Construction Management - Interview Q&A

Here are a few ideas that could form the basis of discussion and help indicate a level of experience, character and integrity:

1) A field superintendent (representing the client) directed our installer to make changes to work that is not reflected in the proposal or shop drawings.  This results in $500 of additional material and labor being used.  Neither notified you until after the work was finished.

How would you handle the situation once it came to your attention?
What steps could be taken to reduce this behavior in the future?

2) The work area is out of acceptable tolerance for installation and will void warranties if you proceed. The superintendent for the client is behind schedule and has verbally told you to continue, he states that he will be responsible for any outcome afterwords.

How would you proceed?

3) A co-worker is making inappropriate comments that are crude and vulgar in a joking manner with the clients staff or other field workers.

What would you do?

4) Another trade has damaged our work, the client tagged the repairs as “punch list items” and demands repairs be made immediately on very short notice.

How will you proceed?

5) While walking a jobsite with the client, you observe a potential issue that could result in a code violation that would be covered up by our work (but falls into the responsibility of another trade to remedy).

How might the situation best be addressed?

6) A co-worker makes a mistake that results in a budget loss of $5,000 for part of the project scope.

What steps would you take?

7) You make an error that results in the wrong materials being installed on a jobsite. The GC isn’t aware of this problem and it is unlikely that the error will be found in the future.

What would you recommend?

8) You've submitted a change order and the GC requests that you double or triple the cost so that he can “teach another trade a lesson” with the back charge.  You have an opportunity to increase profit and boost your overall project GP.

How would you reply?

Give an example where your integrity on a project or jobsite was tested recently:  What was the result?