20 ABM Industries Interview Questions and Answers

As a provider of integrated facility solutions, ABM Industries Incorporated is always looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join their team. If you’re interested in applying for a position at ABM, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your skills and experience.

In this article, we’ll provide some sample ABM Industries interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your upcoming interview.

ABM Industries Interview Process

The interview process at ABM Industries can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, like security officer, there is just one in-person interview. For others, like custodian, there may be a 1-on-1 interview followed by questions from another manager. Communications managers may have to go through 4 stages of interviews, while business development managers may only have to go through 1. Overall, the interview process seems to be fairly quick and easy, although some candidates have complained about vague feedback or poor treatment from recruiters.

1. Tell me about a time when you had to resolve an issue without the proper resources.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle challenges and use your problem-solving skills to find solutions. Use examples from previous jobs or describe a time when you had to resolve an issue with a personal project.

Example: “At my last job, I was working on a large marketing campaign for one of our clients. The client wanted to launch their new product at a specific time, but we were still waiting on some materials to complete the campaign. I worked with my team to create a plan that would allow us to finish the campaign in time while also launching the new product as planned.”

2. What is your experience with customer service?

Customer service is an important part of working in the facilities management industry. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience with customer service and how it relates to their company. Use your answer to explain what you’ve done for previous employers that shows your ability to provide quality customer service.

Example: “I believe that providing excellent customer service is one of the most important parts of my job. I always strive to be friendly, helpful and knowledgeable when speaking with customers. In my last position, I was often the first person a client would speak with about their facility needs. I made sure to listen carefully to each request so I could understand exactly what they needed. Then, I would offer them several solutions based on their budget and requirements.”

3. How would you handle it if one of your team members was not showing up to work on time, how would you approach them?

This question is a great way to assess your leadership skills and how you would handle a situation that could affect the entire team. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you would do in this situation and provide examples of how you’ve handled similar situations in the past.

Example: “I would first talk with them privately to see if there was an issue or reason why they were late. If I found out that they were consistently late, I would have a meeting with the whole team to discuss the importance of being on time for work. I would also give them a warning so they knew that their behavior was not acceptable.”

4. Are you willing to travel for work?

ABM is a global company that offers its services to clients in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you are willing to travel for work or if you have experience doing so. If you have no prior experience traveling for work, consider discussing your willingness to do so.

Example: “I am happy to travel for work as long as I receive proper training on how to get around the area where I’ll be working. In my last job, I was tasked with visiting several of our client’s facilities across the state. I learned how to navigate public transportation systems and even some local taxi companies to ensure I got to each facility on time.”

5. Can you tell us why we should hire you over other applicants?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your confidence and self-awareness. They want to know that you’re aware of the competition, but also confident in your own abilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight a few specific skills or experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the role.

Example: “I believe I am the best person for this position because of my proven ability to work with clients and manage projects. In my previous role as a project manager, I managed a team of five people while completing multiple projects at once. This experience has given me valuable insight into how to prioritize tasks and delegate effectively.”

6. We are looking for someone who can be flexible and work different shifts. Would that be an issue for you?

Employers ask this question to make sure you can adapt to different schedules and work with others. When answering, explain that you are flexible and enjoy working with a variety of people. Show the employer that you have experience doing so in your previous roles.

Example: “I am very flexible when it comes to my schedule. I understand that sometimes things come up and we need to change our shifts. In my last role, I worked every other weekend for two months before switching back to five days a week. I also had to switch between day and night shifts several times during that time. It was challenging at first, but I got used to it.”

7. Do you have any experience working in security?

ABM is a security company that provides integrated facility solutions. Security experience can be beneficial to the position, so interviewers may ask this question to see if you have any relevant experience. If you do, share your previous experience and how it relates to the job. If you don’t have security experience, explain why you’re qualified for the role despite not having direct experience in the field.

Example: “I’ve never worked specifically in security, but I have plenty of experience working with high-security facilities. In my last position as an IT specialist, I was responsible for maintaining the technology within a highly secure government building. This included installing new software, monitoring systems and troubleshooting issues. My knowledge of high-security environments makes me well-suited for this role.”

8. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when dealing with customers or clients?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your customer service skills. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific example from your previous experience that shows how you helped customers or clients with their needs and made them feel valued.

Example: “I think the most important thing when dealing with customers is to listen to what they have to say. I always make sure to ask questions if I don’t understand something, and I try to actively listen to what they are saying so I can provide exactly what they need. In my last role, I had a client who was looking for a new facility management software system. They were having trouble finding one that met all of their needs, but after asking more questions about what they wanted in a system, I recommended ABM’s software and they ended up purchasing it.”

9. ABM Industries has been open since 1909, which means we’ve seen 100 years of change. How does that make you feel?

This question is a great way to see how the candidate feels about change and innovation. It’s important for employees to be open to new ideas, as ABM Industries has been known to implement many innovative solutions over its 100-year history.

Example: “I feel excited by the prospect of working at an organization that has seen so much change in its lifetime. I’m confident that my skills will help me adapt to whatever changes are necessary to keep up with modern technology.”

10. Describe your communication style.

Employers ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills. They want to know how you interact with others and whether you can communicate effectively in a team setting. When answering, try to describe the type of communication style that works best for you. Explain what steps you take to ensure you’re communicating clearly.

Example: “I believe my communication style is very effective. I always make sure to listen carefully when someone speaks so I understand their concerns or questions. Then, I respond by providing them with as much information as possible. If they have additional questions, I do my best to answer them thoroughly. This helps me avoid misunderstandings and ensures everyone has all the information they need.”

11. Have you worked at another facilities management company before?

If you have experience working at another facilities management company, the interviewer may want to know more about your background and how it relates to ABM. If you haven’t worked in this industry before, they may ask you why not. In either case, be sure to explain any relevant skills or experiences that make you a good fit for the position.

Example: “I’ve never worked at another facilities management company, but I do have extensive experience with facility maintenance and repair. My father owned his own construction business when I was growing up, so I spent many summers helping him out on jobsites. I learned a lot from him about building and repairing structures of all kinds.”

12. Give us some examples of how you deal with difficult people.

Employers ask this question to see how you handle conflict. They want to know that you can remain calm and professional when faced with challenging situations. In your answer, try to show the interviewer that you have excellent communication skills and are able to diffuse a situation without causing harm or offense.

Example: “I once had a client who was very demanding. He would often call me at all hours of the day to complain about minor things. I learned that he just wanted someone to listen to him, so I started taking notes during our conversations. This helped him feel like his concerns were being heard and gave me more information to work with. Now, we communicate mostly through email, which has made both of our lives much easier.”

13. Why do you want to work at ABM Industries?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your interest in working at ABM Industries. Use this opportunity to show that you have done research on the company and understand what it offers its employees. You can also use this time to highlight any skills or experiences that make you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I want to work at ABM because of the innovative solutions you offer. I am passionate about technology, so I would love to be part of a team that is constantly developing new ways to improve business operations. I also think your commitment to employee development is impressive. I believe my background in software engineering makes me an excellent candidate for this position.”

14. Explain what makes a good leader.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills and how you would apply them in a new role. When answering, it can be helpful to discuss what qualities make a good leader and how you possess these traits.

Example: “A good leader is someone who has the ability to motivate others while also being empathetic to their needs. I believe that leaders should always put the best interests of their team first, even if it means making unpopular decisions. In my last position as an account manager, I was responsible for managing several accounts at once. One day, one of my clients called me with concerns about our services. Rather than ignoring the call or telling them they were wrong, I listened to their concerns and offered solutions to help resolve the issue.”

15. If hired, what would you say is your greatest strength?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their company culture. When answering, try to choose a strength that is relevant to the job description or one that will help you succeed in the position.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well under pressure. I am always able to stay calm when faced with challenging situations, which helps me find solutions quickly. In my last role, I was tasked with finding ways to reduce costs for our client while also improving the quality of their facility. I worked closely with my team to create a plan that met all of these requirements, resulting in an increase in revenue for the company.”

16. Tell us about a project where you were asked to manage multiple teams. How did you ensure everything got done on time?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you manage projects and your ability to work with others. Use examples from previous jobs where you had to coordinate multiple teams or departments to complete a project on time.

Example: “At my last job, I was responsible for managing several different teams of contractors who were working on various aspects of a large construction project. One day, one team member called in sick, which meant we only had two people left to finish their portion of the project. I immediately contacted other teams to see if they could send someone over to help us out. Luckily, another team had an extra person that day, so he came over to help us get back up to our normal staffing levels.”

17. Can you tell me about a time when you were given negative feedback? How did you react?

Employers ask this question to see how you respond to constructive criticism. They want to know that you can take feedback and use it to improve your performance. When answering, try to think of a time when you received negative feedback but were able to learn from it.

Example: “When I first started working as an engineer, my manager gave me some constructive criticism about the way I was designing buildings. At first, I took his comments personally because I thought he didn’t like my work. However, after talking with him, I realized that he just wanted me to make improvements in my designs. After that conversation, I made sure to always consider all aspects of a building’s design before starting construction.”

18. ABM Industries is well known for providing quality services. How would you ensure our products are always high quality?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and how you would contribute to its success. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific product or service that you have used in the past and explain why you think it’s high quality.

Example: “I’ve worked with ABM for many years now, so I know firsthand how much they value their customers. In my experience, this has led to them providing excellent products and services. For example, when I was working on a project at a local school, we needed new windows. The ones we had were old and falling apart, but the school didn’t have the budget to replace them all. ABM stepped in and donated several sets of new windows to the school, which allowed them to save money elsewhere.”

19. Tell us about a time you made a mistake at work, how did you handle it?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you handle mistakes. When answering, try to focus on the steps you took to fix the mistake or learn from it.

Example: “When I first started working as a marketing manager for my previous employer, I made a mistake that cost the company thousands of dollars in lost revenue. I was so focused on getting the campaign out by its deadline that I forgot to include one important element. Luckily, I caught my mistake before sending the email to our entire list of subscribers. Instead of sending the email, I fixed the mistake and resent the email with the missing information.”

20. When was the last time you took initiative to do something that wasn’t expected of you?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your ability to think creatively and take on new challenges. Use examples from previous jobs that show you’re willing to go above and beyond what’s expected of you, even if it means taking risks or working outside your comfort zone.

Example: “At my last job, I noticed that our company was using outdated software for its inventory management system. I brought this up at a team meeting, and we decided to use some of our budget to upgrade to more efficient software. This helped us save money in the long run because we didn’t have to hire additional employees to manage the extra work.”