How will your prior experience help you in this role?
Can you take us through your resume?
Why did you choose this particular career path?
What was the organizational structure in your previous employment and what was your contribution?
Can you describe a time when you failed and how did you react after the failure?
Why do you want to quit your current job?
How does your prior experience match the requirements of this role?
Describe a situation where you were faced with a tough decision and how did you solve it?
What have you learned about yourself from your previous work experience?

Example School custodian interview questions and Answers

1. What time did you go above and beyond your cleaning duties?

This question seeks information about anything extra you did while conducting your duties—answer by stating any time you did something out of your daily routine. For example, “While working in my previous station, our kitchen caught fire. I grabbed a fire extinguisher and helped the kitchen staff extinguish the fire before it spread. We saved the school from being burnt down.”

2. How do you handle stress and pressure as a school custodian?

The interviewer is trying to ascertain how you handle yourself during difficult times. Answer this question by describing your actions and thought process during such scenarios. For example: “I react to situations rather than focusing on stress. This way, I offer solutions without feeling overly stressed. I can do this by focusing on the task at hand and conducting daily reviews of my work and conduct.”

3. What do you expect out of this position?

This question seeks to understand your expected learnings. You can speak about all that you intend to accomplish while in that role. For example: “I intend to acquire better communication skills and sharpen the skills I already have through on-the-job learning and attending school custodian seminars.”

4. Why do you want to work as a school custodian?

This question is always asked to determine your intent and passion. The interviewer wants to know if you are applying because no better jobs exist or because you are enthusiastic about the role. Make sure to state your passion, previous experience and any personal satisfaction the role offers you.

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5. How do you exercise patience while cleaning around the general public?

Here the interviewer wants to know how comfortable you are with the role. The answer you give here might also reflect on your personality and attitude. Let the interviewer know about similar past experiences and how you handled yourself.

6. Why should we hire you?

The interviewer wants to find out if you know your skills and feel confident and competent enough to perform on the role. Here you should speak broadly about your achievements and personal traits.

7. What is your greatest moment as a school custodian?

Here the interviewer wants you to highlight a great moment while executing your job. Speak about something nice that happened and made you happy with your job. For example: “While working at my previous station, my manager arranged a surprise birthday for me. As I packed to leave, he asked me to join him in his office and there were my colleagues and a few teachers waiting for me. I was also commended and awarded the best co-staff award for excellent work and consistency. This is special to me.”

8. How did you handle the worst experience as a school custodian?

Here the interviewer is keen to know how you handle challenges while working. As you answer, refer to a situation that damped your spirit while at work and speak to how you solved the situation.

9. How do you handle and maintain the tools offered to you for your role?

This questions should help to identify your sense of responsibility. Mention how you store the tools, clean them, take an inventory check before work and when you ask for replacements. For example: “After cleaning, I ensure that all my tools are disinfected, rinsed and dry before I store them. I do this religiously to ensure that they are ready to use the next shift/day. I believe that in doing so, I reduce the risk of attracting bugs and harmful insects and minimize the risk of accidents.”

10. How do you keep healthy for your kind of work?

This is to find out how you keep fit because the role involves movement, lifting and bending—answer by speaking to your workout routine. For example: “I work out at the local gym daily. I also perform routine stretch exercises before and after my daily errands. To protect my back, I practice safe lifting techniques.”

11. Why Should We Hire You as a Custodian?

A custodial interview sometimes opens with, “Why should we hire you?” The hiring manager wants to find out if you have the skills they need for the job. You’ll want to be specific when responding to this question. Think about the following when answering custodian interview questions such as this: Why are your skills and experience a good fit for the employer? What are the employer’s needs and how can you fulfill them? Do you have the core skills necessary for a custodian job?

12. What type of cleaning machinery do you have experience with?

This question seeks to find out the machines you can use for work. Answer this by listing all the equipment you can use. For example: “I have extensive experience using the air mover to dry floors, the floor and carpet sweeper and power washers. I have also received training on how to service this equipment. This has made my work easier and faster.”

13. What Makes You a Good Elementary School Custodian?

Elementary schools are one of the biggest employers of custodians. Custodial interview questions for elementary school are meant to gauge your reliability, personability, and skills. You must also show that you know when a situation could be dangerous so you can keep students safe.

14. What Credentials Do You Have or Would Like to Pursue?

Additional credentials such as certifications and licenses—increase your skillset and make you more hirable. You may have already listed your credentials on your resume. But employers ask custodian interview questions regarding credentials to learn more about what you can bring to the table.

15. Do you know what are the essential job tasks of a custodian?

When the interviewer asks this question, the intention is to determine if you know what the role entails. The best way to answer it is by using your experience. Mention all essential tasks of a school custodian. For example: “As a custodian, my main duties result in a tidy environment. I Sweep, mop, clear cobwebs, wipe windows and ensure that all toilets are dry and clean.”

16. What is your experience with technology as a school custodian?

This question highlights your exposure to technology as you conduct your duties. Talk about how technology has helped in your work. For example: “In my previous role, I used radiophones to communicate with other custodians and had access to a task scheduling app that informed us of assigned duties.”

17. How Do You Keep Equipment, Machinery, and Tools Clean?

It’s impossible to clean with unsanitary equipment, machinery, and tools. For example: “If my equipment, machinery, and tools aren’t clean, I can’t do my job well. Some of the machines I use include vacuum cleaners, floor scrubbers, and burnishers. Cleaning this equipment often involves removing and replacing filters. I also use disinfectant spray when wiping my equipment down at the end of the day. I also sanitize mops, cloths, and toilet brushes with hot water and bleach so they’re ready to use the next day.”

18. What is most rewarding about being a school custodian?

The interviewer is keen here to find out what makes you appreciate your role. Be honest about what truly excites you. Speak to perks you receive, opportunities and even the chance to make a change. For example: “I love when my job makes it easier for the students to learn. I also understand my contribution toward the well-being of the students in making sure that they don’t contract any diseases.”

19. What Are Some Common Problems You Solve as a Custodian?

As a custodian, you’ll encounter problems often, many of which occur when you least expect them. Problem-solving is one of the top skills employers look for in custodians. Custodian interview questions about problem-solving are a great opportunity to pull from your prior experience.

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20. Describe the steps that you would take if you found a leaking problem that you were unable to fix on your own.

This question tests your reaction to situations and decision-making. To answer this, mention how you would assess the situation and then respond if the situation proved difficult for you to handle.

21. Can you tell us about your educational background and how it makes you a good fit for this school custodial position?

Here it will be best to highlight the level of education you have attained and also any other certifications acquired. If you plan to continue studying in the future or intend to work part-time as you raise money for your tuition, it would be nice to let the interviewer know.

22. What is your greatest weakness As Custodian Maintenance? What are you doing to improve it?

For example: I believe my biggest weakness As Custodian Maintenance is wanting to help anyone I can help. What I mean is I am willing to take on task that are not my job. I want to learn all I can. However, that has helped me get promoted or even asked to help in times of need in other department. I have been know as the “go to person” when help is needed.

23. How do you motivate yourself to complete your tasks as a school custodian?

The interviewer is interested to know how persistent and consistent you are since this role is highly repetitive. Focus on how passionate you are about the role and the little things you do to make time pass by as you conduct your duties.

24. What experience do you have working as a school custodian?

This question will help the interviewer understand how your work experience fits into the role. In your answer, speak passionately about your prior experience, mention referees if possible and relate your prior experience to the new role. For example: “I have worked as a custodian for 3 years. From this, I gained extensive knowledge of cleaning processes and experience in using various chemical cleaners. I follow safety precautions while handling the chemicals and have no problem working unsupervised.”

Top 25 School Custodian Interview Questions & Answers Tips 2024

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