As recruiters, we at JustinBradley spend a significant part of our day interviewing accounting, finance and business professionals, and we understand that most people approach the process with a combination of excitement and nervousness. One way to lower those nervous feelings during an interview is to be prepared. We encourage all our candidates to practice answering common interview questions (ideally out loud).
Here are six common interview questions you will want to review and prepare for when interviewing for a contract position:
The interviewer wants to know not only are you qualified for this role, but does this position align with your career goals. Your answer will help reassure them that, despite being a contract worker, you are committed to the project.
**And don’t forget to let the interviewer know that you’re interested in pursuing the position. Say things such as “I’m very interested in this opportunity. I hope we can talk further”, or “From what you’ve told me, I’d like this job.” Be sure to ask what the next step is. This draws the interview to a close and ensures everyone is on the same page moving forward.
Here at JustinBradley, we love behavioral interview questions and you can definitely expect something similar to the above. Your answer to this question will tell the hiring manager how quickly you can jump in and start contributing.
Even as a contract employee, it is still very important that you get along well with existing employees for the sake of the team’s morale and productivity. Prepare to give examples of how well you have worked with a range of different personalities during your interview.
Now’s your time to shine! Be ready to talk about your strengths and make sure you have several to talk about. As a contractor, your skills and ability to immediately apply them effectively and efficiently will be your biggest selling point when getting hired.
Be prepared to answer a range of specific technical questions related to your area of expertise. Share what you’ve achieved – processes improved, errors eliminated, savings identified. Be as specific as possible and use numbers, which give the manager a sense of your expertise.
Lastly, it’s your turn to ask the questions. Prior to your interview, prepare a list of questions you might have for the hiring manager. This will not only demonstrate your interest in the role, but it will help you dig deeper and decide if this is the right opportunity for you.
How To Turn Your Contract Job Permanent
Tips for a successful general contractor interview
If youre pursuing a career as a general contractor, prepare for your interview using the following tips:
Do you have experience with hiring and working with subcontractors? Provide examples.
General contractors may need to hire subcontractors to finish a construction project. An employer may ask this question to gain insight on your experience with hiring and working with subcontractors, your communication skills and your decision-making skills while selecting the appropriate subcontractor for the project. While answering this question, include what types of subcontractors you have experience with, how you evaluate the need for subcontractors in projects and what processes you use to find subcontractors.
Example: “In my previous role, I completed many home remodels. Ive hired electricians, carpenters and painters to help with remodeling projects. One remodel this year included adding an office and a bedroom. As they were new rooms, I needed to hire an electrician to wire and install lighting and outlets in the new rooms. I researched local electricians and performed phone call interviews to confirm their licenses, evaluate the electricians experience with remodeling and determine if they had the skills to meet my projects needs.”
Interview questions with sample answers
Review these interview questions and sample answers to prepare for a general contractor interview:
Best Questions to Ask Contractors Wishing to Become Full-Time Employees
This may seem obvious, but it’s a critical question to ask. Anyone seeking to turn a contract position into a permanent position will undoubtedly invite any temporary team members to apply for permanent versions of their jobs before advertising the role externally.
Hiring managers will want to satisfy themselves that those contractors aren’t just “buying time” until a better contract job elsewhere comes along. That’s why it makes sense to be direct and ask those contractors why they want to work there permanently.
Those hiring managers and anyone involved in the interview process can determine where their real motivations lie from a contractor’s response and body language.
What Have Been Your Achievements Here?
As part of your interview processes for contractor to permanent employee conversions, you want to determine what a contract worker has done during their tenure at your business and if they’re a high achiever.
It’s not a good idea to consider permanently taking on contract workers with long term contracts if they’re no good at what they do.
When you ask someone what their top achievements at your organisation have been to date, you’re trying to establish how they’ve benefited your business.
Getting this full time position isnt a sure thing (even though I feel my chances are good) and I want to be prepared. Thanks for the help!
Ive been working at a bank for a year now on a contract basis, and a full time employee has left leaving his position available. I applied to the job posting and got through the screening interview.
My phone interview is scheduled this week and I know I should go with questions, but I have a good handle on the manager Id be reporting to, the company culture, and the position itself. What do I ask about? Im going to be interviewing with the manager and lead Ive been working with on a regular basis.
FAQ
How do I convert a contractor to a full-time employee?
- Offer the job to the contractor. Contractors are not obligated to accept full-time job offers from a recruiter’s client. …
- Charge your recruiter fee. Did the contractor accept your client’s full-time job offer? …
- Remove the contractor from your payroll.
How do I transition from independent contractor to employee?
- Think about why you’d like to move into contracting before you do it. …
- Do research on your role and the industry. …
- Be wary of the dead zone. …
- Build your networks. …
- Build your brand. …
- Ensure your LinkedIn Profile is up to date, and that your resume is up to date and aligned to your LinkedIn Profile.
How do I convert a contractor to an employee?
- Verify worker classification. First, you need to make sure that the contractor really should be an employee. …
- Notify the worker. …
- Gather employee information. …
- Adjust payroll. …
- Treat the employee equally. …
- Distribute Form W-2.
What to ask when interviewing contractors?
- How long have you been in business? …
- Do you have a contracting license and proper insurance? …
- Will you obtain the permits and set up the inspections required? …
- What’s the timeline for the project? …
- What does the payment schedule look like? …
- Is there a dedicated team working on my project?
