locating - Utility Locating Headquarters

Transcription

INTRODUCTION
LEGAL NOTICE
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in
the creation of this report.
While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this
publication, the Publisher assumes no responsibility of errors, omission, or
contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. Any perceived slights
of specific persons, peoples, or organizations are unintentional.
In practical advice books, like anything else in life, there are no
guarantees. Readers are cautioned to rely on their own judgement
about their individual circumstances and to act accordingly.
This book is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting, or
financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent professionals
in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
You are encouraged to print this book
for easy reading; however, all rights remain with the
publisher. Please do not give this book away, either in
digital or print format. Any republishing of the
contents of this book require written permission
of the owner.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
http://www.utilitylocatinghq.com
ii
INTRODUCTION
TOP 10 INTERVIEW TIPS
FO R LO CAT E T E C H N I C I A N S
Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................. 4
5
Before the Interview.....................................................................
1) Research...................................................................... 5
2) Pre-Employment Tests................................................ 6
3) Practice........................................................................ 7
During the Interview................................................................ 8
4) First Impressions are Important.................................. 8
5) Top 12 Interview Questions for Locate Technicians..... 9
6) Be Ready to Give Real World Examples......................13
7) Be Familiar with Non-verbal Cues............................. 14
8) Be Ready to Ask Questions.........................................15
After the Interview................................................................. 16
9) The Thank You Note.................................................... 16
10) The Follow up Phone Call......................................... 17
Checklist/Summary................................................................18
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
This introduction will give you the WHY, and the following pages will show you
the HOW. We first want to understand why we are doing something before we
delve into the particulars. This is true of anything you would like to learn and
likewise true when it comes to interviews.
The goal of interviews is two-fold. It is an opportunity to find out if you
(the candidate) and the interviewing company are a good match. The interview whether it is on the phone or on-site - is a process in which both parties are
searching to see if it is a good fit for both sides.
Unfortunately for many interviewees - they don’t recognize that they are
also in the process of determining wether the job is right for them.
The KEY to being successful in your interview is understanding
this simple concept. The motivation behind YOUR“interview”
of the company will give you an “active” role instead of just a
passive role in your interview.
CONFIDENCE
With this active role you will have a sense of confidence and will help eleviate
any nervousness - which can be distracting to you and the interviewer.
This active role will also serve you in other ways as well. It will first and foremost,
demonstrate to your potential employer that you are engaged in the interview
process. It will also force you to do the necessary things that contribute to the
overall success of your interview: such as researching the company before the
interview and asking questions during the interview.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
Research is a critical. Researching the industry in general and also specific
companies is what your goal should be. This is one of the most important steps
you can take to equip yourself prior to your interview.
You can get a pulse for your industry by going to different job boards, blogs,
forums, and association sites for utility locating. Doing a search on Google or
Yahoo search is a great place to start your search.
Leveraging your contacts in the industry is also a good way to get insight. You
can connect with those you have worked and those you haven’t through
professional networks online - such as LinkedIn. You can also join groups on
LinkedIn and connect with many others in utility locating field. At the time of
this writing there were nine different professional groups on LinkedIn.
Besides reaching out to your peers - you will need to research companies.
There is a lot of ways to research a company. The first one - and most obvious is to go to the company website. There you can see how a company presents
itself.
You can often judge a company by how professional there site is. Besides the image
they project - determine what their core mission or values are. Being a good fit
mission-wise is of utmost importance. You have to understand and agree with
their core values or it won’t be a good fit for either party.
You should also get familiar with some of the contact names on the site. Namely,
the ones that would pertain to you - someone that you would likely come in contact
with during the course of your interview. This could be supervisors, managers,
human resource staff, and possibly ownership.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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Being familiar with the process and anticipating any hiccups will help
eliminate your greatest enemy - anxiety.
Things you should be aware of before you begin interviewing - is that often
the employer will want to have potential candidates take pre-employment
tests. They are pretty straightforward, and for the most part self-explanatory.
The tests will vary depending on the legal requirements of the job and also
the employers interest in screening their potential hirees. Some may
be mandatory and some may be at the discretion of the interviewer.
One reason employers use pre-employment testing is to screen applicants.
This will “thin the herd” and allow them to determine a short list of candidates
in which to interview.
The tests below are common for Utility Locate Technician jobs. Some of the tests
will come in the form of a question - while others will be an actual test.
Personality Exams - determines individuals disposition
Drug Tests - indicates presence of drugs or alchohol
Motor Vehicle Report - valid drivers license and driving record
Physical Ability Tests - Lift and carry of 50-75lbs. Walk 5 miles a day.
Sample Job Tasks - 4 Hr ride-along prior to employment offer
Background Checks - checks for arrest and conviction history
English Proficiency Tests - determines English fluency
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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Confidence is produced by simply
removing unecessary fears.
Let’s face it - we all have a lot of
fear meeting new faces in new
places, knowing we are going to
be judged, and on top of all that
having the fear of not landing
the job we are seeking after.
So what is the remedy for removing
fears and infusing confidence into
ourselves? The answer is: practice!
The first things we need to practice would be going over common interview
questions. Working through these questions is really a way of simulating what will
happen in the actual interview, and the closer you can simulate a real interview the
more beneficial the practicing will be.
You can get some friends or family to help you do a mock-interview. They
will ask you a list of questions to prepare you for how you would answer them.
Recording yourself is another way to see/hear yourself. A web camera can be used
for this type of mock interview.
Watch for filler words like “um” and “ah” in your speech. Watch your inflection, tone
and try to give an adequate length answer. You don’t want to get overly wordy (which
can happen when we are nervous), or the opposite error of just giving one word
answers.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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DURING THE INTERVIEW
It’s been said that “you will never have a second chance at leaving a first
impression”, but what is equally important is what impression you leave them
with – or end on.
The first few minutes and the last few moments are the most memorable
and therefore the most important. When we are nervous we tend to over-think
or think too far ahead for what we are trying to say and end up saying things like,
“There is a monkey in the wrench” or “I don’t want to open that ball of worms”.
Thankfully, most interviewers will overlook this and even find them humorous and
somewhat endearing, but as in the examples above – maybe that is not the
impression you want to leave or the moment you want to be remembered by.
For the most part, however, you won’t be primarily remembered by something
you say during the middle of the interview unless it leaves a unique mark on the
person you are interviewing with – (which could be a good thing in the right
scenario). So you want to stay professional and also personable, and you
certainly don’t want to break the ice with some wild story from your college
days or get into crass humor. Those are also memorable, but not the way you
want to be remembered if you want to seriously be considered for the position
you are seeking.
So from the beginning, set an appropriate tone that is both personal and
professional. As it’s been said, “if you look and act the part – then the part is
yours.” So you must dress in a way that is appropriate and professional,
exude confidence. Be sure to practice your handshake, how you introduce
yourself, and how you end the interview.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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Since we can’t know exactly
what questions the company
you are interviewing with
will ask - we have included
general questions along with
some specific questions
that are more specific to
the utility locating industry.
1
Do you understand
the job description?
The better you understand
what is expected of you the more equipped you to determine if you are a good
fit. And knowing that ahead of time saves you and your potential employer a
lot of headache.
2
What is your commitment level to utility locating?
Similar to question #1, this question is designed to help you and the hiring
manager determine if you are willing to do what it takes to be successful in
the field of locating. It will often take weeks of training before you gain an
understanding of equipment and processes, and then it could take another
1-2 years to develop the skills to be a well-rounded locate tech.
“Your goal should be able to put your thoughts into words
during the course of the interview - without it being too
scripted and sounding like you are reading from a book.”
Gail McMorran - AirX Utility Surveyors
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“Self-evaluate to see if you are someone that matches
the description of what companies are looking for.”
Guy McIntosh III - SafeSite
3
Have you ever worked outdoors in tough weather conditions?
4
Tell us about a job where you worked over 11 hours in a day?
Although, there are times where you will be indoors, in the office, in
your car, or working from home - the majority of your work is going to
be spent outside. If you have worked outdoors, and specifically in poor
or adverse weather conditions - than you will know how to answer this.
Just understand - that much like a mail-carrier, you will be expected to
perform your tasks rain or shine.
During the summer, when locating work is at its peak, there are times
where you will need to work over 8 hours in a day. During the winter,
and depending what region of the country you are working, work will
slow down a bit - so it can be variable. This is not a factory job where
you perform the exact same tasks over and over - likewise you don’t
have factory hours where they are the same every day. Be prepared
to give an answer if you don’t have experience working variable hours.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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5
What would you do if you came across exposed power lines?
The simple answer: DON’T touch them!
Beyond that, any situation that appears dangerous - you will need to contact
the right people to address the situation. If you don’t know the right person,
or company policy - then call your supervisor or manager. And in any situation
where there is danger or an emergency - it is your duty to stay calm and take
immediate action. Safety for yourself and others should be the foremost goal
of all those working to perform locates.
As you gain experience - you will gain understanding of how to treat each
situation that arises. In any case, use precaution and be safe!
“If you don’t have all of the qualities or experience - then
your commitment and willingness should be at a high-level
so you can have the time to develop them.”
Guy McIntosh III - SafeSite
6
What would you do if a home-owner tells you to leave?
Most of the time, you won’t have an issue as most home-owners are aware
that with any utilities there will be maintainence and other work performed.
But occasionaly, there are times when working on private property - that they
ask you to leave. In these cases, you need to respect the home-owners wishes
and report the incident to your supervisor or manager.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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7
Why did you leave your last job (or leaving your current one)?
This question isn’t unique to utility locating, as you probably have come
across this question if you have done interviews before. You NEED to take
the high-road and demonstrate your professionalism by NOT bad-mouthing
your previous employer. As tempting as it is, you should avoid any comments
that are negative about your previous or current employer.
Negative comments tell a future employer more about you - than it does
themand that is the whole point of the question. Try to be as open and honest
as you can, but stear clear of any negative comments.
8
Do you have issues with driving or traveling to sites?
The nature of the work you would be doing - requires that you do some
traveling and driving. This is just part of the job.
Unlike doing computer work, you won’t be sitting all day. You will be sitting
when you are in a vehicle of course, but you will traveling from site to site
wether it’s driving or walking.
Be sure you have a valid drivers license and are authorized to operate
a vehicle. Be ready to answer questions if you have any driving violations.
Editors Note....
All of the questions listed in this eBook are the actual
questions from some of the best hiring managers in
the industry.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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Most of the questions so far have been straightforward questions that don’t
require a long answer. Often times the hiring manager will probe a little deeper
with questions that will require a specific real-world example.
This will come in the form of asking you something like “give me an example”
or “tell me about”. Your answers will come in the form of stories that will
provide the answer the interviewer is seeking.
Below are some examples of the more elaborate questions. They are very pointed
and intentional. They will not only evaluate the actual content of what you are
saying but also your non-verbals. If you are telling your experience and you
have an expression of disgust or distain - that will also speak to the significance
of the story. Just make sure your expressions are appropriate, professional and
relevant to the question.
9
Give me an example of a time when you found an error in someone
else’s work because you didn’t trust that it had been done correctly.
How did you handle the communication?
10
Tell me about a time when you walked into a situation where there
were no previous policies or procedures in place but you had to get
up to speed quickly. How did you do it?
11
Give an example of your ability to trouble-shoot problems. How do
you approach them?
12
Tell me about the most difficult and stressful assignment that you
have had. How did you handle it?
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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According to recent reports, body language comprises a larger portion
of communication - more so than using verbal language.
For starters, you don’t wont to be chewing gum, looking disinterested, or
distracted by your mobile device. The things you want to do is bring a smile,
a firm handshake, a pen and notepad, and a breathe mint.
Besides those things, you want to present a professional attitude and a
genuine interest. Eye contact is extremely important. Don’t interrupt and
make sure they know you are listening.
This is an opportunity for them to gather clues on how well you would interact
with others - and how socially aware you are. As you will often need to interact
with a lot of personalities while on a locate. During the course of your job
as a locate technician you will need to talk with homeowners, business owners,
supervisors, other techs, engineers, excavators, surveyors, etc.
Just be aware that your actions speak louder than your words, and that
standing with your arms-crossed, slouching in your chair, dirty clothes,
scuffed shoes - will communicate much more than you may realize.
“You should know the equipment and materials that are in the
industry. Don’t get into the interview and realize that you can’t
effectively communicate about the things we use everday”.
Gail McMorran - AirX Utility Surveyors
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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Remember at the beginning in the Introduction we dicussed your“active” role in the interview.
This is the time where you are in the driver’s
seat and can and definately should ask
questions. To not do this, would be a
great opportunity lost. Show your
interviewer that you have put some
thoughtful consideration into this position
and the company. This is the critical step in your
consideration if the company is a good fit for you as well.
Below is a list of example questions that you could ask. It would be a good
idea to examine your current situation and prioritize what things you need
in your next job as a locate technician.
If I was offered this position - who would I report to?
What could I expect to be doing in 3 years from now - if I was hired?
What are the ways in which I can move up in the company?
What is the primary skill that you are looking for in this position?
Is there ongoing training or professional development?
Can I call you in a week if I have not heard anything yet?
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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AFTER THE INTERVIEW
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
So we are done with the interview - now what? With a thank you note you can
ensure a lasting impression, but you must act immediately.
Ideally, you would have a very brief hand-written thank you note already in an
envelope with postage that is ready to mail. Since you would have this already
before your interview - you can immediately drop it off at the Post Office that night.
It would then get delivered (hopefully) the next day.
If for whatever reason, you don’t have a hand-written card/note dropped in mail
right away - you can alternatively write a thank you note in an email. It is a good
that you do it that evening - so that it will be read the very next morning.
Here is a sample thank you note:
Dear__________,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with
you about the position within your company.
After hearing about your company goals and
strategies, I am even more convinced that I
will be able to provide you with the level of
work that you are looking for.
If you have any other questions, feel free to
contact me.
THANK
YOU
Sincerely,
Your Name
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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AFTER THE INTERVIEW
After you have sent the Thank You Note, wait
about five days and make a Follow-Up Call.
This will let the hiring manager know that you
are still interested, and you could also provide
any information that they are still needing.
You should call, email, or snail mail your contact
person once a week. Remember, it’s the weeks
following the interview that they are doing a careful
consideration of all candidates. You don’t want to get trapped into thinking you
are bothering them -they expect, anticipate, and hope that you will show the
interest and persistence for the job.
Here’s is a sample phone call script:
THEM: Good afternoon, XYZ Company
YOU: Hello. Could I speak to (the name of the person who interviewed you)?
THEM: Yes, one moment please.
....waiting
YOU: MR. or MS. INTERVIEWER. This is (your name). We had an interview
last week on (the date of your interview) and I’m just following up to see if
the position has been filled.
MR. or MS INTERVIEWER: (they will give you an answer)
YOU: OK. Thank you for your time. Good-bye.
If they tell you the position has not been filled you can ask them when you can
expect to hear from them if you do get the position; this will give you a timeline.
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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QUICK REMINDER SHEET
CHECKLIST
RESEARCH THE COMPANY
PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTS
PRACTICE
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
ARE IMPORTANT
REVIEW TOP 12 INTERVIEW
QUESTIONS
BE PREPARED WITH
REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES
GET FAMILIAR WITH
NON-VERBAL CLUES
BE READY TO ASK
QUESTIONS
SEND A THANK YOU NOTE
FOLLOW-UP CALL
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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SUMMARY
SUMMARY
There is a lot that is overwhelming
when it comes to the whole interview
process. Don’t let it discourage you!
You can rest assured that once you
have done all the work in preparing
you can trust your instincts and
just be yourself. Stick to the what you
feel comfortable with, and that will
help you be confident and at ease.
GO
APPLY
You will likely experience obstacles in this
process and things will not likely go all as planned,
but that doens’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan in place.
Utility Locating is an exciting field and will be very rewarding career. So
even if you hit a bump in the road or don’t land the job that you were hoping
for - keep going! Dont give up.
The future is bright, and if you are willing to put in a little effort you will be
rewarded. In addition to following this guide - try to find a mentor that can
help you avoid some of the common mistakes in getting (and keeping) a job
in this field.
Be friendly, be professional, and smile!
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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SUMMARY
We at Utility Locating Headquarters hope that this guide will serve you well
on your interviewing journey!
We have a lot of tools on our website that can help you - so please take advantage
of those resources. Come visit our job board as well at:
http://www.utilitylocatinghq.com/utility-locating-jobs/
We wish you the best on your endeavors!
ULHQ Team
YOU ARE
!
D
E
R
I
H
UTILITY LOCATING HQ
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locating - Utility Locating Headquarters

Transcription

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