How to Prepare for a Roofing Job Interview

Reece Whitfield, Director of roofing recruitment specialists The Externals Group, shares his expert advice on how to prepare for a roofing job interview.

Reece Whitfield, Director of The Externals Group

WHETHER YOU’RE a project manager, an estimator, or a superintendent – when you interview within the roofing industry, it’s your opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

The roofing industry is known for rewarding those who are reliable, trustworthy, safety-conscious, and technically sharp. The truth is, the interviews don’t just give you the opportunity to show what you know, they give you the platform to demonstrate how well you apply what you know.

How you go about preparing for an interview can be the difference between the interviewer saying “thanks, we’ll be in touch” at the end and a job offer. In this article, we’ll show how you can give yourself the best chance of success when interviewing.

Do Your Homework on the Company

Not all roofing contractors will specialise within the same niche; certain contractors will have a focus on commercial flat roofing, some will focus more on residential or industrial. So, if you understand what kind of work they do, and the materials that they work with, then this will go a long way in the interview process. It shows that you’re genuinely interested in the company and your willingness to do the research shows professionalism.

Starting by discussing the company’s recent projects that you’ve seen on their website or social media pages, such as how they worked with TPO or EPDM for example, will instantly set you apart from most other candidates. You’re no longer seen as just another candidate looking for a job; you’ve gone out of your way to show that you’ve done your due diligence on the company and you will genuinely look like someone who will fit in.

If you do not do your research, you seriously run the risk of looking underprepared and unprofessional, which will make the interviewer think you’re not really interested in the position. Companies like to see people who understand what they do as a business and the type of projects and clients they work with. They also want someone who is genuinely interested in the culture of the business.

Know Your Stuff

Roofing contractors love to hear about possible candidates’ past achievements and their results, for example, if you’ve overseen an exceptionally large crew on a complex re-roof or if you’ve been able to reduce waste with materials whilst improving the efficiency of production. The people interviewing want to see evidence of these things.

It makes such a big difference if you are able to back up your experience with facts, for example: “I managed a crew of 10 roofing technicians on a 50,000 square foot commercial roofing project” or “I managed to decrease call backs by 30% because I made some changes to how we did our site inspections”. Statements like these will give your story credibility, because you’re providing factual information.

If you’re vague about your experience, you unfortunately run the risk of sounding generic. Therefore, it’s always better to be specific, providing actual information and scenarios because the interviewer will be able to see your value if you do.

Safety Isn’t Optional

Let’s not be fooled – safety is everything in the industry of roofing. It’s not just a box-ticking compliance exercise. It’s a huge part of the culture in place that keeps people safe and sound and businesses running as they should be. All well- known and reputable roofing companies will look for candidates who feel the same way about safety.

As a candidate, you can clearly demonstrate your commitment to safety by being able to confidently talk about things like regulations with HSE/OSHA, how to use PPE, or how you would lead toolbox talks. It goes a long way in reassuring the employer that you protect yourself and those around you, so make sure to mention any relevant safety training in your interview.

If you’re being questioned about safety and you stumble over your words, struggle to answer, or – even worse – dismiss it casually, it will raise red flags with the employer. They’ll most likely see it as a liability or look at it as poor discipline. Both of these can and will kill your chances of securing the job, and it doesn’t matter how technically skilled you are.

Prepare for the Questions You’ll Actually Get Asked

For the most part when it comes to interviews, they’ll focus on two main areas such as your understanding of the technical aspects of roofing and your ability to work within pressured environments. For example, a service technician might be asked what they would do to handle a leaking TPO seam and a project manager might be asked how they would handle scheduling if the weather is bad.

If you prepare for these kinds of questions then you can make sure you give clear and confident answers. When you’re asked more technical questions, talk about your step-by-step process and discuss what you would do first, what kind of materials you would need to use and why. When it comes to questions around behaviour, like one time you disagreed with another member of your team, use the STAR approach to structure your answer (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

If you’re not prepared for an interview, you’ll be less composed. If you’re taking too long and giving unsure answers, it can make you look unsure and the interviewer may question your knowledge and experience. If you take the steps to make sure you’re prepared, then you’ll remain confident and in control of what you’re saying.

Ask Questions That Actually Matter

Near the end of most interviews, you’ll be asked if you have any questions. This is a great chance for you to show that you’re engaged and serious about the role you’re applying for.

Good example of questions to ask are: “How do you measure success in this role?” or “What does your forecast look like for projects over the next 12 months?”. Questions like these will show you’re thinking about how you can contribute and also helps you gauge whether the company is a good fit for you.

When you don’t ask any questions at the end of an interview, it can come across as passive or uninterested. The thing is, employers want to see people who will use their initiative and be proactive, this will help them see that you can take an active role in their business.

Show Up Like a Professional

Like in most industries, how you present yourself is highly important. Things like how you dress, talk, and conduct yourself will reflect how much pride and respect you have for your work.

As long as you look professional, arrive on time, and bring a copy of your resume, you will make a good first impression. Even small details like keeping eye contact and offering a firm handshake can often make all the difference in interviews.

If you show up to an interview straight from being onsite, you may appear disorganised to the employers and they might question your professionalism as a result. That doesn’t mean you always have to be wearing a suit and tie, but you should make yourself look like someone they can send to meet a client and represent the company.

Summary

Preparing for a roofing interview isn’t about giving perfect answers – you just need to show you’re skilled, safety-conscious, and serious about your work. Make sure you research the company before interviewing, know your stuff, have a big focus on safety, be prepared for questions and ask smart ones in return. Most of all, make sure you present yourself as someone who takes great pride in their work.

It is the candidates who prepare for all outcomes that are rewarded in the roofing industry, so if you take the time to properly prepare then you can walk into any interview with confidence and give yourself the best chance of getting the job you want.

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