Spend a few hours learning everything you can about the construction company—from as many sources as you can.
The most common sources for company research are the company's homepage, their LinkedIn page and Glassdoor.
Get a sense of “who” the construction company is and how to embody a similar personality during your interview.
We think Facebook is a great place to get more of a feel for the company's social vibe.
Twitter can also be an excellent resource because you can see what the company and it’s employees are talking about.
Don't spend too much time on Twitter. It can be a rabbit hole.
No matter what role you’re interviewing for you should be familiar with the company’s projects ahead of time.
Ask three to four current employees on LinkedIn what projects the company has recently completed, currently has underway and what is on deck for the future.
Check out Glassdoor for company reviews from current and previous employees—but take them as a guide, not fact.
Glassdoor typically attracts more disgruntled people than it does happy people. Take these ratings with a grain of salt. Anything you discover that is bothersome should be discussed in your interview.
Before your interview, get a list of the people you’re meeting with from the company.
After you have your list make sure you memorize each of their professional and educational backgrounds. This will help you to find common ground and potentially understand the context of certain lines of questioning.
Before the interview, ask the interviewer if they use a specific method of interviewing.
As an example Google uses the S.T.A.R. method. A method is merely a specific way questions are asked as well as answered. From our experience most companies do not use a specific method.
Spend time thinking carefully about what skills and accomplishments will resonate with your interviewer the most.
Candidates often focus too heavily upon preparing for the company and the interviewer and subsequently they forget to devote some time preparing how they will discuss their skills and accomplishments in a clear, concise, and relevant manner.
The most common question in an interview is "tell me about yourself". Be prepared for this question as there is a very high probability you will be asked it at the onset of the interview.
Keep this short and sweet. Make it relevant to the interview. Avoid anything too personal. Close strong.
Don’t be thrown off by the classic, “What’s your biggest weakness?”
Avoid cliche answers to this one. Try to be honest and transparent.
You can easily find lists of common interview questions—but don’t prepare by writing out your entire answer.
Prepare using outlines, not paragraphs. You want your answers to 'flow' and not sound scripted.
Don’t forget about the numbers! Construction is full of numbers! Project size is always discussed.
Do memorize project budgets, dates and schedules. This will demonstrate that you are serious about the 'business' of construction.
It’s likely you’ll get asked why you’re interested in this particular role and company.
Be prepared for this one. Really know your 'why' as this could make or break your interview. This is your chance to really connect with the interviewer.
Don’t just think about how you’ll answer certain questions; practice looking in the mirror and answering them out loud.
This sounds silly but you'd be surprised - it can be very effective.
Do as many mock interviews as you possibly can with a friend. Preferably a friend in construction.
A construction buddy will be the best prep you can get.
Prepare a few smart questions for when it’s your turn to ask.
Prep no more than five questions. Make them good.
Look sharp. Shine your boots. Most construction companies are somewhere between business casual and business professional attire.
Look sharp and always be ready to go out to the field.
Don’t forget about the little things: Shine your shoes, check for loose hems, and make sure your fingernails look manicured.
Grooming is key. Have a family member look you over.
Do a little pampering, because looking your best helps you feel your best.
Fishing at your favorite lake counts too! Whatever you do beforehand - go into your interview relaxed.
Print out five copies of your resume.
Use a nice quality paper and triple check for typos.
Prepare a list of references whether you think you’ll be asked for it or not.
Make sure your references know (1) to expect a call and (2) that you are interviewing and (3) what company you are interview with.
Prep a go-to interview kit for your purse or laptop bag.
Bring all the essentials: mouthwash, gum, flosser, an extra shirt, work boots, hard hat, and any other PPE you may need for an improptu field visit.
Clean out your bag!
Do not bring anything you don't need. Travel light.
Spend the most time before the interview not rehearsing questions, but reflecting on your career chronology to date.
This is so important and often overlooked!
Come up with a go-to phrase that’ll help you avoid dead air if you need time to stall and gather your thoughts.
Somthing like "I see you built the Hilton hotel downtown, nice work! What was the project schedule on that one?"
Brush up on what certain body language conveys.
As an example crossed arms don't always mean closed off, sometimes its just self soothing.
Use an interview cheat sheet to compile all the details you need to remember.
Cheat sheets are legal during the interview process. This isn't a college final.
Get some sleep.
If you are a night owl, plan a physically exerting day the day before so you can get to bed early the night before the interview.