Finding the right employees is often the hardest thing for business owners and managers, whether they’re looking for a building maintenance technician or someone to work in any other trade…
There are several things to think about when hiring a technician for building maintenance work. Their work can also affect the safety of other people.
There’s always another customer a salesperson can call if they fail to make a sale, so it’s not always devastating.
A technician may lose a few building maintenance jobs, but if they make a mistake and mark an elevator as safe to use when it’s not, the problems can be much worse.
Are you going on an interview for the job of building technician? This complete guide will help you ace the interview and get the job.
As a building technician, you are responsible for maintaining and repairing a facility’s structural, electrical, and mechanical systems The role requires strong technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
In your interview, hiring managers will assess your technical competencies and soft skills through a mix of behavioral and situational questions. Doing well requires thoughtful preparation This guide provides tips, sample questions, and suggested responses to help you highlight your qualifications
Common Building Technician Interview Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked interview questions for building technician candidates
Questions About Your Experience and Background
The people interviewing you will want to know about your work history and see if you have the skills needed for this job. Expect queries like:
- How long have you worked in maintenance?
- What qualifies you for this job?
- What type of training have you completed?
- What were some of your previous responsibilities?
- Do you have experience leading a team?
- How would your previous employer describe you?
Tailor your responses to emphasize skills like technical expertise, project management, collaboration, and leadership. Quantify your accomplishments and training whenever possible.
Technical Questions
These questions aim to gauge your hard skills and technical know-how. Be prepared to answer:
- How would you troubleshoot an electrical issue? Walk me through your process.
- What experience do you have with HVAC systems?
- What essential safety checks would you perform in a building inspection?
- How do you stay current on building codes and regulations?
- What metrics would indicate an elevator needs repair versus replacement?
Use specific examples to demonstrate your technical competency. Explain your systematic approach to diagnosing and resolving issues. Emphasize safety.
Situational Questions
These hypothetical scenarios assess your judgment, priorities, and adaptability:
- How would you handle an emergency, like an electrical fire or gas leak?
- If you noticed a potential structural issue during an inspection, what would you do?
- If you had limited budget for a repair, how would you prioritize?
- How would you handle conflicts with tenants about maintenance issues?
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide tactical, level-headed responses. Demonstrate calm under pressure.
Behavioral Questions
These queries gauge your soft skills based on your past behavior:
- Tell me about a time you successfully diagnosed a complex equipment malfunction.
- Give an example of when you had multiple repairs pending at once. How did you prioritize?
- Describe a difficult troubleshooting or repair you faced. What was the outcome?
- Discuss a challenging building inspection you conducted. What did you learn?
Use real examples that show skills like communication, attention to detail, problem-solving, and time management. Quantify results when possible.
Questions About You
Expect queries designed to assess if you’re the right culture fit:
- What appeals to you about this building technician role?
- How would your coworkers describe your work style?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Where do you see your career in 5 years?
Be authentic while emphasizing your work ethic, team spirit, thirst for learning, and eagerness to take on new challenges.
Killer Responses to Common Questions
Here are examples of strong responses to some frequently asked interview questions:
Q: What construction or repair project are you most proud of completing? Why?
A: I’m most proud of managing the overhaul of our building’s aging HVAC system last year. The project involved identifying energy-efficient replacement units, coordinating installations, and upgrading ventilation ductwork throughout the 10-story facility – all while minimizing disruption to daily operations. It was a complex undertaking but we completed the project on time and significantly reduced ongoing utility costs. I’m proud of the teamwork and communication skills I demonstrated to make this challenging retrofit a success.
Q: How would you respond during an emergency, like a burst pipe or furnace failure?
A: In an emergency, I would first ensure everyone’s safety by following proper protocols, securing the area, and acting swiftly to contain the situation. I would diagnose the problem and implement a temporary fix or workaround if possible to minimize disruption. If it required specialized help, I would contact the appropriate emergency services immediately. Throughout the process, I would communicate clearly with occupants about the issue and next steps being taken to resolve it. Keeping calm under pressure and having a methodical approach is key.
Q: What is the most common building system issue you encounter? How would you fix it?
A: One of the most common issues I see is preventive maintenance not being performed on building equipment like elevators, boilers, and chillers. This results in reduced efficiency, higher energy costs, and eventual breakdowns. My approach is two-fold – conducting thorough inspections to catch problems early and implementing a comprehensive preventive maintenance schedule. This involves tasks like replacing worn parts, testing equipment, cleaning, lubricating, and monitoring metrics so problems can be addressed promptly. Preventive maintenance is essential for smooth facility operations.
Q: How do you stay up-to-date on building codes, compliance, and safety best practices?
A: Staying current is crucial in my role so I utilize several methods. I regularly attend seminars and take certification courses related to building codes and safety. I also read industry publications and blogs to learn about new guidelines and best practices. Joining local industry associations provides opportunities to network with other professionals and learn about developments in the field. Lastly, documentation is key – I keep detailed records of building codes and standards for easy reference and review them before starting any new project.
Q: Tell me about a time you had to diagnose a problem. What was the result?
A: When our building’s motion sensors and lighting kept malfunctioning, I had to tackle an elusive electrical issue. I systematically tested connections and circuit continuity until I pinpointed a damaged wire in a junction box. Rather than a quick fix, I knew we needed to fully replace the old copper wiring to prevent future problems. I presented my findings and recommendations to the facilities manager along with a cost-benefit analysis. In the end, we invested in completely rewiring that wing for improved reliability. Methodically diagnosing the root cause saved time and led to the optimal long-term solution.
Tips for Acing Your Interview
Succeeding in your building technician interview takes practice and preparation. Here are some tips:
Show your technical expertise – Use industry terminology and give detailed examples that highlight your technical know-how. Provide metrics and data when possible.
Demonstrate strong soft skills – Give examples of your communication, teamwork, problem-solving, customer service, and ability to stay organized.
Ask thoughtful questions – Inquire about safety policies, team structure, training programs, and growth opportunities. This shows genuine interest.
Review sample questions – Practicing responses to likely interview questions will make you more comfortable responding spontaneously.
Highlight certifications – Emphasize any specialized training and certifications that make you uniquely qualified.
Check out the facility – If possible, tour the facility before your interview to become familiar with its systems and layout.
Bring relevant samples – Offer to showcase maintenance logs, inspection reports, or repair summaries that exemplify your skills.
With the right amount of preparation, you can ace your building technician interview. Use this guide to understand the key questions you’ll face and craft compelling responses that highlight your technical expertise, communication abilities, critical thinking, and genuine passion for the work. Show them you have what it takes to keep their facility running safely and efficiently. Good luck!
Job Summary of a Building Maintenance Technician
By far, the hardest things to measure are soft skills related to teamwork or how well your building maintenance technician fits in with your company’s culture.
Before the interview, it’s important to outline the kind of soft skills you’re hoping for. You can do this by telling them they’ll have to work with a senior technician or do some customer service work, like upselling, every once in a while.
Make sure to include these in the job requirements, but don’t get your hopes up. Most applicants will skim over soft skills and simply consider how much experience they need, then apply directly.
Before the main interview, you should look at the credentials and work history of your top candidates. Remember that some people will still apply, and they might be worth considering. Don’t rule out anyone just because they’re not a typical applicant.
Sending them a problem scenario ahead of time and getting rid of weaker candidates based on their answers is a good idea. This keeps you from having to spend an hour or more talking to them only to find out they aren’t qualified to do HVAC performance tests.
During the interview: Here’s what to ask a Building Maintenance Job Applicant:
One mistake that managers or owners make is to spend a lot of time on the applicant’s CV during the interview. At this point, you should already be certain that they’re capable of doing the job you’re hiring for.
The interview’s purpose is to find out if they’re the right person for doing the job. If you want to know more about them, you can start by asking about their previous work. But the real question is how they behaved on the job, how they got along with others, and how well they fit in with the company brand.
How do you Hire the Right Building Maintenance Technician?
Before the interview: know what you’re looking for.
There are some differences when hiring a technician compared to hiring someone for any other job. This is true whether the technician works in general building maintenance, HVAC, plumbing, or any other trade.
On one hand, technical skills are easy to quantify and list from the beginning. For example, if you’re looking to hire a senior building maintenance worker and know that 90% of the job will involve maintaining the ventilation systems and supervising a junior technician, you can make it clear that they need to have at least four years of experience, OSHA training, and a NATE accreditation.
When it comes to building maintenance technicians, it’s harder to judge their soft skills because there are job-related soft skills and teamwork-related soft skills.
Job-related soft skills are abilities like problem-solving proficiency (e. g. how they react if an appliance breaks down in a way they haven’t seen before; the ability to climb and handle heights; and the ability to lift up to 70 pounds. , etc.
You don’t need to look for an apprentice or junior technician because these skills will be learned on the job, so you can list them in the job description.
