Best interview questions for a Labourer

Labourer Interview Questions

Labourers are essential members of the construction team. They help to speed up and streamline the work done on construction sites by helping to locate, transport and maintain tools as well as prepare equipment. They will often learn other tasks while on the job.

You should seek these skills in your Labourer:

Physically fit enough to transport and manoeuvre the construction site.
Knowledge of construction site safety processes and procedures.
Great sense of teamwork.
Great communication skills.
Knowledge of different construction tools, materials, and equipment.

Interviewing a Labourer

Labourers will need to be excellent team players, able to think on their feet and anticipate the next task needed to be completed on a construction site. They will be willing and eager to learn, and happy to help at all times.

So, the best way to assess these abilities is through a well-planned interview process. These Labourer interview questions will help you find the right person for the job.

How to open the job interview

The best interviews take place when your candidate is relaxed and ready for the conversation. You can assure that this is the case by starting off the interview with a few positive opening questions.

Job Description available

See our Labourer job description here

For the interview

A positive opener to start

What is your proudest career moment to date?

What makes you want to be a Labourer?

Behavioral Questions

Describe a time you’ve helped your teammates solve a problem?
As mentioned, teamwork is a big part of a Labourer's role. This question aims to highlight how your potential Labourer works in a team environment.
Tell me about a time that you have helped to streamline a process or improve the way things are done at work.
If you can hire a proactive Labourer who isn’t afraid to make beneficial changes, this will be a huge asset to your team. This question aims to understand whether the candidate can do this.
What projects that you’ve worked on or parts of being a Labourer inspire your career?
This will highlight a candidate’s previous knowledge of the industry, and their passion for their career.
Describe a time when you have had to deal with a difficult team member, how did you deal with this?
Labourers will have to work closely with other roles during their day-to-day tasks, so knowing they can handle or overcome a difficult working relationship is important.

Soft Skills

How would you proceed with a task that you weren’t sure how to complete?
This is a test of teamwork and communication. The candidate should mention working with their supervisors or someone similar to assist with the task, learning from the experience for the future.
What steps would you take if you received a negative piece of feedback from a teammate on your work?
This question tests a Labourer’s initiative. They should be able to turn the feedback into actionable fixes. They should also be able to mention learning from this experience for the future.
What skills do you have that make you a great Labourer?
Here, a candidate has the chance to show off their strongest skills. They may mention soft and hard skills. here.
When listening to technical instructions from another member of the construction team, how do you ensure that you retain the information?
This question tests a candidate’s ability to learn and grow while on the job.

Hard Skills

Over the course of your career, what is the most challenging project you’ve been involved in? What skills were trained and tested here?
This question has the potential to be construction-related, but could also include transferable skills. You’ll get an idea of the candidate’s abilities and ability to rise to a challenge.
Which tools do you have experience working with in the past?
This question gives you an idea of what your candidate may need onboarding with and what they already have experience with.
Have you received any construction site safety training?
Again, this gives you an idea of a candidate’s potential onboarding process.
Are there any specific areas of construction you have experience with or are particularly interested in?
Here, if possible, you can personalise a candidate’s growth and career development.

Operational / Situational Questions

If you were to join the team, what would be the first steps you would take?
Getting to terms with safety procedures, tools, and equipment should be high on the first-step list. Becoming acquainted with colleagues and their ways of working should also be a priority.
Imagine you need to transport a power tool across the construction site, how would you do this safely?
Ensuring correct safety gear is worn, the tool is safely switched off, and any transportation equipment necessary is used are excellent safety procedures.
Imagine your teammates give you several tasks at once, how would you prioritise these?
Your candidate should be able to mention some prioritising techniques, or mention asking the colleagues for further information to help prioritise.
If you disagree with something one of your teammates tasked you with, what would you do?
This can happen from time to time, the candidate should be able to request further information on the task or negotiate their reasons for disagreeing.