Hiring Millwrights is not like Hiring Office Staff or Sales People or any other type of person. As it is different, you need to use different Interview questions to be able to effectively recruit millwrights.
Try using the below questions for your next Millwright Interview. They will give you a more accurate picture of if they are the right Millwright for the job.
I have broken the interview questions into 3 categories:
It is important to have a mix of all three types of questions but also don’t ask them all grouped together, mix them up within the interview. At the very end I will include a template you can use that is designed with the flow of the interview in mind.
1. Why did you get into the trade?
This is a good starter question to get a candidate comfortable and talking. Everyone is a little nervous at the beginning of an interview so it is good to start with an easy question. It also gives you insight as to the type of person they are, their motivations etc.
2. Why are you available or looking at new opportunities?
Did they just get fired, do they hate their boss, do they need more money, a different shift, closer to home etc. Their motivations for making a move are important and can be a good indication if they will be a long term fit with you.
3. What do you know about our company?
Did they do some research on you prior to interviewing? If so that is a good sign that they are serious. If not it is an indication that they just need a job and may not care who it is with.
4. Why do you want to work with us?
This gives you a good idea of not only their motivations but what your selling features are to other Millwrights for future interviews.
5. What in your previous experience and/or training makes you feel you would be a good fit for us?
6. What are your wage expectations?
7. What shifts are you available for and what is your preferred shift?
8. If selected, when are you available to start?
If they are currently working you want them to say 2 weeks, if they say immediately that likely means they are not going to give their company notice which is a red flag. It may also just mean they know their company has a policy of not accepting notice and they could be available immediately.
9. Why did you leave your previous employers?
If they have routinely been terminated that is a red flag, if the same issue keeps coming up at multiple places that could also be a cause for concern.
10. Have You Ever Been Terminated From a Position Before?
11. Can you supply us with references?
Ask them to e-mail them to you, this will give you an example of their written communication and ability to follow direction. You can also see how serious they are about the job based on how quickly they get the references to you.
12. Is there anything that was not covered on your resume or in this interview that you feel we need to know?
These questions get at how they are to work with, you don’t want a hot head you want someone that works well with others. They also really get at safety which should be one of the biggest priorities when hiring. There are some very talented Millwrights out there that do not take safety important which can end up really costing your company a lot of money.
1. Tell me about a situation where you sacrificed safety for speed.
Don’t ask, have you ever sacrificed safety for speed, they will almost always say no, assume they have and see what they say.
2. Tell me about your favorite supervisor or manager that you have worked for, what made them great?
This will give you a good idea of what management style they respond best to, does this match up with your shops supervisor?
3. Tell me about a disagreement between you and another worker, how was it resolved?
4. Tell me about a time that you took ownership of a situation or took the lead on the floor without being asked to.
5. What is one safety violation that you see happening often?
6. What can be done to ensure that this violation no longer happens?
7. What safety rule/procedure that is currently in place do you feel is unnecessary?
8. Are their any additional policies, procedures or rules that you think need to be put in place at your current employer to help improve safety?
If possible have a technical person with you for the interview, ideally a manager or one of the other Millwrights/Industrial Mechanics. They can ask probing questions and get a good understanding if the person knows that they are talking about or not.
1. What types of repairs and maintenance do you have experience with? What type of repair do you specialize on?
2. What are your favorite jobs to do?
3. What are your least favorite jobs to do?
4. Find out what types of machines this role would be responsible and ask them questions about their experience as it pertains to those machines. I.e. Do your machines have PLC, Hydraulics, Pneumatic etc. If they do you want to make sure they have experience working on them and what level that experience is. If your machines do no run PLC then do not ask about that as that experience is not relevant. You may also want to find out if any of your machines are being upgraded or replaced in the near future, if so find out what skill sets will be required for that.
5. Walk me through how you Diagnose/Troubleshoot a machine that is down?
As mentioned above you want to have the interview flow and be a mix of general, behavioral and technical questions. Start with some really easy questions, keep in mind the interviewee is going to be nervous so you want a couple that they can answer easily. This will get them talking and more comfortable.
Feel free to use the below template for your next Millwright interview.
If you are having a hard time finding Millwrights to interview contact Rockstar Millwrights, we can find you the Millwrights you want to hire.