Add Your Questions For A Basic Knowledge Test For New Hires!

Mike Finley

Hey, we got off track in another thread about how to qualify potential employees before hiring them - came up with seeing if we could all contribute to some basic questions to test somebodies knowledge and get a gauge of where they are at and what they know.

Post your questions (and answers!)
Not just basic carpentry of course, anything that is relevant from all trades...

What are the measurements of a 2x4?
1 1/2" x 3 1/2"

What does kerf refer to and why is it important?
The thickness of the saw blade, it's important because the kerf removes material when you cut so in some cases you need to take it into account.

What substance removes un-cured silicone caulk?
Mineral spirits

Name one circumstance that you wouldn't use a normal silicone based caulk?
When you are going to need to paint it later.

What is plumbers putty?
A playdough like substance used for sealing some plumbing fixtures such as drains.

What tool is most commonly used to cut drywall?
Utility knife.

i_plant_art

one of the firs1t questions ill ask someone when interviewing them while writing (or doodling) HAHAHA on paper where they cant see it is what is todays date. we sit there making small talk and asking some minor questions experience etc etc then ill act like im clueless and be like oh man what todays date... sometimes fumbling for my phone to check (eventhough i know it) this kinda catches them off guard and gives you an insight as to how responsive they are and how quick on their feet and thinking they are..... kinda lets you know how willing they are sort of... works very well

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"Anyone doing it cheaper AND being insured is running a CHARITY"

N.E.Bldg&Rest.LLC

You need some tougher questions for the guys that say "I've been doing this for 20-30 years"

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"Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all."

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

Tom R

Oh, okay

Advantage of a curved-claw hammer??
Pulling nails

Advantage of a ripped-claw hammer??
Splitting wood

bob the builder

Thats not fair. Sometimes when I write a check I ask what the date is? After I get a reply I ask what month is it?

Mike Finley

I thought that was what iplantart's question of what is todays date was for!

Mike Finley

Damit, I was thinking too hard!

dougchips

I show potential employees product and ask them to tell me the benefits and downfalls of each one. We do alot of doors and windows, if they have any experience with common product lines they should be able to describe the differences. Once they pass that test we talk about plumb, level and square.

I love when I interview someone who has installed 1000 of this and millions of that and when I ask them to describe the differences and they ......um well...um well. Or a simple vinyl window, "how do you like the tilt in feature" and they can't figure out how to work them.

FCPWLLC

Do they know how to measure for square or out of square. 3,4,5 etc

Do they Drink?

Are they to bed early?

Compound Miter cuts?

Can they start Small Gas Engines without flooding them?

Know how to double clutch while shiftinf 2-speed rear end?

When I was Foreman for a Tree service, the question was... What kind of tree is this?

Now, in the Power Washing Industry, I ask... What cleans better? PSI or GPM?

Do you mix chemical with bleach before reading the label?

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Tom R

Oh, something for the more-seasoned??

Explain what a 'golden rectangle' is and give it's approximate dimensions or 'ratio' ??

It is the size of the rectangle that is 'most pleasing' to the eye, - - and it's approximate ratio would be 8:13

Tom R

What is your favorite tool??

Lots of answers here, - - but if he says 'nail-puller' just SHOOT YOURSELF NOW!!

Tom R

Explain the difference between a miter and a bevel??

A miter is an angle across the 'face' of the wood,
A bevel is an angle across the 'edge' of the wood

Tom R

What is the difference between a dado cut and a rabbett cut??

A dado is a groove cut in the 'field' of the wood, forming a 'U',
A rabbett is a groove cut on the very 'edge' of the wood, forming an 'L'

Tscarborough

When is payday?
What is the boss?
Which way does %#$ flow (oh wait, that is on the plumbers test).

Tom R

To make a cut with a SCMS, - - should you 'push' or 'pull' the saw??

Push for heavy cuts, - - pull for 'fine' cuts.

Tom R

Why are we carpenters more important then them plumbers??

Because our SH!T is their BREAD AND BUTTER!!

PipeGuy

How many square feet in a square yard?
How do you calculate how many cubic yards of concrete is needed to fill a form?

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maj

Which way is North?

Important for giving driving directions, which way to move a piece of sheathing or siding,etc. etc. etc.

You'd be surprised how many don't know direction.

Here's a good one.....

Is it etc. or ect. for etcetera?

Guess a few here would flunk that test huh?

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BreyerConstruct

THat's funny. Maybe that's why I haven't run into a happy plumber yet- they all seem like grumps out here!

~Matt

Robie

Years ago, when I was being interviewed for a car salesman job, the manager asked, out of the blue..."What's a third of one hundred"
I thought it was a great question and used it on everyone I ever interviewed since.
I think now if I had to interview someone for a carpentry position, I would tell them to bring the tools they would normally bring to a job. When they showed up, I would hand them a couple of 2 x 4's and ask them to build a set of sawhorses.
The end result would give me about as much info as I need to hire or not...
What kind of tools they have
How long did it take
Are the saw horses well made and alike
Compound miter use
Safety concerns
General use of imagination and follow through

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