Custodian interview questions, with a scoring guide
Keeps a building clean, sanitary and safe, including floors, washrooms, waste and minor upkeep. Here are 22 questions for a custodian interview. Each comes with a follow-up and a 1 to 5 scoring guide so you can compare candidates fairly.
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Questions specific to the custodian role
Role-specific
Walk me through how you'd clean a set of washrooms in a busy building.
Follow-up: How do you know when you're done?
1 WeakVague.
3 SolidA basic order; cleans and restocks.
5 StrongPuts up signage, works top to bottom and clean to dirty, uses the right disinfectant and contact time, restocks, and does a final check.
Role-specific
You're about to use a cleaning chemical you haven't used before. What do you do first?
Follow-up: Where would you find the safety data sheet?
1 WeakJust uses it.
3 SolidReads the label.
5 StrongReads the label and SDS, uses the right PPE and dilution, and never mixes products.
Role-specific
Tell me about your experience with floor care, like stripping and waxing or running an auto scrubber.
Follow-up: What can go wrong, and how do you avoid it?
1 WeakNone, and little interest.
3 SolidHas used a scrubber or buffer.
5 StrongDescribes the full process, drying times, wet-floor signage and machine care.
Role-specific
During your shift you notice a leaking pipe and a burnt-out exit sign. What do you do?
1 WeakIgnores it; not their job.
3 SolidMentions it later.
5 StrongMakes the area safe, fixes what's within their role, logs it, and reports urgent items right away.
Behavioural questions by skill
Behavioural questions ask about something the person actually did. Past behaviour is a better guide than "what would you do" answers alone.
Attention to detail
Gets the small things right.
Tell me about a time you caught a mistake before it caused a problem.
Follow-up: How did you spot it?
1 WeakNo example.
3 SolidCaught one by chance.
5 StrongCaught it because of a habit or check they always do.
Walk me through how you check your own work before calling it done.
Follow-up: Has that check ever caught something?
1 WeakThey don't.
3 SolidA quick look over.
5 StrongA clear routine that fits the task.
Describe a task where getting the small details right really mattered.
Follow-up: What would have happened if they were wrong?
1 WeakCan't name one.
3 SolidNames one, but light on how.
5 StrongExplains the details, why they mattered, and how they got them right.
Reliability and follow-through
Shows up, keeps commitments, owns mistakes.
Tell me about a time you committed to something at work and it became hard to follow through. What did you do?
Follow-up: What was the result, and what would you do the same next time?
1 WeakLet it slide without telling anyone.
3 SolidFollowed through, but only after reminders or with a late heads-up.
5 StrongFlagged the risk early, adjusted the plan, and delivered or arranged cover.
Describe a stretch where you had to be consistent with early starts, long shifts or a tight schedule. How did you manage it?
Follow-up: What did you do on the days it was hardest?
1 WeakVague answer with no clear routine or example.
3 SolidShowed up reliably but relied on luck more than planning.
5 StrongSpecific habits that kept them on time, with an example to back it up.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake that affected someone else's work. What happened next?
Follow-up: How did the other person find out?
1 WeakHid it, blamed others, or can't recall any mistakes.
3 SolidOwned it when asked and fixed the immediate problem.
5 StrongRaised it right away, fixed it, and changed something so it wouldn't happen again.
Safety and care
Works safely and looks out for others.
Tell me about a time you noticed something unsafe at work. What did you do?
Follow-up: What happened after you reported it?
1 WeakIgnored it, or has never noticed anything.
3 SolidMentioned it to someone.
5 StrongMade it safe if they could, reported it, and followed up.
Describe a time you were asked to cut a corner on safety to save time.
Follow-up: What did you say?
1 WeakWent along with it.
3 SolidHesitated, then did it.
5 StrongSaid no respectfully and suggested a safe way to keep things moving.
What safety habits do you follow every shift without thinking about them?
Follow-up: Where did you pick those up?
1 WeakNone come to mind.
3 SolidA generic answer such as 'wear PPE'.
5 StrongSpecific habits that fit the kind of work.
Initiative
Sees what needs doing and does it.
Tell me about something you did at work that wasn't part of your job but needed doing.
Follow-up: How did you notice it?
1 WeakNothing comes to mind.
3 SolidHelped when it was obvious.
5 StrongSpotted the need and handled it without being asked.
Describe a time you had downtime at work. What did you do with it?
Follow-up: Was that normal where you worked?
1 WeakWaited to be told.
3 SolidAsked what to do.
5 StrongFound useful work such as prepping, cleaning or learning.
Tell me about a skill you taught yourself because it would help at work.
Follow-up: How did it help?
1 WeakNone.
3 SolidLearned only when required.
5 StrongLearned it on their own and can say how it helped.
Organizing and time management
Plans the work and meets deadlines.
Walk me through how you plan a typical work day.
Follow-up: What do you do when the plan falls apart?
1 WeakNo plan.
3 SolidA loose plan.
5 StrongA clear system, such as a list or calendar, and how they adjust it.
Tell me about a time you had several deadlines at once.
Follow-up: How did you decide the order?
1 WeakMissed some without warning.
3 SolidMet them by working late.
5 StrongPrioritized, planned, and met them or flagged early.
Describe a system you use to keep track of tasks, orders or paperwork.
Follow-up: Show me how you'd use it on your first day here.
1 WeakNone.
3 SolidMostly memory.
5 StrongA reliable system with an example.
Honesty and integrity
Does the right thing, including when nobody's looking.
Tell me about a time you were asked to do something at work that you felt wasn't right.
Follow-up: What happened afterwards?
1 WeakDid it without question.
3 SolidDid it but felt uneasy.
5 StrongRaised it respectfully and did the right thing.
Describe a time you handled cash, stock or private information. How did you keep it secure?
Follow-up: Did anything ever go missing?
1 WeakVague answer.
3 SolidFollowed the basics.
5 StrongSpecific precautions and an example.
Tell me about a time you admitted you didn't know something.
Follow-up: What did you do next?
1 WeakNever has.
3 SolidAdmitted it when pressed.
5 StrongAdmitted it early and found the answer.
Prescreen questions for custodian candidates
Ask these on a five-minute phone call or send them as a form before you book interviews.
- Are you legally entitled to work in Canada? (Yes / No)
- Which days and times are you available to work?
- When could you start?
- What pay are you looking for?
- What interests you about this job?
- This role involves standing and walking most of the shift, bending, lifting, and pushing carts and waste bins. Can you do that, with or without accommodation? (Yes / No)
- Do you have current WHMIS training? (Yes / No)
How to score the answers
- Ask every candidate the same questions in the same order. That's what makes scores comparable.
- Write down what they did, not your impression. "Closed alone on a Saturday and restocked for the morning" beats "seems reliable".
- Score each answer from 1 to 5 against the guide under the question. A 3 is a solid, acceptable answer.
- Average the scores and read the notes behind any big gap between interviewers.
- Check references on the areas where you're least sure.
Questions to avoid
In Canada, hiring questions should be about the job. Human rights laws protect people from being treated differently because of things like their age, family status, disability, religion, race, place of origin, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. Stay away from questions like these:
- "How old are you?" or "When did you finish high school?"
- "Do you have kids?" or "Are you planning a family?"
- "Where are you from originally?" (You can ask: "Are you legally entitled to work in Canada?")
- "Do you have any health problems?" (You can ask: "This job involves [a real duty]. Can you do that, with or without accommodation?")
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules vary by province.
Questions
What should I ask in a custodian interview?
Ask about the parts of the job that matter most: attention to detail, reliability and follow-through, safety and care, initiative, plus role-specific questions such as "Walk me through how you'd clean a set of washrooms in a busy building." Ask every candidate the same questions so you can compare them fairly.
How do I score a custodian interview?
Score each answer from 1 to 5 against a short guide that describes a weak, solid and strong answer. Score what the person actually did in their example, not how confident they sounded. Then average the scores and read the notes behind any big differences.
What should I ask before interviewing a custodian?
Use a short prescreen: work eligibility, availability, start date, pay expectations and the must-haves for the role, such as "This role involves standing and walking most of the shift, bending, lifting, and pushing carts and waste bins. Can you do that, with or without accommodation?"
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