- 1. Tell me how long have you been painting, and what made you start?
I’ve been painting now for more than 10 years, but have only gotten serious about it since 2006. What made me start? Hmm. I can’t exactly recall, but it may have been something as simple as coming across an art store and saying to myself, ‘let’s get some supplies and give painting a shot.’
- 2. Tell us when you arrive for a single room repaint, what is the order of operations?
The order of operation that use to repaint a single room is what tools I will need, the color, and how much time I will need to repaint the room.
- 3. Explain me how do you ensure that the finishing of your work is neatly done?
One of the very important things that one needs to do before beginning a paint job is to fill holes and crack with putty or plaster. By compounding surfaces, one increases the chances of the end result being flawless.
- 4. Tell me do you have your own car to get to and from work?
I do have my own car to get to and from work. I also have a work car just in case one car brakes I know I have a extra car for work.
- 5. Explain me what is the shortcut to paint without taping?
Many found taping a tedious job; you can still do your painting without using tape. First paint the ceiling and trim without using tape, and then use an edger to make a clean paint perimeter over the trim and below the ceiling, finish it by painting the walls.
- 6. Tell me what is your shade making expertise?
I own a color mixing machine – my best investment so far. The computerized color mixing machine takes in a sample of any shade that the customer wants and mixes other colors to create it. Quite handy!
- 7. Tell me how familiar are you with this market? Any experience painting here?
Recently, I am embarked on an adventure motivated by a close family bonds and a scene of responsibility. I am no familiar with this market but I now the business.
- 8. Tell me some of the extra accessories you can use for perfect painting?
☛ Can Claw: It helps to hold on the can without interfering you painting job
☛ Edge Painter: It is used to paint the edges surrounding windows and ceiling walls without touching it
☛ Door hinge Mask: It would protect your door hinges from coloring
☛ Elite window brush: This pointed brush are specially designed to paint windows
☛ Twist and Reach pole: This tool comes with an extender and you do not need ladder or step stool if you are using this tool
☛ Mini koter long handle roller: This tool is compact and it can pass through the narrow spaces, for example, it can color the space behind the heater, cabinets and freestanding tubs
☛ Foam corner roller: This tool is very useful to paint the corner of the walls
☛ Glass Mask: Glass mask could be very handy to cover the glass while painting where
The other tools that can be useful are carbide paint scrapers, pipe painter and tools extension brush holder.
- 9. Tell me where do you see yourself as a painter in 10 years?
I‘ve improved a lot in the last couple years, and I’d like to think that I’ll continue in that vein. Getting rich and famous is a bit of a lofty dream I think, but it’s nice to contemplate a future where my work will continue to gain recognition.
- 10. Tell me what do you know about pre-painting duties of a painter?
A painter is not only required to paint surfaces. It is also the job of a painter to prepare surfaces by performing activities such as clearing areas and removing fixtures and electric switch covers.
- 11. Tell us working as a painter requires a lot of physical stamina. How do you keep up?
When an individual enjoy their work, they do not think about physical challenges associated with it. However, I do take frequent breaks to ensure that I do not get tired.
- 12. Explain me what is your most challenging piece of work you have completed?
The most challenging piece of work that I did completed was a kitchen, because the kitchen had very high walls.
- 13. Tell me do you have experience using a lift or a boom?
I’m not trained on how to use one but I have been in many to paint high ceilings in schools and colleges.
- 14. Explain me have you ever been faced a situation when you felt that you had failed?
Yes. At the beginning of my career, I made the mistake of mixing two primary colors to make a shade that I thought would emerge. It didn’t happen since you cannot mix two primary colors to make another color. Lesson learnt the hard way!
- 15. Tell me how you can prevent color slipping into trim area that is covered with tape?
Sometimes covering the trim area only with tape would not be enough to stop the color dripping into it, you need some sealant that keeps no space in the tape. You can use caulk as a sealant to do this, wipe the caulk beads with fingers, and it eventually seals the tape and would not allow any color to go across it.
- 16. Tell us how you would paint if you are using a brush and not roller for painting?
If you are using a brush instead of roller then
☛ Use a primer for the first coat
☛ Take a half fill color bucket, dip 50mm brush up to one-third of the bristle length
☛ Then hold the brush at 90 degrees to the ceiling and paint a straight line, cutting between the walls and the ceiling
☛ Turn the brush parallel to the ceiling and drag the brush parallel to the ceiling without touching the ceiling edge
☛ Same procedure can be repeated along the bottom
☛ To paint the large and middle part of the wall you can use a broad brush.
- 17. Tell me when did you decide you wanted to become a painter?
It was introduced to me as a boy since my grandfather and uncles were painters. In 2004, I decided to focus 100% of my attention on making my career as a Painter.
- 18. Explain me how do you stay focused and committed to a room while painting?
The way I stay focused and committed to a room while painting is that I paint one section at a time.
- 19. Tell us what was your greatest challenge as a painter? How did you overcome it?
There was a time when a customer wanted a particular design on his wall, the stencil for which was not available. I tried to acquire it using all my resources but was unable to. At the end, I managed to fulfil his demands by creating the stencil myself. It worked wonderfully and the customer was satisfied!
- 20. Tell me what is it that inspires you to paint what you paint?
I’m not sure I’d call it inspiration really, more like a drive. I just get this urge in me to create something, so I paint. As for why I paint a certain subject, mainly ideas pop into my head, either that or I see an amazing photograph and want to recreate it.
- 21. Do you know what the use of turpentine is?
Unlike normal color, you cannot clean up oil paints with water. You have to use mineral spirits or turpentine to take paint out of the brushes.
- 22. Tell me do you have any problems climbing tall ladders?
I do not have any problems climbing tall ladders. I did have to climb a tall ladder when I painted a kitchen.
- 23. Tell me how would you categorize your painting style?
Generally speaking I’d say I’m a realist, and most of my paintings reflect that style. However I’ve recently begun to experiment with more abstract and impressionist styles, actually my most current painting is a mix of those two. In the future I plan to experiment more with different styles and eventually move away from realism.
- 24. Tell me why paint extender is used for painting?
Paint extender like Floetrol does two things
☛ It reduces the paint drying time, giving you a longer window period to overlap just painted areas without having lap marks left on the walls.
☛ Secondly, the extender helps paint to levels out and spread out the paint, eliminating the brush strokes.
Paint extender is usually used when you have to color woodwork, cabinets, and drywall and so on.
- 25. Tell me some tips to paint your room perfectly?
To paint your room perfectly you require
☛ Roll the full height of the wall and keep a wet edge, this would help you to avoid lap marks
☛ In a large bucket mix several cans of paint to get a consistent color throughout the room
☛ To get a perfect edge, first let the paint dry and later you can cut the tape loose
☛ Paint in this order: Trim first, Ceiling and Wall
☛ To avoid a blotchy finish prime and texture wall patches
☛ Clean dirty surfaces so that the paint can form a strong bond
☛ For consistent textures roll paint along the edges
☛ Feather out paint whenever you cannot keep a wet edge
☛ Sand trim between coats to have an ultra-smooth finish
☛ Use cotton drop cloth to protect the floor
- 26. Suppose there was no chance of ever being paid, would you still paint?
I’ll admit, it’s much more motivating for me to paint when I can visualize some kind of reward for my efforts. I’m not talking about just money here, simple recognition also counts for something as well. If I was the only person left on Earth, I’m not sure that I’d continue to paint.
Some artists I’ve talked to sometimes tell me that they have a tough time selling their paintings, that they become attached to a few of them and never want to part with them. For me it’s different. There isn’t one of my paintings that I wouldn’t part with. The fact that someone is actually interested in my art, and would consider displaying it in their home is what brings me the most pleasure.
- 27. Tell me as a painter, what was your biggest project?
About 5 months ago, I finished the biggest project that I have been given during the 10 years that I have worked as a painter. A swanky neighborhood in Dover, required 22 houses completely overhauled, including painted from the inside and the outside. By employing the services of just 3 handymen, I managed to complete the project within the specified timeframe of 55 days!
- 28. Tell me the job specs are for prime and paint and you come across some wood rot. What is your next move?
Replace the wood is 1st option treat, patch, sand, prime & paint 2nd option.
- 29. Tell me do you use a roll on brush or a paint sprayer? In what situations do you use the other?
Roller and brush Roller on big surfaces and brush on the edges, corners for cutting, round Windows and doors etc.
- 30. Tell me for an airless paint sprayer, what size tip do you typically use to spray a closet?
I’ve never used a airless paint spayer but I would love to learn how to use one.
- 31. Tell me what are the safety equipment’s you have to wear while doing spray painting?
☛ Goggles
☛ Respirator ( HEPA)
☛ Spray sock
☛ Gloves
☛ Full body coveralls
- 32. Tell me how many coats of paint considered as a quality paint?
Color coats depend on what type and make of color you using for painting, some darker colors, and patterns needs up to three coats of color to cover. To figure it out how much coat do you require, always wait for the paint to dry between coats. Although one coat is enough if colour contrast is not an issue.
- 33. Tell me what are things needed for a basic paint project?
For basic paint project you need
☛ Two inch blue painter’s tape
☛ Drop cloth
☛ Sandpaper
☛ Tri-sodium phosphate
☛ One and half or two inch sash brush
☛ Two or three inch flat sash brush
☛ Disposable liners and paint brush
☛ Nine inch roller, Screw on extension pole and roller cover
- 34. Tell me what do you do when you cannot find a particular shade that a customer has asked for?
I make sure that I look everywhere possible so that I can satisfy the customer. However, in the rare event that I have not been able to obtain a particular shade, I make it myself.
- 35. Explain about a painting project which you are very proud of?
An exterior of a house which made it look very well.
- 36. Tell me do you have experience using an airless paint sprayer?
I have never used a airless paint sprayer but I would like to learn how to use one.
- 37. While using a paint sprayer what is an ideal distance between the wall and sprayer?
Ideal distance between the wall and sprayer is 12 to 24 inches.
- 38. How would you feel if you stopped painting? Will that ever happen?
I don’t even think I could stop now, it’s just part of my life.
- 39. Tell me what was the most difficult room you have painted before?
The one with lots of bumps on the walls and cracks around the Windows doors and skirting.
- 40. Where do you see yourself as a painter in five years?
Where do you expect this job to take you?
- 41. Do you know what would you do if you could not be a painter?
I would like to work as a administrative assistant.
- 42. Tell me what is the easiest way to remove wallpaper?
Use hot water and vinegar, hot water would help to loosen the wallpaper glue, and the vinegar would help dissolve it
Remove it by using fabric softener and warm water
Using ammonia and hot water ( 1 quarter of ammonia + 2 quarter of ammonia)
Use warm water+ liquid detergent+ cellulose paste. Apply it on the wallpaper and leave it for 5 minutes and then start pulling off the wallpaper
Use steam wallpaper stripper
- 43. Tell me how you can paint using a paint pad?
☛ To paint walls and ceiling you can use 200 mm pads, and for cutting around the edges you can use 30mm-50mm pads
☛ To load the color on the pad use a special tray which is designed for color pad
☛ The pad must be kept flat on the wall or ceiling and moved gently on either side
- 44. Tell me before you start painting your room what you should take care of?
☛ Safety first: Use a sturdy ladder with a shelf for your paint and tools, Cover your eyes with goggles and use overcoat to keep paint away from your body
☛ Color selection: Use color chart to get a choice for the color, use online website to check color combination
☛ Sampling: Use white poster board paint it with different shades and allow it to dry. Once it is done put it in different rooms to see the alteration in color shade.
☛ Right Sheen: You can use a high gloss paint for a stylized room
☛ Wash: Before you start painting wall make sure you have cleaned it properly without any dirt or patches left on it
☛ Primer: To get a polish look primer is a must, but make sure that you use an oil based primer instead of water based, it would help you to cover water stains
☛ Plan your Paint: It is worse when you finish paint in the middle of painting, and that too if it is a combination of different colors. Measure and calculate properly every corner of the room and then prepare it in bulk
☛ Use tape: Use a tape to cover your trim area, and then start for wall painting
- 45. General Background of Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ Tell me about yourself?
☛ Why did you choose to become a painter?
☛ What are your hobbies and interests?
☛ What do you consider to be your greatest strengths?
☛ What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
☛ What are your most significant accomplishments?
☛ What are your qualifications/certifications?
☛ Do you have a current position and why do you want to leave?
☛ Do you belong to any professional association?
☛ What are your long-range goals?
- 46. Project Based Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ How do you protect plants, patios, furniture, or other items?
☛ What products do you use?
☛ How many coats will you be applying?
☛ How will you prepare the surface being painted?
☛ What kind of safety precautions will you take?
☛ Will you be priming the surfaces before you paint?
☛ How will you dispose of the trash and old paint?
☛ What type of paint is currently on my house? Will the new paint stick to it?
☛ How will you clean the house prior to painting?
- 47. Behavioral Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ Share an example of a project you worked on that had excellent results
☛ Tell me about a time you had a conflict with someone about a project
☛ Recall a time you provided excellent coaching to a co-worker
☛ Did you ever unwittingly neglected to follow one of the painting job’s specifications? What did you do to fix it?
☛ Were you ever reluctant to follow instructions? What did you do in the end?
- 48. Attitudes Based Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ What qualities do you have that make you a good painter?
☛ What do you enjoy about working as a painter?
☛ What do you know about us?
☛ What do you find the most challenging part of working as a painter?
☛ How long have you been in business and what type of experience do you have?
☛ Are you licensed?
☛ Do you have liability insurance?
☛ How do you handle an unsatisfied client?
- 49. Role-specific Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ How long have you been working as a painter?
☛ Are you comfortable with heights?
☛ What safety equipment is necessary for a painter?
☛ Painting can be a repetitive work. How do you maintain attention to detail?
☛ Do you use a particular brand of paint? Why?
☛ Are you familiar with PDCA standards?
☛ What do you use paint extender for?
- 50. Pre-qualifying Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ Are you allergic to bees or latex?
☛ Do you own a vehicle?
☛ Are you afraid of heights?
☛ Are you willing to work 40 hours per week?
- 51. Employment Details Based Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ When would you be available to start a new position?
☛ Can you provide an estimate ahead of time?
☛ Can you provide two current references with phone numbers?
☛ How long will it take once you start?
☛ How do you bill? Is there a minimum?
☛ Is your work guaranteed?
☛ What would you like to say about yourself and this position to conclude this interview?
☛ Do you have any questions for us?
- 52. Core Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ Do you have any painting experience?
☛ What do you know about this industry?
☛ Why are you looking for a painting job?
☛ What were your primary responsibilities in your last position?
☛ If I called your last employer, what would he/she say about you?
☛ What situations typically keep you from coming to work on time? How do you handle these situations?
☛ What do you feel is an acceptable amount of days to be absent in a calendar year?
☛ Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager?
☛ Describe an issue you’ve had with a past employer or coworker. How did you deal with the problem?
☛ Tell me about a time when you successfully managed a conflict.
☛ What makes you a suitable candidate for this job?
☛ How/what could you contribute to this company?
☛ What are your strengths?
☛ What is your greatest weakness?
☛ What are your future career goals?
☛ Describe a recent unpopular decision that you made.
☛ Tell me about an obstacle you’ve experienced in your life and how you overcame it.
☛ How do you keep track of tasks you need to complete?
☛ Give me an example that best demonstrates your organizational skills.
☛ Would you rather write a report or give it verbally?
☛ What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
☛ Do you prefer to work independently or in a team?
☛ Give me an example of a time when you acted as a leader.
☛ Tell me about a situation in which you had to adapt to changes you couldn’t control.
☛ Tell me about a time when you were faced with an angry client.
☛ How do you personally define success?
- 53. Operational and Situational Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ What are the first things you do when you take up a painting job?
☛ How would you prepare a room for painting?
☛ When do you think it’s better to use an airless spray gun instead of a brush?
☛ How do you prevent lap marks?
☛ Imagine you’re halfway through a job and the client changes their mind about the color. How do you handle this?
☛ If you took up a project at a house that has lead paint, how should you prepare?
☛ How do you decide on the number of coats needed?
- 54. Basic Painter Job Interview Questions:
☛ What is painting?
☛ What is your favorite color?
☛ Which artist or painter has influenced you?
☛ Is there a work of art you would like to have in your home next to your own work?
☛ What is the best way to exhibit a painting?
☛ What are the limits of painting?
☛ How do you start a work – do you have any rituals?
☛ Is there a future for painting or you are one of the last survivors?
☛ If you were about to be reborn, what would you like to be – still a painter?
☛ Do you think that today painting is underappreciated?
- 55. If you could pack in your job and become a painter full time, would you? Which of your painting types do you think is most likely to become commercially successful?
Of course, I’d be there in a second! Hard to say which of my painting types would be most successful though, people all seem to have different opinions, Just because person A likes painting X is no guarantee that person B will like it. However generally speaking, I’ve found that my torii painting series has been the most widely liked and successful so far.
- 56. Explain me have any famous artists influenced you? Has Japan influenced you as an artist?
Actually no. To be honest before I started painting I didn’t even know any famous artists. Now of course I do, and admire a lot of them. Currently I’m very interested in the works of Monet and Dali. I’ve definitely been influenced by Japan though, which is pretty obvious when looking at a lot of my work from the past two years.
- 57. In the past few years you’ve really geared up your artistic efforts. What brought about that change? How much time do you spend painting per week?
This is easier to remember. Back in 2006 I was walking through Shibuya, and I happened across an art store with an easel on sale. It might seem a little mundane, but I’d never owned an easel before. After that things just progressed. I had been on a painting hiatus for a few years, and after I started again I realized how much I had missed it.
It also helped that the first painting I did in Tokyo is still one of my favourites (Shiro) and I thought to myself ‘hmm, I’m pretty good!’ ha.
As for how many hours a week I paint, well it depends a lot on my work schedule and what other things are going on in my life, but generally I paint anywhere between 3 and 15 hours a week.
- 58. Explain me what measures do you take before the start of a paint project that can have a positive effect on the end finish?
Mostly, prepared surfaces need to be further prepared by filling cracks, holes and joints with putty or plaster. This makes it easy to paint over and provides for a good finish at the end.
- 59. Tell me how important is quality to you? Give an example of something where the quality of your paint job turned out really well?
Quality and customer satisfaction are the most paramount areas relative to my success as a painter. Client wanted to only paint the shutters and trim around his house without prep. I took the time to scrape, sand and patch prior to painting which produced immaculate results.
- 60. Tell me do you have any experience being your own boss? Handling customers and employees?
Yes I do actually not so long back when I got study leave from school I tryed setting my own little business so I could work when I wasn’t revising called jm gardening services so I went and got myself some customers and then the more I worked for them the more jobs and recommendations they gave out so I had a strong business going.
- 61. Tell me have you removed wall paper before? What is your easiest and most effective method?
Yes I have removed wall paper. The best method of removed wall paper is tearing it off before painting.
- 62. Tell me do you have experience patching holes? If a hole is roughly 4-6 inches in diameter, what do you do?
If a hole is roughly 4-6 inches in diameter I will fill in the hole with paint then patch the hole.
- 63. Tell me as far as pre-project customer service is concerned, what duties is a painter required to perform?
As a painter, it is important to first interview the customer to determine what they want. A painter should calculate the area to be painted, assist customers in choosing paint shades and ensure that the customer agrees on the initial costing.
- 64. As you know you paint a number of different topics- animals, images from Japan, people from your life, and some spookier lonelier ones. Which ones are your favorites, and why? Which ones are hardest, which most rewarding?
Hard to say which subjects are my favorites. Generally speaking my favorite topic is usually the painting I’m working on at the moment, if that makes sense. The most rewarding and difficult painting is the one where I achieve exactly what I set out to do in the beginning. Much harder than it sounds actually.
- 65. Explain me what all ways you can do house painting?
☛ Brush painting
☛ Spray painting
☛ Using Roller
☛ Using painting pads
- 66. Tell me what is the use of trisodium phosphate?
Tri-sodium phosphate is like any other soap or detergent; it is used as a cleansing agent, but benefit of using tri-sodium phosphate is that it does not leave any residue behind.
- 67. What are your favorite colors to paint with?
Generally I love bright colours, colours that stand out. However if you were to measure my favorite by the volume I use, then white would be on top, with black a distant second. Blue would probably be third.
- 68. I know you are primarily a self-taught painter, do you ever regret not getting formal training?
No regrets! I’m not sure really what formal training could’ve done for me that I couldn’t achieve with practice and patience. I’ve often heard negative reviews about formal training for the simple reason that formally trained painters end up painting like their teachers want them too, not in their own way and style. I’m a big believer in that there isn’t any ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to do art. This should not be confused with ‘good’ and ‘bad’ art however.
- 69. Tell me what instruments of trade are you most comfortable using?
Apart from paintbrushes, roller covers and sandpaper, I am able to use scrapers, joint knives and wire brushes.
- 70. Tell me what particular skills do someone need to work as a painter?
Color vision is perhaps the most important skill that a painter needs. Great attention to detail, organization and the will to satisfy customers come close too. Knowledge of applying primers and sealers and performing buffing duties are also important.
- 71. Do you know what the major duties of a painter are?
The first thing that a painter needs to do is confer with clients to determine their specific painting requirements. Discussing colors, shades and design are all part of this work. Once a color, shade and design is decided on, it is the job of a painter to acquire all the supplies and plan how to go about the painting job so that deadlines can be met.
- 72. Tell me do you have your own hand tools?
Yes I have all my own tools and whites.
- 73. Explain me what is more important, the money or the job?
Well, one thing is connected with the other. I always like to fine the balance between bouth and feel satisfaction of a well done job.
- 74. Tell us how long have you been a painter?
If you count painting and decorating a small wall for a month, then ihve been a painter for a month.
- 75. Explain me how many coats of paint do you prefer applying to any job for perfection?
I always give 2 coats, if the walls have a feature wall or required a lot of filling I usually do 3 or 4 coats.