Working in scrap metal is not what you think. What we do is innovative and influenced by global events. Where we do it ranges from the board room to the scrap yard to the trading office. Every employee at The David J. Joseph Company is proud to do whatever it takes to get the job done, no matter where they are or how they work.
Downtown Cincinnati is our home, and we employ professionals and administrative staff in all career areas here. The culture at our headquarters is relaxed and family-like. We are given autonomy, and the company trusts us to make decisions to better the company. We don’t believe in red tape. We believe every teammate has the knowledge, skill and intelligence to make us successful.
No matter if it’s a recycling center or a self-service used auto parts store, our operations team is committed to safety and performance. It’s important to us to work hard to get the job done right the first time, and we take great care to make sure that everyone on the team can be sure they’ll get home safely at the end of the day. We employ management professionals and production teammates at each location.
Fast-paced and dynamic. That’s the best way to describe one of our brokerage locations. These small offices are staffed by 3-5 professionals responsible for buying and selling scrap metal around the world. Most of the time, our brokers are close to their phones and are often on the road visiting clients and our operations centers.
Everyone wants to work with people and a company they respect. We have a 135+ year track record of operating an ethical business with a positive work culture. It may sound cliché, but it’s true: We’re a big, global company that still feels small.
Although our employees come from varied backgrounds and experiences, we all have a couple things in common. We’re all down to earth people who appreciate hard work and integrity. We all have a genuine level of respect and camaraderie for one another.
We understand our teammates work better when their needs are being met. These needs are different for each teammate, but they mostly include a good work culture and environment, great benefits, and competitive pay that includes bonus opportunities.
Because we know how important training and career growth are, we made a university! The DJJ University is made up of many programs and learning opportunities that are offered through seminars held in-house and outside the company. It’s a commitment to every teammate of The David J. People who work for Joseph Company, whether they are in our corporate headquarters, a brokerage office, or one of our operations facilities
Our approach to ensuring a diverse and inclusive workplace is organic. We’re a global company with jobs in a variety of settings, so we need to hire people from a wide range of backgrounds to reach our full potential as a business. We crave new ideas, different perspectives and unique backgrounds and experiences. These are things that make us a better company and better people.
Not only as a business, but also as an honest group of good people, we value a diverse and welcoming workplace. DJJ is a proud member of the African American Chamber and partner of the Ohio Diversity Council.
Working at The David J. Joseph Company is rewarding. Just ask any of our long-term employees who love working for DJJ because of the family-friendly environment, competitive pay, great development opportunities, a diverse workplace, and everything else the company has to offer.
The David J. Joseph Company (DJJ) is one of the largest metals recycling companies in the world. With operations across North America they provide vital services in collecting, processing and trading recycled metal commodities. If you have an interview coming up with DJJ, being prepared with some insider knowledge can help you stand out from the competition. In this article, we’ll explore key details on DJJ’s interview process and culture, along with sample responses to common interview questions. Let’s get started!
Overview of DJJ’s Interview Process
The interview process at DJJ often involves multiple rounds, including:
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Phone screening – A recruiter will assess your resume and experience for basic job fit in a 30 minute call.
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Online assessment – For some roles, DJJ utilizes online tests to evaluate skills like mechanical aptitude
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In-person interviews – 1-3 rounds of interviews on-site at a DJJ facility, potentially with multiple departments.
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Panel interview – Interviewing with 2-3 DJJ team members together to get diverse perspectives.
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Management interview – Final round with the direct hiring manager to align on expectations.
Throughout the process, DJJ assesses both technical abilities, like STEM skills, and soft skills like communication, flexibility and safety-focused mindset. Operational roles may also include a practical skills assessment. Overall, the multi-touch process allows DJJ to thoroughly vet candidates’ abilities to succeed in this fast-paced industrial environment.
DJJ’s Core Values and Culture
DJJ looks for candidates that embrace their core values of integrity, sustainability, relationships, continuous improvement, and safety. Here are some key aspects of DJJ’s culture to emphasize:
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Safety-first – DJJ prioritizes safety in all operations, so highlight your commitment to following protocols.
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Sustainability mission – Note your passion for supporting recycling and waste reduction through DJJ’s work.
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Collaborative – DJJ favors team players with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
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Innovative – DJJ is industry-leading in leveraging technology; discuss your interest in continuous improvement initiatives.
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Quality-focused – Attention to detail and compliance with standards is critical; showcase how you deliver consistent, high-quality work.
By tailoring your responses around these cultural pillars, you can stand out as a strong match.
Common DJJ Interview Questions and Sample Answers
Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions at DJJ interviews, along with strong sample responses:
Q: Why do you want to work for DJJ specifically?
A: I’m genuinely excited by DJJ’s leadership in metals recycling and the vital role you play in supply chain sustainability. Reducing waste through recycling aligns with my personal values around environmentalism. Beyond that, I’m drawn to DJJ’s investments in technology and process improvements to drive efficiency – continuous innovation is a passion of mine. With my background in [relevant experience], I hope to contribute to advancing DJJ’s operational excellence while supporting the growth of your recycling capabilities.
Q: Tell me about a time you successfully collaborated with others on a project.
A: As part of a recent process improvement project, I partnered with cross-functional team members in engineering, quality control, and operations to enhance our asset maintenance program. Understanding that everyone had different perspectives, I made sure to actively listen to all concerns and ideas. By mapping out our workflows on a whiteboard, we were able to visualize friction points and brainstorm solutions. I also coordinated regular check-ins to keep the team aligned. In the end, we delivered a streamlined maintenance protocol that improved equipment uptime by 7% while easing technician workloads. This project exemplified to me the power of respectful collaboration.
Q: How would you respond if you witnessed an unsafe act on the job?
A: If I witnessed anything that looked potentially unsafe or hazardous, I would immediately pause the work. After ensuring anyone involved was okay, I would politely but firmly notify them of my safety concern and remove any at-risk people from the area. Once the situation was stabilized, I would report the incident to the safety manager and work with my team and leadership to fully investigate root causes and avoid any recurrence. While it can be uncomfortable in the moment, nothing is more important than preventing injuries or environmental issues. I would leverage the experience as an opportunity to refresh team training as needed or provide additional safety resources.
Q: This role requires analyzing complex data and communicating insights. How would you approach this?
A: In working with complex data sets, I leverage tools like Excel, Tableau, and SQL to conduct thorough exploratory analysis. This allows me to identify patterns and trends that may not be obvious at first glance. To communicate my findings, I believe in using visualizations, like charts and graphs, to simplify complex information and make it digestible for different audiences. I’m mindful about limiting jargon and tailoring the level of detail to what leadership needs to take action on key insights. Beyond slides, I prepare one-page executive summaries that capture the main data points, conclusions, and strategic recommendations. My goal is empowering stakeholders to make informed, data-driven decisions through clear communication.
By showcasing your alignment with DJJ’s culture while proving you have the technical and soft skills to excel, you can make a winning impression. Remember to also prepare strong questions to ask that demonstrate your engagement – interviewers look for candidates with genuine interest and enthusiasm. Do your research and practice, and you’ll ace your DJJ interview. Best of luck!
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
We rethink what other people think is useless and start by buying something that is nearing the end of its useful life, like a car or appliance. With our cutting edge tools, we can take the old stuff and get it ready to be sent to a steel mill to be used to make something new. All the while, we turn a profit from processing and brokering the material. This is all in a day’s work in the scrap metal industry.
5 Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them Correctly
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