When getting ready for an interview, it’s crucial that you have a good idea of the questions that are likely to be asked by the employer. Some questions are universal to all types of interviews, such as “Why are you the best person for this role?” and “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?”
These questions allow the interviewer to get a feel for who you are and whether or not you would fit into the wider company culture. Take a look at how to prepare for common interview questions. As for the other questions that may be asked when applying for a production job, we’ve put together a few examples below to help you prepare to full effect.
Interview questions about experience
Some interview questions are specific to the precise production role you’re interested in. These could cover anything from your experience in similar production and manufacturing environments, to whether you can drive a forklift, the types of machinery you can operate, and your knowledge of lean manufacturing systems such as Kanban, Total Preventative Maintenance and 5S Workplace Organisation.
The depth of the questions will depend on the level of role you’re applying for, so don’t worry if some of the examples above are outside of your technical expertise. The trick is to digest the job specification and understand what the employer will expect of you.
Interview questions using scenarios
The interviewer could also ask you to describe what you would do in the case of multiple scenarios. For instance, they may wonder what your strategy would be if your department or the wider company was experiencing a particular problem, or how you would react if your workload suddenly increased.
These questions are designed to gather insight into your attitude, creativity and sense of responsibility. They could be entirely hypothetical or the interviewer may ask for an example from your previous roles, so be prepared to adjust your answers whilst remaining truthful and positive.
Interview questions for leadership roles
If the role you’re applying for is a leadership position within a production environment, the interview questions will go even more in depth. Prime examples include how you would monitor and improve workplace health and safety, ideas for rewarding employee achievements, methods of avoiding workplace conflict, and other areas relating to supervision, employee relations and continuous improvement.
How to stand out from the competition
Production roles aren’t filled haphazardly, as they usually involve heavy machinery, fast-paced environments, and a variety of risks to health and safety that must be avoided. The employer needs to know that you can closely follow all guidelines, policies and procedures, as well as contribute toward the company’s ongoing commitment to efficiency, compliance, workplace safety and sustainable growth. This is your chance to shine, show them what you’ll bring to the company and why they should hire you.
During the recruitment process, the employer will interview multiple candidates for a single role, which means that you’ll have a lot of competition to beat. That’s why punctuality, enthusiasm, clear communication, comprehensive answers and a strong explanation of why you’re the right person for the role are all core requirements. To get a feel for how you should conduct yourself during an interview, make sure to read our top interview tips.
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If you’re looking for a new role or would like additional help with interview questions and CV writing, please call your closest branch or get in touch through our contact form.