hearing feedback.

Breagh Recruitment are one of Ireland’s leading construction recruitment consultancies, working with construction professionals, from Junior Civil Engineers, Site Engineers, Senior Site Engineers, Project & Site Managers, etc helping them develop and progress their careers in Ireland.