Hi James, I hope you are well? Just a quick question. I have my first interview for a Trainee QS role next week. I am currently in Year 2 of a QS degree. The company is primarily a design and build company. Do you have any ideas on what questions I will be asked and do you have any tips for me? Finally, when will you be uploading content again? Your videos have been an invaluable source of knowledge for me!
Hi Alex, thanks so much for the kind words. We don’t have a firm date in the diary but we’re hoping to be back later this year. We’re currently talking about taking down the pay aspect of the website and hoping people will support the channel by purchasing an iglu. Once everything is agreed our side I’ll do an update video with our thoughts and plans and let everyone give us feedback Honestly my advice would be to stay relaxed about second guessing questions coming from the interviewers. It often comes down to how much experience they have interviewing and in all the interviews I’ve been a part of there has rarely been consistency with the questions. I also think it’s dangerous going in with fixed ideas on questions as you’re filling your mind with robotic responses which aren’t helpful. Something I have always done and told everyone to do is prepare a small analysis to do with the company interviewing you. 1-3 pages typically with some images. I can give two examples which might spark an idea for you too. When I interviewed for a developer I reviewed the finishes across a few of their developments. Noted the things I thought they’d done well but highlighted areas where I thought there was room for improvement by spending more wisely rather than more money. You may have learnt this at uni but “value” is perceived. Which essentially means it’s in the eye of the beholder. With construction generally the public have little idea of one construction cost to another (i.e. one internal door to another) it’s the end picture they’re looking at to judge whether they think it’s good value for money, etc. Similarly my sister in law had a marketing interview recently and my idea which she ran with was to look at all their marketing channels Pinterest, Instagram, email, etc and analyse what she thought was working well in her eyes and where she saw opportunities. Pinterest in particular was something they weren’t particularly focusing on but their demographic was highly active here so it showed a potential opportunity. She got the job and they asked if they could keep her presentation. One of the keys to doing this is make sure you’re not arrogant with the suggestions. It’s really important to show humility, recognise and congratulate their strengths and any ideas you have try to make sure they’re expressed positively and softened in their approach “you may have already thought of this but I thought their could be an opportunity to do this or that”. The presentation really shows you care, gives them an insight into you and will hopefully give you some questions to ask them. Normally people completely blank at “do you have any questions” and this is a mistake in my opinion. You’re gonna need to ask lots of questions when you get the job to be able to learn so interviewers can read into silence quite a lot when you don’t have anything to ask. If you’re ever stuck, ask the Career Insights question of how did you get started in xyz. If you can read one book between now and then I’d say read “how to win friends and influence people”. It’s a cringe title but I think it’s a book everyone should read at least once just to remind themselves how far little things go and how to make good first impressions. Hoped this helped and all the best for the interview 👊
Hi James, just a question, it’s a long shot but can you give me some guidance on how to answer this scenario Kier Highways has just won a Term Maintenance Contract for 10 years for the provision of services for West Bridge with a value of £40m per annum. You are the Commercial Manager responsible for the commercial mobilisation element of the contract. Please describe what things you would consider and what processes you would implement to ensure the contract commences on a sound commercial basis. Your answer should include, but not be limited to, cost capture, value understanding, reporting and cash management, etc
Hi, would love to be able to help but my construction background was in the residential sector and highways maintenance is an area I don’t have any experience in so wouldn’t want to offer any thoughts that might turn out to be a hindrance rather than helping. Sorry I can’t be more help.
nice and amazing video good lkucck
Great channel. Why don’t you post anymore?
Hi James, I hope you are well? Just a quick question. I have my first interview for a Trainee QS role next week. I am currently in Year 2 of a QS degree. The company is primarily a design and build company. Do you have any ideas on what questions I will be asked and do you have any tips for me? Finally, when will you be uploading content again? Your videos have been an invaluable source of knowledge for me!
Hi Alex, thanks so much for the kind words. We don’t have a firm date in the diary but we’re hoping to be back later this year. We’re currently talking about taking down the pay aspect of the website and hoping people will support the channel by purchasing an iglu. Once everything is agreed our side I’ll do an update video with our thoughts and plans and let everyone give us feedback
Honestly my advice would be to stay relaxed about second guessing questions coming from the interviewers. It often comes down to how much experience they have interviewing and in all the interviews I’ve been a part of there has rarely been consistency with the questions. I also think it’s dangerous going in with fixed ideas on questions as you’re filling your mind with robotic responses which aren’t helpful.
Something I have always done and told everyone to do is prepare a small analysis to do with the company interviewing you. 1-3 pages typically with some images.
I can give two examples which might spark an idea for you too.
When I interviewed for a developer I reviewed the finishes across a few of their developments. Noted the things I thought they’d done well but highlighted areas where I thought there was room for improvement by spending more wisely rather than more money.
You may have learnt this at uni but “value” is perceived. Which essentially means it’s in the eye of the beholder. With construction generally the public have little idea of one construction cost to another (i.e. one internal door to another) it’s the end picture they’re looking at to judge whether they think it’s good value for money, etc.
Similarly my sister in law had a marketing interview recently and my idea which she ran with was to look at all their marketing channels Pinterest, Instagram, email, etc and analyse what she thought was working well in her eyes and where she saw opportunities. Pinterest in particular was something they weren’t particularly focusing on but their demographic was highly active here so it showed a potential opportunity. She got the job and they asked if they could keep her presentation.
One of the keys to doing this is make sure you’re not arrogant with the suggestions. It’s really important to show humility, recognise and congratulate their strengths and any ideas you have try to make sure they’re expressed positively and softened in their approach “you may have already thought of this but I thought their could be an opportunity to do this or that”.
The presentation really shows you care, gives them an insight into you and will hopefully give you some questions to ask them. Normally people completely blank at “do you have any questions” and this is a mistake in my opinion. You’re gonna need to ask lots of questions when you get the job to be able to learn so interviewers can read into silence quite a lot when you don’t have anything to ask. If you’re ever stuck, ask the Career Insights question of how did you get started in xyz.
If you can read one book between now and then I’d say read “how to win friends and influence people”. It’s a cringe title but I think it’s a book everyone should read at least once just to remind themselves how far little things go and how to make good first impressions.
Hoped this helped and all the best for the interview 👊
Hi James, just a question, it’s a long shot but can you give me some guidance on how to answer this scenario
Kier Highways has just won a Term Maintenance Contract for 10 years for the provision of services for West Bridge with a value of £40m per annum. You are the Commercial Manager responsible for the commercial mobilisation element of the contract.
Please describe what things you would consider and what processes you would implement to ensure the contract commences on a sound commercial basis. Your answer should include, but not be limited to, cost capture, value understanding, reporting and cash management, etc
Hi, would love to be able to help but my construction background was in the residential sector and highways maintenance is an area I don’t have any experience in so wouldn’t want to offer any thoughts that might turn out to be a hindrance rather than helping.
Sorry I can’t be more help.