Interview questions by role
Practical interview questions for ten common small-business roles, with what a good answer shows. Ask every candidate for a role the same questions, write down what they say, and score the evidence.
Lawn care technician interview questions
1. Tell me about a job where you worked outdoors most of the day. What did you do to keep a steady pace?
What it shows: A real example of stamina and reliability, not a slogan.
2. A customer says the lawn looks uneven after your visit. What do you do?
What it shows: Listens, checks the work, and knows when to call a supervisor.
3. What would you check on the equipment before you start a route?
What it shows: Habits around safety checks and reporting problems early.
4. Describe a time you had to follow a written checklist or a product label exactly.
What it shows: Care with instructions, which matters when products are applied.
5. How do you handle a route that runs behind because of rain or a breakdown?
What it shows: Communicates early and keeps priorities in order.
6. What would make you leave a seasonal outdoor job in the first month?
What it shows: Honest expectations about weather, early starts and physical work.
Pest control technician interview questions
1. Tell me about a time you explained something technical to a worried person.
What it shows: Plain-language communication in someone's home.
2. The work order says to enter the property but no one is home. What do you do?
What it shows: Judgment, company rules, and asking before acting.
3. You have six stops and the schedule changes. How do you decide what to do first?
What it shows: Prioritizing, and telling customers about delays.
4. What does working safely around chemicals mean to you in practice?
What it shows: Label awareness, protective equipment, and the licensing rules in your state.
5. Describe how you would inspect a home and record what you find.
What it shows: Thoroughness and clear notes the next technician can use.
6. Have you worked alone with little supervision? How did you stay on task?
What it shows: Self-direction for solo routes.
Electrician interview questions
1. Walk me through the last circuit or panel job you did from start to finish.
What it shows: Specific, ordered steps and ownership of the result.
2. How do you make sure power is off and stays off before you work?
What it shows: Lockout habits and a safety-first reflex.
3. A customer wants something done that you think is unsafe or against code. What do you say?
What it shows: Holds the line politely and explains why.
4. What licenses or certifications do you hold, and what is still in progress?
What it shows: Plain facts you can verify against your state's rules.
5. Tell me about a time you found a mistake in earlier work. What did you do?
What it shows: Honesty and willingness to fix and report.
6. How do you plan your tools and materials so you rarely make a second trip?
What it shows: Planning and efficiency.
Plumber interview questions
1. Describe a hard leak or clog you solved. How did you find the cause?
What it shows: Methodical troubleshooting.
2. A customer is upset about water damage when you arrive. How do you start?
What it shows: Calm, safety first, then a clear plan.
3. How do you explain a repair-or-replace choice and its cost to a homeowner?
What it shows: Honest options without pressure.
4. What do you check before you leave a job?
What it shows: Testing, cleanup and a final walk-through.
5. What licenses do you hold, and what are you working toward?
What it shows: Verifiable facts.
6. Tell me about a time you were on call. How did you handle an after-hours emergency?
What it shows: Reliability and realistic expectations of the schedule.
HVAC technician interview questions
1. Walk me through how you diagnose a system that is running but not cooling.
What it shows: A logical order of checks, not guesses.
2. Which certifications do you hold, such as refrigerant handling, and which are you working on?
What it shows: Facts you can verify.
3. How do you explain a repair to a customer who does not know the equipment?
What it shows: Plain language and honest options.
4. Tell me about a busy summer or winter week. How did you manage the load?
What it shows: Stamina, prioritizing and communication.
5. How do you stay safe in attics, on roofs and around electrical parts?
What it shows: Real safety habits.
6. What do you do when you cannot fix something on the first visit?
What it shows: Ownership and clear follow-up.
House cleaner interview questions
1. Tell me how you would clean a kitchen from top to bottom.
What it shows: A sensible order and attention to detail.
2. You are alone in a client's home. What does trust look like to you?
What it shows: Respect for property and privacy.
3. What would you do if you broke or damaged something?
What it shows: Honesty and reporting right away.
4. How do you handle a schedule with several homes in one day?
What it shows: Time management and reliability.
5. Have you used commercial cleaning products? How do you use them safely?
What it shows: Following labels and protecting yourself and the client.
6. A client asks for something that is not on the list. What do you do?
What it shows: Politely checks with the office before agreeing.
Line cook interview questions
1. Describe your busiest shift. How did you keep up?
What it shows: Pace, calm and teamwork under pressure.
2. How do you keep your station clean and organized during service?
What it shows: Habits around food safety and speed.
3. A ticket comes back wrong. What do you do?
What it shows: Owns the fix without blame.
4. What food safety steps do you follow without being told?
What it shows: Real habits: temperatures, storage, hand washing.
5. How do you handle a dish you have never made before?
What it shows: Willingness to ask and learn.
6. What hours can you reliably work, including weekends and holidays?
What it shows: Honest availability.
Server interview questions
1. Tell me about a difficult guest and how you handled it.
What it shows: Patience and problem solving.
2. How do you manage several tables at once?
What it shows: Prioritizing and communication.
3. How would you describe a menu item you have not tried?
What it shows: Honesty and asking the kitchen.
4. What do you do when the kitchen is behind?
What it shows: Keeps guests informed and calm.
5. Tell me about a time you worked with a team to get through a rush.
What it shows: Teamwork, not just individual speed.
6. What hours can you reliably work, including weekends?
What it shows: Honest availability.
Cashier interview questions
1. Tell me about a time you handled cash or payments carefully.
What it shows: Accuracy and honesty.
2. A customer is angry about a price. What do you do?
What it shows: Stays calm and knows when to call a manager.
3. How do you keep a line moving while staying friendly?
What it shows: Pace and courtesy.
4. What would you do if your drawer was short at the end of a shift?
What it shows: Reports it and follows the process.
5. How do you handle a rule you disagree with at work?
What it shows: Respect for procedures and speaking up the right way.
6. What hours can you reliably work?
What it shows: Honest availability.
Dental assistant interview questions
1. Tell me about your chairside experience and the procedures you have assisted with.
What it shows: Specific, honest experience.
2. How do you help a nervous patient feel at ease?
What it shows: Calm communication.
3. Describe how you follow infection-control steps between patients.
What it shows: Real habits, not just policy.
4. What certifications or registrations does your state require for the work you would do, and which do you hold?
What it shows: Verifiable facts.
5. How do you stay organized when the schedule is full and running late?
What it shows: Prioritizing and teamwork with the dentist and front desk.
6. How do you handle patient information?
What it shows: Understands privacy and keeps it.
Medical receptionist interview questions
1. Describe a time you kept a front desk running smoothly during a busy period.
What it shows: Multitasking and calm.
2. A patient is upset about a wait. What do you say?
What it shows: Empathy and clear information.
3. How do you handle patient information on the phone and at the desk?
What it shows: Privacy habits.
4. What scheduling or records software have you used?
What it shows: Honest experience and willingness to learn.
5. A caller describes an urgent symptom. What do you do?
What it shows: Follows the office's urgent-call process and gets help fast.
6. How do you check insurance or payment details with patients?
What it shows: Accuracy and courtesy.
General information, not legal advice. For more, read our 25 best interview questions.
Questions
How many questions should I ask?
Five or six well-chosen questions are enough for a first interview. Ask the same core questions of every candidate for the role.
What should I avoid asking?
Keep questions tied to the work. Avoid age, race, religion, sex, national origin, disability, family plans and other protected or personal subjects. Rules vary by location, so check yours.
How do I compare candidates?
Write short notes for each answer, then score the evidence in the answer, not how smooth the person sounds.
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