A custodial Supervisor performs direct or assignment supervision of duties performed by the custodial employees. These duties include; maintaining cleanliness and sanitation of buildings, classrooms, fitness centers, offices, laboratories, furnishings, and equipment.
Below, we have the Top 20 Custodial Supervision Interview Questions and Answers.
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
Obviously, if your interviewer asks you this question, your interviewer wants to know why you need this job. Briefly and clearly talk about what made you feel that you need to come for the interview.
Sample Answer
“Firstly, I’m interested in this role because I feel that I have the qualification and right skills required for this job. Secondly, as I can see that your company’s performance is excellent in neatness and cleanness, I would like to be part of the team that makes it excellent. Also, I want to improve my skills by learning new skills from your company.”
2. What Are The Roles Of A Custodial Supervisor
Here, your interviewer wants to know whether you know your duties and responsibilities as a custodial supervisor. Clearly talk about the roles of a custodial supervisor.
Sample Answer
“As a custodial supervisor has many roles but to talk of a few, but the main are;
a) Supervising duties performed by a custodial foreman, Custodian I’s, and temporary employees of an organization.
b) Ensuring that all the custodian duties are performed as per the expectations of the immediate supervisor.
c) Developing work schedules for custodians to ensure efficient services.
d) Providing training to custodial workers and emergency responders for excellent work.
e) Researching and testing new equipment for improving custodial services.
f) Reporting safety hazards and repair needs to appropriate personnel to ensure a safe environment
g) Co-ordinating sanitary disposal services
h) Ensures all hazards and warnings in the building are in place.
I believe that the mentioned are the main roles of a custodial supervisor.”
3. What Are The Qualities That A Custodial Supervisor Needs To Be Successful?
The interviewer wants to know what qualities you have to make you successful in this job. Talk about the key attributes that you think a custodial supervisor should have.
Sample Answer
“Other than having the qualifications, a custodial supervisor must have personal qualities that will make them be successful in this role. A good custodial supervisor should be able to communicate well, be ready to teach others strategies that they think are the best for quality work, be able to lead by example, ready to learn from others regardless of their position in the organization, good observer and ready to respond quickly to matters that need priority. I believe that these are qualities that I have and can help me be successful in this position. ”
4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage Them?
The recruiter is asking you about the difficulties you encountered in your previous work and how you managed them. Talk about the challenges you faced and how you solved them.
Sample Answer
“In my previous workplace, you’d find that everyone has a different taste of how their office should be arranged. My team and I could arrange the offices neatly, but I could see most of them rearranging the office again when the bosses came. I had to get to the bottom of the matter and talked to one of them. I realized that they want their offices arranged as per the task they had planned to perform that day. Of course, if you are doing a lot of writing today, you don’t expect to find your writing materials in the last drawer where you’d take time to reach. To solve this, all the bosses agreed to leave a note of their following day’s duties. With this, my team and I would have an easy time arranging the offices.”
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As A Custodial Supervisor
Here, the interviewer wants to know how organized your routine can be. You briefly need to explain from the first task that you would perform up to the last.
Sample Answer
“As a custodial supervisor, I understand that I need to be at work early with my team. My team and I have to get there before everyone else. I first check whether all the equipments are in place and whether they are in good working condition. Secondly, I have to organize my time and start the daily tasks like arranging offices, emptying the dustbins, mopping floors, refilling drinking water, among other many duties. Once my team is done, I have to go and supervise whether the work is up to my expectations and guidelines. After everything is in my place, I get to my office and perform daily duties like repairing reports of the equipment state. After my working hours, I have to leave the office for tomorrow’s task. That would be a great working day.”
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience.
Your interviewer wants to know about what you have done previously in the field. Tell them where you have worked the same tasks and the awards, if any.
Sample Answer
“After completing my studies, I was employed as a custodian in a learning institution. There, my duties were emptying dustbins, cleaning them, and ensuring each classroom had at least two of them. Also, I was involved in decorating meeting venues, and this was my favorite. I would do a great job. I was awarded as the custodian of the year in the same institution and was promoted to supervisor. I felt great! This was after a year of working as a custodian. As a supervisor, I worked for three years and completed my contract. Out of that all, I’d say that I have four years of experience in this field. ”
7. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Are Required For This Job?
Here, you need to show your interviewer the strategies and skills you have for this job.
Sample Answer
“Being a custodial supervisor, I should focus on my job time after time. First, one needs to be time conscious. Nobody wants to come to their office and find an untidy environment. I have to be at my job before anyone else and work first. I need to listen to my immediate supervisor on the guidelines given to perform duties. I also have to keep good communication channels for easy and quick communication. ”
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge That You Foresee In This Job?
It would be best to tell your interviewer about the most significant challenge likely to face the job. Be honest with your answer and recommend how the challenge can be solved.
Sample Answer
“Since I have worked in this post for a while, I can foresee a big challenge that can lead to poor performance in the sector if not taken seriously. Custodial workers need morale! It has been my observation that very few people appreciate custodial workers. When someone appreciates your work, you feel motivated to do better next time. It’s good even to award them and make a day for them. This will motivate them, and they will always do better.”
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9. How Do You Stay Motivated In Your Work?
Your interviewer wants to know what keeps your morale throughout your work. Talk about what makes you want to work again and again.
Sample Answer
“After arranging and decorating a conference hall or an office, I see people sitting and working under a conducive and beautiful environment done by me. This is enough to make you motivated each day. Seeing the work of my hands please other people. This is what I love, giving people the best. ”
10. Describe A Time When You Failed In This Role And The Lesson You Learned.
Here, the interviewer wants to know a time when you made a mistake and what you learned from the mistake.
Sample Answer
“At my last workplace during my entry-level, we didn’t have specific cleaning chemicals that we were using to clean. We would buy any chemical recommended by our supplier. Little did I know that we had purchased a chemical detergent that would react with leather material seats one time. It reacted with the chairs, and that was not a good experience. I learned that one should be very careful about the detergents and chemicals they are using to clean. ”
11. Why Do You Think You Are The Most Suited For This Role?
This is the best chance that you have to tell your interviewer about that unique quality you think you have that no other candidate has. You have to show them that you are the best.
Sample Answer
“I believe that I am well qualified for this role. It’s with no doubt that I will take your institution to another level as far as custodial duties are concerned. This role required a candidate who has enough experience in the field. I have been trained well in this role, and I believe that I’ll get a chance to show and put in place my skills that will improve the custodial department.”
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievements.
The recruiter wants to know what you did that made you feel that you have achieved a goal. Talk about a time you were awarded for your hard work in the custodial sector.
Sample Answer
“Most awards, you know, they don’t give you unless you go and get them. After as a custodian, my hard work was recognized, and I was awarded as the custodian of the year. In addition, I got a promotion to be a custodian supervisor. This was the best part of my career. It was a great achievement for me. I felt honored and realized that the work of my hands was starting to bear fruits. ”
13. Mention five tools of trade in the custodial sector
Your interviewer wants to know your knowledge of the tools used in this industry and their work. Mention five of them and briefly explain what they are used for.
Sample Answer
“There are several tools and equipment that a custodian can use for efficient working. Some of these tools are;
a) Mop, bucket, and a wringer
b) Broom and a dustpan
c) Long handed toilet cleaning brush
d) Broom and a dustpan
e) Safety signs like the ones used to warn about the wet, slippery floor
f) Cleaning supplies
g) Cleaning cloths
I believe that having these tools is very important for efficient working.”
14. Talk About What To Consider When Buying The Mentioned Tools
As a custodial supervisor, you are responsible for procuring the tools and equipment used in the organization for custodial services. Talk about what you value most when it comes to the purchase of these tools and equipment.
Sample Answer
“To start with, purchasing quality products will make your work easy. You won’t have a hard time while working. Durability is one of the qualities that I consider for prolonged use of the equipment. Portability should also be considered for easy and fast movement. Industrial strength should also be considered to be sure that the equipment can work in large areas. Getting equipment with a warranty is very important. Some of them are too expensive to fix and replace. When purchasing these equipment, it is important to consider the reasonable cost too.”
15. Tell Us Six Importance Of Using Technology In The Custodial Supervision Duties.
The interviewer wants to know how you can use technology to ensure outstanding performance in the custodial sector. Tell them how technology would help you in your duties as a custodial supervisor.
Sample Answer
“Technology plays a crucial role in ensuring efficiency when working. As a custodial supervisor, I can use technology to manage supplies, communicate with my staff and give reports to the top management, track my team’s performance, manage work order and duty scheduling, and give warnings and hazards whenever there is danger like fire in the institution.”
16. How would you solve a case where two workers are arguing about who damaged working equipment?
The interviewer is asking you this to see your abilities to solve problems as a supervisor. You have to use professional problem-solving strategies when this occurs.
Sample Answer
“This is a common problem whenever there are multiple workers in an organization. First, I would give them a chance to honestly come out and tell me who did it and what happened. If this does not work, I will have to involve the technical team for CCTV camera footage to see who did it. Cameras don’t lie. I will be able to know who did it and what happened.”
17. What Can You Offer To Us That No One Else Can?
Here, talk about your experience and unique abilities, show them that you are a cultural fit, and tell them that you are willing to grow the company.
Sample Answer
“First of all, I’m a creative problem solver who is willing to solve issues with a high degree of professionalism. I have worked in this position before, I know how to react to issues when they arise and the right channels that I should use to solve them. As I can see that the company is doing great in this field, I want to be part of the team that will take it to the next level.”
18. Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?
Here, your interviewer wants to know your ambitions as a custodial supervisor. Tell them about your goals and the achievements that you desire in your career. Make them seem achievable in five years.
Sample Answer
“If you can dream it, you can make it. I have had a big dream as far as my career is concerned. I have always dreamt of being on top. I’m not there yet. But, I believe that I’ll get there in 5 years. Being on the top level, I will create a solid custodial team from the best of the best for efficient work.”
19. How Can You Define Success
Simply, your interviewer wants to know what you see as success to evaluate your suitability for the post.
Sample Answer
“To my knowledge, success in meeting the needs of your clients and employer. I feel successful when I solve issues, and it works. Giving your client the best results and seeing them happy is all that we can call success. I believe that I will bring success to this role in your company. Creating the best team and using creative strategies to work efficiently is all I want to bring to your company. I’d love to see you happy and recommend my work. That is a success!”
20. Any Serious Medical Conditions That May Affect Your Ability To Work In This Field?
The interviewer wants to know if you have any conditions that may affect your work as a custodial supervisor.
Sample Answer
“No. I don’t believe that I have one.”
Conclusion
When you get there, answer the questions with confidence. The above guidelines and answers will guide you. All the best.
