Questions to ask job interviewees

blastoffvictoria

blastoffvictoria

New member
Just going through a list of questions to ask when i screen applicants for any available positions within my p.washing biz. I have the usual ones about what kind of supervisors get the best out of you, and ones of that nature. I also ask about specific experience in the field. Most people think that because they washed their car with a high pressure hose at a gas station that they are qualified to clean anything. Drives me crazy!
 
I do not put a lot into experience, depending on the position. I take pride in training and believe that to be the key. I look for integrity, customer focus, and attitude. If the person being hired has what I am looking for then I will spend the extra time in training to develop a future all star. With that said I always ask four questions.

Tell me about a former employer and what did you like most about working for them or the job?
Tell me about a former employer and something you did not like about them or the job?
Tell me about a positive customer experience in a previous job? Was it rewarding? How did it make you feel?
Tell me about a negative customer experience in a previous job? How did you handle it and were you able to turn it around?

Answers to these four questions are part of every interview and help me to see some insight as to what I am looking for.

If it is about experience I will ask specific technical questions and then gauge their answers relative to their work history.
 
If I was looing for someone to work early mornings say 3am till 10 am I would interview at 3 am.
I would first have them call me at 3am for a over the phone interview. Then I would have them meet me at 3am another night.
Show me you can show up on time....
I have a real problem with people showing up on time and no shows.

My 3 keys to a good employee (not Great)
Show up on time
Know your job
Do your job
 
My better half works for a national gym and I asked when she was a GM and RM what she did to hire people. One example was she would make the person shop two of her gyms and do a report on their experience. If they didn't do it she would throw the resume away and not even consider them.
Pressure washing could be ..... You have exp. ....OK show me how you pop gum in a real time demo or tell me how you would prepare to set up washing at this location.
As a former landscaper I always had people who knew how to mow. Funny thing was no one knew how to weed eat properly. I always asked for them to weed eat the walk and everyone of them would take the grass all the way down to the walk. Proper way is to hold the trimmer at same height as the cut grass from the mower. Burning the grass down to the ground was the quickest way to loose a customer. (weeds also grow more when you do it too. fyi.)
Anyway thank about ways you can be different than the next place. I believe some people even video record interviews so they can become better at it. (check your state law). You can ask all the questions you want.....but in our line of work
Show up on time
Know your job
Do your job
 
Here in NZ being able to pass a drugs test is becoming a huge part of qualifying for a position. Also being legally able to work in the country.We too have "wet backs" and ours come from all over the world as well.
 
Lou Zehnder said:
If I was looing for someone to work early mornings say 3am till 10 am I would interview at 3 am.
I would first have them call me at 3am for a over the phone interview. Then I would have them meet me at 3am another night.
Show me you can show up on time....
I have a real problem with people showing up on time and no shows.

My 3 keys to a good employee (not Great)
Show up on time
Know your job
Do your job
Click to expand...


That's a great idea. Never thought of it.



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Yea that is an idea. Thanks Ron.
 
Our process is pretty involved. We put an ad out, and never take walk in applications. We send them a questionnaire asking about them, their experiences, and asking about what kind of people they are, then they come in for an interview. After that I take them on a road test of four or five miles so I can see how they drive, and do a pressure washing test. The purpose of the pressure washing test is not to see if they got skills, but to see if they will follow instructions, and learn to do it my way. After they get hired, we will usually decide in a couple of days of training if they are going to make it, and bust them out if they won't.
 
They are questions asking about what they have done, if they are involved in any sort of volunteerism, because we have found that people that volunteer or give public service tend to be better employees, why the think they would be a good fit for the job. Etc. part of it is hoop jumping, because if they won't jump through the hoops, they likely have too big an ego to survive with us.
 
Whenever I bring guys on board I worry a little less about their current qualifications and more about their ability to learn quickly and accept that I know what I am doing and they don't so they need to absorb all they can. Ofcourse, you have to make sure they will show up, stay till the job is done, treat customers with respect, etc. But as far as the ability to actually perform the work - I would prefer someone who has little or no experience so they don't come with bad habits. I have had good luck with veterans. They learn quick, don't think you're "yelling" at them when you are teaching them, and are used to hard work....

Daniel Simmons
professional power washers in Spring
roof cleaning service in Cypress, TX
 
Though it may be subtle the first thing I look at when hiring somebody is their fingernails. If they are chewed up it can show they are a nervous person, with that knowledge it can really set the stage for the types of questions I will ask somebody.
 
The Eddie Haskell guys are the worst. They are serial employees who know how to say all the right things and work like a dog till they know they are in. I am happy to hear some of these tests you guys are using. I will implement them.

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Don't ever look at my nails, then. I bite them when I get tired.
 
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