Custodian interview questions: 23 questions and a scorecard for interviewers
The short answer
Good custodian interview questions test cleaning routines and floor care, safe use of chemicals, opening and closing the building securely, event setups, working around students or occupants, small repairs and reporting, and emergency procedures. Ask for real examples, such as a floor they stripped and refinished or a problem they found while locking up, and listen for the order of their steps and who they told. For school roles, background checks are set by law, such as fingerprinting for non-certified public school employees in Texas or an enhanced DBS check for new school staff in England, so ask only whether the candidate will complete them and leave the checks themselves to the formal screening process. Score every candidate against the same five criteria so the decision rests on evidence.
All 23 questions with why you ask each one, what a strong answer shows and follow-ups, plus the custodian scorecard and rating guide. Free to download and adapt; no sign-up needed.
When to use these questions
Custodians, also called janitors and, in many UK schools, caretakers or site staff, keep schools, offices and public buildings clean, safe and ready to use, often working alone and holding keys to the whole building. An interview needs to show how someone plans a cleaning route, looks after floors, handles chemicals and secures the building, and whether they can be trusted around students and occupants. The strongest evidence comes from specific buildings and shifts, described step by step.
Safety and trust need the same weight as cleaning. In the US, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to label hazardous chemicals, keep safety data sheets readily accessible during each shift and train workers on the chemicals in their work area; in the UK, the COSHH Regulations require employers to plan, manage and monitor the use of substances hazardous to health. For school roles, the law sets the background checks: in Texas, non-certified public school employees hired on or after January 1, 2008 must be fingerprinted before they begin work, and in England, Keeping children safe in education requires schools to obtain an enhanced DBS check for new staff. Leave those checks to the formal screening process rather than asking about criminal history in the interview, and confirm the shift pattern, the physical tasks of the role and the start date up front.
23 custodian interview questions
Grouped by what they test. Pick the questions that match the role, ask every candidate the same ones in the same order, and score each answer against the scorecard below.
Cleaning routines and floor care
Ask how they plan and carry out the work. Good custodians describe a route, a schedule and the checks they make, not only that they keep things clean.
Question 1: Walk me through your route for a typical shift. How do you split the work into daily, weekly and periodic tasks?
- Why ask it:
- Shows whether the candidate works to a plan rather than reacting to whatever they see.
- A strong answer shows:
- A clear route through the building, daily tasks such as restrooms and trash, scheduled tasks such as high dusting or floor work, and how they record what is done.
- Follow-up:
- What do you do when an urgent call interrupts your route?
Question 2: Which floor care machines have you run, such as auto scrubbers, burnishers, buffers or carpet extractors, and on which floor types?
- Why ask it:
- Matches equipment experience to the building and shows where training is needed.
- A strong answer shows:
- Named machines and floor types, such as vinyl tile, sealed concrete or carpet, with honest gaps.
Question 3: Talk me through stripping and refinishing a hard floor. How do you keep the area safe while the work is going on?
- Why ask it:
- Tests a multi-step skill and safety at the same time.
- A strong answer shows:
- Closing and signing the area, the right order of stripping, rinsing and finish coats, drying time and ventilation, and checking the floor before reopening it.
Question 4: How do you keep restrooms clean and stocked in a busy building, and how do you deal with one that has been vandalized or badly soiled?
- Why ask it:
- Restrooms show quickly whether a custodian keeps to a routine.
- A strong answer shows:
- A regular check schedule, restocking, the right products and protective equipment, closing the restroom while cleaning, and reporting damage.
Question 5: Someone spills a drink in a busy corridor between classes or meetings. What do you do?
- Why ask it:
- Tests a quick, safe response in areas people are walking through.
- A strong answer shows:
- Putting out signs or blocking the area straight away, cleaning and drying it, and leaving the signs until the floor is dry.
Chemical safety and body fluid cleanup
Custodians handle concentrated products in buildings full of people. Ask for exact habits.
Question 6: How do you choose and dilute a cleaning product for a task, and how do you make sure you are using it safely?
- Why ask it:
- OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to keep safety data sheets readily accessible during each shift and to train workers on the hazardous chemicals in their work area.
- A strong answer shows:
- Using the dispensing system or the dilution on the label, wearing the protective equipment the label or safety data sheet calls for, and never mixing products.
Question 7: Where do you keep chemicals and equipment in a building where students or members of the public could reach them?
- Why ask it:
- HSE says locking up cleaning chemicals is sensible where vulnerable people, such as children, can get to them.
- A strong answer shows:
- Locked closets, closing the door every time, and never leaving a cart with chemicals on it unattended in a corridor or classroom.
Question 8: You find an unlabeled container of liquid in a supply closet. What do you do?
- Why ask it:
- OSHA’s standard requires each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace to be labeled, tagged or marked, so an unlabeled container is something to report, not something to use.
- A strong answer shows:
- Not using it or pouring it away, setting it aside safely and reporting it to the supervisor so it can be identified or disposed of properly.
Question 9: How do you clean up blood, vomit or other body fluids, for example after a student is hurt in a hallway?
- Why ask it:
- Where workers can reasonably anticipate contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials, OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard requires precautions, including decontaminating contaminated surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant.
- A strong answer shows:
- Gloves and other protective equipment, closing off the area, using the building’s spill kit and a disinfectant as its label directs, disposing of waste properly and washing hands.
Opening, closing and event setups
Custodians often hold keys and alarm codes. Look for a precise routine, firm rules on access and good planning for setups.
Question 10: Walk me through how you open or lock up a building. What do you check, and in what order?
- Why ask it:
- A custodian who opens or closes a building is responsible for its security at the start and end of the day.
- A strong answer shows:
- A set checklist, such as doors and windows, lights, running water and the alarm, with anything unusual reported and the time recorded.
- Follow-up:
- What would you do if you found a door forced or the alarm wouldn’t set?
Question 11: Someone you don’t recognize asks you to unlock a classroom or office after hours. What do you do?
- Why ask it:
- Custodians hold keys, so they need a firm rule on who they let in.
- A strong answer shows:
- Politely declining unless the person is authorized under the building’s procedure, checking with the supervisor or front office, and recording it.
Question 12: How do you look after the keys, access cards and alarm codes you are given?
- Why ask it:
- A lost key or a shared code can mean rekeying a building or a security incident.
- A strong answer shows:
- Keeping them on their person, never lending or copying them, reporting a loss immediately and returning everything when the assignment ends.
Question 13: Tell me about an event setup you handled, such as a gym set for an assembly or a hall for an evening meeting. How did you plan it?
- Why ask it:
- Setups test planning against a deadline and accuracy to a layout.
- A strong answer shows:
- Confirming the layout and timing with the organizer, keeping exits and aisles clear, and having the room reset on time afterwards.
Question 14: A setup request, a leaking toilet and a classroom spill all come in at once. How do you decide what to do first?
- Why ask it:
- Tests judgment when several requests compete.
- A strong answer shows:
- Safety and water damage first, then time-critical requests, with each requester told what to expect and the supervisor kept informed.
Occupants, repairs and emergencies
Custodians work while the building is in use. Look for respect for occupants, clear limits on repairs and calm emergency habits.
Question 15: How do you get your work done in a building full of students or staff without getting in their way or creating hazards?
- Why ask it:
- Day-shift custodians work while the building is in use, so the job affects everyone in it.
- A strong answer shows:
- Timing noisy or wet work around classes or meetings, keeping cords and carts out of walkways, and being polite but brief with occupants.
Question 16: For school roles: what boundaries do you keep with students, and what would you do if a student told you something worrying or you saw something that concerned you?
- Why ask it:
- In England, Keeping children safe in education says safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and that everyone who comes into contact with children has a role in identifying concerns and acting promptly.
- A strong answer shows:
- Professional boundaries, such as avoiding being alone with a student behind a closed door and no personal social media contact, and reporting concerns promptly to the school’s named contact, such as the designated safeguarding lead in England, rather than investigating.
- Follow-up:
- Who would you tell, and how quickly?
Question 17: Which small repairs are you comfortable doing, such as replacing ceiling tiles, adjusting a door closer or clearing a blocked sink, and when do you call maintenance instead?
- Why ask it:
- Matches skills to the role and shows the candidate knows their limits.
- A strong answer shows:
- Specific repairs they have done, and work they leave to maintenance or licensed trades, such as electrical or gas work.
Question 18: Tell me about a building problem you reported, such as a roof leak, a broken lock or a heater that stopped working. What did you do while you waited for it to be fixed?
- Why ask it:
- Custodians move through the whole building, so their reports can catch problems early.
- A strong answer shows:
- A prompt report through the work order system with the location and details, making the area safe in the meantime and following up until it was fixed.
Question 19: What is your role in a fire drill, a lockdown or a severe weather alert, and how did you learn the procedures in your last building?
- Why ask it:
- Custodians may have assigned emergency duties and need to know them before an emergency happens.
- A strong answer shows:
- Following the building’s emergency plan, knowing exits, assembly points and any shutoffs they are responsible for, and learning duties through drills and the supervisor.
Must-haves and logistics
Ask these of every candidate before the main interview, and confirm the answers.
Question 20: The role involves [lifting trash bags and supply cases up to [weight], pushing carts and floor machines, climbing ladders and standing or walking for a full shift]. Can you do these tasks, with or without adjustments?
- Why ask it:
- Confirms the candidate can perform the essential tasks, without asking about health or disability.
- A strong answer shows:
- A clear yes, or a conversation about adjustments for the employer to consider.
Question 21: The schedule is [shift, such as evenings or overnights, including weekends and event nights] at [building or buildings]. Can you work that schedule, and when could you start?
- Why ask it:
- Rules out schedule and location mismatches early.
- A strong answer shows:
- Clear availability, with any constraint stated up front, and a firm start date.
Question 22: For school roles: the school or district runs its required background checks, such as fingerprinting or a DBS check, before you start. Are you willing to complete them?
- Why ask it:
- Texas requires fingerprinting for non-certified public school employees hired on or after January 1, 2008 before they begin work, and in England schools must obtain an enhanced DBS check for new appointments.
- A strong answer shows:
- A clear yes, with the checks themselves handled through the formal screening process rather than the interview.
Question 23: Are you authorized to work in [country] for this employer? We ask every candidate the same question.
- Why ask it:
- Confirms eligibility the same way for every applicant.
- A strong answer shows:
- A clear answer, with documents checked later through the employer’s normal hiring process.
Custodian interview scorecard
Five criteria for this role, with what a score of 1, 3 and 5 looks like. Scores of 2 and 4 sit between them.
| Criterion | What it means | Score 1 looks like | Score 3 looks like | Score 5 looks like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning and floor care | Keeps the building clean to a plan and looks after floors correctly. | No clear routine, or can’t describe how they care for floors. | A planned route and experience with common floor machines. | A planned daily and periodic routine, confident multi-step floor work and a building that stays clean between checks. |
| Chemical and general safety | Uses and stores chemicals safely and keeps work areas safe for occupants. | Mixes products, uses unlabeled containers or leaves chemicals where people can reach them. | Reads labels, uses protective equipment and signs wet floors. | Knows where to find safety data sheets, stores chemicals securely around children and the public, and handles body fluid cleanups correctly. |
| Building security and trust | Protects keys, access and the building at opening and closing. | Vague about locking up, or would let people in without checking. | A consistent opening and closing routine and firm rules on keys and access. | A precise routine, reports anything unusual, and has handled a security problem calmly and correctly. |
| Problem-solving and reporting | Handles small fixes, reports the rest and puts urgent work first. | Ignores problems or attempts repairs beyond their skills. | Reports issues through the work order system and does basic fixes. | Spots problems early, makes areas safe, follows up until they are fixed and prioritizes competing requests clearly. |
| Conduct and reliability | Works respectfully around students and occupants and is dependable on shift. | Unclear boundaries with students, or vague availability. | Courteous, works around occupants and is reliable across shifts. | Clear professional boundaries, knows exactly how to report a concern and can be trusted to work alone. |
The 1–5 rating scale
The same scale for every criterion and every candidate.
| Score | Level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Well below requirement | No relevant evidence, or an answer that contradicts the requirement. |
| 2 | Below requirement | Partial evidence with important gaps. |
| 3 | Meets requirement | Clear, relevant evidence at the level the role needs. |
| 4 | Above requirement | Strong, specific evidence beyond the expected level. |
| 5 | Exceptional | Repeated high-quality evidence with clear impact. |
How to run the interview with these custodian interview questions
- 01
Step 01
Agree the must-haves first
Confirm the essential credentials, experience and availability with the hiring manager or client before any interviews. - 02
Step 02
Pick 8 to 12 questions
Take the must-have questions, then the questions that test what this role needs most. Use the same set, in the same order, for every candidate. - 03
Step 03
Ask for real examples
When you hear “we” or “I would”, ask what the candidate personally did, and what happened in the end. - 04
Step 04
Score before you discuss
Rate each criterion on the scorecard with the evidence behind it, then compare with other interviewers. - 05
Step 05
Verify before you submit
Check licenses, certifications and right to work against the original source before you put the candidate forward.
Red flags, and questions not to ask
- Would lend keys or alarm codes, or let someone into a locked area without checking who they are.
- Mixes chemicals, pours products into unlabeled bottles or leaves chemicals where students can reach them.
- Casual about boundaries with students, or would look into a concern themselves instead of reporting it.
- Attempts electrical, gas or other repairs beyond their training instead of reporting them.
- Describes skipping parts of the route or the closing checklist when no one is checking.
- Age, marital or family status, pregnancy or plans for children, religion, ethnicity or national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity. These are protected characteristics under the UK Equality Act 2010 and US federal law, and they say nothing about whether someone can do the job.
- Health, sickness absence or disability before an offer. You can ask whether the candidate needs any adjustments for the interview, and whether they can do the essential tasks of the job.
Screen custodian applicants before the first call
Add these questions to a Beatview AI interview and every applicant answers them on video or audio, with the same time limit. Beatview scores each answer against your criteria and shows the reasoning, and you can share the shortlist with your client through a password-protected link. AI interviews are on the Pro plan; the Free plan screens resumes for one active job.
Custodian interview questions: frequently asked questions
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Ask for real examples that test cleaning routines and floor care, chemical safety, opening and closing the building, event setups, working around students or occupants, small repairs and emergency procedures, such as a floor they refinished or a problem they found while locking up. Add must-have questions about the physical tasks of the role, the schedule, any required background checks and the start date, and ask every candidate the same questions in the same order.
It depends on where the school is, and the school or district runs the checks. In Texas, TEA says non-certified employees hired on or after January 1, 2008 must be fingerprinted before beginning work, and public schools must check the Do Not Hire Registry before hiring any employee or contractor. In England, Keeping children safe in education 2026 requires schools to obtain an enhanced DBS check for new appointments, with limited exceptions, and children’s barred list information for anyone in regulated activity with children, and a school using agency staff must get written notification from the agency that it has carried out the same checks the school would otherwise perform. In the interview, ask only whether the candidate will complete the required checks.
In the US, OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to train workers on the hazardous chemicals in their work area when they are first assigned and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced, including how to read labels and safety data sheets. Where custodians can reasonably be expected to contact blood or other potentially infectious materials, OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard also requires training when they are first assigned and at least annually. Federal OSHA does not cover state and local government workers, but OSHA-approved State Plans in some states do, so check which rules apply to public-sector clients. In the UK, HSE says employers must provide information, instruction and training on the hazardous substances workers use under COSHH.
The titles overlap: both clean and care for buildings, and many employers use them interchangeably. Some employers use custodian for roles with wider duties, such as opening and closing the building, event setups and small repairs, so check the client’s job description and choose the questions that match it.
Get the custodian interview questions template
All 23 questions with why you ask each one, what a strong answer shows and follow-ups, plus the custodian scorecard and rating guide.
Opens in Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers. Version 2 October 2026.
Sources: OSHA: Hazard Communication overview; OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1200, hazard communication; OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.1030, bloodborne pathogens; OSHA: State Plans; HSE: COSHH, what the law says; HSE: COSHH frequently asked questions; TEA: Fingerprinting and Do Not Hire Registry requirements; GOV.UK: Keeping children safe in education; EEOC: pre-employment disability-related questions and medical examinations. This template is general guidance, not legal advice.