| When interviewing for construction jobs or building | | | | camera and compatible software. Video-conferencing |
| trades jobs, there are basically two types of | | | | is now available via the Internet. The continuous drop in |
| interviews: the screening interview and the hiring | | | | cost makes it a popular resource for construction |
| selection interview. Both of these are styled differently | | | | businesses as well as home use. |
| and you need to be prepared for both. | | | | Tips for video-conferences: |
| Screening Interviews | | | | - Video-conferencing has similar video and audio |
| Screening interviews are used to qualify you for | | | | qualities to that of a home video camera. Be sure to |
| selection before you meet with a construction hiring | | | | choose an outfit that looks good on you. To avoid |
| authority. Screeners will try to weed you out rather | | | | problematic imaging, wear solid colors (not stripes or |
| than get you hired. These construction interviews are | | | | plaids). |
| normal for companies who receive hundreds or | | | | - In order to become comfortable during |
| thousands of solicitations for a single construction job | | | | video-conferencing, practice a mock construction job |
| opportunity. Screening interviews are usually quick, | | | | interview using your home video camera. |
| efficient and low cost strategies that result in a short | | | | - For the best reception, choose full-face (straight) |
| list of qualified candidates. They assist Operations | | | | camera angles instead of angled views. Seek |
| Managers to save critical time by eliminating unqualified | | | | professional help for make-up matters. |
| candidates. | | | | - If given a choice, use full view or wide-angle shots |
| If invited to a face-to-face screening interview, it will | | | | rather than close up shots. Leave the close up shots |
| usually be with a third-party construction recruiter or | | | | to the professionals. |
| someone from human resources. Human resource | | | | - Keep in mind that there usually is a lag between the |
| interviewers are typically experienced and often are | | | | spoken and heard word. Smile and maintain eye |
| professionals skilled at construction interviewing and | | | | contact as if you are in a face-to-face interview. |
| screening candidates. They may not understand the | | | | - Avoid jerky motions because only fluid motions |
| details of the job that you interview for, but they are | | | | maintain video integrity. |
| effective at judging character, intelligence, and good fits | | | | Structured Interviews |
| for the company culture. They are also good at | | | | This type of construction jobs interview is used to |
| identifying potential "red flags" or problem areas with | | | | identify the best candidates by asking them the exact |
| your work background and general qualifications. | | | | same questions. Employers attempt to create a |
| Your toughest task might be to get past the screeners | | | | common evaluation tool by providing an |
| to the Operation's Managers. Be prepared to explain | | | | "apples-to-apples" comparison of construction |
| any discrepancies in your background (i.e. gaps in | | | | candidates. Unfortunately, no two interviews are ever |
| construction employment or construction education, | | | | alike. Personal biases will affect the evaluation. |
| frequent job changes, layoffs, etc.). | | | | Third-party recruiters or the employer's Human |
| Some examples of screening interviews include | | | | Resource department usually handles these interviews. |
| telephone interviews, computer interviews, video- | | | | Construction Hiring or Selection Interviews |
| conference interviews and the structured interview. | | | | In contrast to screening interviews, there are the more |
| The purpose of these interviews are to screen you | | | | traditional construction hiring (or selection) interviews |
| and eliminate you from selection of for the various | | | | from Operation's Managers, department heads and |
| construction jobs you are interviewing for. The result | | | | construction executives who may be your ultimate |
| of this process results in a short list of a few finalists | | | | bosses. These construction managers understand the |
| since there may be several dozen candidates to | | | | technical qualifications needed to fill their vacant |
| weed out. | | | | construction positions and the team chemistry needed |
| Telephone Interviews | | | | to keep their departments running smoothly. As |
| Telephone interviewing is the most common way to | | | | interviewers, they are usually less prepared or skilled at |
| perform an initial screening interview. It helps both the | | | | construction interviewing. |
| construction interviewer and the candidate get a | | | | In fact, many spend only a few minutes looking over a |
| general sense of mutual interest in pursuing things | | | | construction resume before the construction interview |
| beyond the first construction interview. It also saves | | | | and rarely prepare questions or strategies. Most do not |
| time and money, and may be tape recorded for | | | | like interviewing. They see it as an unfortunate, but |
| review by other interviewers. | | | | necessary, task that takes away from job production. |
| During a phone interview, your goal as a candidate | | | | Employers feel that they must assume a position of |
| should be to arrange a face-to-face meeting. If this is | | | | control. If the situation is handled properly, they are |
| not possible, try to arrange another time to talk, or get | | | | usually more than willing to allow candidates to take |
| the name/address of a suitable contact in the | | | | the lead. |
| employer's firm so that you can submit a construction | | | | Construction Hiring interviews are two-way streets |
| resume. | | | | where you also will be interviewing the construction |
| If you are caught off guard or unprepared with an | | | | employer for job suitability. Most of these construction |
| incoming interview call, ask to meet in person, or | | | | interviews will take place in an office setting in one of |
| reschedule the appointment for a more convenient | | | | several formats: one-on-one interviews, serial |
| time. Remember that the person calling is the one who | | | | interviews, sequential interviews or panel interviews. |
| establishes control. Therefore, it's to your advantage to | | | | One-on-one interviews |
| place the call at a more convenient time. | | | | This is the traditional interview where candidates meet |
| Tips for phone interviews: | | | | with employers on a face-to-face, or one-on-one, |
| - At the start of the conversation, make sure to write | | | | basis. Each construction interview is somewhat unique |
| the person's name down correctly. Ask for the correct | | | | and is loosely structured. Both parties typically walk |
| spelling. Ask their phone number so that you can call | | | | away with a more natural sense of whether or not |
| them back if cut off. | | | | the fit is right. |
| - Keep the following items handy: copy of your | | | | Serial interviews |
| construction resume, list of employer questions, pen, | | | | Candidates are passed from one construction |
| paper, research material on the employer, and any | | | | interviewer to another throughout the course of a day. |
| other notes you might have. It may also be a good | | | | No decision is made on your suitability until the final |
| idea to have a glass of water nearby. | | | | construction job interview has taken place and all |
| - Dress up as though you are going to a face-to-face | | | | interviewers have had a chance to discuss each |
| meeting. This usually will help to enhance your energy | | | | other's interview. If facing serial interviews, try to find |
| level and professional presence. | | | | out something about the next interviewer (and the |
| - Always try to smile speaking on the phone. People | | | | issues important to him/her) before the meeting. Also |
| can usually sense when you're smiling or frowning. | | | | remember that you only have one chance to make |
| - Try to speak in a loud, clear voice considering that | | | | the right first impression so make sure you are |
| most phone reception reduces phone sound levels. | | | | energized and ready for the next interview before |
| - Ask several clever questions as if you were in a | | | | taking it on. If you are not, excuse yourself to go to the |
| face-to-face meeting. | | | | restroom for a break or try to reschedule the balance |
| - If you place the call, don't let the long-distance phone | | | | of the interviews for another time. |
| charge shorten the construction jobs interview. | | | | Sequential interviews |
| - If confronted with a question you do not have a | | | | Sequential interviews are the traditional means of |
| simple and effective answer for, state that the | | | | interviewing whereby a candidate will meet with one or |
| question may be better answered in person. | | | | several interviewers on a one-on-one basis over the |
| - Thank the interviewer for his/her time, and follow up | | | | course of several days, weeks or months. Each |
| with a "thank you" letter. | | | | interview moves the candidate progressively towards |
| Computer Interviews | | | | greater detail in respect to the position, the construction |
| These construction interviews are used to weed out | | | | company and ultimately an offer. Testing may be one |
| top candidates from dozens or hundreds of | | | | of the sequential interviews, as well as meeting with |
| candidates that may be applying for a specific job | | | | the top brass or even a third-party consultant. |
| opening. Computer interviews involve answering a | | | | Group or panel interviews |
| series of multiple-choice questions that will pre-qualify | | | | In this situation, a candidate will go before a committee, |
| candidates for a potential job interview and/or request | | | | sometimes as large as 10 people. This is usually done |
| resume submission. Some interviews are handled | | | | for efficient scheduling purposes in order to |
| through the telephone with push buttons, while others | | | | accommodate the management panel. Here |
| require accessing a web site to complete the | | | | candidates are evaluated on interpersonal skills, |
| construction job interview with a computer keyboard | | | | leadership, and their ability to think on their feet while |
| and mouse. Computer interviews are often timed. | | | | dealing with issues in a stressful situation. |
| Therefore, it may be worthwhile to go in as an alias in | | | | If confronted with this type of construction interview, |
| order to get a sense of questions and timing before | | | | candidates should try to identify the leader and the |
| applying under your real name. | | | | immediate supervisor of the position being considered. |
| Video-Phone and Video-Conferencing | | | | Think of the board as a single individual and try not to |
| Video-conferencing systems provide the transfer of | | | | be intimidated by the numbers. It may be difficult to |
| audio and video between remote sites. More than half | | | | exercise any degree of real control over the panel, but |
| of the largest U.S. companies utilize video-conferencing | | | | try to focus on one or two key members and control |
| as a means of convenient communication and as an | | | | their reaction to you. However, it is important to make |
| alternative to more costly face-to-face meetings. | | | | eye contact and communicate individually to each |
| Basically anyone in the world can perform | | | | panelist. |
| video-conferencing with the use of a microphone, | | | | |