WM, the company previously known as Waste Management, sets out a five-step hiring process on its careers FAQ: find your fit, apply with your resume and a few questions, a candidate review, an interview with the hiring team, and an offer. WM doesn't publish how long the process takes.
Everything below about the process comes from WM's own careers site and job postings, linked as we go. Where WM doesn't say something, we say so rather than guess. The interview questions further down are ones to prepare for, built from WM's values and its own job descriptions.
Waste Management hiring process at a glance
| Step | What happens | What WM says about timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Find your fit | Search open roles at careers.wm.com and pick one that matches you | Not published |
| 2. Apply | Submit your resume and answer a few questions | Not published |
| 3. Candidate review | The WM team reviews what you submitted | Not published |
| 4. Interview | Meet the hiring team, in person or virtually | Not published |
| 5. Offer | WM offers you the job | Not published |
| Drivers: screening | Pre-employment screening including a drug screen and a physical | Not published |
What is the Waste Management hiring process?
You find a role, apply with your resume and a few questions, the WM team reviews your application, you interview with the hiring team and, if it's a fit, you receive an offer. WM describes the interview as a chance for both sides to "determine if we are a fit for each other".
WM's careers page groups jobs into driving, technician and mechanic roles, operations, sales, technology and IT, and sustainability. The FAQ gives one process for all of them; the qualifications on each posting differ by role.
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How do you apply to Waste Management?
Search open roles on the WM careers site and click Apply on the posting. What WM's careers FAQ says about applying:
- Apply to each posting. In most cases you need to apply separately to every job you want to be considered for.
- You can withdraw an application at any time during the process.
- If you're not selected, WM recommends reviewing other postings and applying to those that fit your career goals.
Read the qualifications on the posting before you apply. WM's job descriptions list required and preferred qualifications separately, and your resume should show the required ones clearly.
What does WM require for driver jobs?
A CDL truck driver posting on WM's careers site, read in October 2026, lists these required qualifications:
- A Class A or Class B CDL with an air-brake endorsement.
- One year operating a vehicle that requires a CDL, or one year of equivalent military driving within the last seven years.
- At least 18 years old and legally eligible to work where the job is.
- English good enough to deal with the public, understand traffic signs, answer official questions and complete records.
- A pre-employment screening, including a drug screen and a physical.
WM designates the role as safety sensitive. The posting says drivers may be subject to drug and alcohol testing, including pre-employment, post-incident, reasonable suspicion and random testing, in line with government regulations and company policy. The mechanic posting we read carries the same safety-sensitive designation and testing. Requirements vary by posting, so check the one you're applying for.
Does Waste Management have an assessment or test?
WM's careers site doesn't mention an online assessment or aptitude test for applicants. The documented screening is the driver pre-employment screening above. If a recruiter invites you to an assessment, ask what it covers. For a general introduction to the kinds of tests employers use, see our guide to psychometric assessments.
What is the Waste Management interview process like?
You meet the hiring team, either in person or virtually. WM doesn't publish how many interviews there are, how long they last or what they ask. Its careers FAQ gives this advice:
- In person: know where you're going, where to park and who to ask for when you arrive. Your interview scheduler can give you the details.
- Virtual: check your internet, camera and audio the day before and on the day, log in 3 to 5 minutes before the start, and practise answering questions about your skills and experience.
- Bring questions. WM says the interview is for both sides to learn.
- Dress: this varies by location and position, so ask your interview scheduler.
- Relocation: some roles that consider candidates from outside the job location offer relocation. Ask your Talent Advisor if you're not sure.
- Need to reschedule? Contact your interview scheduler or Talent Advisor.
How long does the Waste Management hiring process take?
WM doesn't publish a timeline for any of the five steps. If you want an idea of timing, ask your recruiter or Talent Advisor when they contact you. Treat specific timelines you see on third-party sites as unconfirmed.
Waste Management interview questions to prepare for
WM doesn't publish its interview questions. These are the questions to prepare for, based on WM's commitments and values and the duties in its own job postings. For "tell me about a time" questions, structure your answer with the STAR method (situation, task, action, result).
1. Why do you want to work at WM?
Make it specific. WM's brand promise is "Always Working For A Sustainable Tomorrow", and its careers site talks about people, service and sustainability. Link one of those to the job you've applied for, or to a part of WM's work you've seen in your own community.
2. Tell me about a time you put safety first.
Safety is one of WM's four core values, which it calls "the foundation of our work". Pick an example where you followed a safety rule when it was inconvenient, spotted a hazard, or stopped to fix something before carrying on. Say what you did and what happened as a result.
3. Walk me through your pre-trip inspection.
For driver roles. WM's driver posting says drivers perform pre- and post-trip inspections and document them on the standard Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR). Walk through your routine in order and explain what you'd do if you found a defect.
4. What would you do if a street on your route was blocked?
The driver posting says drivers notify the Operations Manager or Dispatch of service interruptions, such as closed or impassable streets or alleys, containers too heavy to service, or potential hazards. Show that you'd report it straight away, stay safe, and keep the rest of the route moving.
5. How do you handle backing and tight spaces?
WM's posting calls "highly skilled backing maneuvers" essential and describes driving in congested roads, driveways, alleys and lots. Explain the habits you use, such as getting out to look, using a spotter where one is available and taking it slowly.
6. Tell me about a time you made a mistake and owned it.
One of WM's two commitments is "Success With Integrity": being "accountable, honest, trustworthy, ethical and compliant". Choose a real mistake, say how you reported it, how you fixed it and what you changed afterwards.
7. How would you deal with a customer who isn't happy with their service?
Customers is one of WM's core values, and its driver posting says drivers pass customer requests to the Operations Manager or Dispatch. Show that you'd listen, stay polite, fix what you can on the spot and pass the rest to the right person.
8. Are you comfortable with early starts and weekend work?
Answer honestly. The Sacramento CDL driver posting we read lists a 3:00 AM shift start and weekend availability. Schedules vary by location, so check the posting and ask the recruiter.
9. How do you diagnose a fault you haven't seen before?
For technician and mechanic roles. WM's mechanic posting asks for diagnosing and repairing engines, transmissions, brakes, steering and electrical systems, with "limited repeat repairs" and within standard repair times. Walk through how you narrow down the cause, what tools you use and when you ask for help.
10. How do you keep records of your work?
Mechanics at WM record repairs, parts usage, labour hours and diagnostic findings in fleet maintenance software, and drivers complete end-of-day documentation. Give an example of keeping accurate records when you were busy.
11. Tell me about a sales target you hit.
For sales roles. An inside sales posting in WM's Healthcare Solutions business (formerly Stericycle) describes prospecting, consultative selling, using a CRM and meeting revenue and quota goals. Choose an example with a clear target and say how you built the pipeline to reach it.
12. How do you work with people from different backgrounds?
Diversity and inclusion is a WM core value: "respect, trust, open communications and diversity of thought and people". Give an example of working well with someone whose experience or approach was different from yours.
13. What questions do you have for us?
WM's FAQ says to bring questions, because the interview is for both sides. Good options: what training looks like for new starters, how routes or shifts are assigned, and what the best people in this team do differently.
For more practice, see our list of behavioural interview questions.
How to prepare for a Waste Management interview
- Read the posting closely, including the required qualifications, the physical requirements and the schedule.
- Learn WM's two commitments and four values, and have an example ready for safety, customers and integrity.
- Prepare four or five STAR stories covering safety, reliability, customers and teamwork.
- For driver jobs, have your CDL, endorsements and driving history ready, and be ready to talk through your inspection routine.
- For a virtual interview, test your camera, audio and internet the day before and log in 3 to 5 minutes early, as WM suggests.
- Do a mock interview with someone who will give you honest feedback.
- Ask your interview scheduler what to wear and who you'll meet.
Practising realistic work tasks
Interviews reward prepared stories. Day-to-day work at WM rewards safe, accurate decisions under time pressure, and that improves with practice on realistic tasks. Cohesyve, which publishes this guide, runs free practice job simulations for job seekers. It isn't affiliated with WM (Waste Management) and doesn't use WM's questions or interviews.
FAQs
What are the steps in the Waste Management hiring process?
Five: find your fit, apply with your resume and a few questions, candidate review, an interview with the hiring team, and an offer. Driver roles also include a pre-employment screening, and safety-sensitive roles such as mechanics may be drug and alcohol tested.
Does Waste Management drug test?
For safety-sensitive roles, yes. The driver and mechanic postings we read both designate the role as safety sensitive, with drug and alcohol testing that includes pre-employment screening, post-incident, reasonable suspicion and random tests. The driver posting also requires a physical. Check the posting for your role.
How old do you have to be to drive for WM?
At least 18, according to the driver posting we read, which also asks for a Class A or Class B CDL with an air-brake endorsement and a year of CDL driving or equivalent military driving.
Can I apply for more than one job at WM?
Yes, but in most cases you have to apply to each posting separately. One application won't automatically be considered for other roles.
Can I withdraw my application?
Yes. WM says you can withdraw an application at any time during the process.
What should I wear to a WM interview?
WM says it depends on the location and position, and asks you to check with your interview scheduler.
Does WM offer relocation?
For some roles. WM says roles that consider candidates from outside the job location will provide relocation, and that it varies, so ask your Talent Advisor.
Sources
WM's own pages, checked 27 October 2026:
- WM Careers: Frequently Asked Questions
- WM Careers: Life at WM
- WM Careers: About WM
- wm.com: Careers at WM
- wm.com: Who We Are
- WM job postings: CDL Truck Driver (Sacramento, California), Mechanic/Technician (West Boylston, Massachusetts), Inside Sales Representative, WM Healthcare Solutions (Bannockburn, Illinois)