Interview tips at Kier

Congratulations! Our hiring team has reviewed your application and would like to meet you for an interview, that’s great news! But what’s next?

Whether you’re meeting your interviewers in person or  them virtually, we understand that interviews can be a little daunting, so, we’ve compiled our top tips to help you feel more prepared and at ease for your upcoming interview.

The process

All of our applications are reviewed by one of our in-house recruiters here at Kier and if we think you’ll be suitable for the role, we’ll invite you to an interview.

Our interviews take place either in-person or on Microsoft Teams – your recruiter will make you aware of which one is planned for the role you applied for.

Once you’ve agreed your time slot, you’ll receive an email with all the details including the date, time and location of the interview. It will also contain the calendar invite; add this to your calendar so you don’t forget!

If you have any questions before your interview, don’t be afraid to ask your recruiter! They’re there to help and can support you with anything you’re unsure with.

In-person interviews - getting there

If your interview is in person, make sure you familiarise yourself with how you’ll get there and who you need to ask for once you arrive.

We’d recommend you plan your journey a few days before your interview as it will give you enough time to plan and set aside enough time to get there and back. Double check traffic conditions on the day and make adjustments if necessary.

If you are late, don’t worry, we know things happen. Just make sure you have your recruiter’s phone number to hand so you can reach out and let us know.

Online interviews - test your tech

If your interview is online, make sure you’ve checked your technology won’t let you down.

With Microsoft Teams, you can click join the meeting which will take you to a waiting room that allows you to test the sound and camera on your device.

If you’re planning on joining on your mobile, you may need to download the Microsoft Teams app. You can click join meeting in your invite to test this.

Don’t forget about your Wi-Fi too! Try and find a location that offers you good internet connection.

What should you wear?

What you wear to your interview is completely up to you. We’d recommend wearing what you’d normally wear to work, whatever makes you feel comfortable and prepared.

If you’d like additional guidance, feel free to ask your recruiter! They’ll be able to give an insight into what the rest of the team wear to work.

Online interviews - location and background

It’s important to find a spot that’s comfortable, well-lit and free from distractions for your online interview. You should consider:   

Background: look for a spot with a background you don’t mind sharing. , Alternatively, Microsoft Teams provides you with options to add a background to the call – here, you could blur your background or add a template.

Distractions: we want you to feel calm and prepared, so try to find somewhere you know you’ll be able to focus. Put your phone on silent and away is also a good idea.

Preparing your space: need notes? Make sure to have them to hand! You’ll also be speaking a lot during your interview, so having a glass of water nearby is useful.

Preparing answers

At Kier, we want to understand not only your capability to do the role, but also your approach to health and safety and diversity and inclusion.

We use a mixture of competency and strength-based questions throughout the interview which means we will be asking your approach to certain situations. If you want to understand more about strength-based interviews, you can speak to your recruiter.

Reverse interviewing

Don’t forget, an interview works two ways! It’s a great opportunity for us to learn more about you, but it’s also your opportunity to learn more about Kier.

You could ask the interviewers what they like about working at Kier, what development opportunities the business can offer you, or something more specific to the role to help you understand if Kier is also the right fit for you. .

Accessibility

If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend your interview, please let your recruiter know as soon as possible so we can ensure these are in place before the interview takes place.

Be yourself!

At Kier, we want to create a workplace where everyone feels that they can belong, contribute and thrive. This means, we want you, to be you!

Interviews can be daunting, and we will do our best to put you at ease. Our Ability Inclusion Network lead has put together a 10-minute mindfulness session you may find useful to follow to find some calm before you head into your interview.

Hopefully you’ve found this useful, and you’re now feeling prepared for your interview, though, if you’re still yet to apply for a role with us, you can do so here.

Good luck!