Tag: interview advice

Production Worker Interview Questions: Safety

The worst hiring result a company can have often relates a new employee being unsafe. There are too many horror stories of a new hire, on their first day, stepping off a loading platform, putting their hand in a machine where it shouldn’t go, or doing something unsafe and really stupid. In the worst cases, the new employee intends to get hurt, hoping to get a big worker’s comp settlement from the injury.

The worst hiring mistake a company can make often relates a new employee being unsafe.  There are too many horror stories of a new hire, on their first day, stepping off a loading platform, putting their hand in a machine where it shouldn’t go, or doing something unsafe and really stupid.  In most situations, the employee is extremely careless and is an accident waiting to happen.  In the worst cases, the new employee intends to get hurt, hoping to get a big worker’s comp settlement from the injury.

The cost of a major injury can be significant.  A back injury that requires surgery can cost in excess of a quarter of a million dollars.  There are few ways a new employee can hurt a company this much this fast.

Being safe and following the safety procedures will help prevent injuries.  Most importantly, following the safety procedures should eliminate most if not all the serious risks.  Procedures like lock out/tag out need to be followed without exception.  Failing to follow them will eventually get a person killed.

When hiring managers interview prospective production workers, they will usually try to get an idea of the candidate’s safety record and commitment to safety.  Being able to answer these questions directly and honestly will help the impression you make.  If you have been involved in a safety incident in the past, you will need to be able to explain the details, and what you would do differently.  You can change something that happened, but you can learn from the experience.  You will need to show what you learned and how you would act differently in the future.

Interview Questions:

  • Have you ever been involved in a safety incident?
  • When was the last time you committed a safety violation at work?
  • Describe your commitment to safety.
  • Tell me about a time when you helped a co-worker correct an unsafe behavior.
  • Tell me about the biggest safety hazard at your last job.
  • Tell me about the safety program at your last job.
  • What do you consider is most important, productivity, quality or safety?

Make sure you prepare to discuss safety in your next interview.  Potential workers who show little interest or commitment to safety will get rejected quickly.

Production Worker Interview Questions: Mechanical Ability

In a production environment, the ability to understand how the equipment works is an important skill. Having extensive mechanical experience can speed up training and make an employee more versatile. It can also help an employee work safer and more productively.

In a production environment, the ability to understand how the equipment works is an important skill.  Having extensive mechanical experience can speed up training and make an employee more versatile.  It can also help an employee work safer and more productively.

Every position requires certain technical skills.  In manufacturing, there is wide range of skills that companies may want.  To build a strong team of production workers, a company can’t always require every skill.  For example, a company may be the only one in the area with specific type of machinery.  They will not be able to find new employees who have experience with that machinery.  This makes it essential to hire individual with strong mechanical skills that can be applied to wide range of equipment.

To demonstrate your mechanical skill, you will need to show a long track record of mechanical experience.  Ideally, you have been working with heavy equipment, repairing machinery and improving your mechanical skills for your entire career.  For example, an individual who grew up on a farm and learned to repair the farming equipment from a young age will have an excellent understanding of the basic mechanisms of machinery.  You can’t train a new hire and give them the insight that comes with 10, 20 or 30 years of fixing a wide range of machinery.

In addition to showing the range of experiences, you should give some specifics of the type of mechanical work you have done.  Talking in generalizations will only get you so far.  Describe major repair work, examples of operating complicated machines, or installing equipment.  This will give the interviewer a clear picture of your skill level reinforcing the broad scope of your experience.

Interview Questions:

  • Tell me about your manufacturing experience.
  • Describe your mechanical skills.
  • Do you have any experience setting up and operating equipment?
  • What are you strongest technical skills?
  • Can you read engineering drawings?
  • What types of equipment have you worked on?
  • Do you consider yourself very mechanically inclined? Why?

If you want a job in manufacturing but have no mechanical experience, answering these questions can be tough.  There isn’t an quick fix.  Developing mechanical skills takes years.  You can start by taking some classes at local Vo Tech school or community college.  Find out from the employer you are pursuing what types of classes will best prepare you for their organization.  Few people will go to the effort to do this, and it will set you apart.

No Worries Man

I’ve got a friend working on a Caribbean island on a large construction project. The island is small and there are few jobs available. Residents are routinely walking on to the job site to ask for work. Their typical approach shows what NOT to do in a job search.

I’ve got a friend working on a Caribbean island on a large construction project.  The island is small and there are few jobs available.  Residents are routinely walking on to the job site to ask for work.  Their typical approach shows what NOT to do in a job search.

My friend is part of the project management team (he’s an engineer), but isn’t responsible for hiring construction workers.  Despite this, a lot of potential workers approach him (mainly because he’s in the office a lot and works a ton of hours).  Their approach is direct – they walk up and ask for a job. 

The engineer then asks a few questions to learn about the job seeker.  First on the list is “what are you good at?”  In almost every case, the answer is “No worries man, I do everything.”  This answer is useless.  It gives no information about the job seeker and fails to give any reason why he should be hired. 

The next question the engineer asks will relate to a specific functional area.  For example, “do you have any experience with…” tile installation, drywall, carpentry, hvac repairs, electrical, plumbing, etc.  Generally, he asks about a skill that is currently in demand on the job site.  The answer is almost always the same, something like “No worries man, I’m the best tile installer on the island.”  If the engineer asks about a second area, say “Do you have any electrical experience,” he gets the same answer “No worries man, I’m the best electrician on the island.”

Because everyone claims to be the “best on the island” for every skill, the answers are meaningless.  They do nothing to differentiate the job seeker. 

The next question the engineer asks is for examples of the work they have done, for example, “what types of tile installation projects have you worked on?” You should be able to guess the answer at this stage…  “No worries man, I do it all.” 

At this point, if the engineer is really busy or having a bad day, he will usually throw the guy out.  If he’s feeling generous, he might ask a couple more questions, but they produce the same generic answers.  No matter how many different questions he asks, he’s never been able to get someone to give a specific answer.  They all are “the best on the island and can do it all.”

The core problem with generic answers is they don’t allow a hiring manager to consider the job seeker.  In this engineer’s case, all he wants to know is who to send the potential employee to see.  Is the best place the superintendent for flooring, plumbing, electrical, finish carpentry, etc?   That superintendent will then make the hiring decision.  Unfortunately, if you don’t know what a person is good at, you can’t classify them and consider them for a job.

I expect the workers are worried they will miss an opportunity if they take a stand.  For example, if they say they are good with drywall, they will only have a chance if the company is hiring drywall people.  If the company is hiring in other areas, but not drywall, the worker would be out of luck.  Narrowing your scope to a single job type won’t limit the number of opportunities.  On the contrary, it will do just the opposite and open up opportunities.  There are no jobs for a pure generalist.  Every job requires some level of specialization and certain skills.  If you don’t focus on a niche, you will not be considered for anything. 

This is the result for the workers on the island.  They never get to speak with the superintendent who might hire them. 

Interviewing with a Former Boss or Coworker

If you network well, there’s a good chance you will eventually interview with a former boss or coworker. This can feel awkward. The interviewer has firsthand knowledge of many of the experiences and accomplishments from your background. They also know about your failures and weaknesses. Preparing for an interview like this can be difficult.

If you network well, there’s a good chance you will eventually interview with a former boss or coworker.  This can feel awkward.  The interviewer has firsthand knowledge of many of the experiences and accomplishments from your background.  They also know about your failures and weaknesses.  Preparing for an interview like this can be difficult. 

When you prepare for an interview with someone that you know well, you need to approach the interview just like any other interview.  Prepare examples of your experience from both the times you worked with them, and when you worked apart.  Don’t assume the person will remember all of your accomplishments from the time you worked together.  It is likely, they have forgotten many of the details. 

The experiences you gained after working together are also important.  You should provide a clear picture of what you have been doing, and what you have accomplished.  Discussing your recent experiences provides an opportunity to show how you have learned and grown professionally.  The interviewer will know your weaknesses.  Showing you recognized these weaknesses, worked to improve on them, and succeeded in developing in these areas can be very impressive in an interview.

You can expect some of the interview to be very conversational, with the two of you reminiscing.  This is good but don’t forget you’re in an interview.  Focus on listening and answering the questions asked. 

When you interview with a former coworker, you have one big benefit: you are a known entity.  Hiring managers want to make a great hire, but often are more worried about avoiding a bad hire.  Knowing a person will be able to meet expectations, even if they aren’t a super star, can be the tipping point in a hiring decision. 

There is one question you can ask that could improve your chances: “What about this position will be more difficult for me in comparison to the job where we worked together?”  The goal of this question is to uncover any reason the interviewer might reject you.  You may not be able to overcome this, but at least you will have the chance to address it. 

If you ask this question, be prepared for some criticism.  You’re asking the interviewer to tell you why they think you won’t succeed.  If you get defensive or argumentative, you will almost guarantee that you will be rejected. 

There’s a chance the objection will be something you can’t overcome.  For example, the hiring manager wants a technical skill you don’t have.  In this situation, there’s only one thing you can do.  You need to express your commitment to learn the new skill quickly.

The other scenario involves and objection in an area where you have gained experience and skills since working with the interviewer.  The interviewer will picture you exactly as you were when you last worked together.  Your challenge is changing the picture.  Show the new experiences and accomplishments you have had.  If you do this effectively, you will show how you are more capable than in the past.

Interview Tip #13

Interview Tip: Your attitude affects your interview performance. Smile and make eye contact during an interview.

Interview Tip:  Your attitude affects your interview performance. Smile and make eye contact during an interview.

Having a positive attitude, showing enthusiasm and energy, and displaying confidence will help the impression you make.  A good way to do this is to make eye contact and smile throughout the interview.  Some job seekers get nervous and allow this to affect their attitude and image.  Be aware of your expressions and eye contact during an interview and you will be more success creating the impression you want.

For many job seekers, a lack of confidence interviewing is a significant factor in their job search.  Completing several mock interviews can boost your confidence and improve performance.

Interview Tip #12

Interview Tip: Show your ability to make the hiring manager’s job easier along with the contribution you could make to the company.

Interview Tip:  Show your ability to make the hiring manager’s job easier along with the contribution you could make to the company.

Showing the end results of your work is important on your resume, but you need to present more in an interview.  How you work, including how you get along with peers, interact with your boss, manage deadlines and deal with changing or ambiguous priorities, is essential to your presentation in an interview. To do this, you need to show the specific actions that led to the results you achieved.

Interview Tip #9

Interview Tip: Don’t try to be someone you aren’t in an interview.

Interview Tip:  Don’t try to be someone you aren’t in an interview.

Some job seekers try to exaggerate their background to appear vastly different from reality.  This is a mistake.  Being genuine and honest is always the best course.  First, exaggerating your background may cause a hiring manager to question your claims – there are stories that job seekers tell that just seem too good to be true.  Second, if you make yourself out to be something you aren’t, there is a good chance you won’t be happy in the job if you get it.  Even worse, your claims may cause you to be rejected for a position that is a good fit.

 

Interview Tip #7

Interview Tip: Demonstrate your willingness to do whatever the job requires.

Interview Tip: Demonstrate your willingness to do whatever the job requires.

In every job, there is a reason they pay you – activities and responsibilities that a person otherwise would not want to do.  These undesirable parts of the job are often the most critical to the role’s success.  You want to demonstrate in an interview that you willing to do every aspect of the job.  Show your work ethic and examples of when you went above and beyond the expectations placed upon you.

Behavioral interview questions are often used to assess how a person acts instead of focusing just on responsibilities and results.