How to hire foundry mold and coremakers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections. • Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue. • Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns. • Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces. • Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring. • Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together. • Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools. • Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong monitoring skills • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $23.13 an hour ($48,110 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for foundry mold and coremakers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What foundry mold and coremakers do
- Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
- Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
- Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.
- Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces.
- Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
- Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
- Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
- Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for foundry mold and coremakers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -23% over ten years, declining · about 800 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay foundry mold and coremakers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Missouri | $61,480 |
| Alabama | $51,040 |
| Indiana | $49,860 |
| Ohio | $49,040 |
| Michigan | $46,150 |
See foundry mold and coremakers pay in every state
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.