Custodian Interview Questions

The goal for a successful interview for Custodian is to assess the candidate’s ability to maintain cleanliness and orderliness of the facility, prioritize and manage cleaning tasks effectively, and demonstrate knowledge of cleaning equipment and chemicals.

Situational interview questions

• Situation: One of the toilets in the school is clogged and overflowing in the morning before classes. What steps would you take to resolve the issue before children arrive?
• Situation: You notice that some of the classroom windows were left open overnight, and it rained. What steps would you take to ensure that the classrooms are dry and clean before the students arrive?
• Situation: One of the classrooms left a spilled container of glitter on the floor. How would you clean it up to prevent it from spreading throughout the school?
• Situation: The garbage is piling up in the school cafeteria, and it’s attracting pests. What steps would you take to address the issue and prevent it from happening again?
• Situation: You arrive at school and notice that the heating system is not working, and it’s a very cold day. What steps would you take to resolve the issue as quickly as possible to ensure that the students and staff are warm and comfortable?

Soft skills interview questions

• How do you handle difficult or stressed-out coworkers and guests, and what steps do you take to ensure that everyone feels welcome and comfortable while on the premises?
• How do you prioritize and manage your workload efficiently, and what techniques do you use to maintain your focus and motivation throughout the day?
• How do you communicate and collaborate effectively with other members of your team, especially when it comes to delegating tasks and sharing information or feedback?
• How do you remain attentive to detail and maintain a high level of accuracy in your work, even when faced with tight deadlines or other potential distractions?
• How do you maintain a positive attitude and an upbeat demeanor, even when faced with challenging or unpleasant tasks or situations?

Role-specific interview questions

• Can you explain the procedures you follow to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in a commercial facility?
• Have you ever faced any challenges while performing custodial duties, and if so, how did you overcome them?
• Can you describe your experience in handling different types of cleaning equipment and chemicals?
• How do you manage your work schedule and prioritize tasks to ensure timely completion of assigned duties?
• Can you walk us through the steps you take when dealing with hazardous waste materials while performing custodial duties?

STAR interview questions

1) Can you describe a situation where you had to clean up a significant mess in a short amount of time? What was your task in this situation, and what actions did you take to accomplish it? What was the result of your efforts?

2) Have you ever encountered a difficult stain or mess that you were unsure how to clean? Can you describe the situation, what your task was, and the actions you took to successfully remove the stain?

3) Tell me about a time when you identified a potential safety hazard while performing custodial duties. What actions did you take to address the hazard, and what was the result of your actions?

4) Have you ever had to deal with a situation where a staff member or visitor had a special request for their workspace or area? What was the nature of the request, what actions did you take to fulfill it, and what was the outcome?

5) Can you walk me through a situation where you had to work efficiently to complete a large-scale cleaning project? What was your task within the project, and what actions did you take to ensure the project was completed on time and to a high standard? What was the outcome of your efforts?