17 Custodial Supervisor Interview Questions and Answers

A custodian supervisor is responsible for the overall cleanliness of a business, school, government building, or healthcare facility. He oversees the work of the custodians and janitors who work under him. Before you can be hired as a custodian supervisor, you will need to go to a job interview. One way to prepare for this important meeting is to learn how to answer custodian supervisor interview questions before talking with an interviewer.

Employers look for custodian supervisors who are trustworthy, reliable, well organized, and able to solve problems. You will also need physical strength and stamina, as well as knowledge of the best ways to clean different facilities and types of equipment. A custodian interview is your chance to show that you have polished these skills to a shine. To help you get ready, we have listed custodian questions and answers that will help you figure out what you want to say during an interview.

Are you comfortable working with a team of custodians?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills. As a custodial supervisor, you’ll be responsible for managing the work of several custodians at once. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working with others and how well you can communicate instructions or expectations. In your answer, describe a time when you worked with a team to complete a task or project.

Example: “I’ve always enjoyed working with a team. I find that it’s much easier to get things done when there are multiple people on a job. When I was in high school, I got my first part-time job as a janitor at a local hospital. There were five other custodians who also worked the night shift, so we had to divide up our tasks and work together to clean all the floors by the end of our shift.”

What are some of the most important qualities that a custodial supervisor should have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities that are necessary for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of these qualities and explain why they’re important.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities for a custodial supervisor include organization, communication skills and problem-solving ability. A custodial supervisor needs to be able to keep track of many different tasks at once, so I think it’s important to be organized. In my experience, I’ve found that effective communication is key to being an effective leader. It’s also important to be able to solve problems on your own or with others when needed.”

How would you handle a situation where one of your custodians is not completing their work duties effectively?

As a custodial supervisor, you may need to address employee performance issues from time to time. An interviewer may ask this question to understand how you would handle such a situation and ensure that the work gets done efficiently. In your answer, try to show that you can be firm but fair when addressing an underperforming employee.

Example: “If I noticed one of my employees was not completing their duties effectively, I would first meet with them privately to discuss the issue. If they were having trouble performing their job due to a medical condition or other factors, I would offer support and resources to help them get back on track as soon as possible. However, if it became clear that the employee was simply not doing their job well, I would have a more formal meeting with them to let them know that their performance is unacceptable. I would give them a reasonable amount of time to improve before taking further action.”

What is your experience with managing budgets for custodial services?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your experience with financial management. They want to know if you have the skills and knowledge necessary to manage a custodial budget for their organization. In your answer, describe how you create budgets for custodial services and discuss any specific tools or software you use to help you do so.

Example: “I’ve been creating custodial budgets for my current employer for the past five years. I start by determining what our current budget is and then determine what percentage of that budget we can spend on supplies, equipment and other expenses. Then, I look at the number of buildings we need to clean each week and multiply that by the number of hours it takes to complete those tasks. From there, I can calculate the amount of money we’ll need to hire enough employees to meet these requirements.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to solve a problem with one of your custodians’ work equipment.

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to learn more about your leadership skills and how you handle conflict. Use examples from your experience where you had to solve problems with equipment or other resources that were important for the work you did as a custodian supervisor.

Example: “In my last role, I had one of my custodians who was responsible for cleaning the restrooms in our building. One day, he came to me because the toilet paper dispenser in one of the bathrooms was empty. He asked if I could replace it so he didn’t have to interrupt his work to do it himself. I told him I would take care of it right away.

I went to the supply closet and found an extra roll of toilet paper. However, when I tried to put it into the dispenser, it wouldn’t fit. I realized that we needed a different size of toilet paper. I called another custodian over to help me find the right size. Together, we replaced the toilet paper and made sure all the restrooms had enough supplies.”

If you had to hire a new custodian, what qualities would you look for in their resume?

Hiring new employees is an important part of being a custodial supervisor. Employers ask this question to make sure you know what qualities they’re looking for in their candidates. Use your answer to explain the skills and experience that would be beneficial for someone applying for the job.

Example: “I would look for someone who has at least two years of experience as a custodian. I’d also want them to have some leadership experience, either through previous work or volunteer positions. Finally, I’d want to see that they have a positive attitude and are willing to learn.”

What would you do if you noticed that one of your custodians was not following the company’s safety policies?

Interviewers ask this question to see how you handle employee discipline. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to ensure that the custodian followed company policies and procedures.

Example: “If I noticed a custodian not following safety protocols, I would first meet with them one-on-one to discuss the issue. If they did not comply after our meeting, I would document the incident in their file and schedule another meeting to discuss the matter further. If they still did not follow policy after our second meeting, I would terminate their employment.”

How well do you understand local and federal laws and regulations regarding custodial services?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of custodial regulations and how you apply them in the workplace. Use examples from your experience to show that you understand these laws and can apply them appropriately.

Example: “I have a thorough understanding of local and federal laws regarding custodial services, including OSHA standards for cleaning chemicals and equipment. I also know how to comply with state regulations on waste disposal and recycling. In my previous role as a custodian, I was responsible for ensuring that all staff members followed these rules and regulations. For example, if I noticed that someone wasn’t following proper procedures, I would speak with them about it and provide additional training or resources.”

Do you have any experience training custodians on how to use new equipment or services?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience training employees on how to use new equipment or services. This can be an important part of your role as a custodial supervisor because it shows that you’re able to train others and help them develop their skills. In your answer, try to explain what you did to train the employee and what kind of results you saw from the training.

Example: “In my last position, we started using a new cleaning service for our restrooms. I had one custodian who was having some trouble adjusting to the new system, so I scheduled time with him to go over the new process. We went through each step together, and he seemed to understand everything by the end of the training. He even offered to help other custodians learn how to use the new system.”

When is the best time to perform routine maintenance on work equipment?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your ability to plan and organize work activities. Use your answer to highlight your attention to detail, time management skills and organizational abilities.

Example: “I believe the best time to perform routine maintenance on equipment is before it breaks down or malfunctions. This allows me to ensure that all of our equipment is in good working order and ready for use when custodians need it. I also think it’s important to schedule regular maintenance checks so we can identify any issues with equipment early on. For example, if a vacuum cleaner has a loose wheel, I would want to know about it as soon as possible so I could get it fixed before someone needed to use it.”

We want to improve our customer service. Describe a strategy that you would use to improve our customer satisfaction rates among custodians.

Customer service is an important aspect of any business, and custodial supervisors need to be able to improve their employees’ customer service skills. A hiring manager may ask this question to see if you have strategies for improving the quality of work that your team does. In your answer, explain how you would implement a strategy to help your team members provide better customer service.

Example: “I think it’s important to make sure my team understands what our customers expect from us. I would hold monthly meetings where we discuss ways to improve our communication with clients. This can include things like making sure everyone knows who to contact when they have questions or concerns about their facilities. We could also talk about different ways to clean specific areas of a facility so that we are always providing high-quality work.”

Describe your experience with using cleaning service software.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with using technology in the workplace. Use your answer to describe how you use cleaning service software and what benefits it offers for your team.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of cleaning service software throughout my career, including some that are free and others that cost money. I find that the best software is usually the one that’s most user-friendly because it makes it easier for me to track my team’s progress and communicate with them when necessary. The software I currently use allows me to assign tasks to my team members, monitor their work remotely and receive alerts if someone hasn’t completed a task by its due date.”

What makes you an effective custodial supervisor?

This question can help the interviewer determine your leadership skills and how you apply them to your role. Use examples from your previous experience that show your ability to motivate a team, solve problems or communicate effectively with others.

Example: “I am an effective custodial supervisor because I have strong communication skills and problem-solving abilities. In my last position as a custodian, I noticed there was a lot of trash in one area of the building. After investigating, I found out it was due to a faulty trashcan. Rather than just replacing the trashcan, I decided to replace all of the cans in the facility so they were uniform. This helped reduce the amount of trash on the floor.”

Which cleaning methods do you prefer to use?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your cleaning preferences and how you implement them in your work. Your answer should include a list of methods that you enjoy using, along with an explanation for why they’re important to you.

Example: “I prefer to use environmentally friendly products when possible because I believe it’s important to keep our planet healthy. I also like to use non-toxic cleaning methods because I want my team members to be safe while working. For example, I recently started using a new method where we clean floors with vinegar instead of bleach. It’s been effective at removing stains from the floor without leaving any harmful residue behind.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of cleaning equipment maintenance?

This question can help the interviewer understand your knowledge of custodial equipment and how you prioritize tasks. Use your answer to highlight your understanding of cleaning equipment, including what maintenance is necessary and when it should be done.

Example: “I think regular maintenance is the most important aspect of cleaning equipment because it helps ensure that all equipment is working properly. I make sure my team performs routine checks on all equipment at least once a week so we can identify any issues before they become more serious. This also allows us to replace or repair equipment before it’s needed for a job.”

How often should you replace cleaning equipment?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of custodial equipment and supplies. Use examples from your experience to explain how you decide when to replace cleaning tools, such as mops, brooms and vacuums.

Example: “I usually check my inventory twice a year to see if I need to order new supplies or equipment. For example, last month I noticed that some of our floor buffers were getting worn out, so I ordered new ones for the entire team. This helped us finish our tasks more efficiently because we didn’t have to spend time repairing the old machines.”

There is a bug infestation in one of our facilities. What is your strategy for eradicating the bugs?

Bugs can be a nuisance in any workplace, and the interviewer may want to know how you would handle this situation. Use your answer to show that you have experience with bugs and other pests and how you would solve the problem.

Example: “I’ve had to deal with bug infestations before, so I understand that it’s important to act quickly. In my previous role as custodian supervisor, I noticed there were ants in one of our facilities. I immediately called an exterminator who came out to treat the facility. The exterminator was able to get rid of the ants within 24 hours, which helped prevent them from spreading to other areas.”