A formal interview

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Been out of work sinse just before christmas rang around the local firms to me not much doing at the moment,( as ive been reading on
here),anyway had a look on job centre site last week I dont remember applying for this job,but company just rang me to formally interview
me Wednesday,all well and good but what is a formal interview?
Ive only ever done informal ones for jobs before, you know word of mouth come and see me and given the job.
Im 51 now what can i expect?
its with BSS class 1 work didnt even know they did artics.

2

Don’t panic…

A ‘formal’ interview is the same as an informal one as far as you are concerned. Lot’s of employers have had to formalise the interview procedure to show that they are not discriminating in any way. All it means is that they will have a standard set of questions and some kind of score sheet for each candidate.

3

But what do you wear if It’s a formal interview and driving assessment ? Do you turn up suited and booted ? Good luck and maybe research the company online and get some history on the them.

4

Always always always wear a suit when going for a job interview.

5

rambo19:
Always always always wear a suit when going for a job interview.

The last two interviews I’ve gone for I didn’t wear a suit and I ended up getting the jobs but didn’t take the latter, but I had driving assessments after the interviews so would you still wear a suit ?

6

bald bloke:
The last two interviews I’ve gone for I didn’t wear a suit and I ended up getting the jobs but didn’t take the latter, but I had driving assessments after the interviews so would you still wear a suit ?

Whatever you wear, make it obvious that you’ve made an effort. I’d also suggest that you take with you a clean hi-viz, safety boots, pair of overalls if you have some just in case you are asked to do an assessment. You could leave 'em in your car and just casually mention that you have them with you.

And don’t forget to take BOTH parts of your licence; you’d be surprised how many do… oh, and your digi-card.

Good luck mate.

7

I would always do the following,

  1. As mentioned, always wear a suite but carry the clean hi viz, boots etc in the car as someone has already said
  2. Take a copy of your cv, including one for the interviewer, this shows you are well prepare.
  3. Take a file with your certificates if you have any. If not use it to carry your cv.
  4. Always arrive 10 minutes early
  5. Remember that you have the experience so make sure you give different examples of this in the interview
  6. The famous question I always ask is, do you consider truck driver a team work or solo job. Always state team work and give examples.
  7. Never slate past employers
  8. Relax, relax, relax.
  9. As for the driving assessment this is all down to the individual.

Hope this helps a little. Oh nearly forgot, take your passport to prove you are entitled to work in the uk

8

A quick question sort of related to this; Cannon, you might be ideally placed to answer it.

If a driver were to go for an interview, would the prospective employer be entitled to pop his digi-card into their reader to see what they’ve been up to; and, in effect, see if they’ve been driving legally?

Not having been trained on the supervisory side of digis, I’m not sure if it’s either legal or possible but it’d be useful for others to know.

9

gnasty gnome:
A quick question sort of related to this; Cannon, you might be ideally placed to answer it.

If a driver were to go for an interview, would the prospective employer be entitled to pop his digi-card into their reader to see what they’ve been up to; and, in effect, see if they’ve been driving legally?

Not having been trained on the supervisory side of digis, I’m not sure if it’s either legal or possible but it’d be useful for others to know.

This to me would be ott, it’s nothing I would ever consider doing. I would ensure though that all hours for the reference period are taken from the driver. Remember that a driver working for someone else working towards a different reference period may not be legal in the new employment.

To answer your question i have never heard anyone doing this

10

Thanks. It just occurred to me that it might be a possible “back door” method of checking an applicant’s previous.

Nice to see that at least one employer has scruples! :smiley:

11

gnasty gnome:
Nice to see that at least one employer has scruples! :smiley:

If anyone needs advise on there cv then give me a shout and I will assist for free. I do know what employers are looking for,

12

i would never show up for a trucking job in a suit, where has the realism gone with the industry in the uk? do people really need to see truck drivers bopping around in shirt and tie? its not an office job you can still be presentable without looking like a stuffed shirt, its all going too corporate and really its all a bit silly

13

Cannon:
I would always do the following,

  1. As mentioned, always wear a suite but carry the clean hi viz, boots etc in the car as someone has already said
  2. Take a copy of your cv, including one for the interviewer, this shows you are well prepare.
  3. Take a file with your certificates if you have any. If not use it to carry your cv.
  4. Always arrive 10 minutes early
  5. Remember that you have the experience so make sure you give different examples of this in the interview
  6. The famous question I always ask is, do you consider truck driver a team work or solo job. Always state team work and give examples.
  7. Never slate past employers
  8. Relax, relax, relax.
  9. As for the driving assessment this is all down to the individual.

Hope this helps a little. Oh nearly forgot, take your passport to prove you are entitled to work in the uk

Great post. +1 :smiley: :smiley:

14

Cannon:
I would always do the following,

  1. As mentioned, always wear a suite but carry the clean hi viz, boots etc in the car as someone has already said
  2. Take a copy of your cv, including one for the interviewer, this shows you are well prepare.
  3. Take a file with your certificates if you have any. If not use it to carry your cv.
  4. Always arrive 10 minutes early
  5. Remember that you have the experience so make sure you give different examples of this in the interview
  6. The famous question I always ask is, do you consider truck driver a team work or solo job. Always state team work and give examples.
  7. Never slate past employers
  8. Relax, relax, relax.
  9. As for the driving assessment this is all down to the individual.

Hope this helps a little. Oh nearly forgot, take your passport to prove you are entitled to work in the uk

If I went for an interview and they didn’t have anywhere to sit I doubt I would want to work there :stuck_out_tongue:

15

Wheel Nut:

Cannon:
I would always do the following,

  1. As mentioned, always wear a suite but carry the clean hi viz, boots etc in the car as someone has already said
  2. Take a copy of your cv, including one for the interviewer, this shows you are well prepare.
  3. Take a file with your certificates if you have any. If not use it to carry your cv.
  4. Always arrive 10 minutes early
  5. Remember that you have the experience so make sure you give different examples of this in the interview
  6. The famous question I always ask is, do you consider truck driver a team work or solo job. Always state team work and give examples.
  7. Never slate past employers
  8. Relax, relax, relax.
  9. As for the driving assessment this is all down to the individual.

Hope this helps a little. Oh nearly forgot, take your passport to prove you are entitled to work in the uk

If I went for an interview and they didn’t have anywhere to sit I doubt I would want to work there :stuck_out_tongue:

Beat me to it. :stuck_out_tongue:

16

beattun:
i would never show up for a trucking job in a suit

This^

If I’m interviewing someone for a driving job and they turn up in a suit I’ll go through the motions of the interview but they won’t be getting the job. It’s a labourers job FFS, just turn up on time, clean and tidy with boots, driving licence and digi card.

17

Forget the suit,smart casual showing you’ve made an effort.
Take all documents and references.
Arrive early.
Ask only "open"questions,eg those that start Who What Why When.
Have answers ready beforehand,so when they ask the inevitable question"What sort of things irritate you?"you reply “awkward questions at interviews”.It helps break the ice believe me.
Just relax and talk to them as though you’ve known them for years,and make a mental list of questions to ask.
Easy cheesy peasy,best of luck.

18

beattun:
i would never show up for a trucking job in a suit, where has the realism gone with the industry in the uk? do people really need to see truck drivers bopping around in shirt and tie? its not an office job you can still be presentable without looking like a stuffed shirt, its all going too corporate and really its all a bit silly

I understand the arguments being made but a lot of it is down to first impressions. It also depends on which company you are being interviewed at. A small haulage firm is a lot different to say a supermarket distribution depot. Big companies have checklists they must follow and keep to ensure equal opportunities. On that checklist will be appearance and they are looking for a suite.

I know hardened truckers would not agree with this but “it has gone corporate” as stated by beattun.

I hope that Malcolmj can give us all a shout once he has had the interview. Would be interesting to know how he went on

19

cannon the furthest i think i would go, if i was turning up for an interview with one of the more “corporate” haulage companies would slacks, clean boots and a tucked in shirt with no tie. if i was interviewing for a truck drivers position and someone came in wearing a suit, my first impression would be that this lad doesnt know this industry at all, BUT a lot of these HR people dont know this industry either and herein lies a problem

20

Its got nothing to do with knowing or not knowing the industry!!! :imp:

Its all to do with personal pride, your turnout and bearing is the simplest form of giving an impression of the kind of person you are. Ultimitely its up to you as a person in what you find to be appropriate, it may well be something you have to weigh up while preparing for the interview, i.e. asking yourself the question, “What will be the best impression to give?” If it is an owner driver with a fleet of 5 wagons then I would say no need for a suit, if it was for a international/national outfit then I would say its go in what you feel to be appropriate, in my eyes I have always been brought up to the fact that a suit and tie is a blokes way of being as smart as possible.

Its got nothing to do with sucking up to the interviewer or any ■■■■■■■■ like that, as previously mentioned boots, hi-viz, overalls etc can be in the boot of your car or indeed, in the case you travelled to the job interview on a bus, in a bag.

Maybe its just another sign that times are changing and that I’m getting old and out of touch and the path for chavs, hoody wearing Jeremy Kyle candidates is clearly being layed.

But I suppose if you set your satndards low then its easier to achieve them! :wink:

Edited to add:
By way of a disclaimer, some parts of the above are not aimed at any particular person… :wink: :wink: