Join the crew

Work with us

We are always interested in people who show up, work hard and take safety seriously. Experience helps, but attitude matters more. Fill in what you can below and we will call you.

A properly run site

Maintained saws, ropes and rigging, the right gear, and an ISA Certified Arborist on the crew. Nobody is put on a task they have not been trained for.

You can learn here

Climbing, rigging, chainsaw work, chipper and equipment operation. If you want to learn it and you turn up, you will get taught it.

Real Montana work

Cold mornings, long days, heat, wind and snow. The work is physical and it is outdoors, and we are straight with you about that.

A crew, not a number

Veteran-owned, led by an ISA Certified Arborist. Small enough that the owner is on the job and knows your name.

What we will ask you

The application below runs through 9 areas. None of it is a trick. We want to know how you think about safety, whether you turn up, and what you actually want to learn.

1.General Background
2.Reliability & Work Ethic
3.Safety
4.Tree-Care Experience
5.Judgment & Problem Solving
6.Teamwork & Attitude
7.Physical & Outdoor Work
8.Customer Service & Professionalism
9.Long-Term Potential

Prefer to talk first? Call (406) 490-0449.

Online applications are not switched on yet.

Please call or email instead and we will take your details that way. It is worth the two minutes, we do read every application.

(406) 490-0449

Your name, phone and email are the only parts we need. Everything after that is optional, so answer what you can and leave the rest. The more you tell us, the better the conversation when we call.

Full namePhoneEmailTown (optional)

1.General Background6 questions

Tell us a little about yourself and your previous work experience.What interested you in working for Over the Top Tree Service?What experience do you have with outdoor, construction, landscaping, forestry, logging, or tree work?What type of work do you enjoy doing most?What are you looking for in your next job?Where do you see yourself in two or three years?

2.Reliability & Work Ethic7 questions

How would your previous supervisor describe your work ethic?Tell us about a job where you had to work hard physically for an entire day. How did you handle it?How do you handle early mornings, long workdays, bad weather, and physically demanding conditions?Tell us about a time you had to do a job you didn’t particularly enjoy. How did you approach it?How do you handle being given instructions that you don’t necessarily agree with?What does being a dependable employee mean to you?If you knew you were going to be late or couldn’t make it to work, what would you do?

3.Safety8 questions

This section matters more to us than any other one on the page.

What does safety mean to you when working around chainsaws, ropes, heavy equipment, and falling trees?Tell us about a time you saw someone doing something unsafe at work. What did you do?If your crew leader told you to do something that you believed was unsafe, what would you do?What would you do if you were unsure how to perform a task safely?Why is communication important when working on a tree crew?What do you think the biggest hazards are when removing a large tree?What would you look for before starting work on a hazardous tree?If you noticed a damaged rope, rigging component, chainsaw, or piece of equipment, would you continue using it? Why or why not?

4.Tree-Care Experience9 questions

Have you ever operated a chainsaw? If so, what types of work have you performed?Have you ever worked from a tree, bucket, lift, or other elevated position?Have you ever climbed trees professionally?Have you worked with ropes, blocks, pulleys, slings, friction devices, or other rigging equipment?Have you ever helped lower large sections of a tree to the ground?Have you operated a wood chipper?Have you operated a stump grinder, skid steer, loader, mini excavator, or similar equipment?What experience do you have towing trailers or driving work trucks?What tree-care skills would you most like to learn?

5.Judgment & Problem Solving6 questions

You’re working on a tree and the wind suddenly increases significantly. What would you do?You are on the ground and notice that a tree section being prepared for removal appears much heavier than expected. What do you do?You’re operating a chipper and the machine becomes jammed. What would you do?You notice a power line closer to the tree than you initially thought. What do you do?A customer asks you to remove an additional tree that wasn’t included in the job. How would you handle it?You see another employee taking a shortcut that could create a safety hazard. What would you do?

6.Teamwork & Attitude6 questions

Tree work requires people on the ground and in the tree to work together. What makes a good crew?How do you handle constructive criticism?Tell us about a disagreement you’ve had with a coworker and how you resolved it.What do you think makes someone a good crew member?Are you comfortable doing ground work, cleanup, dragging brush, hauling logs, and other tasks even if they’re not the most exciting part of the job?How do you feel about learning from someone who has more experience than you?

7.Physical & Outdoor Work4 questions

This is physically demanding work that involves lifting, carrying, dragging, climbing, bending, and working outdoors. Are you comfortable with those requirements?How do you take care of yourself during a physically demanding workday?How do you handle working in Montana’s cold, heat, wind, snow, and other changing weather conditions?Are you comfortable working around heights, chainsaws, heavy equipment, and falling tree material?

8.Customer Service & Professionalism4 questions

How would you handle a homeowner who is nervous about a large tree being removed near their house?What does professional customer service mean to you?If you accidentally damaged something on a customer’s property, what would you do?Why is keeping a job site clean and organized important?

9.Long-Term Potential5 questions

What skills would you like to develop while working here?Would you be interested in learning professional climbing and rigging?Would you be interested in learning to operate equipment?Would you eventually be interested in becoming a crew leader?What would make you want to stay with a company for several years?

Questions before you apply?

Call and ask. We would rather talk it through than have you guess.

(406) 490-0449