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Annual reviews

Review them against what you hired them for.

A review framework for 56 commercial trades roles, built from the same criteria the role was hired and onboarded against rather than from a generic competency list. 392 specific review points across 20 trades, each one something a manager can actually observe.

The criteria come from the role, so the review, the scorecard and the ninety-day plan all say the same thing. The ratings and what follows from them are yours to set.

How to use these

Each framework has two halves, and they come from different places. What good looks like is the list of signals that separate a strong person in this seat from a plausible one — the same list the interview questions and the scorecard are built from. What they were measured on is the ninety-day plan's own measures, which the new hire should have been given on day one.

Before the meeting, go through each line and write down a job, a date or a customer. A review that cannot name one reads as an opinion, and people argue with opinions. Then add the two questions at the bottom of every framework, which are the ones that actually surface a resignation six months early.

We do not set the ratings, the weightings or the pay consequence. Those are yours, and they should match how the rest of your business runs.

HVAC & Mechanical

HVAC Service Technician

HVAC & Mechanical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Talks in symptoms and causes rather than part numbers - superheat and subcooling readings, not "I replaced the TXV"
  • Has worked unaccompanied on rooftop equipment, not just assisted on installs
  • Can describe a call they diagnosed wrong and what the second visit found
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running a full route unsupervised, including after-hours rotation
  • Quoting found work up to an agreed authority limit
  • Measured on first-time fix, callback rate and ticket completeness - figures shared with them
  • Next credential or equipment training agreed and diarised
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit

HVAC Install Technician (Commercial)

HVAC & Mechanical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Brazing with nitrogen purge described as routine rather than as a best practice they have heard of
  • Has set equipment by crane and can talk about rigging and roof curb fit
  • VRF experience named by manufacturer, because the commissioning differs
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Leads an install crew on routine work without daily supervision
  • Trusted with the commissioning checks on at least one equipment family
  • Measured on rework, schedule adherence and quality of the service handover
  • Named the next equipment type or manufacturer they will be trained on
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit

HVAC Controls Technician (BAS / Niagara)

HVAC & Mechanical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Platform experience named specifically: Niagara, Metasys, Desigo, Distech, Delta. The platforms are not interchangeable
  • Can read a sequence of operations and say where it will fail in practice
  • Has integrated across protocols - BACnet MS/TP, IP, Modbus - rather than staying inside one vendor
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Commissions independently and signs off their own point-to-point checks
  • Carries the on-call phone for controls on a rotation
  • Measured on rework, documentation quality and operator feedback
  • Manufacturer certification path agreed if they do not already hold one
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit

HVAC Service Manager

HVAC & Mechanical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Talks about utilisation, call-back rate and agreement renewal rate as numbers they owned
  • Has grown a maintenance agreement base, not just serviced one
  • Came up through the field - departments rarely accept a manager who cannot read a work order
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the department day to day, escalating by exception
  • Owns the maintenance agreement renewal list and its pricing
  • Measured on utilisation, callback rate, agreement retention and gross margin
  • Has a development plan for at least two technicians
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit

HVAC Project Manager (Commercial)

HVAC & Mechanical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Can state the margin they carried and what moved it, not just project values
  • Long-lead equipment procurement described as a scheduling problem they planned around
  • Change-order discipline - documentation habits described without prompting
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a normal job load without daily oversight
  • Owns buyout, submittals, billing and closeout on their jobs
  • Measured on margin held against buyout, schedule adherence and closeout speed
  • Named the long-lead equipment risks on each job without prompting
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit

Commercial Construction

Construction Foreman

Commercial Construction
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Describes planning the next day's work the afternoon before
  • Safety described as something they enforce rather than something that happens to them
  • Can talk about a crew member they coached rather than removed
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running their area without daily superintendent involvement
  • Owns safety corrections and toolbox talks on their scope
  • Measured on productivity against estimate, rework and incident rate
  • Naming a crew member they are developing
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Construction hiring kit

Construction Superintendent

Commercial Construction
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Talks in sequence and constraint rather than trades and tasks
  • Has run inspections and closeout, not just the productive middle of a job
  • Can describe recovering a slipped schedule with specifics
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the site, escalating to the project manager by exception
  • Owns site safety, logistics and the punch process
  • Measured on schedule adherence, incident rate, inspection outcomes and punch volume
  • Has flagged at least one risk early enough to matter
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Construction hiring kit

Construction Project Manager

Commercial Construction
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Describes the PM-superintendent split clearly, and respects it
  • Change-order and documentation discipline described without prompting
  • Can state budget performance and what moved it
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a normal job load, escalating by exception
  • Owns owner communication and the monthly report
  • Measured on margin held, schedule, change order recovery and closeout
  • Can name the top three risks on each job unprompted
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Construction hiring kit

Commercial Estimator

Commercial Construction
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Scope levelling described as the core skill rather than takeoff speed
  • Has a view on which jobs to no-bid and why
  • Can describe a job they priced that went badly and what they got wrong
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying bids independently within an agreed value limit
  • Owns the subcontractor coverage for their bids
  • Measured on hit rate, accuracy against actuals and scope completeness
  • Has improved at least one production rate with evidence
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Construction hiring kit

Commercial Electrical

Journeyman Electrician (Commercial)

Commercial Electrical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Conduit bending described as routine - offsets, saddles, large-diameter rigid
  • Has worked live-adjacent under NFPA 70E and can describe the boundary rules
  • Commercial and industrial service sizes rather than residential panel swaps
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine scopes and directing an apprentice
  • Trusted to terminate and verify before energisation under the foreman
  • Measured on rework, inspection pass rate and productivity against estimate
  • Next code or equipment training agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Electrical hiring kit

Master Electrician

Commercial Electrical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Names the states and municipalities the licence is active in, and whether by exam or reciprocity
  • Has carried a contractor licence of record, not merely held a master card
  • Inspection relationships described as a working routine rather than an adversarial one
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying licence responsibility with your full confidence
  • Owns the training plan for apprentices and journeymen
  • Measured on inspection outcomes, incident rate and quality of code decisions
  • Has flagged at least one practice in the company that needs to change
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Electrical hiring kit

Electrical Foreman

Commercial Electrical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Talks about production rates and manpower loading, not just tasks completed
  • Coordination described from the other trades' side - ductwork and sprinkler mains win ceiling space arguments
  • Has run a crew through an inspection and a punch list
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the floor without daily project manager involvement
  • Owns safety on their area including toolbox talks and corrections
  • Measured on productivity against estimate, rework and incident rate
  • Named a journeyman they are developing toward foreman
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Electrical hiring kit

Commercial Electrical PM

Commercial Electrical
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Switchgear and transformer lead times discussed as a planning input, not a surprise
  • Can describe how they forecast manpower with the foreman rather than at them
  • Billing and retainage described in detail - cash position is part of the job
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a full job load with escalation by exception
  • Owns gear procurement timing and the energisation critical path
  • Measured on margin, billing accuracy, schedule and closeout
  • Can name the two biggest risks on each of their jobs unprompted
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Electrical hiring kit

Commercial Plumbing

Journeyman Plumber (Commercial)

Commercial Plumbing
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Pipe materials and joining methods described by application rather than preference
  • Has worked to a riser diagram and coordinated sleeves and penetrations before the pour
  • Medical gas or backflow certification where the work calls for it
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine scopes and directing an apprentice
  • Trusted to call for inspection on their own work
  • Measured on rework, inspection pass rate and productivity
  • Next credential - backflow, medical gas, licence progression - agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Plumbing hiring kit

Master Plumber

Commercial Plumbing
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • States which jurisdictions the licence covers and how it was obtained
  • Has been the licence of record for a contractor, with the exposure that carries
  • Can talk through a plan review conversation with an AHJ
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying licence responsibility with full confidence
  • Owns training and progression planning for the plumbing staff
  • Measured on inspection outcomes, callback rate and quality of code decisions
  • Has identified at least one standard practice that should change
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Plumbing hiring kit

Commercial Plumbing PM

Commercial Plumbing
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Fixture schedules and owner-furnished equipment described as a tracked risk
  • Coordination with mechanical described in terms of sequence and space, not goodwill
  • Can state the margin carried and what moved it
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a full job load, escalating by exception
  • Owns procurement timing on long-lead fixtures and equipment
  • Measured on margin, schedule, inspection outcomes and closeout
  • Can name the critical path on each job without looking it up
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Plumbing hiring kit

Commercial Roofing

Commercial Roofing Foreman

Commercial Roofing
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Names the systems worked rather than saying "commercial roofing" - TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, built-up, standing seam
  • Treats detail work - curbs, penetrations, parapets, drains - as the part that decides whether the roof leaks
  • Can describe a dry-in plan for a partial tear-off with rain forecast
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running crews independently on routine work
  • Trusted with detail decisions at penetrations and terminations
  • Measured on leak callbacks, warranty inspection outcomes and productivity
  • Next manufacturer certification agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Roofing hiring kit

Commercial Roofing PM

Commercial Roofing
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Understands that the manufacturer warranty is a document trail, not a handshake
  • Has scheduled around weather and material lead times as a normal constraint rather than an excuse
  • Can describe pricing a deck-condition change order that was found after tear-off
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a full job load with escalation by exception
  • Owns warranty submission and the closeout package
  • Measured on margin, warranty acceptance rate and callback cost
  • Has a view on which roofs in the portfolio need survey work
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Roofing hiring kit

Commercial Roofing Service Technician

Commercial Roofing
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Describes leak tracing as a diagnostic process rather than patching the nearest suspect spot
  • Comfortable writing the condition report the owner actually reads
  • Has worked across several membrane types, because service work does not get to choose
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running a service route unsupervised
  • Quoting repairs within an agreed authority limit
  • Measured on repair hold rate, documentation quality and customer feedback
  • Contributing to the roof survey programme
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Roofing hiring kit

Fire Protection

Fire Alarm Technician

Fire Protection
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • NICET level stated, and the candidate knows what it did and did not qualify them for
  • Names specific panel platforms programmed rather than listing manufacturers seen
  • Has run an acceptance test with an AHJ present and can describe how it went wrong once
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running inspections and service calls independently
  • Trusted to manage an impairment start to finish
  • Measured on report quality, first-time fix and AHJ acceptance
  • Next manufacturer certification agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Fire Protection hiring kit

Fire Sprinkler Fitter

Fire Protection
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Can read a sprinkler shop drawing and spot where it will not fit the ceiling that is actually there
  • Knows why a dry system behaves differently from a wet one in both installation and trouble calls
  • Has done hydrostatic testing and can describe a failed test and the fix
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine installation
  • Trusted to call for inspection on their own work
  • Measured on test pass rate, rework and productivity
  • Next licence stage or NICET level agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Fire Protection hiring kit

Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Designer

Fire Protection
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Hydraulic calculation described as judgement about the remote area, not as software output
  • Has had designs rejected by an AHJ and can say why and what changed
  • Coordinates with ductwork and structure before issuing, not after
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Designing independently within agreed occupancy types
  • Owns the submittal and the response to comments
  • Measured on first-pass approval rate, field RFI volume and rework
  • NICET progression agreed if applicable
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Fire Protection hiring kit

Paving & Asphalt

Asphalt / Paving Operator

Paving & Asphalt
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Names the specific machines run and the mix types placed, not "paving equipment"
  • Describes rolling pattern and mat temperature as linked decisions
  • Has run night work and understands what cooling time does to the pattern
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the paver unsupervised on your normal work
  • Trusted on variable depth and irregular shapes
  • Measured on mat quality, density results and rework
  • Next machine or certification agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Paving & Asphalt hiring kit

Paving Foreman

Paving & Asphalt
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Treats truck sequencing and plant coordination as part of quality, not logistics
  • Can describe building a longitudinal joint that will not ravel
  • Has owned density and smoothness results, including a failing one
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running crews independently on routine work
  • Owns the prep decision: what gets milled, patched or left
  • Measured on productivity, density results, rework and incident rate
  • Developing one operator toward more responsibility
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Paving & Asphalt hiring kit

Screed Operator

Paving & Asphalt
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Understands head of material as the primary variable rather than screed adjustment
  • Has used stringline, ski and averaging beam references and knows when each applies
  • Can describe chasing and fixing a recurring bump without over-correcting
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the screed unsupervised
  • Trusted on variable depth and hand-work transitions
  • Measured on smoothness, thickness tolerance and rework
  • Mentoring the next screed hand
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Paving & Asphalt hiring kit

Commercial Landscaping

Landscape Crew Lead

Commercial Landscaping
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Describes the route as a quality problem rather than a time problem
  • Can identify common plant material and its failure modes in their region
  • Bilingual crew leadership where the crew needs it, stated plainly
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the route unsupervised to standard
  • Trusted to adjust sequence when weather or breakdown forces it
  • Measured on complaints, property quality scores and damage incidents
  • Training a crew member of their own
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Landscaping hiring kit

Landscape Foreman

Commercial Landscaping
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Reads a landscape plan and can price the gap between it and the site conditions
  • Treats drainage and soil preparation as the part that decides whether the plants survive
  • Has run installation under a general contractor schedule, not just maintenance
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the operation day to day, escalating by exception
  • Owns equipment maintenance scheduling and downtime
  • Measured on route hours against budget, complaints and retention
  • Developing at least one crew lead
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Landscaping hiring kit

Landscape Account Manager

Commercial Landscaping
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Can state renewal retention on their book and what drove the losses
  • Sells enhancements by walking the property rather than by sending a list
  • Knows the horticulture well enough to be believed by the crews and the client
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying the full book with escalation by exception
  • Owns renewal pricing within an agreed range
  • Measured on retention, enhancement revenue and margin by account
  • Has recommended at least one account be repriced or resigned
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Landscaping hiring kit

Landscape Project Manager

Commercial Landscaping
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Has sourced plant material against a specification and managed substitutions
  • Understands establishment and warranty obligations as a cost to be scheduled
  • Can work to a general contractor schedule that treats landscape as the last trade in
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a normal install load with escalation by exception
  • Owns the handover to maintenance and the warranty walk
  • Measured on margin, plant loss rate, schedule and punch volume
  • Can name the seasonal risks on each job unprompted
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Landscaping hiring kit

Commercial Painting

Commercial Painter

Commercial Painting
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Talks about preparation and masking time as the majority of the job
  • Spray experience stated with the equipment and the coatings, not just "sprayer"
  • Has worked occupied buildings and understands containment and odour control
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine commercial scopes
  • Trusted on substrate decisions within the specification
  • Measured on rework, punch volume and production against estimate
  • Next skill - spray, industrial coatings, finishes - agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Painting hiring kit

Industrial Painter / Coatings

Commercial Painting
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Knows SSPC surface preparation standards by number and what each one actually produces
  • Measures wet and dry film thickness as a matter of course
  • Has worked under containment with the respiratory and confined-space training to match
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently within the procedures they are qualified to
  • Trusted to make the call on dew point and surface condition
  • Measured on inspection pass rate, rework and documentation quality
  • Next certification agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Painting hiring kit

Commercial Painting Foreman

Commercial Painting
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Schedules painting around the trades that will damage it, rather than after them
  • Can describe manpower loading on a job that compressed
  • Owns the punch list without treating it as someone else's fault
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running jobs independently
  • Owns the punch and touch-up process so it closes
  • Measured on production against estimate, punch volume and rework
  • Developing one painter toward lead
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Painting hiring kit

Commercial Flooring

Commercial Carpet Installer

Commercial Flooring
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Tests and documents subfloor moisture rather than assuming the slab is ready
  • Plans seams against the light and the traffic pattern, not just the roll width
  • Has installed carpet tile in occupied space in phases
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine installations
  • Trusted to plan seams on an open floor
  • Measured on rework, punch items and material waste
  • Training a helper
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Flooring hiring kit

LVT / Hard Surface Installer

Commercial Flooring
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Treats substrate flatness as the controlling variable, because LVT telegraphs everything under it
  • Knows which adhesive goes with which product and moisture condition
  • Has heat-welded sheet vinyl seams in healthcare or similar environments
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine installations
  • Trusted to plan layout so the job does not finish on a sliver
  • Measured on rework, telegraphing complaints and waste
  • Training a helper
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Flooring hiring kit

Polished Concrete Installer

Commercial Flooring
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Speaks in grit sequence and exposure class rather than "polished"
  • Assesses the slab before committing to a finish level
  • Understands densifier timing and what happens when it is rushed
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running slabs independently on routine specifications
  • Trusted to assess a slab and recommend an achievable finish
  • Measured on finish consistency, rework and customer acceptance
  • Next equipment or decorative technique agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Flooring hiring kit

Commercial Flooring PM

Commercial Flooring
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Manages dye lot and lead time as a scheduling constraint from the start
  • Has made the moisture mitigation call and can explain who paid for it
  • Phases occupied-building work around the tenant, not around the crew
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a full job load with escalation by exception
  • Owns attic stock, closeout and the owner handover
  • Measured on margin, schedule, punch volume and claim rate
  • Can name the slab risk on each job unprompted
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Flooring hiring kit

Commercial Cleaning & Facilities

Janitor / Custodial Technician

Commercial Cleaning & Facilities
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Knows the difference between cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting, and when each is required
  • Has worked to a documented protocol - healthcare, food plant, or similar - not just a checklist
  • Floor care experience stated specifically: stripping, refinishing, burnishing, extraction
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working unsupervised with inspections passing consistently
  • Trusted with periodic work as well as daily scope
  • Measured on inspection scores, complaints and supply usage
  • Trained on at least one piece of floor equipment
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Cleaning & Facilities hiring kit

Cleaning Supervisor

Commercial Cleaning & Facilities
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Can state how they cover a call-out at nine at night without the client noticing
  • Inspects against a written standard and keeps the record
  • Has managed supply and equipment budgets, which is where the margin leaks
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the patch day to day, escalating by exception
  • Owns staffing, cover and periodic scheduling
  • Measured on inspection scores, complaint volume, turnover and supply cost
  • Developing one cleaner toward supervision
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Cleaning & Facilities hiring kit

Welding & Fabrication

Commercial Welder

Welding & Fabrication
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • States current certifications by process, position and material, with the dates
  • Can read a WPS and say what in it constrains the work
  • Fit-up described as part of the job rather than someone else's step
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently within their qualifications
  • Trusted on out-of-position and critical joints where qualified
  • Measured on first-time inspection pass rate and rework
  • Next qualification or position agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Welding & Fabrication hiring kit

Masonry & Concrete

Bricklayer / Mason

Masonry & Concrete
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Coursing and layout described as the part that cannot be fixed later
  • Knows mortar types and where each is required rather than using one everywhere
  • Understands flashing, weeps and air gaps as the wall's drainage system
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine walls and repairs
  • Trusted on openings, lintels and control joint placement
  • Measured on coursing accuracy, rework and production rate
  • Training an apprentice
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Masonry & Concrete hiring kit

Concrete Finisher

Masonry & Concrete
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Reads the set rather than working to a clock
  • Knows what jointing is for and where the joints have to land
  • Has finished to a flatness specification and knows how it was measured
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine slabs
  • Trusted on decorative or specified finishes where applicable
  • Measured on flatness results, rework and surface defects
  • Training a helper
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Masonry & Concrete hiring kit

Physical Security

Security Systems Installer / Technician

Physical Security
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Names platforms configured - access control and video management by product - rather than listing manufacturers seen
  • Comfortable on the network side: addressing, VLANs, PoE budgets, switch configuration
  • Has integrated door hardware with fire alarm and life-safety egress requirements
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Commissioning and servicing independently on known platforms
  • Trusted on life safety egress interfaces with review
  • Measured on first-time fix, callback rate and documentation quality
  • Next manufacturer certification agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Physical Security hiring kit

Low-Voltage Electrician (Security Specialty)

Physical Security
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Licensing stated accurately for the state, because low-voltage licensure varies and matters
  • Terminations and testing described with the standard used, not just "ran the cable"
  • Understands where limited-energy work still falls under the electrical code
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine cabling scopes
  • Trusted on pathway planning and fill calculations
  • Measured on certification pass rate, rework and documentation accuracy
  • Fibre or specialist certification agreed if applicable
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Physical Security hiring kit

Integration Engineer / Systems Integrator

Physical Security
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Thinks in systems and interfaces rather than devices
  • Has done an identity or directory integration and can describe what broke
  • Can size storage and bandwidth for a camera count and retention requirement
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Designing and leading deployments independently
  • Owns version control and firmware policy across the estate
  • Measured on deployment defect rate, client acceptance and support load
  • Has improved at least one standard
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Physical Security hiring kit

Insulation

Insulation Worker, Mechanical

Insulation
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Vapour barrier integrity described as the controlling detail on cold work
  • Knows which material goes on which service temperature rather than using one system everywhere
  • Fitting work - elbows, valves, hangers, removable covers - described as the skilled part
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine scopes
  • Trusted on removable covers and complex fittings
  • Measured on rework, condensation callbacks and productivity
  • Next material or system training agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Insulation hiring kit

Insulation Worker, Floor/Ceiling/Wall

Insulation
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Air sealing treated as part of the install rather than a separate trade
  • Knows the fire-stopping and draft-stop requirements at penetrations and rated assemblies
  • Spray foam work stated with the training and respiratory protection it requires
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine assemblies
  • Trusted on thermal bridging decisions within the specification
  • Measured on inspection pass rate, rework and coverage consistency
  • Spray foam or specialist certification agreed if applicable
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Insulation hiring kit

Commercial Pest Control

Pest Control Technician (Licensed Applicator)

Commercial Pest Control
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Licence and category stated for the state, with renewal and CEU status current
  • Identifies before treating, and says so without being prompted
  • Has worked audited accounts - food processing, healthcare, warehousing - and knows what the auditor looks for
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the route unsupervised
  • Trusted to build a treatment plan for a recurring problem
  • Measured on callback rate, audit outcomes and record quality
  • Additional licence category agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Pest Control hiring kit

Elevator Maintenance

Elevator Mechanic / Service Technician

Elevator Maintenance
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Union apprenticeship or state licence stated accurately, with the jurisdiction
  • Names controller platforms troubleshot rather than manufacturers seen
  • Door-related callbacks treated as the bulk of service work, because they are
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running a route independently including on-call rotation
  • Trusted to take a unit out of service on their own judgment
  • Measured on callback rate, entrapment response time and inspection outcomes
  • Next licence stage or manufacturer training agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Elevator Maintenance hiring kit

Elevator Project Manager

Elevator Maintenance
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Plans around equipment lead times as the dominant schedule constraint
  • Knows the state inspection and permitting path, which is not the same in two places
  • Has coordinated hoistway readiness with a general contractor and been let down once
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Carrying a full job load with escalation by exception
  • Owns inspection scheduling and sign-off
  • Measured on schedule, margin, inspection outcomes and turnover quality
  • Can name the long-lead risk on each job unprompted
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Elevator Maintenance hiring kit

QEI-Certified Inspector

Elevator Maintenance
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • QEI certification current, with the certifying organisation and the jurisdictions worked
  • Can describe a category five test and what commonly fails it
  • Writes findings that distinguish code violations from maintenance recommendations
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Inspecting independently across the equipment types agreed
  • Trusted to red-tag a unit on their own judgment
  • Measured on report quality, consistency and dispute volume
  • Additional jurisdictions or equipment types agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Elevator Maintenance hiring kit

LED & Solar

Solar Photovoltaic Installer

LED & Solar
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Knows the attachment detail and who holds the roof warranty
  • Describes rapid shutdown and labelling requirements as code, not paperwork
  • Fall protection stated as a working practice rather than a certificate
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine arrays
  • Trusted on layout adjustments within the plan set
  • Measured on rework, leak callbacks and installation defects
  • Next certification agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions LED & Solar hiring kit

Electrician (LED & Solar)

LED & Solar
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Electrical licence current for the jurisdiction, stated without hedging
  • Has done an interconnection and dealt with the utility, not just the inverter
  • Lighting controls described as commissioning work rather than device installation
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Working independently on routine systems
  • Trusted on point of interconnection decisions within the design
  • Measured on inspection pass rate, commissioning defects and production versus expectation
  • Next manufacturer certification agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions LED & Solar hiring kit

Commercial Trucking

CDL-A Truck Driver

Commercial Trucking
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Clean MVR and a stable work history, with gaps explained rather than hidden
  • Endorsements stated - tanker, hazmat, doubles - with current medical card
  • Load securement described specifically for the trailer type they actually run
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running the full route set unsupervised
  • Trusted to make the weather and safety call
  • Measured on on-time delivery, log compliance, incidents and fuel
  • Additional endorsement agreed if useful
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Trucking hiring kit

CDL-B Truck Driver

Commercial Trucking
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Equipment operation on the truck described as part of the job, because it usually is
  • Endorsements and any crane or equipment certifications stated with the licence
  • Comfortable with the customer-facing and crew-facing side of a service truck
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running routes unsupervised including unfamiliar sites
  • Trusted to refuse an unsafe delivery location
  • Measured on on-time delivery, damage rate and incidents
  • Path to Class A discussed if they want it
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Trucking hiring kit

Commercial Irrigation

Irrigation Technician / Installer

Commercial Irrigation
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Uses a wire tracker and a solenoid test rather than digging to find the fault
  • Knows head spacing and precipitation rate, not just which head fits
  • Has programmed smart controllers and understands what the sensors are actually doing
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Running a service route unsupervised
  • Trusted on controller programming and schedule changes
  • Measured on callback rate, water usage outcomes and report quality
  • Backflow certification agreed if not held
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Irrigation hiring kit

Backflow Prevention Specialist

Commercial Irrigation
What good looks like Name a job for each
  • Certification current for the jurisdiction, with gauge calibration in date
  • Knows which assembly type is required for which hazard level
  • Describes the filing and recordkeeping as part of the job rather than paperwork after it
What they were measured on From the 90-day plan
  • Testing and reporting independently across all assembly types
  • Trusted on repair versus replacement decisions
  • Measured on report acceptance rate, retest volume and schedule adherence
  • Additional jurisdictions or certifications agreed
Two questions to finish on
  1. What part of this job would you change if it were yours to change?
  2. What would have to be true here in a year for you to still be here?
30/60/90 plan Job description Interview questions Commercial Irrigation hiring kit
PRINTABLE PACK

One review sheet per role.

The pack is every framework on this page laid out to print: one page per role, both halves of the criteria, a column to write the job or date that evidences each line, and room for the two closing questions. Take it into the meeting instead of a laptop.

The frameworks above stay free to read, with no form. The pack is the version you can print, and it is built from this same data, so it cannot go out of date.

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Questions managers ask

Why review against hiring criteria rather than a standard form?

Because the person was selected on those criteria and told at ninety days they would be measured on them. A review that introduces new standards a year later is a review nobody can prepare for, and it is the main reason trades reviews are resented. Using the same list end to end also makes the review quick: the manager is scoring things they have been watching all year.

Should the review be tied to a pay rise?

Separate the conversations by a few weeks if you can. A review that is really a pay negotiation stops being useful feedback the moment the number comes up, and most people will not raise a development need in a meeting where they are asking for money. Do the review, agree the development plan, then handle pay against your bands.

How long should this take?

Thirty to forty minutes if you have been paying attention all year, and considerably longer if you have not. The preparation is the real work: go through the criteria with specific examples from actual jobs before you sit down, because a review that cannot name a job, a date or a customer reads as an opinion rather than an assessment.

What if the role has changed since they were hired?

Then say so in the review and update the criteria for next year. A technician who has quietly taken on controls work or started running a second truck is being measured against a job they no longer do, and that gap is usually where the retention risk is hiding.

Do you set the ratings or the weightings?

No. The criteria are the part we can give you, because they come from the role. How you score them, what weight each carries and what follows from the result are yours, and they should match how the rest of your business is run rather than a scale we invented.

Trade Talk A monthly hiring brief for commercial trades employers

What changed in your trade this month, and what to do about it.

One email a month, and only one. We write a separate issue for every trade we recruit in, so you get yours - not a round-up with your trade buried in paragraph nine. Every issue is written for the person actually doing the hiring.

  • Where wages moved in your trade, by market, and what that does to your next offer
  • How long roles like yours are taking to fill, and where it is getting worse
  • Interview and screening tactics that are landing candidates this month
  • What contractors competing for the same people are doing differently

Built on federal wage data, our own closed searches, and what we hear on the desk every week. Written for employers, not candidates. No pitch, no filler, one click to leave.

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