Trucking CEO: Employees Don’t Have to Love Trucking
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowWhen considering joining an organization, it’s likely that you’ll be asked what about the industry attracts you during the interview process. This is not a question I advocate for. Why? Because my organization is a tech company dedicated to the trucking industry. I understand that the industry we work in doesn’t necessarily inspire everyone.
And that’s okay.
The industry that a prospective employee is joining is far less important than the passion they have for the work itself, the environment in which they work and the work-life balance they attain with the job. Read on for why each of the three topics I’ve named is more important than the industry in which you work.
The job itself
Ensuring that a job is right for you starts with its fundamental core duties. Do they interest you? Do you have the skill set required to execute the job? Secondarily, does the job allow you to grow? Will you have the opportunity to gain responsibility, try out different ideas, have the flexibility to fail? Inquire about colleagues, who you’d be working with day-to-day. We spend so much time working, it’s important that you enjoy the people you’ll be working with every day.
The company
After aligning your skills with a job, aligning yourself with a company is paramount. Making sure that the company has the culture you desire will save you headaches down the road. Are you looking for a flexible environment, or do you prefer a more formal culture? Evaluate what the company’s leadership team is like and what makes them tick as this trickles down throughout the organization. When the leadership team sets a strong company culture and clear mission, employees are generally happier and more engaged because they’re clear on how they contribute to organizational goals.
Work-life balance
As a CEO, I want my employees to work hard. But it needs to be in balance. It’s important to me to examine a candidate’s beliefs on taking work home with them. At DriverReach, we want our employees to go home at the end of the day and enjoy personal time with family and friends. Without balance, people become chronically stressed, which not only decreases productivity but can also lead to serious health issues.
It might seem strange that a trucking CEO does not care if his employees are passionate about trucking. But to me, it matters a lot more that a potential employee appreciates the position itself, the company, and makes work-life balance a priority. These factors will lead to long-term success that creates a thriving work environment.
Jeremy Reymer is founder and chief executive officer of DriverReach.