Construction and demolition companies often employ a demolition laborer to bring down safe or unsafe building structures. However, they first have to assess the building to come up with better ways of demolishing it. Other roles include establishing exclusion zones and eradicating dangerous materials before demolition starts.
This article will look at some of the questions you should expect in a demolition laborer interview to increase your chances of landing the job. We will cover the technical, behavioral, and general aspects to give you a clear view of what to expect when you step into the interview room. Take a look at the following questions:
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
Given your reputation, I have always wanted to work for this demolition company. Most of my friends work here and have good things to say about this establishment. You value your employees, encourage them to work hard, and look into their welfare. This company also gives employees the right environment to achieve their potential, which I am looking for at the moment. I will therefore be better positioned to deliver by giving my best while working here. Also, since this is one of the largest demolition companies in the region, I will be exposed to new challenges which will better my career.
2. What Are The Roles Of A Demolition Laborer?
Demolition laborers are mainly contracted by demolition and construction companies to safely bring down unsafe or old building structures through an array of methods or techniques. Other roles include controlling traffic around demolition job sites, ensuring that machinery and equipment are correctly positioned with the help of heavy equipment operators, maintaining tools, equipment and machinery for better operation, examining job sites and their surroundings before using explosives, removing debris from the job sites and assessing structures before demolition.
3. What Are The Qualities That A Demolition Laborer Needs To Be Successful?
A demolition laborer requires a number of qualities given the weight of their role. These include excellent physical stamina, practical communication skills, detail orientation, ability to work in team settings, ability to remain standing for long periods, thoroughness and attention to detail, ability to use or operate hand and power tools, and different heavy machinery, and lastly, excellent mechanical skills.
4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage Them?
My last job was a six-month contract with a renowned construction company. It gave me a chance to work with several experienced demolition laborers and technicians, which I am grateful for to date. However, I also faced many challenges, which I struggled to overcome. The most significant was the constant tight deadlines. We barely had time to rest before moving to a different project. I, therefore, had to thoroughly organize myself and work overtime, which at times threatened my work-life balance. However, I managed to complete my contract.
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As A Demolition Laborer
My day is generally packed, even though others may be lighter. Whenever there is a demolition project, I assess the building structures together with the team to identify their components and come up with the best way of demolishing them examine the surroundings to establish whether it supports the use of explosives before finally using hand and power tools as well as given heavy machinery or explosives to bring it down. Depending on the day, I may also be tasked with directing cars away from the site, maintaining different tools, machinery, and equipment for efficient operation, and removing debris or rubble. All in all, my days are usually busy.
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience
I have been a demolition laborer for the last seven years. I have worked with different demolition and construction companies to bring down old and unsafe buildings and understand what it takes. I also have vast experience using different equipment such as hammers, wrecking balls, material handlers, and skid steer loaders. I also recently learned how to operate a bulldozer and excavator, which I believe will come in handy in different demolition projects.
7. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Is Required For This Role?
Demolishing an entire building is not easy as several things are involved. Therefore, the best strategy for any demolition laborer is to give more attention to the assessment stage, as almost everything else relies on it. The examination stage reveals whether the use of explosives can be too dangerous, the best techniques needed to bring down the building, and the different structural components to have in mind. This job also requires productivity and results, and therefore, one should have a productive and result-oriented mindset.
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge That You Foresee In This Job?
You are one of the best demolition companies in the country, which means that you have bridged most of the challenges I have experienced in my career. Therefore, I cannot pinpoint any significant challenge at the moment unless there is a definite increase in workload. However, I will be better positioned to talk about different challenges and work on them once I have joined this institution.
9. How Do You Stay Motivated In Your Work?
Demolition laboring is one of the most physically demanding jobs, and therefore, you have to stay motivated constantly. I always have daily goals that keep me on my toes, challenging me to give my all and stay at my best. This job also relies on group work, and therefore, everybody has to play their part to avoid inconveniencing others, which also motivates me. I am glad that I don’t usually struggle with motivation in my job. I am willing to motivate others to be at their best too.
10. Describe A Time When You Failed In This Role And The Lesson You Learned?
Given the technicality of the equipment used in demolition and the imminent danger involved, a demolition laborer must always exercise extra care. However, mistakes are also always destined to happen. I once rushed over equipment maintenance and almost lost an arm. I was traumatized and had to take the day off, an incident that taught me the importance of proper equipment maintenance. I ensure that all machinery and tools are in the best condition before setting out on a demolition project. I am happy that nobody got hurt from the incident I just mentioned.
11. Why Do You Feel You Are The Most Suited For This Role?
I am an experienced demolition laborer, given that I have been doing this job for five years. I have worked on different demolition projects and with a horde of companies on contractual and shift bases, which gives me the level of experience needed to excel in this job. I can also operate several machines, including bulldozers and excavators. I am also an excellent team worker, given that I know how to maintain boundaries and make my team members feel respected. I will definitely blend in well with the existing team and deliver given a chance.
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievement.
I started as a casual laborer and worked my way to become one of the best heavy machine operators on demolition projects. I know how to handle the bulldozer, excavator, and other heavy types of machinery needed on demolition sites. I have also mentored several amateurs, some of who have proceeded to work on some of the most significant projects in the country. I am confident in my ability to perform given a chance.
13. How Will You Ensure That Bystanders And Motorists Are Not Injured During Demolitions?
I usually ensure that everyone is safe when demolishing structures. I take my work seriously and abide by all the safety requirements. Whenever we use explosives to bring down a building, I make sure that everyone is outside the danger radius. I also offer to control traffic around the demolition area to ensure that motorists are not affected by the blast or debris. Additionally, erecting signs around demolition areas informing people to be wary of falling objects works.
14. Are You A Team Worker?
Everybody who works on a demolition site knows the importance and essence of teamwork. To bring down a structure requires the efforts of lots of parties such as machine operators, site evaluators, and at times the people who handle explosives. I believe that I am an excellent team worker since no demolition laborer can thrive without the team’s input. I also know how to rally others towards a common goal or purpose and push them to give their best while in the team setting.
15. Why Do You Want To Work For This Particular Company?
Most of my friends work here as demolition and construction laborers, and honestly, I am in awe of everything they say about this company. Your dedication to teamwork and employee fulfillment hasn’t gone unnoticed, and your commitment to proper demolition measures and procedures. This company also emphasizes teamwork and employee collaboration, which I find helpful in different settings. Therefore, I know that I will fit in well with this organization and do my best for its betterment.
16. Can You Define What Controlled Demolition Is
Controlled demolition refers to bringing down a building or structure using explosives. It is occasionally referred to as implosion, a strategic way of collapsing buildings by positioning explosive materials in a given, detailed sequence and letting them go off at the right time. However, the site preparation before using explosives has to be thorough since the use of explosives highly depends on the structure of the building. Simple structures may take less than a week, while larger and more complicated ones may take six months.
17. Does Controlled Demolition Blow Up The Entire Building?
No. Contrary to what many people think, controlled demolition does not blow up the entire building or structure, even though it relies on explosives. The explosives only cause a series of small explosions since they are strategically placed within the structure and progressively detonated. They usually weaken or eradicate critical support, encouraging the building to come down. The critical explosives are placed on the lower floor, where they begin a series of controlled collapses bringing the building down under its weight, thanks to gravity.
18. When Is It Right To Use Explosives To Bring Down A Building?
Controlled demolition is not used all the time, especially if the building can be brought down quickly. It is mainly employed on structured buildings with notable heights as well as chimney stacks, cooling towers, and bridges. The main buildings brought down using explosives are generally tall since it is a cost-efficient and time-efficient method of demolishing buildings. Also, one must consider the surrounding environment when bringing down a building, such as wildlife, other buildings nearby, and the tenants occupying such buildings.
19. As An Experienced Demolition Laborer, Can You Mention Some Structures That Raise A Higher Safety Concern?
I have demolished lots of buildings and structures in my career. However, I have found out that cooling towers and chimney stacks raise higher safety concerns during demolition, given their construction. I usually employ controlled demolition when dealing with the two since it is the safest, cheapest, and most efficient way of bringing them down. A demolition laborer needs to take note of all the safety concerns raised.
20. What Are Some Of The Key Things A Demolition Laborer Must Do Before Bringing Down A Building?
Several things come before any demolition work. These include a comprehensive site survey, public protection, deciding on where to place the screens, scaffolds, and other necessary equipment, protection of surrounding buildings from collapsing, shutting or cutting off the electric power to all the services within the structure, shutting off gas, water, and steam service lines, fencing off the area to be demolished, publicly displaying boards warning the public of the imminent danger and removing any loose objects, projecting parts, and glass in both doors and windows.
21. Have You Ever Demolished Structural Steel Works? Comment About Some Of The Safety Measures
Demolishing structural steelworks can be dangerous owing to sudden twists or collapse of steelwork. This generally calls for observation of a number of safety measures. First, these structures should be demolished from the top, tier to tier. The whole demolition and removal of the various parts of the steel structures must follow a plan, and serious precautions should be put in place to prevent danger occasioned by sudden twists or collapse of the steel parts whenever they are cut loose or released. Lastly, all the structural steel parts should be lowered carefully.
22. How Do You Normally Ensure That The Stability Of Any Floor Is Not Endangered?
It is essential to ensure that the stability of any floor is not compromised or endangered when working on a story building. All the masonry concrete and debris, including a horde of other dismantled materials, should be swept away before accumulating in quantities as that may pose a severe risk to the floor or any type of structural support. This is important since demolition mostly begins at the top of the structure before proceeding downwards.
23. How Do You Normally Minimize The Risk Of Falling From Building Structures While Bringing Them Down?
Every construction laborer should be wary of their safety since the process poses excellent risks and safety concerns. Therefore, everyone should have the proper safety gear and adhere to all the safety measures required in demolition. I usually wear safety belts to minimize the risks of falling from high structures. As additional protection, I also wear a safety helmet to caution my head from falling objects and in case of any falls. I always adhere to all the safety requirements before anything else.
24. What Do You Like Most About This Job?
I love learning more about heavy machinery, which this job allows me to. I always wanted to operate bulldozers and excavators, which I got to learn when I decided to specialize in demolitions. I also get a chance to work with a team of experts, experienced in using several tools and explosives, allowing me to get better at my job each passing day. Lastly, I love working on engaging projects. This job occasionally requires muscles, even though it is mainly done by machines, which I find engaging. I don’t, therefore, struggle with motivation.
25. What Do You Know About Blasting Operations?
Even though blasting operations are common when bringing down buildings, they have to be done with the utmost care. There are several strict controls detailing who should be involved in the storage, transport, and use of explosives and related products. Also, only qualified personnel are allowed to undertake these operations for the team’s safety. I am glad to have worked with a number of them in my career.
Conclusion
Practicing and having the correct answers to these questions can help you land your next job since they are some of the most asked questions in demolition laborer interviews. We wish you all the best in your upcoming interview.
