If you’re trying to land your dream job as a delivery driver, you’re in good company. According to USA Today’s 2018 Career Guide, the fastest-growing jobs in America include truck drivers, electricians and plumbers.
So if you’re looking for a new gig that will help you gain valuable experience while earning money and benefits right away and potentially set you up for bigger things down the road this is one career path worth exploring.
That said, job hunting isn’t always easy: It requires months of networking and interviewing with potential employers before landing your first gig as a driver or route manager.
And when it comes to securing that coveted interview with an HR rep or hiring manager at a company who might be able to offer some stability in this volatile economy.
There are certain steps all job seekers should take before sitting down face-to-face with their future boss (or bosses).
Takeaways |
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Research companies that offer delivery driver positions in your area. |
Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements and qualifications for delivery driver roles. |
Highlight your driving experience and any relevant certifications in your resume. |
Prepare for the interview by practicing common delivery driver interview questions. |
Demonstrate good communication and customer service skills during the interview process. |
Emphasize your ability to work independently and manage time effectively. |
Showcase your knowledge of local routes and navigation tools. |
Highlight your commitment to safety and following traffic regulations. |
Be prepared for physically demanding aspects of the job and showcase your physical fitness. |
Follow up with a thank-you note after the interview to express your interest and gratitude. |
Write A Winning Resume
A winning resume will make you stand out from the crowd, but it’s only half of the battle. You’ll also need to write a solid cover letter that explains why you’re the best person for the job.
Before you start writing your resume, there are some things you should know:
- Include your most relevant experience first. If you have a lot of experience in logistics or driving trucks and aren’t applying to be an accountant, put those at the top of your list.
- Make sure it’s clean and easy to read. Don’t make fancy formatting choices if it makes things more complicated than they need to be (this includes multiple fonts).
- Include any awards or honors that might help bolster your application and don’t forget about education! If possible, include school attendance dates as well as graduation status and degree earned (if applicable).
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Draft A Convincing Cover Letter
In order for your cover letter to be effective, it must be brief. The hiring manager doesn’t have time to read an essay and will likely toss an application in the trash if it takes more than two minutes to get through.
A cover letter should not exceed 300 words or one page. It should also include pertinent information about yourself and why you want to work for this company. This can include references from previous employees and customers alike who know what a great job you do.
Keep your answers relevant by using specific examples of how you would bring value to their company if hired as a delivery driver:
“I am confident that my years of experience as a pizza delivery driver make me the perfect candidate for this position at Pizza Hut! My ability to work quickly while maintaining exceptional customer service skills makes me an invaluable asset on any team.”
Be honest with yourself when addressing your own strengths and weaknesses:
“While I am confident in my ability to provide excellent customer service over the phone as well as on-site at restaurants around town, I am always open-minded when learning new tasks so that no job ever seems impossible!”
Ace Those Interviews
When you land an interview, be prepared. Have a list of your previous jobs, your strengths, and any other information that will make you look like the best candidate for the job. Prepare yourself by doing research on the company and its competitors.
Find out what their goals are so that you can speak intelligently about how they can achieve them with your help.
Be confident! If you don’t feel like yourself, then how will anyone else? It’s okay to show enthusiasm this is after all why we love our jobs! Don’t be afraid to sell yourself; remember that if you’re going for a delivery driver position at KFC or Pizza Hut (two examples).
There will be lots of other people applying for these jobs as well. In addition, knowing who else has applied can be helpful in case one person gets asked something difficult during their interview while another person doesn’t get asked anything at all!
This way when it comes down to choosing between two people who were equally qualified it could go either way depending on which questions were answered incorrectly or correctly respectively.”
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Clarify Your Career Goals
Before you begin the job search, it’s important to clarify your career goals. Be honest with yourself about what you want and be prepared to answer questions about them.
You’ll also need to be prepared to explain how your goals fit into the role you are applying for and why they are relevant or important there. Finally, be prepared to explain how these goals fit into the company’s overall mission or mission statement (if applicable).
Be Visible In The Job Market
The internet is a big place and finding job openings can be difficult. There are many ways to find your dream job, but the truth is that some strategies are better than others. You should use all methods of searching for jobs, but you should put more focus on the best ones.
The most popular way to find a delivery driver job online is using one of the three main tools: job search engines, social networks, and professional networks.
Make Sure Your LinkedIn Profile Is On-Point
LinkedIn is the first place most employers will look to find you, so it’s important to make sure your profile is up-to-date and professional.
- Your profile should be complete. Include all of your education, work experience and skills that are relevant to the job you want.
- Make sure your profile is professional looking. If there’s anything out of place (like an inappropriate photo), fix it!
- Don’t use words like “I’m” or “I am” in your description these are informal ways of speaking and don’t belong on LinkedIn. Instead, use more formal language like “I have” or “I am seeking.”
This helps set expectations for potential employers about who you are as a candidate (and makes them more likely to hire you).
Network, Network, Network!
Networking is a great way to find a job. It’s also a great way to build your network of contacts, which is useful for finding jobs and building a reputation. Networking is the key ingredient to making connections and building your career.
Networking can be done in person or over the phone (or via Skype, Google Hangouts and other online platforms).
You can talk about anything from current events, sports teams or hobbies; just make sure you have something in common with the person you’re talking with so that it feels comfortable for both parties involved.
Ask About Employee Referral Programs
Employee referral programs are a great way to get your resume in front of the hiring manager, who is likely to be interested in your qualifications if they know you personally.
It’s also a good way to learn more about what it’s like working at the company, as well as what kind of work they do.
If you’re lucky enough to work with someone who’s happy at their job, ask them how they got hired! They might have some helpful tips for finding jobs where you want to work yourself.
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Sign Up For Job Alerts
Sign up for job alerts. You can sign up for job alerts on sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster and CareerBuilder. You can also set a daily reminder on your calendar to check the site every day if you want to be extra sure you don’t miss out on any opportunities.
It’s worth it to make sure these sites are always at the forefront of your mind while looking for work as a delivery driver so that you’re not left without employment when an opportunity comes along!
Follow Up With Decision Makers
If you want to land your dream job as a delivery driver, it’s important to follow up with decision-makers.
Here are some tips on how to do this:
Send a handwritten thank-you note, ideally snail mail. In addition to thanking them for their time and consideration, this will also give them something physical to remember you by a nice reminder of who they met with!
Follow up with a phone call from your cell phone (if you don’t have one yet, get one). An even better option is sending someone from the company flowers or food in the office after an interview meets with success.
This shows that the interviewer cares about not just finding the best person for their position but also about making sure that person gets hired for other jobs within their company in the future too!
Connect on LinkedIn before leaving so that people know who you are when they see each other again later down at work – and remember what happened during those initial meetings too! 🙂
Speak To Recruiters In Person
If you want to land your dream job as a delivery driver, it’s important to be prepared. Recruiters will be asking you questions about your skills and experience, but they also want to see that you are interested in the job.
It’s a good idea to research the company beforehand so that when asked questions about them, you can answer with confidence.
Recruiters want to see that you have considered the position before applying for it:
Ask questions about the interview process (for example what is expected of someone who gets through) and decide if this is something that interests you enough to dedicate time towards preparing yourself properly.
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Practice Interviewing Skills
You’ve already established that you have all the skills required for a delivery driver job. Now it’s time to make sure your interviewing skills are up to snuff.
You should practice interviewing with someone who can give you feedback on what works and what doesn’t in terms of your body language, tone of voice, etc. Here are some suggestions:
Practice with a friend or family member. They know you well enough to tell if they think you look silly while making eye contact or if there’s anything else not quite right about how you come across during an interview.
They may also be able to offer advice on how best to respond in certain situations (e.g., “I didn’t like being told no by my boss; how should I handle this? What would happen if we had this situation again?”).
Practice with a professional. If possible, talk through mock interviews with someone who has experience conducting them (e.g., an HR manager at another company). The more prepared and knowledgeable about the role/company you seem during these sessions, the better!
Practice with a job coach/counselor from Goodwill Industries®, which offers free career counseling services as well as low-cost training programs for those seeking employment opportunities in various industries including retailing and transportation services among others.*
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Conclusion
When all is said and done, landing a job as a delivery driver can be difficult. And it’s not just about mastering the required skills; it’s also about standing out from the pack.
You’ve got to show employers that you understand their needs and have the motivation to meet them in order for them to hire you.
So while we hope these tips helped get your foot in the door with some of those companies looking for new talent, if they don’t work out… don’t give up! We wish you luck as you continue on your journey toward employment success!
Further Reading
How to Land Your Dream Job: Discover valuable tips and strategies to help you navigate the job search process and increase your chances of securing your dream job.
How to Get a Driving Job with No Experience: Learn practical advice and steps to break into the field of driving even if you don’t have prior experience.
6 Steps to Your Dream Job: Explore a comprehensive guide that outlines the essential steps to follow in order to pursue and achieve your dream job.
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Now, let’s move on to creating the FAQs section:
FAQs
What are some common interview questions?
- “Can you tell me about yourself?”
- “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
- “Why are you interested in this position?”
- “How do you handle stress and pressure?”
- “Tell me about a time when you faced a challenging situation at work and how you resolved it.”
How should I prepare for a job interview?
- Research the company and the position.
- Practice common interview questions.
- Dress professionally and arrive on time.
- Bring copies of your resume and any supporting documents.
- Prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
What should I include in my resume?
- Contact information.
- Summary or objective statement.
- Work experience, including job titles, responsibilities, and achievements.
- Education and relevant certifications or training.
- Skills and qualifications.
- Optional: References or a portfolio of work samples.
How can I improve my networking skills?
- Attend industry events and conferences.
- Join professional organizations and associations.
- Utilize online platforms like LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your field.
- Offer to help others and be generous with your own knowledge and resources.
- Follow up with contacts and maintain relationships.
How do I negotiate salary during a job offer?
- Research salary ranges for similar positions in your industry and location.
- Determine your desired salary based on your qualifications and experience.
- Practice your negotiation skills and be prepared to make a compelling case for your value.
- Consider other benefits or perks that you may be open to negotiating.
- Be respectful and professional throughout the negotiation process.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.