Posted: September 22, 2025In the construction and engineering sectors in Ireland, it’s increasingly common for employers to adopt a two-stage interview process when hiring. At Sonas Technical, we see this approach regularly across the companies we work with. Typically, candidates first complete a phone or video interview and, if successful, move on to a face-to-face meeting.
This structure allows employers to efficiently assess technical skills, cultural fit, and communication style. For candidates, it’s an opportunity to make a strong first impression, and then to deepen the conversation during the second stage.
Drawing on our experience sourcing and placing talent across construction and engineering, here’s how to prepare for, and excel in, each stage.
Stage One: The Phone or Video Interview
The first stage is usually about screening and shortlisting candidates. The interviewer wants to confirm your key qualifications and get a sense of your motivation and communication style before committing to a longer in-person meeting.
What to Expect
- Focus on essentials: Your career history, relevant projects, and reasons for applying.
- Role understanding: Basic technical or role-specific questions to confirm alignment.
- Logistics: Availability, salary expectations, and notice period.
How to Stand Out
- Prepare your story: Be ready to give a concise, confident summary of your experience and the value you bring.
- Know the company: Research their projects, key clients, and culture so you can explain why you’re interested.
- Professional setting: If it’s a video call, ensure a quiet location, good lighting, and a neutral background (blur your background if you deem it an unattractive setting for an interview).
- Communicate clearly: Speak at a steady pace and listen carefully. Enthusiasm counts here, it’s often the deciding factor for a second-stage invite.
Stage Two: The Face-to-Face Interview
The second stage typically goes deeper into your technical skills, problem-solving ability, and cultural fit. It’s also where you’ll meet key decision-makers and possibly visit the site or office.
What to Expect
- Technical or scenario-based questions: You may be asked to explain how you’d handle specific engineering challenges, project management issues, or safety scenarios.
- Detailed project discussions: Expect to discuss specific projects you’ve worked on, with attention to budgets, timelines, and team management.
- Cultural fit and team interaction: Employers want to see how you’d integrate with their team and approach collaboration.
- Site or office tour: Some employers include a walk-through to give you a feel for the environment.
How to Stand Out
- Show evidence of impact: Bring examples of past achievements, such as cost savings, schedule improvements, or technical innovations, and be ready to quantify them.
- Ask insightful questions: Enquire about upcoming projects, team structure, or opportunities for career progression. This shows long-term interest.
- Demonstrate soft skills: Leadership, problem-solving, and communication are key differentiators in engineering and construction roles.
- Professional presentation: Dress appropriately for the company culture, smart business attire for head office roles, or smart-casual with PPE awareness for site-based positions.
Final Tips from Sonas Technical
- Follow up: Send a short thank-you email to express appreciation and reaffirm your interest.
- Reflect and prepare: If you know the likely topics for stage two, take time to refine your examples and technical answers.
- Stay consistent: Make sure your CV, LinkedIn profile, and the answers you give all align.
Your Career, Our Expertise
At Sonas Technical, we specialise in sourcing and placing talent across the construction and engineering sectors. Our team works daily with employers who use two-stage interviews, giving us unique insight into how candidates can succeed.
If you’re preparing for your next move, reach out to our team for tailored advice and opportunities – we can help guide you at every stage of the process.