Site Supervisor Interview Preparation Guide

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The spalling stresses leads to stress behind the loaded area of the anchor blocks. This results in the breaking off of the surface concrete. The most likely causes of such types of stresses are Poisson`s effects strain interoperability or by the stress trajectory shapes.

This is when you talk about your record of getting things done. Go into specifics from your résumé and portfolio; show an employer your value and how you'd be an asset.

Suggested answer: "I'm the best person for the job. I know there are other candidates who could fill this position, but my passion for excellence sets me apart from the pack. I am committed to always producing the best results. For example…"

These kinds of stresses occur in cases where the stress trajectories are concave towards the line of action of load. In order to reduce such stresses reinforcements in the form of bursting is required.

It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."

Joints which are formed from the cope level to the toe level of seawalls through a complete vertical plane are known as slip joints. Such joints are designed so as to handle the differential settlements between the seawalls adjacent panels. In the slip joints the aggregates inside the half-rounds channels enables some vertical movements. These vertical movements are induced by differential settlements. This enables in the interlocking of the adjacent panels of the seawalls to link the panels in one unit against the earth pressure ( lateral ) which is exerted on the seawalls.

Conflict resolution, problem solving, communication and coping under pressure are transferable skills desired by many employers.
Answering this question right can help you demonstrate all of these traits.

☛ Use real-life examples from your previous roles that you are comfortable explaining
☛ Choose an example that demonstrates the role you played in resolving the situation clearly
☛ Remain professional at all times - you need to demonstrate that you can keep a cool head and know how to communicate with people

During the pumping operation the pump exerted pressure must overcome any friction between the pumping pipes and the concrete, also the weight of the concrete and the pressure head when the concrete is placed above the pumps. Since only water is pump able, all the pressure generated is by the water that is present in the concrete. The major problem due to pumping are segregation effects and bleeding. In order to rectify and reduce these effects, generally the proportion of the cement is increased in order to increase the cohesion , which leads to the reduction of segregation and bleeding. Also if a proper selection of the aggregate grading can vastly improve the concrete pump ability.

The purpose of separation membrane between the concrete pavement slab and the sub-base are as follows:
☛ The separation membrane reduces the frictional forces between the concrete slabs and the sub-base. The membrane aids the movement of the concrete slab in reference to the sub-base when changes in the level of the moisture and temperature occurs.
☛ It aids in the segregation of sub-base materials from freshly placed concrete.
☛ The separation membrane also helps in the reduction of cement and water loss in the form of immature concrete. Immature concrete greatly affects the strength of the concrete. It also affects the durability of it.
☛ A good example of a separation membranes is polythene sheeting which is commonly used.

In your interview answer include these key competencies or skills that apply to all supervisor jobs. Planning and organizing, problem-solving, decision-making, delegating, motivating, influencing, communicating and managing conflict.

The primary purposes of geotextiles and sand in reclamation works are as follows:
☛ Geotextiles: They are used to separate the marine mud from the reclamation fill. Also geotextiles are used as reinforcements in reclamation processes to increase its stability. It is still debated as to whether the usage of geotextiles is better or are the old processes followed are better as the performance has not been comparable to the conventional methods.
☛ Sand: In reclamation process sand is used to spread the load of any future public dumps placed on top of it. Sand also acts as a drainage for the excess pore water pressure of band drain installations.

The primary purpose of curing is to reduce the heat loss of concrete that is freshly placed to the atmosphere and in order to reduce the temperature gradient across the cross-section of the concrete. Ponding is not preferred for curing as this method of thermal curing is greatly affected by cold winds. In addition to that in ponding large amounts of water is used and has to be disposed off from the construction sites. Polythene sheets are used on the basis that it creates an airtight environment around the concrete surface henceforth reducing the chances of evaporation over fresh concrete surfaces. But the usage of polythene can be a drawback as it can be easily blown away by winds and also the water lost by self-desiccation cannot be replenished.

The components of a typical waterproofing system on the roof of a pumping station are as follows:
☛ Right above the structural finish level of the roof ( concrete ) a uniform thickness screed is applied so as to facilitate the application of the waterproofing membrane. The surface provide for the membrane should always possess good cohesion properties and must be thin so as to prevent any un-uniformity. This thin layer also acts as a layer of thermal insulation.
☛ Right above this layer the waterproofing membrane is deployed to secure the water tightness of the roof.
☛ In order to enhance the thermal insulation of the roof an insulation board is sometime placed right above the waterproof membrane. The insulation board helps in the maintenance of a stable temperature in both weathers.

Beddings are primarily made up of granular or concrete materials. They are primarily used for the following purposes:
☛ They are used to provide a more uniform support for the under pipes so that the bending moment longitudinally can be reduced greatly.
☛ In order to enable the pipes to get more load-supporting strength.
☛ They are also used to act as a platform to achieve a more correct alignment and level pre and post construction.
☛ In case of pipes which contain spigot and socket joints, it enables pipes to get supported along pipe lengths in place of sockets. Otherwise it can lead to uneven stress being induced on the pipes eventually damaging it.

The more your employees or team members understand about their jobs and responsibilities the more motivated they are. Show how you ensure each subordinate has clarity about his or her role and responsibilities. Discuss how you set clear, specific and realistic targets that are agreed on rather than dictated. Focus on how you involve employees by asking for suggestions, ideas and feedback.

The washout valves are primarily used for normal maintenance works such as that of water main. This can be like to allow water to flow out during the cleaning of the water main. The junctions at which a pipe branches out to a washout point usually a gate valve is installed so that the two pipelines are separated. The gate valve installed above usually remains open during normal operation. Another gate valve is installed further downstream and this remains closed during normal operation of the washout valve. In case this valve is not installed then the pipe section of the branched out pipe would remain dry during normal operation and high chances of damage and leakage can take place. When the downstream valve is installed the branched out water main contains water under normal operation. With two gate valves installed a leakage can be detected immediately.

There are several solution to the rectification of the problem of mud waves:
☛ Complete removal of all the disturbed mud: This method can be considered to be one of the fastest methods. As soon as the disturbed mud is removed some filling material is used to replace the disturbed mud. But economically this method can be expensive as compared to others.
☛ Accelerated consolidation of disturbed mud: In this method surcharging loads are placed on top of the mud waves. Along with this band drains are installed to accelerate the consolidation process. This method is quite slow compared to the other methods.
☛ Partial removal of the disturbed mud: This method is the hybrid of the above two methods where the top layer is removed whereas the lower level is treated with the surcharging process.

This question will give the interviewer a sense of your management style. Draw from your experiences that can prove you are an effective leader.

"In my previous role as manager of a retail store, I found that if you show your employees you respect them, they will in turn respect you and work harder for you. I like to keep an open-door policy with my employees, meaning that they feel comfortable coming to me with any issues they are having. This also gives them a sense of ownership in their job that has produced great results. While there's a line between being a supervisor and friend, I like to show them that we are on the same team, working toward the same goal."

☛ The advantages and disadvantages of using plastic fenders are as follows:
Plastic fenders are low in strength with a relatively high resistance to abrasion. Plastic fenders are resistant to chemical and biological attacks. Plastic fenders have moderate energy absorption capacity. The berthing reactions are also comparatively moderate and depends on the point of contact. Also since they are made from recycled material they are environmental friendly.
☛ The advantages and disadvantages of using timber fenders are:
timber fenders are low in strength and are very susceptible to marine borer attacks and rotting. The energy absorption capacity is very low. Also generally the contact pressure between the vessels and the fender are high.

☛ Can you tell us why you chose to apply for this particular job?
☛ Can you tell us what you think the role of site supervisor/caretaker involves?
☛ A large part of your time in school will be spent on cleaning. What do you see as the essential reasons for keeping a school clean?
☛ Health and safety is an important issue in schools. How can the site supervisor minimize the risk of any accidents to the children, the staff, and yourself?
☛ What experience have you had with cleaning and caretaking?
☛ You will be responsible for the security of the buildings. Can you give us some idea what you think the requirements are for this role, and what it entails?
☛ You will be the first key holder, responsible for attending to call outs. Would this present any problems?
☛ Do you foresee any problems working a split shift? You do understand there will be a need for flexibility in this job?
☛ If you found yourself in an uncomfortable situation where a child was being particularly awkward with you, what do you think you would do to handle the problem?
☛ Have you got a head for heights, or any back problems we should know about?
☛ What skills or qualities do you feel you would bring that would benefit the school/post?
☛ A major part of the time you spend in school will be spent on cleaning. What do you see as the essential reasons for keeping a school clean?
☛ Health and safety is an important issue in schools. How could you as site supervisor minimise the risk of any accidents to the children, staff and yourself. (especially at the moment frost, leaves outside)?
☛ You will be directly be responsible for organising the other cleaners, what do you foresee that this will entail, what would you do if you had a problem with their standard of cleaning?
☛ Coming into this school you may be using different cleaning products or equipment to what you have used previously (or not used any at all) what do you think is the most important thing to do before using them.(could be both chemicals or machinery)?
☛ Part of the site supervisors job is to carry out minor repairs and maintenance, what relevant experience do you have to be able to do this?
☛ Site security is vital can you give us some idea of the requirements of this role in schools and why?
☛ Have you any experience of arranging maintenance programmes. If not what do you think it would entail and why would they be necessary?
☛ A shiny floor is not necessarily a slippery floor why and how is this so. do you know what makes a floor slippery?

☛ What is rigging?
☛ What are the techniques to measure road difference?
☛ Explain major differences between routing maintenance and major maintenance.
☛ What you understand by Richter scale?
☛ How do we calculate the power of centrifugal pump?
☛ What is a tensile strength? What is the tensile strength of wood?
☛ Difference between pre-tensioning and post-tensioning.
☛ Explain the difference between shear and tensile strength.
☛ Why the statue of liberty is made of Copper?
☛ What is the difference between TOR steel and TMT steel?
☛ Which code is used for TOR & TMT steel bar?
☛ Explain major difference between auto level and dumpy level?
☛ What is the L/D ratio of cantilever beam?
☛ What is the ratio of steel and concrete to use in slabs , beams, columns ?
☛ What is pre-stressed concrete?
☛ What are the ingredients of pre-stressed concrete?
☛ What do you mean by honeycomb in concrete?
☛ Why is concrete cube test carried out?
☛ How do you calculate the power of centrifugal pump?
☛ What is aggregate?
☛ What is absolute pressure? How absolute pressure is calculated?
☛ What is the absolute pressure scale?
☛ What is gravity flow?
☛ What is a projection line?
☛ What is horizon or horizontal mining?

☛ How can you distinguish between sorption, absorption and adsorption?
☛ What is modular elasticity?
☛ Discuss some applications of modular elasticity.
☛ What is difference between engineering stress and true stress?
☛ What are some structures that are subjected to fatigue?
☛ What is the tensile strength of wood?
☛ Explain soil analysis?
☛ What is soil enforcement?
☛ How can you achieve soil enforcement?
☛ What is a bearing capacity of soil?
☛ Why does the pressure increase under soil?
☛ How to increase a bearing capacity of soil?
☛ What you understand by building codes?
☛ Explain moment of inertia and its importance.
☛ Which is the best book for building construction?
☛ How do we determine the specific gravity of a cement?
☛ What are the causes of building collapse?
☛ Explain the latest method to detect a crack in a building?
☛ How do we test on design and style in a software?
☛ Explain different types of RCC pipes.
☛ Explain the design for RCC multi-storied building?
☛ What are the benefits of RCC pipes over steel designed pipes?
☛ Elaborate advantages & disadvantages of using crusher dust instead of sand in RCC work.
☛ How can you produce desired alloys and discuss their applications in daily life.
☛ Can inverted beams used in pipes during construction? If yes, explain how it can be implemented?

☛ Example when you went above and beyond the call of duty.
☛ How would you describe your work style?
☛ Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
☛ What is more important to you: the money or the work?
☛ Do you know anyone who works with our company?

☛ What is a typical career path in this job function?
☛ What type of work environment do you prefer?
☛ What's most important to you in a new position?
☛ Describe a time you were faced with stresses which tested your skills.
☛ What have you done to support diversity in your unit?

☛ Tell me about an important goal that you set in the past.
☛ What are your expectations regarding promotions and salary increases?
☛ How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
☛ What was the most stressful situation you have faced?
☛ Tell me about a difficult experience you had in working.

Discuss any attributes that may set you apart from other job candidates. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for. The answer you give to this query can make or break your chances of getting the job.

☛ What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
☛ Give me an example of a high-pressure situation?
☛ What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
☛ Give an example of a time you successfully worked on a team.
☛ Describe a situation where you had to plan or organise something.

Don't stress yourself with the idea of winning or losing.
Try to answer Site supervisor interview questions completely. Be sure to discuss a very specific example.