interview for HGV drivers
You have done your driving training and you have passed your HGV driving test. You have applied for jobs and then you get a call inviting you for an interview. Don’t panic, we’re here to help with our nine top interview tips for HGV drivers.
Research the company
Before your interview, research the company – a quick internet search is ideal. Reading their homepage and ‘about us’ pages will give you some background information about what the company does and how it operates. This will help you look interested and proactive to the interviewer as well as help you understand more about what the job might entail.
Be prepared
Have a think about common interview questions and how you might answer them, particularly around experience, your skills and why you want to work there. Recruitment sites often have lists of common interview questions, like this one from Indeed.
Take your licence
It might seem strange, but a great interview tip for HGV drivers is to remember to take your driving licence and tacho with you to the interview. This gives the interviewer the opportunity to check your qualifications and see if your licence is clean or if you have any points. Taking your tacho means they could ask you to go on a test drive and you can show off your driving skills.
Be punctual
Make sure you know where you need to go for the interview and plan your journey so that you can arrive calmly and in good time. If you are running late, call the interviewer and let them know. As an HGV driver, delivering goods on time is key so it’s important you can show you are punctual.
Make a good first impression
Interviewers usually decide about candidates in the first 30 seconds, so it’s important to make a great first impression. Think about what you will wear – make sure you are dressed in clean, smart clothes. While a suit may not be necessary, a smart outfit will show you pay attention to detail and are professional. Introduce yourself to the interviewers and shake hands confidently.
Highlight your skills
Whether you’re an experienced driver or you have recently passed with us, you will have plenty of skills to share with your interviewer. Think about the different jobs you’ve done during your career and use examples to help you answer questions. Customer service, professionalism and dealing with paperwork are all key skills that you will need in addition to having the technical driving skills.
Flexibility
HGV driving can be a demanding job and often you might be asked to work anti-social hours. at weekends or over public holidays. Being able to be flexible to meet the needs of the company will give you a better chance of gaining employment but it’s important that don’t commit yourself to something that isn’t possible.
Ask Questions
At the end of the interview, the interviewer may ask if you have any questions. This is your chance to find out more about the job and company. It’s usually good to have a couple of questions ready to ask such as what the working hours are or what training will be provided.
Say thanks
At the end of the interview, make sure you thank the interviewers for taking the time to see you.
Good luck!
If you’re about to face a job interview, we hope you have found our interview tips for HGV drivers useful and wish you the best of luck. If you haven’t yet trained but you’re thinking about a career as an HGV driver, then what are you waiting for? Book your course now with Hartlip HGV.