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Janitor interview questions, and what a good answer sounds like

A janitor interview is short, and most of it is about one thing: can this person be trusted alone in a building at night. You'll get a few questions about cleaning, a few about chemicals and safety, and a lot about showing up. Here's what they're really asking and how to answer so the supervisor stops worrying.

11 questions7 minute read

Part 1

1.Walk me through how you'd clean a restroom from start to finish.

Why they ask

Restrooms are where complaints come from. They want to hear an order that keeps germs from moving from the toilet to the sink.

How to answer

  • Put out the wet floor sign and put on gloves first
  • Flush, apply disinfectant to toilets and urinals, and let it sit for its dwell time while you do other things
  • Work high to low and clean to dirty: mirrors, dispensers, sinks, then toilets and urinals
  • Restock paper, soap and liners, empty the trash
  • Mop last, working toward the door, and check the drain and corners

2.What would you do if you found chemicals with no label on your cart or in the closet?

Why they ask

Mixing or misusing chemicals is the fastest way a janitor gets hurt or hurts someone else. They're testing whether you guess or stop.

How to answer

  • Don't use it and don't sniff it to figure out what it is
  • Set it aside where nobody else will grab it
  • Tell the supervisor and ask for a labeled replacement
  • Mention you know where the SDS binder is kept and why it matters

3.Which cleaning chemicals should never be mixed?

Why they ask

It's a quick check that you won't gas yourself in a small restroom on your first night.

How to answer

  • Bleach and ammonia, which covers a lot of glass cleaners
  • Bleach and acid-based toilet bowl cleaners
  • Say you never mix products at all, and you dilute only with water using the dispenser or the ratio on the label
4.You'll work alone in the building most nights. How do you keep yourself on track?

Why they ask

Night janitors rarely see a supervisor. They need to know the route gets done with nobody watching.

How to answer

  • Follow the same order every night so nothing gets skipped
  • Check the time against where you should be on the route
  • Use a checklist or the log sheet and fill it in as you go
  • Give a real example of a past job where you worked with little supervision
5.What floor equipment have you used?

Why they ask

Knowing machines is what separates a janitor who can cover a floor tech from one who can only mop. It shapes where they'll put you.

How to answer

  • Name what you've actually run: backpack vacuum, upright vacuum, auto scrubber, burnisher, floor buffer, carpet extractor
  • Say what kind of floor you used each on
  • Mention checking pads, emptying the recovery tank and cleaning squeegees after use
  • If you haven't used a machine, say so and say you'd like to learn it

Part 2

6.What would you do if you found blood, vomit or a needle while cleaning?

Why they ask

Every building has this happen eventually. They want to know you'll protect yourself and follow the procedure.

How to answer

  • Stop and put on gloves, and eye protection if there's any splash risk
  • Use the spill kit or absorbent, then disinfect with the product meant for it
  • Never pick up a needle with your hands; use tongs and a sharps container
  • Report it to your supervisor and write it in the log
7.A tenant complains that their office wasn't cleaned, but you're sure you did it. How do you handle that?

Why they ask

Complaints are how the client judges the cleaning company. They want someone who fixes it without arguing.

How to answer

  • Don't argue with the tenant or the property manager
  • Go back and clean it again, or ask exactly what was missed
  • Tell your supervisor what happened, with a photo if you have one
  • Adjust something so it doesn't come up again, like leaving a note that the office was done
8.How do you handle keys and alarm codes?

Why they ask

A lost key or a building left unarmed can cost the company the account. This is a trust question.

How to answer

  • Keys stay on you or in the lockbox, never on a desk or in the car overnight
  • Never share codes, even with a coworker from another site
  • Double-check locked doors and that the alarm armed before you leave
  • Report a lost key right away instead of hoping it turns up
9.What's your attendance been like at your last job?

Why they ask

A missed night means a building doesn't get cleaned and the client notices first thing in the morning. Attendance is the biggest reason janitors get let go.

How to answer

  • Be honest, and give a concrete example of being reliable
  • Say how you get to work and your backup plan if your ride falls through
  • Explain how you'd call out: early, directly to the supervisor, not by text right before the shift
10.You're running behind and can't finish your route tonight. What do you do?

Why they ask

It happens. They want to know you'll prioritize and tell someone instead of skipping quietly.

How to answer

  • Do the areas people notice most first: restrooms, trash, lobby and break rooms
  • Leave detail work like high dusting for last
  • Tell the supervisor before the end of the shift, not the next day
  • Explain what caused it, such as a big spill or a locked suite

Part 3

11.Why do you want to work nights as a janitor?

Why they ask

Turnover is high on night shifts. They're checking whether you know what the schedule means and whether you'll stay.

How to answer

  • Give a real reason: it fits school, childcare, a second job, or you like working on your own
  • Show you understand it means late hours and working alone
  • Say you'd like to learn floor care or move toward lead if that's true

Questions to ask them

Ask at least two. It shows you're picking them too.

  • Is this a single site or a route between buildings, and how do I get between them?
  • Who do I call during the shift if something goes wrong, like a leak or an alarm?
  • Will I get trained on the auto scrubber or floor care work?
  • How are inspections done, and how do I find out if a client complained?
  • What does it take to move up to lead or floor tech here?
Career guideWhat a Janitor does, and what it pays
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