Interviews can be intimidating situations, even for the most confident people. That’s why, whenever you find yourself interviewing for a new job, proper preparation is everything. So, to help get you ready for your next job interview, here is a quick guide to everything you need to do to prepare with some of the most common truck driver interview questions and what kinds of questions you should be ready to ask the interviewer.
As mentioned, the most important factor in the success of your interview is preparation. It’s not as simple as showing up at a given date and time, answering a few truck questions, and hoping the interviewer likes you. If you want to be sure that you will proceed past the interview stage, you need to first make sure that you have all of your ducks in a row. Here are some things to think about for a truck driver interview:
Each of these questions may have already been answered during the application process, but if they haven’t, they will almost certainly be addressed in the interview.
Every company is different, and every recruiter or interviewer will have a different approach to a truck driver interview. Factors that may affect the process may include: whether you are interviewing with a retailer trucking company, the nature of the trucking job, how many applicants there are, the time since the job was posted, and more. However, there are still some common topics that you can expect — both in truck driving interviews and job interviews in general. Here are some types of questions to prepare for.
Why do you want to be a truck driver for us?
This is the most common kind of interview question for any interview in any profession. Interviewers want to get to know you, your drive, and your work ethic. This kind of question helps them to know your motivations and weed out those who may appear lazy or apathetic. When answering this kind of question — or any question — be honest, but an answer like “the money is good” is perhaps something you may want to avoid. Instead think about what you love most about both the profession, and the company for which you want to work.
Your interviewer may want clarification on certain parts of your job history and work experience, so there will likely be some questions around this topic. This question may focus on a particular item on your resume, or it may be a more general question. Answer as accurately as you can, and if you cannot remember a specific detail, do not be afraid to say so.
Example: “I am more interested in working for an organization with great benefits than I am about compensation. While I do want to make enough money to support myself and my family, I find that having good health insurance and vacation time is more important to me than a higher salary.”
Employers may ask this question to see if you’re willing to work outside of typical business hours. This can be especially important for positions that require a lot of customer service, such as teller or cashier roles. In your answer, try to show the employer that you are flexible and willing to do what’s best for the company.
Example: “When I first started working as a teller, I was so focused on getting my transactions right that I didn’t notice when a customer had left their wallet in the drawer. After they left, I realized my mistake and immediately called them to let them know. Luckily, they were only a few blocks away and came back to get their wallet. I apologized for my error and promised to do better next time.”
When you go to a job interview, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, experience, and skills. But what if you’re interviewing for a position with a specific company? In addition to the usual questions, you may also be asked company-specific interview questions.
Example: “I am very comfortable sitting for long periods of time. In my previous position as a teller at First National Bank, I was responsible for handling customer service issues and helping customers count their money. This required me to sit for long periods of time, but I found it quite easy.”
How do you deal with problems or setbacks?
Truck driving is a profession that is full of situations that you cannot control, and how you deal with those situations will be very telling for those who are looking to hire a truck driver. They may ask you about something specific — for example, a hypothetical situation you may face on the road, or a setback that you have faced in the past and how you overcame it — or they may ask you this question generally. In either case, it is a good idea to have a few examples in mind that you can bring up in order to illustrate how you dealt with difficult situations in a calm and efficient manner.