Maintenance Manager Interview Questions

"I perform routine audits on every machine at the start and end of my shift. This ensures they are safe to use, and also allows me to gauge whether I should repair damages when they happen or just replace the machine. If the cost of a repair is too high, I prefer to invest in a new machine. "

"In my previous role, I noticed a pipe was leaking on the top floor of our building. I fixed it as soon as I saw it. If I hadn't, it could have burst and caused a flood that would leak down to all the other floors. The leak left minimal water damage which I also fixed."

"When multiple employees call in sick one day and I can't find anyone to cover them, I will take over some of their work. I don't want the rest of my team to be overworked and resent their colleagues, so taking the work myself helps maintain morale. It also shows my team that I don't think I'm above them or the work they do, which helps us build deeper professional relationships."

"When members of my team have a conflict, I encourage them to try to work it out on their own. This will help them improve their communication skills and build a stronger relationship. If the conflict is too deep, I will act as a mediator and help them work through it. I try to take each employee aside and hear their side of the story. I will then bring them together to discuss possible solutions until we all agree on one."

"I would describe my management style as collabourative. Although I am the manager, I want my team to know I see them as equals. To do this, I try to work closely with them whenever I can to show them that no work is above me. It helps me build stronger relationships and gains my team's trust. This makes them more productive and willing to work harder."

"If an employee was underperforming, I would set up a private meeting with them to discuss why. If they're new, it might be a case of not knowing how to do certain tasks. If so, I would offer further training and monitor their progress over the next few weeks. If it was an employee I know can perform better, I would ask them what's going on and try to come up with a solution. Maybe they're having trouble at home and need some time off. I won't know unless I talk to my employees and build a relationship with them."

"In my previous role, I was the maintenance manager of a large office building. I supervised a team of five maintenance workers that took care of the building and the surrounding garden. I created their schedule, delegated tasks, performed administrative duties, and met with the building manager weekly to discuss their expectations."

"My greatest skills as a maintenance manager are my leadership and communication skills. As I will be responsible for a team of maintenance workers and technicians, having good leadership skills is important. It helps me motivate my team and build professional relationships with them. My communication skills aid in that as well and they help me delegate tasks appropriately."

"The biggest challenge I faced in my previous role was a small budget. We didn't have a lot of money to work with, so replacing machinery was out of the question. This meant that we had to repair old machines constantly. I assigned one person to each machine and they became an expert on it. This made repairing the machines much quicker."

"To motivate my team to work harder, I make myself present. I don't want my team to think I don't care about them or their well-being, so I will try to work with them for at least an hour a day. This boosts morale and gets everything done on time, motivating them to keep working hard."

"I prioritise tasks by how urgently they need to be done. For example, if I need to do something that will impact the safety of the building's residents or my staff, that is my top priority. I will then focus on things with an upcoming deadline to ensure I do them on time. I usually keep administrative tasks for last as they aren't as urgent, but I ensure to do them before the end of each week."

"I have a building maintenance diploma from Northern Lights College in British Columbia. The programme taught me how to perform routine maintenance in a building and repair any minor issues related to electrical, drywall, carpentry, plumbing, and more. I also have WHMIS and first-aid training to ensure my employees and work environment are safe."

"I completed a health and safety certificate programme from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) three years ago. It's a great online course that teaches you about WHMIS, health and safety for managers, and more. I get every member of my team to complete a similar course so they can contribute to a safe work environment. I also take supplementary courses from CCOHS whenever I can."

"I have been the maintenance manager of a hospital for over five years. I love it as I was always busy and challenging myself because it was such a large building. However, as I get older, I would prefer to work in a smaller, private hospital such as your own to focus more attention on maintaining the facilities."

"Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors will have a label on the instructions or unit that tell you how often to replace them. Generally, you should replace the entyre unit every seven to ten years. Although the battery should last the entyre lifespan of the detectors, it's also best to test the batteries every month to ensure they're working properly."