Interview Questions

Construction Inspector Interview Questions


A Construction Inspector, otherwise referred to as a Building Inspector, inspects building structures to ascertain structural soundness, safety and compliance with regulations. A Construction Inspector conducts inspections before, during and after projects.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Construction Inspector or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Construction Inspector position, these Construction Inspector interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Construction Inspector Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Construction Inspector interview questions.

  1. How do you stay up to date with new developments in the construction industry?
  2. What would you do if you were asked to conduct an inspection duty you have inadequate experience in?
  3. Could you recall a time in the past when you needed money, but rejected dishonest means to get access to it?
  4. Could you give me examples from past experiences where you identified environmental hazards and intervened?
  5. Have you issued violation notices or stop-work orders in previous positions, and how did you go about it?
  6. Discuss how you'd review construction design and site plans?
  7. How would you deal with companies or individuals who disagree with your decision?
  8. What are some qualities that make a building inspector successful?
  9. Go through the steps of how you'd conduct a site review of an ongoing construction project?
  10. How would you stay current on the latest building codes and developments in the field?
  11. How would you ensure that issued permits were being followed?
  12. What process would you follow to inspect potential structural deficiencies in a building?
  13. What are the top priorities of a building inspector?
  14. How would you address concerns you might have regarding a project with the developer?
  15. How do you remain organized when you have multiple projects and responsibilities?
  16. What would warrant issuing a stop-work order?
  17. How would you ensure a construction project follows safety guidelines?
  18. What are some reasons a permit gets rejected?
  19. Is there a building inspector you have dealt with that you thought was exceptionally good and why?
  20. Give me an example of when you thought outside of the box. How did it help your employer?    
  21. Describe an effective detailed dimensional drawing or design layout which you drafted. How did you ensure conformance to specifications?    
  22. Share an experience you had in dealing with a difficult person and how you handled the situation.    
  23. Share an experience in which you successfully shared a difficult piece of information. (Make sure that the candidate has open lines of communication.)    
  24. Share an experience in which you oversaw the assembly, fabrication, construction, maintenance, or modification of equipment. How did you communicate to the staff what you wanted?    
  25. Tell me how you organize, plan, and prioritize your work.    
  26. Share an experience when you applied new technology or information in your job. How did it help your company?    
  27. Tell me about an experience in which you analyzed information and evaluated results to choose the best solution to a problem.    
  28. Would you consider analyzing data or information a strength? How so?    
  29. In your experience, what is the key to ensuring your company was compliant with all laws, regulations and standards that were applicable to your area of responsibility?    
  30. Share an effective approach to working with a large amount of information/data. How has your approach affected your company?    
  31. Tell me about the last time you monitored or reviewed information and detected a problem. How did you respond?    
  32. Share an example of a time you had to gather information from multiple sources. How did you determine which information was relevant?    
  33. Provide an example of a time when you were able to demonstrate excellent listening skills. What was the situation and outcome?    
  34. Share an example of when you went above and beyond the "call of duty". (Look for answers that show the candidate is dependable.)
  35. Provide an example of a time when you successfully organized a diverse group of people to accomplish a task.    
  36. Provide an example when your ethics were tested.    
  37. How do you balance cooperation with others and independent thinking? Share an example. (Try to determine if the candidate has a cooperative attitude or is otherwise good-natured.)    
  38. Share an effective method you have used to determine dimensions of structure or systme and material requirements.    
  39. Provide an experience in which conferring with a supervisor helped you to successfully determine project details.    
  40. Name a time when you identified strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to problems. What was the impact?    
  41. Share an experience in which your attention to detail and thoroughness had an impact on your last company.    
  42. Describe an effective method you have used to evaluate contractor work, detect design malfunctions, and to ensure conformance to specifications and codes.    
  43. Describe an effective negotiation you made to resolve a system conflict.    
  44. Share an effective method you have used to develop plans and estimate costs.    
  45. How would you rate your writing skills? (Ask for an example that demonstrates great writing skills.)    
  46. Provide a time when you worked in a rapidly evolving workplace. How did you deal with the change? (Make sure the candidate is flexible.)    
  47. What is the state of your reports and documentation? What is one thing you would like to improve?    
  48. Share an experience in which your diligence of inspecting equipment, structures, or materials helped you identify a problem or the cause of a problem.    
  49. Provide a time when you dealt calmly and effectively with a high-stress situation.
  50. What factors do you consider when evaluating facilities to determine suitability for occupancy and/or square footage availability?

Construction Inspector Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Construction Inspector interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. Why Do You Want This Job?
  2. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
  3. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  4. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  5. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  6. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  7. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  8. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  9. Tell Me About Yourself
  10. Why Should We Hire You?