As more and more people get vaccinated, there is no doubt that business is starting to pick up again across the country. Companies and individuals alike are anxious to pick up construction projects that have been delayed or postponed due to the coronavirus. But this does not by any means suggest that things are entirely “back to normal.”
Questions to Expect
Many construction workers were out of a job for a significant part of 2020. Especially if you have a gap in employment during this time, employers may be likely to ask something along the lines of, “How have you been managing your time during the coronavirus?” or “How have you been staying productive?”
Regardless of your employment status during this time, it is important to focus on the positive and point to how you have improved your skills or otherwise bettered yourself. And keep in mind that this does not have to be work-related, although it would certainly help. For example, you can talk about a personal project you pursued or a goal you set and met.
Questions to Ask
Interviews are always going to be a two-way street. But, it is also important that you use this time to understand critical issues like what new measures the company has in place to ensure the health and safety of its employees? Or, how will onboarding and training happen in light of continued social distancing regulations?
You want to see that the company has also used the past year wisely and has implemented smart changes. How well employers answer these questions will help you decide whether this is the right company and role for you.
Additional Tips
Even though the majority of positions within the construction industry will continue to take place in person (except for some administrative roles), a larger portion of the interviewing process may take online. Therefore, if you are doing a video interview, it is important that you:
- Test your technology before the interview. This includes checking your lighting and camera angle – your potential employer will want to actually see you!
- Coordinate with anyone else who might be at home or nearby to reduce the chance of background noises or other disturbances.
- Treat it like a regular interview. Just because the interview is taking place in front of a computer does not mean that you should be wearing your slippers.
Photo by Beci Harmony on Unsplash
