Interview Questions to Hire Maintenance Supervisor

Maintenance Supervisors are managerial professionals in charge of supervising a team of maintenance personnel. They often complete audits, order inventory and manage employees with regard to appraisals, time off, and rota scheduling. They will also carry out quality checks and ensure the work being carried out meets the needs of the company. Maintenance managers usually have an educational background in engineering or maintenance and have previous experience in supervising teams. Look for candidates who demonstrate strong management skills, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to lead, mentor, and train.

Skill-based questions

It is good practice to ask various types of questions, including skill-based, role-specific, behavioral, and situational questions, to identify strong candidates.

• Why are audits important in the maintenance department?
• What information do audits give you, and how do you complete them?
• What is the largest team size you have supervised?
• Have you completed employee appraisals before?
• Who do you consult when setting the weekly or monthly rota?
• Have you ever reviewed or implemented processes in the maintenance department previously?

Situational & Behavioural questions

• You have a team of 5 personnel, and one continuously calls in sick. How do you deal with this?
• Talk me through the steps of completing an audit. What do you look at, and how do you create the final report?
• You are asked to produce reports on quality checking. How do you do this, and what data do you use?
• Why is it important to ensure that the maintenance department is stocked with the parts and supplies required?
• Tell me about a time you had to work under pressure. What was the situation, and how did you manage it?

General Questions

• What are some things you would like to achieve in your work career within the next five years?
• What have you done in your career so far to learn and develop yourself professionally?
• Why did you decide to enter the maintenance industry?
• What are the top three skills you have that you think you can transfer to this role?
• Why have you applied for this role? How do you think you will benefit from working in the role?

Conclusion

The questions above will help you to identify quality candidates who are going through your recruitment process. Remember to look for candidates who demonstrate strong communication skills, strong leadership and management abilities, and the confidence to learn and adapt to a changing environment whilst meeting deadlines.