27 September 2024

You’ve applied for a construction job and got yourself an interview – well done! Getting this far is a fantastic achievement, and now it’s time for some interview prep so you can land that job.

 

What is a job interview?

Think of a job interview as a polite conversation, rather than an interrogation. The interview is an opportunity to see if you’d like the job and company, as well as a chance for the employer to see if you’re a good fit for the role.

An interview can be a daunting experience, so it is completely natural to be a bit nervous. The key to nailing a job interview is to prepare, and the best way to prepare is to research the company, think about the questions you might be asked, and have an idea of how you’d answer them before you step in the door.

 

Why is interview prep important?

Remember the “5 P’s” (prior planning prevents poor performance) from school? It’s applicable to interviews too, because it's great to appear well-prepared.

 

Before the interview

Research the company

A good place to start is to conduct some background research on the company interviewing you:

  • Visit their website to find out their core values and areas of speciality
  • Find out about any key projects they’re working on
  • Look online for any news related to the company.

Having some basic background knowledge of the company is something employers really appreciate, as it shows you’re genuinely interested in them. It can also serve as a handy way to break the ice.

Understand the job description

Make sure you have read the job description carefully. This will give an indication of the kind of person the company are looking for within the role, what strengths and experience they should have, and what the job entails. Referring to the job description during the interview will be received positively by the interviewers.

Gather relevant documentation

If the company have asked you to bring any documentation with you, such as a passport or driving licence for proof of ID, ensure you remember to bring them.

Hints and tips

  • Prepare something smart and comfortable to wear. Unless you know that the company have a relaxed dress policy, it is always advisable for men to wear formal clothing (a shirt, tie and suit if possible)
  • Check what time you need to arrive and the name of the person you’re seeing – it’s good practice to arrive 5-10 minutes early
  • Plan your route to the interview in advance
  • If you have a disability and need adjustments to make the interview accessible, you can get advice from Scope on how to ask for them

 

During the interview

When you meet your interviewer, or interviewers if it is a panel interview, shake their hand and make some initial small talk. Say that you are pleased to meet them, and thank them for taking the time to see you. Try to maintain eye contact during the interview.

Be prepared to discuss your experience and specific examples

It is important that you provide examples of what you have done in the past during your career that make you a good candidate for the job. It could be when you produced or built something, worked as part of a team or contributed significantly to a project, or demonstrated the skills that the interviewer is looking for.

Showcase your skills

Most interviews are competency-based, in that they focus on the things you can do well. So you’ll be asked to give examples to show you have the skills needed for the job.

Ask the employer questions

Questions may naturally arise from the discussion, but it’s good practice to head into the interview with a few prepared. Some useful ones include:

  • What do you find most enjoyable about working for this company?
  • What training opportunities are there?
  • What kind of challenges is the construction industry facing?
  • Ask about the company’s key projects, achievements and things they’re proud of as a whole.

Common interview questions

Tell us about yourself

It’s one of the most common interview questions, and there are many ways to answer it.

The key thing here is to keep it relevant to construction and the job – you can talk about some of your hobbies or interests, but don’t go into great detail about your love of cats or football.

Instead, discuss what drew you to want to work in construction, why you would want to work for that employer, any work or education-related achievements you’re proud of, and what useful skills you’ve picked up on your journey. Keep it personal, open and honest – it’s a good way to let the employer know the sort of person you are.

Give us an example of when…

This sort of question is used for finding out whether you have the required skills for the job. Some common ones include: ‘Describe a time when you demonstrated leadership’, ‘Give an example of when you used your initiative’ and ‘Give an example of when you juggled deadlines’.

Answer these questions by using the STAR format: explain the Situation, the Task(s) you had to complete, the Actions you took and the Results of your actions. Place the most emphasis on Actions and Results.

You can use examples from your work or education experience, but make sure to place an emphasis on the skills the employer is looking for.

What would you do if…?

This is a scenario-based question which can cover topics such as dealing with conflict within a team or with a client, receiving negative feedback, an unexpected delay to work, a burst water pipe etc.

These questions aim to see how you go about solving problems, so explain your thinking and why you would take a particular course of action. If possible, call upon times in the past when you’ve faced similar problems and how your actions led to a positive outcome.

Again, this can come from work or education experience, and not necessarily from a construction environment.

What do you know about the company?

This is where you have the opportunity to show that you have done your research about the construction company. You can talk here about the kind of projects that the company has worked on, its history and what its values are. Perhaps you can also mention some of the awards it might have won or initiatives in which it has been involved.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

When thinking about your strengths, try to relate them to the job description, and give examples of how those strengths were demonstrated. Identifying your weaknesses can seem much harder to do, but employers ask this question because they want to know about your level of self-awareness and the potential you have for personal growth in a job role.

Try to focus on those areas of your personality that do not reflect badly on yourself and would put someone off employing you. It is better to say, for example, ‘I am too much of a perfectionist’, than ‘I lose concentration easily’.

Can you describe a time where you worked as part of a team?

Interviewers ask this question because they want to know about how well you work as part of a team. Construction is built on teamwork – nothing can get built by people working on their own. You should prepare an answer to this question in advance. It is not enough just to say ‘I worked with a team of carpenters’ on a project; explain the challenges that the team faced, how you worked together to respond and resolve those difficulties, and what you learnt as a result.

Construction interview questions

Why do you want to work in construction?

A bit of a classic this one. This is your chance to show your passion for construction – what is it about the industry that sparks your enthusiasm? What do you want to achieve in your career, and how do you think you are best suited to construction?

What is your favourite building or structure?

Interviewers want to see that you have a passion and an interest in buildings. You might already know of the examples to use here, but this might be an area where you need to do some research. There are plenty of TV programmes and books about the history of famous buildings, or you could search online. Go Construct has several articles that could provide some inspiration, such as Top 20 Famous Buildings across the world and Construction facts about famous buildings.

What safety practices do you engage in during construction work?

Safety at the workplace, or on a construction site, is the most important consideration for construction employers. You should go into an interview with a good knowledge of the best practices of health and safety.

Refer to any previous experience you have of maintaining the safety of yourself and others on site, as well as how you have handled any safety issues.

How do you handle physically demanding tasks and long hours?

Most on-site jobs in construction require good levels of physical fitness. Interviewers want to know whether you are prepared for the physical challenges of working on a construction site, in all weathers. While you will only be obliged to work your contracted hours, some projects may require paid overtime. If this is your first job, you may be able to use examples from work experience or voluntary activities.

What construction tools and equipment have you worked with most?

This is relevant for on-site construction trades such as bricklaying, carpentry and plant operation. Interviewers will be looking for experience using, repairing and maintaining key tools and equipment.

Post-interview follow-up

You will normally find out if you were successful at the interview within a few days. Even if you don’t get the job, every interview is a good learning experience.

Evaluate what went well

Assess which parts of the interview went well. Which questions were you most comfortable with answering, and which caused you problems? Knowing where you need to improve will help make your next interview better.

Ask for feedback

It is completely acceptable to ask your interviewer for feedback on how they thought you performed at the interview. You may have to contact the person who arranged the interview for you if you don’t have contact details for the interviewer themselves. This could be an HR manager at the construction company or your recruitment consultant.

Prepare for your construction career

With so many careers and opportunities in construction, there is something for everyone. Find out which construction roles suit your skills and interests by using our career explorer.

At Go Construct we also have over 170 different job profiles, so you can probably find a career in construction that suits you. Each job profile has plenty of useful information, such as salary, training options, key skills and case studies from people already working in construction.

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