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Onboarding plans

The first ninety days, by role.

A 30/60/90 day onboarding plan for 56 commercial trades roles, written for the hiring manager rather than for HR. 672 specific checkpoints across 20 trades, each one naming what the new hire should be doing alone by that point and what they are measured on.

Most trades turnover happens in the first year, and most of it is decided in the first month. These are written for the manager, not for a file.

How to use these

Each plan runs in three phases. Thirty days is verification and supervision — what you confirm in writing and what they do alongside someone else. Sixty days is supervised independence — they own a scope and you review the result. Ninety days is unsupervised work against figures they have been shown, with the next training step agreed.

Give the ninety-day measures to the new hire on day one. A technician who knows they will be measured on callback rate behaves differently in week two than one who finds out in month four.

HVAC & Mechanical

HVAC Service Technician

HVAC & Mechanical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Rides with a senior technician on commercial rooftops before taking calls alone
  • EPA 608 card, tool list and truck stock verified in writing
  • Dispatch, ticketing and parts ordering walked end to end, not just logged into
  • First solo calls are planned maintenance on familiar equipment, with phone backup named
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Carrying own service calls on the equipment types in your mix
  • Service manager reviews three of their closed tickets line by line with them
  • Introduced by name to the ten accounts they will see most
  • First callback, if any, reviewed as a learning conversation rather than a warning
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit Role profile

HVAC Install Technician (Commercial)

HVAC & Mechanical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works as second technician on two complete installs before leading any task
  • Brazing, nitrogen purge and evacuation practice observed and signed off
  • Rigging and crane signal expectations covered before the first lift
  • Knows which drawings and submittals govern the job and where to find them
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Leads a straightforward replacement with the foreman checking at set points
  • Owns their own evacuation and leak check, and records the readings
  • Understands the handover the service department expects at closeout
  • Productivity discussed against the estimate, not as a target but as context
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit Role profile

HVAC Controls Technician (BAS / Niagara)

HVAC & Mechanical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Read-only access first: watches live systems and trends before changing anything
  • Walked through your controls standards, naming conventions and graphics library
  • Shadows a commissioning visit end to end
  • Knows which sites are under warranty and which have unusual sequences
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Commissions a VAV box or similar device with the lead reviewing the trends
  • Makes supervised programming changes, documented in your change log
  • Handles a service call on a familiar panel with escalation available
  • Introduced to the building operators they will deal with regularly
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit Role profile

HVAC Service Manager

HVAC & Mechanical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Rides with four technicians across the spread of skill, not just the best one
  • Reviews twelve months of callback, utilisation and agreement renewal data
  • Meets the five accounts that generate the most revenue and the most complaints
  • Learns dispatch, quoting and invoicing by doing them, not by being shown
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns the dispatch board and the on-call rotation
  • Has run one difficult customer conversation with you present and then one alone
  • Proposed one change to truck stock, pricing or scheduling with reasoning
  • Knows each technician by strength and gap, and can say so specifically
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit Role profile

HVAC Project Manager (Commercial)

HVAC & Mechanical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reads the contract, schedule of values and submittal log on a live job before taking one
  • Walks two active sites with the current project manager
  • Meets the general contractors and engineers they will work with
  • Learns your cost reporting cadence and what the numbers actually mean
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a small job end to end, with your review at buyout and at monthly billing
  • Has written and defended one change order
  • Runs their own coordination meeting
  • Forecasting cost to complete monthly, with you checking the assumptions
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role HVAC & Mechanical hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Construction

Construction Foreman

Commercial Construction
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Walks every active area with the superintendent before taking a crew
  • Knows the crew by name, ticket and what each is good at
  • Site safety plan, permits and emergency procedure covered on day one
  • Runs the daily huddle from the first week, briefly
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns the look-ahead for their area and the manpower request behind it
  • Has handled one performance conversation on the crew
  • Material ordering, staging and protection under their control
  • Layout verified independently before it is built to
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Construction hiring kit Role profile

Construction Superintendent

Commercial Construction
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reads the contract, schedule and open RFI log before directing anything
  • Walks the site daily with the outgoing superintendent for the first fortnight
  • Meets every subcontractor foreman face to face
  • Learns your reporting, safety and inspection processes by doing them
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Runs the weekly coordination meeting
  • Owns the three-week look-ahead and holds subs to it
  • Has handled one sub performance issue and documented it
  • Inspections scheduled and passed on their watch
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Construction hiring kit Role profile

Construction Project Manager

Commercial Construction
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reads contracts, buyout status and cost reports on live jobs before taking one
  • Walks each site with its superintendent
  • Meets owners, architects and key subcontractors
  • Learns your cost reporting and what each line actually represents
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a job with review at buyout, change orders and monthly billing
  • Has written and defended one change order
  • Running the submittal and procurement log
  • Forecasting cost to complete with assumptions you have checked
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Construction hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Estimator

Commercial Construction
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reviews the last ten bids, won and lost, with the reasons
  • Learns your production rates and where they came from
  • Shadows one full bid from invitation to submission
  • Meets the subcontractors and suppliers you rely on
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a complete takeoff with review before submission
  • Has handled one scope gap between trades
  • Involved in a bid day and the final number conversation
  • Starting to feed actual costs back into the database
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Construction hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Electrical

Journeyman Electrician (Commercial)

Commercial Electrical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with a lead before being assigned a task alone
  • Lockout, verification and energised work rules covered and witnessed
  • Knows the job drawings, the RFI process and who answers questions
  • Tool and PPE inventory confirmed, not assumed
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Runs a defined scope - a floor, a feeder, a lighting package - with checks
  • Produces layout others can build to
  • Red-lines as-builts as they go rather than at the end
  • First-time inspection results reviewed with the foreman
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Electrical hiring kit Role profile

Master Electrician

Commercial Electrical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reviews the permits, inspection history and any open violations on current work
  • Meets the AHJs and inspectors in your main jurisdictions
  • Walks every active job and forms a view on each
  • Learns how your company decides design-build versus engineered
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Signs off on at least one plan review response
  • Owns the code compliance position on one live dispute
  • Reviews two crews for safe work practice and reports honestly
  • Involved in estimating or scoping at least one job
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Electrical hiring kit Role profile

Electrical Foreman

Commercial Electrical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Takes over a crew with the outgoing foreman present for the first week
  • Knows every person on the crew by name, skill and ticket
  • Walks the drawings and the schedule with the project manager
  • Runs the daily huddle from day one, even if briefly
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns the three-week look-ahead and the manpower request
  • Has handled one performance conversation on the crew
  • Material ordering and staging under their control
  • Layout accuracy verified independently once before trusting it
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Electrical hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Electrical PM

Commercial Electrical
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reads contracts, buyout status and cost reports on live jobs before taking any
  • Walks sites with the foremen and listens more than talks
  • Meets general contractors, suppliers and the gear representative
  • Learns the submittal and RFI systems by processing real ones
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a job, with review at buyout, at change orders and at monthly billing
  • Has priced and negotiated one change order
  • Running their own coordination and procurement log
  • Forecasting to complete with assumptions you have checked
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Electrical hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Plumbing

Journeyman Plumber (Commercial)

Commercial Plumbing
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works alongside a lead before taking a scope alone
  • Knows the code edition in force and where your jurisdiction differs
  • Isolation, testing and hot work procedures covered and witnessed
  • Understands which work needs inspection before cover
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Runs a defined rough-in with the foreman checking before close
  • Owns their own testing and records the results
  • Handles a tie-in on an occupied building with support available
  • Inspection results reviewed with them, pass or fail
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Plumbing hiring kit Role profile

Master Plumber

Commercial Plumbing
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reviews permit history, open inspections and any compliance issues
  • Meets the plan reviewers and inspectors in your main jurisdictions
  • Walks live jobs and forms an independent view of workmanship
  • Learns how your company prices and scopes service versus project work
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a plan review response and at least one code position
  • Reviews apprentice progression and reports honestly on readiness
  • Involved in scoping or estimating a job
  • Has resolved one field code dispute
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Plumbing hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Plumbing PM

Commercial Plumbing
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reads contracts, submittal logs and fixture schedules on live jobs
  • Walks sites with foremen and suppliers
  • Learns underground and inspection sequencing against the concrete schedule
  • Meets the general contractors they will deal with
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a job with review at buyout, change orders and billing
  • Has handled one fixture substitution or discontinuation
  • Running inspection scheduling and the test record
  • Forecasting to complete with checked assumptions
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Plumbing hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Roofing

Commercial Roofing Foreman

Commercial Roofing
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works alongside an experienced foreman on one full tear-off and install
  • Fall protection plan, rescue plan and hot work permits covered and witnessed
  • Knows the manufacturer systems you are certified to install
  • Understands what voids a warranty and who to call before it does
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Leads a straightforward reroof with the project manager checking at set points
  • Owns the daily weather call on their job
  • Handles material staging and deck load without supervision
  • Manufacturer inspection passed on work they led
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Roofing hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Roofing PM

Commercial Roofing
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reviews the open warranty obligations and any active leak claims
  • Walks live jobs and two recently completed roofs
  • Meets the manufacturer representatives you work through
  • Learns your estimating approach for work you cannot see
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a job from scope through warranty submission
  • Has handled one leak call on completed work
  • Running the manufacturer inspection and documentation process
  • Pricing a reroof with your review before it goes out
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Roofing hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Roofing Service Technician

Commercial Roofing
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Rides with a senior technician on leak calls before going alone
  • Roof access, fall protection and hot work rules covered and witnessed
  • Learns the roof systems and details across your customer base
  • First solo calls are inspections rather than diagnostics
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Handling routine leak calls with phone support
  • Documents roof condition with photographs to a standard you have set
  • Knows which repairs they can make and which need the project manager
  • First repair revisits, if any, reviewed as learning
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Roofing hiring kit Role profile

Fire Protection

Fire Alarm Technician

Fire Protection
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with a licensed technician on inspections before testing alone
  • Licence, certification and any state requirements verified in writing
  • Impairment procedure and monitoring company contacts learned cold
  • Knows the panel families across your accounts
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Performs routine inspections with results reviewed
  • Handles a trouble call on a familiar panel
  • Produces an inspection report that needs no rework
  • Introduced to the AHJs they will deal with
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Fire Protection hiring kit Role profile

Fire Sprinkler Fitter

Fire Protection
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with a lead fitter before taking a scope alone
  • Knows the standard in force and your jurisdictional differences
  • Isolation, drain-down and impairment procedure covered and witnessed
  • Understands what the inspector checks on hangers and bracing
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Installs a defined branch scope with inspection before cover
  • Owns their own hydrostatic test and records it
  • Handles a tie-in on a live system with support present
  • Inspection outcomes reviewed with them
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Fire Protection hiring kit Role profile

Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Designer

Fire Protection
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reviews recent submittals, including any that were rejected and why
  • Learns your calculation software and drawing standards
  • Meets the AHJs and plan reviewers in your main jurisdictions
  • Shadows one design from scope to issue
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Produces a design for a straightforward occupancy with full review
  • Has handled one plan review comment
  • Coordinating with mechanical and electrical before issue
  • Understands the water supply data sources and their age
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Fire Protection hiring kit Role profile

Paving & Asphalt

Asphalt / Paving Operator

Paving & Asphalt
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Runs the paver under supervision on straightforward lots first
  • Machine daily checks, greasing and fault reporting covered
  • Understands your mix designs and what each is used for
  • Knows the signals and working relationship with the truck drivers
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Running the paver on routine commercial work with the foreman nearby
  • Owns mat quality on their shift and can explain a defect
  • Handling joints and tie-ins without being told how
  • Density results reviewed with them
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Paving & Asphalt hiring kit Role profile

Paving Foreman

Paving & Asphalt
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Walks jobs with the outgoing foreman and the estimator
  • Knows the crew, the equipment and its condition
  • Traffic control, excavation and safety procedures covered
  • Learns how your jobs are estimated so they can hold the number
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Runs a routine lot with the superintendent checking at set points
  • Owns the truck cycle plan and the day’s weather call
  • Handles a customer conversation on site
  • Density and thickness results reviewed job by job
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Paving & Asphalt hiring kit Role profile

Screed Operator

Paving & Asphalt
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works behind an experienced screed hand before taking the controls
  • Understands grade control, crown and how the machine holds them
  • Knows the mixes and how each behaves at the screed
  • Learns the signals used by the crew
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Running the screed on routine work with the foreman watching the mat
  • Can diagnose a wave or tear and correct it themselves
  • Handling tie-ins and transitions cleanly
  • Core results reviewed with them
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • Running the screed unsupervised
  • Trusted on variable depth and hand-work transitions
  • Measured on smoothness, thickness tolerance and rework
  • Mentoring the next screed hand
Interview questions for this role Paving & Asphalt hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Landscaping

Landscape Crew Lead

Commercial Landscaping
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Rides the route with the current lead for two full cycles
  • Equipment checks, trailer loading and tie-down covered and witnessed
  • Knows which properties have difficult access, pets or picky contacts
  • Chemical handling limits made explicit - what they may and may not apply
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Running the route with the foreman spot-checking properties
  • Owns the quality walk before leaving each site
  • Reporting irrigation and turf issues back rather than ignoring them
  • Has handled one direct client interaction on site
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Landscaping hiring kit Role profile

Landscape Foreman

Commercial Landscaping
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Walks every property in their book with the account manager
  • Knows each crew lead, their route and their weak spots
  • Snow and storm response procedure covered before the season
  • Learns how routes are costed so they can hold the hours
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns route scheduling and crew assignment
  • Has handled a quality complaint end to end
  • Managing chemical records and applicator compliance
  • Involved in seasonal hiring
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Landscaping hiring kit Role profile

Landscape Account Manager

Commercial Landscaping
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Walks the top ten properties with the outgoing manager or the foreman
  • Reads every contract in the book, including the awkward ones
  • Meets the property managers face to face, not by email
  • Learns how enhancements are priced and approved
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns the renewal conversation on at least two accounts
  • Has sold one enhancement from a site walk
  • Handling a complaint without escalating it upward
  • Knows which accounts are profitable and which are not
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Landscaping hiring kit Role profile

Landscape Project Manager

Commercial Landscaping
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Walks active installs and two recently completed ones
  • Reads the landscape drawings, plant schedules and specifications
  • Meets the nurseries and suppliers you buy from
  • Learns the establishment and warranty obligations you carry
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns an install from material order through substantial completion
  • Has rejected or accepted a plant delivery on their own judgment
  • Coordinating irrigation and grading with the general contractor
  • Tracking labour against the estimate weekly
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Landscaping hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Painting

Commercial Painter

Commercial Painting
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced painter before taking an area alone
  • Surface preparation standards and your specification set covered
  • Knows the products you use and why each is specified
  • Protection and masking expectations made explicit on an occupied job
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a defined area with the foreman checking cut lines and coverage
  • Handles colour changes and mock-ups correctly
  • Working cleanly alongside other trades
  • Production tracked against the estimate as context
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Painting hiring kit Role profile

Industrial Painter / Coatings

Commercial Painting
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works under a certified applicator before coating anything alone
  • Confined space, respirator fit and containment procedures covered and witnessed
  • Knows the coating systems and their data sheets
  • Understands the inspection hold points before they hit one
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Performs prep and coating with readings recorded and reviewed
  • Owns their own DFT and environmental readings
  • Has worked through one third-party inspection
  • Understands when conditions mean stopping
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Painting hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Painting Foreman

Commercial Painting
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Walks live jobs with the project manager and the outgoing foreman
  • Knows the crew and what each is quick and slow at
  • Learns how jobs are estimated so the hours can be held
  • Protection and containment standards set on day one
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Runs a floor with the project manager checking at set points
  • Owns colour approval and mock-up sign-off
  • Has handled one quality issue with a crew member
  • Managing material ordering across colours and sheens
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Painting hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Flooring

Commercial Carpet Installer

Commercial Flooring
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced installer before taking a room alone
  • Subfloor assessment and when to stop covered explicitly
  • Knows the products and the manufacturer requirements for each
  • Seam planning explained on a real job, not in theory
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Installs a defined area with the lead checking seams and stretch
  • Owns their own subfloor check and raises problems before starting
  • Handles transitions and doorways cleanly
  • Working around occupants without complaints
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • Working independently on routine installations
  • Trusted to plan seams on an open floor
  • Measured on rework, punch items and material waste
  • Training a helper
Interview questions for this role Commercial Flooring hiring kit Role profile

LVT / Hard Surface Installer

Commercial Flooring
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced installer before taking a room alone
  • Moisture testing procedure and refusal criteria covered explicitly
  • Knows adhesive open times and how conditions change them
  • Understands acclimation and why it is not optional
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Installs a defined area with layout reviewed before starting
  • Owns their own moisture and flatness checks
  • Handles transitions and movement joints correctly
  • Raises slab problems before covering them
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Flooring hiring kit Role profile

Polished Concrete Installer

Commercial Flooring
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced operator before running a machine alone
  • Dust control, silica exposure and respirator requirements covered and witnessed
  • Knows the grinding sequence and tooling selection
  • Understands what the customer has actually been promised
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Runs a straightforward slab with the lead checking between passes
  • Owns the densifier application and can explain the result
  • Handles slurry containment and disposal correctly
  • Managing expectations with the customer on site
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Flooring hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Flooring PM

Commercial Flooring
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reads contracts, submittals and product schedules on live jobs
  • Walks sites with installers and the general contractor
  • Learns moisture mitigation options and what each costs
  • Meets the manufacturers and distributors you buy through
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a job from material order through punch
  • Has handled one product substitution or discontinuation
  • Coordinating moisture testing and remediation decisions
  • Tracking labour against the estimate weekly
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Flooring hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Cleaning & Facilities

Janitor / Custodial Technician

Commercial Cleaning & Facilities
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works alongside an experienced cleaner on the building for a full week
  • Chemical dilution, labelling and safety data covered and witnessed
  • Knows the scope of work for their building, not a generic list
  • Keys, alarm codes and access procedure signed for
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Working the building alone to the scope
  • Owns the quality standard in their areas
  • Reporting maintenance issues rather than working around them
  • Has handled one occupant request appropriately
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Cleaning & Facilities hiring kit Role profile

Cleaning Supervisor

Commercial Cleaning & Facilities
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Walks every building in their patch with the outgoing supervisor
  • Knows each cleaner, their building and their reliability
  • Learns the inspection system and what each score means
  • Client contacts introduced by name
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns inspections and the corrective actions from them
  • Has covered a call-off and handled a client complaint
  • Managing supply ordering against budget
  • Has onboarded one new cleaner
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Cleaning & Facilities hiring kit Role profile

Welding & Fabrication

Commercial Welder

Welding & Fabrication
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Weld test to the procedures you actually run, witnessed and recorded
  • Hot work permits, fire watch and ventilation covered and witnessed
  • Knows which procedures and positions they are qualified to
  • Works alongside a lead before welding production work
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Producing production welds with inspection results reviewed
  • Owns their own fit-up and prep
  • Has worked through one failed inspection and the repair
  • Understands the documentation that follows their welds
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Welding & Fabrication hiring kit Role profile

Masonry & Concrete

Bricklayer / Mason

Masonry & Concrete
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced mason before setting leads alone
  • Scaffold erection, inspection and safe use covered and witnessed
  • Knows the mortar types you use and where each belongs
  • Understands cold and hot weather protection requirements
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Setting leads and running line with the foreman checking
  • Owns flashing and weep detailing on their sections
  • Handles a match on a repair or tuckpoint
  • Work inspected before scaffold moves
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Masonry & Concrete hiring kit Role profile

Concrete Finisher

Masonry & Concrete
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced finisher across at least four pours
  • Silica, PPE and safe equipment use covered and witnessed
  • Knows the mixes, admixtures and how weather changes timing
  • Understands what the specification requires for flatness and finish
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Finishing defined areas with the lead checking timing and technique
  • Owns the call on when to start floating in their area
  • Handles joints and edges to specification
  • Flatness results reviewed with them where measured
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • Working independently on routine slabs
  • Trusted on decorative or specified finishes where applicable
  • Measured on flatness results, rework and surface defects
  • Training a helper
Interview questions for this role Masonry & Concrete hiring kit Role profile

Physical Security

Security Systems Installer / Technician

Physical Security
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with a senior technician before commissioning alone
  • Knows the platforms across your accounts and which are under contract
  • Access to customer systems and credential handling rules made explicit
  • Shadows one full door commissioning end to end
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Commissions a door or camera set with the lead reviewing
  • Handles a service call on a familiar platform
  • Documents a system to the standard you expect
  • Introduced to the customer contacts they will deal with
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Physical Security hiring kit Role profile

Low-Voltage Electrician (Security Specialty)

Physical Security
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with a lead before pulling or terminating alone
  • Fire-stopping, plenum rating and separation rules covered
  • Knows your cable standards, labelling scheme and test requirements
  • Understands what fails a certification and why
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Runs and terminates a defined scope with results reviewed
  • Owns their own testing and certification records
  • Produces as-builts that match what is in the wall
  • Working cleanly in occupied and ceiling spaces
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Physical Security hiring kit Role profile

Integration Engineer / Systems Integrator

Physical Security
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reviews the architecture of your three largest deployments
  • Meets the manufacturers and their support channels
  • Learns your standards for naming, backup and version control
  • Shadows one client requirements conversation
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns the design for a straightforward multi-site deployment
  • Has handled one manufacturer limitation and found a route around it
  • Running a cutover plan with review
  • Involved in a client training session
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Physical Security hiring kit Role profile

Insulation

Insulation Worker, Mechanical

Insulation
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced insulator before taking a scope alone
  • Asbestos awareness and stop-work procedure covered and witnessed
  • Knows the materials, thicknesses and jacketing you specify by service
  • Understands vapour barrier continuity and where it fails
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Insulating defined runs with the foreman checking fittings and terminations
  • Owns their own fitting covers and weatherproofing
  • Raises existing material concerns rather than covering them
  • Working around other trades on congested racks
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Insulation hiring kit Role profile

Insulation Worker, Floor/Ceiling/Wall

Insulation
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced installer before taking an area alone
  • Confined space, ventilation and respirator requirements covered and witnessed
  • Knows the assemblies, R-values and vapour control approach you use
  • Understands fire blocking and draft stopping requirements
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Insulating defined areas with inspection before cover
  • Owns air sealing in their areas
  • Handles penetrations and fixtures correctly
  • Inspection outcomes reviewed with them
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Insulation hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Pest Control

Pest Control Technician (Licensed Applicator)

Commercial Pest Control
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Licence and state requirements verified; rides with a senior technician
  • Label compliance, record keeping and storage covered and witnessed
  • Knows the accounts with audit requirements and what they demand
  • Learns the inspection sequence for each facility type on the route
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Running routine services with reports reviewed
  • Owns the inspection findings and recommendations on their accounts
  • Has handled one escalating account with support
  • Records standing up to internal review
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Pest Control hiring kit Role profile

Elevator Maintenance

Elevator Mechanic / Service Technician

Elevator Maintenance
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with a licensed mechanic before any independent work
  • Entrapment response, lockout and hoistway safety covered and witnessed
  • Knows the controller families and equipment across the portfolio
  • Understands which units are under which contract
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Performing routine maintenance with work reviewed
  • Handles a callback on familiar equipment with support available
  • Owns their own documentation on each unit
  • Introduced to the building contacts on their route
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Elevator Maintenance hiring kit Role profile

Elevator Project Manager

Elevator Maintenance
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Reviews active modernisations, their schedules and open issues
  • Walks each live hoistway with the mechanic
  • Meets the inspectors and the state authority contacts
  • Learns lead times on controllers and equipment
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Owns a modernisation with review at procurement and at inspection
  • Has handled one existing-conditions dispute
  • Coordinating electrical and fire alarm interfaces
  • Tracking cost and schedule weekly
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Elevator Maintenance hiring kit Role profile

QEI-Certified Inspector

Elevator Maintenance
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Certification and state registrations verified in writing
  • Shadows an experienced inspector across several equipment types
  • Learns your reporting format and what makes a finding actionable
  • Knows the code editions applicable in each jurisdiction covered
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Performing inspections with reports reviewed before issue
  • Has witnessed and signed one category test
  • Handled one disagreement with a mechanic professionally
  • Reports standing up without rework
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Elevator Maintenance hiring kit Role profile

LED & Solar

Solar Photovoltaic Installer

LED & Solar
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Works with an experienced installer before any roof attachment work
  • Fall protection, roof access and wind limits covered and witnessed
  • Knows the racking systems and attachment methods you use
  • Understands which roof types carry warranty constraints
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Installing racking and modules with torque checks reviewed
  • Owns DC wire management on their sections
  • Handles penetrations and flashing correctly
  • Has worked through one commissioning sequence
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • Working independently on routine arrays
  • Trusted on layout adjustments within the plan set
  • Measured on rework, leak callbacks and installation defects
  • Next certification agreed
Interview questions for this role LED & Solar hiring kit Role profile

Electrician (LED & Solar)

LED & Solar
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Licence verified; works with a lead before any interconnection work
  • Rapid shutdown, arc fault and DC safety requirements covered
  • Knows the inverter platforms you install and their commissioning tools
  • Understands the utility interconnection process in your markets
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Performing terminations and commissioning with results reviewed
  • Owns their own load calculations with review
  • Has worked through one utility witness test
  • Handles an inverter fault with support available
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role LED & Solar hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Trucking

CDL-A Truck Driver

Commercial Trucking
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Licence, medical card and endorsements verified; road test completed
  • Hours of service, logging and inspection procedure covered and witnessed
  • Rides the main lanes with an experienced driver
  • Knows the customer sites with difficult access before arriving at one
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Running routes independently with paperwork reviewed
  • Owns load securement on their own loads
  • Has handled one delivery problem without escalation
  • Clean inspection and log record
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Trucking hiring kit Role profile

CDL-B Truck Driver

Commercial Trucking
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Licence and medical card verified; road test on the actual vehicle
  • Lift gate operation and manual handling covered and witnessed
  • Rides the route with an experienced driver
  • Knows the sites with tight access or restricted hours
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Running the route independently with paperwork reviewed
  • Owns load distribution and securement across multi-stop runs
  • Has handled a refused or damaged delivery correctly
  • Clean inspection record
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Trucking hiring kit Role profile

Commercial Irrigation

Irrigation Technician / Installer

Commercial Irrigation
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Rides with an experienced technician across several system types
  • Backflow, cross-connection and local ordinance requirements covered
  • Knows the controllers across the account base
  • Understands winterisation and activation schedules before the season
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Running routine service calls with work reviewed
  • Owns system audits and the findings from them
  • Has located and repaired a mainline break
  • Reporting to property managers in writing
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Irrigation hiring kit Role profile

Backflow Prevention Specialist

Commercial Irrigation
First 30 days Verify and supervise
  • Certification and test kit calibration verified in writing
  • Shadows an experienced tester across assembly types
  • Knows the jurisdictions you work in and each one’s reporting process
  • Understands which failures require immediate isolation
By 60 days Supervised independence
  • Testing independently with reports reviewed before submission
  • Owns repair recommendations on failed assemblies
  • Has handled one rejected report and resubmitted it
  • Managing their own test kit calibration schedule
By 90 days Working alone, measured
  • 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
Interview questions for this role Commercial Irrigation hiring kit Role profile
PRINTABLE PACK

Take the plans off the screen.

The pack is every plan on this page laid out to print: one page per role, three phases, with room to write names and dates against each checkpoint. Hand it to the manager doing the onboarding, or keep it in the file for the role.

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Questions managers ask

What should a 30/60/90 day plan cover for a skilled trades hire?

Thirty days is verification and supervision: credentials checked in writing, safety procedures witnessed rather than described, and work done alongside someone experienced. Sixty days is supervised independence, where they own a defined scope and someone reviews the result. Ninety days is unsupervised work against figures they have seen, plus an agreed next step for training or certification.

Why does the plan differ by role rather than by trade?

Because the risk differs. An HVAC controls technician can do quiet damage to a live building system in week one, so their plan starts read-only. An install technician cannot, so theirs starts on the tools. A plan that is the same for both protects neither.

How early should a trades hire be working alone?

Later than most employers assume and earlier than most new hires expect. The plans here put first solo work inside the first month, but deliberately on the lowest-risk work available - planned maintenance rather than diagnostics, inspection rather than repair - with a named person reachable by phone.

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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