I talk to many groups through training schools about the interview process and dealing with company recruiters. I am often amazed to myself how much the recruiting process can be related to the business process. Those of us in business many times understand that there is a sales cycle when dealing with a client before the actual product is sold and delivered. In the business world that can be from 3-5 or more meetings depending on the scope of the product. When looking for a job at an employer the process could be related to that of a business sale. If it takes 3-5 times for someone to get to know you or your company well enough to trust your product and pay you money, then we should expect the same process for any other relationship process such as hiring a new employee. Think about the process for a minute.

In business we call to introduce ourselves and set up a meeting, we meet to find a need for the client, we meet again to demonstrate the product, we may need to meet to demonstrate to a panel, and we meet again to finish the sale. In the interview process we call to meet and see if there is a fit with the company, we meet again to review the resume and find the culture of the company, we meet again possibly with a panel or management, and we meet a final time to sign the contract or agreement. You will see the steps are very familiar.

So even if you are enrolled in a career college or training school you should start this process as early as possible as the process may take weeks or months to complete. This is where many don’t realize that as soon as you enter your school of choice and begin your program you should start seeking out the recruiters for the companies you may want to work for. The actual driving test may not come until the end of the process anyway and if you are in a reputable school getting the license shouldn’t be an issue with the recruiter as they know you will be new to the industry. That being the case what you are really interviewing for is the company culture and whether you have the soft skills and work ethic required by the company. Those skills are possibly the most important because even if you are a great driver, if you can’t relate with people then you won’t fit in many companies because most services are about dealing with people. You have already committed to a career so make the most of it and get the job process started. After all at the end of the course your experience level will not have changed very much from day one other than you should now know how to drive a truck safely down the road and understand the regulations required to do so.

About the Author

Bruce Outridge is a business and leadership consultant with over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry. He is the author of the books Driven to Drive, Running By The Mile, and How to Start an Artistic Business in 12 Easy Steps. To learn more about Bruce please visit his website at www.outridge.ca