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Custodian for Academic and Residential Buildings
Posted Aug 5, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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Likely interview questions for this role
Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.
About your past
Tell me about a job where you had to keep walkways clear of snow and ice. What did you do first when a storm came in overnight?
What they are checking: Whether they put entrances and slip risks first, since a fall on campus is a safety and liability problem.
You will run into students, faculty and visitors all day while you work. Tell me about a time someone interrupted you with a question or complaint and how you handled it.
What they are checking: Whether they stay friendly and helpful with the public, since the posting stresses building connections across campus.
Tell me about a time you noticed something broken or unsafe in a building, like a leak or a bad light. What did you do about it?
What they are checking: Whether they report problems they see instead of assuming someone else will, which keeps small repairs from growing.
Custodial work is steady and physical, day after day. What keeps you showing up and doing the work well when nobody is checking?
What they are checking: Whether they are reliable and take pride in work that often goes unseen, which matters most in this role.
What would you do
This job covers both academic buildings and residence halls. How do you think the work changes between a classroom building and a dorm full of students?
What they are checking: Whether they understand that residence halls bring bathrooms, odd hours and people living in the space, not just foot traffic.
Part of this role is monitoring and securing entrances. What would you do if you found a door propped open in a residence hall late at night?
What they are checking: Whether they would secure the door and report it rather than ignore it, because building security is part of the job.
Say you are halfway through your area and a student reports a large spill in a hallway in another part of the building. What do you do?
What they are checking: Whether they can reprioritize around a safety hazard and still get back to finish their assigned area.
About the work
Ullrich Hall is a 1916 building on the National Register of Historic Places. How would you clean old wood floors, plaster or trim differently than newer surfaces?
What they are checking: Whether they know harsh chemicals and heavy machines can damage old finishes, and that they would ask before guessing.
Walk me through how you clean a restroom from start to finish.
What they are checking: Whether they work top to bottom, clean before disinfecting, and respect dwell times instead of just wiping things down.
How do you handle chemicals safely? Tell me what you check before you use a product you have not used before.
What they are checking: Whether they read labels and safety data sheets, use the right protection, and never mix products.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Universities of Wisconsin.