Maintenance supervisors oversee the repair and installations in buildings or complexes. You have to make the best possible impression if you are interviewing for such a role. These 20 Maintenance supervisor questions and answers should be a good foundation.
1 What Is The Best Way Of Motivating Technicians To Work Harder?
Being a maintenance supervisor also imposes on your specific managerial roles. You need to bring the best out of employees.
Tip #1: Your motivation should not be money.
Tip #2: You need to talk about being present
Sample Answer
I believe that employees will always be motivated if there is the right work atmosphere. They will look out for their colleagues and work harder. Being present in the construction sites is also a good motivation.
How would you describe your supervisory style?
Try to describe it as very active. That means that you don’t observe the workers only from the distance (whether they work or smoke cigarettes), but overlook the work closely, intervening when necessary.
At the same time, however, you allow your subordinates at least certain degree of freedom, letting them to think about the solution of a problem for a while (before you tell them what they should do), so they can also progress as technicians.
What Major Challenge Did You Face During Your Last Role, And How Did You Manage It?
The interviewer wants to know whether you are a good problem solver or not. Certain situations need you to push yourself out of the box and come up with a solution.
Tip #1: The challenge you choose should shed you as a good problem solver.
Tip #2: The challenge should not be a result of your action.
Sample Answer
One of the biggest challenges in my last position was employees calling absent. I had to work with staffing agencies regularly to fill the void. At times I joined the other technicians in repair works.
1 Describe Your Supervisory Style?
It would be best to keep in mind that this is a supervisory role. You will not be acting as a maintenance technician anymore. The answer you give can determine whether you will land the job or not.
Tip#1: Your supervisory style should be active
Tip #2: You should give employees a little bit of freedom.
Sample Answer
I always ensure that I overlook the work closely and intervene where necessary. However, I also understand that employees need a little freedom, and therefore, I always let them think about different solutions before intervening.
Describe Briefly About Your Working Experience
This is also a chance to sell yourself. You cannot be a supervisor without the right technical skills.
Tip #1: Share how long you have been in the given profession.
Tip #2: list the systems and installations that you have experience in. do not go into the technical details
Sample Answers
This is my tenth year as a maintenance technician. Over the years, I have done cabling and window installations (go on and list all the systems and structures you have worked on). However, I understand that this is a supervisory role, and repairing things will not be my primary role.
How do you imagine a typical day in work as a maintenance supervisor?
The key is to find the right balance between supervisory work (primary) and technical work (secondary, but still important).
Certainly you should say neither that you imagine watching the workers from your comfy office, coming out only when someone calls you, nor that you envision repairing the more difficult defects while your subordinates take care of easier tasks.
Actually the best answer is a story of something we can call a “typical day of a maintenance supervisor”. For example:
