Interview Questions for an Electrician

Whilst this isn’t technically a question, it’s highly likely that you will be asked to talk about yourself at some point during the interview. This question is intended to get to know you personally, but that doesn’t mean you should spend 10 minutes talking about your favourite film. Ensure that your answers are concise and relevant to the role that you are applying for. Discuss personality traits that will make you a valuable employee such as having a keen eye for detail or having a growth mindset. 

A beneficial way to approach this question is to talk about your current position/role and how you got there. If you are interviewing for your first position in the industry then discuss your relevant work experience and qualifications and how what you have learned has readied you to start your career. 

This question is bound to come up in one way or another so it’s imperative that you have a succinct answer ready. This is your chance to show your enthusiasm and investment in a career as an electrician. If you are applying for a specific specialism this is also the perfect opportunity to highlight any pre-existing knowledge in that area. Be sure to mention what you hope to achieve in your career as an electrician and how your previous experience/study has fuelled your desire to work as an electrician. 

If you have prior experience in the industry then you should highlight what you already enjoy about working in the sector and what future lessons you are hoping to learn. If you are applying for your first role in the industry, highlight what you have learnt during work experience and/or your studies and how that has positively influenced your career direction. 

Electricians in the UK must adhere to strict safety regulations to keep colleagues and customers safe. This question assesses your knowledge of electrical safety regulations and it’s imperative that you are aware of the expected safety procedures. You don’t necessarily need to know the specific name of each act and regulation, but you should mention the safety parameters that all electricians should be aware of. To expand your answer you could include an example of a time when safety rules not being followed caused injury, or where the application of safety rules prevented harm. You could also include examples of specific safety procedures such as lock out/tag out, to reaffirm your understanding of the importance of maintaining safety and highlight your experience in the real world application of safety practices.  

This question seeks to assess the scope of your experience with using key electrical systems. If you have prior experience in the industry then you can tailor your answer to match your CV and give specific examples of how and when different systems were used in previous roles. You can also relate this back to the research you have done on the company by mentioning specific systems that you know they use and that you have experience using. 

If you are applying for your first role in the sector you may not have hands-on experience with many electrical systems but you should have an understanding of how they work. This is still useful information and can highlight your willingness to learn. If you have taken the time to learn about different systems outside of the scope of your studies or apprenticeship, be sure to mention that too as it highlights your enthusiasm and ambition. 

This is another question that seeks to assess your knowledge of safety procedures. Whilst all electricians should do everything within their power to reduce the risk of an electrical shock, given the nature of the industry it is highly likely that an electrical shock will occur at some point. As such, it’s imperative that you know what to do in this situation. 

If a colleague experiences a severe electrical shock you should:

• Separate them from the source of electricity as soon as possible, either by unplugging the appliance or turning off the mains. If this isn’t possible then remove them from the source of electricity but do not touch them as you may suffer a shock as well. Use an insulating piece of material such as a piece of wood to gently move them away. 
• After removing them from the source of electricity, open their airway by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilting the head back, then lift the chin with two fingertips. 
• Look and listen for normal breathing for approximately 10 seconds. If the casualty is breathing normally, place them in the recovery position, get help and continue to monitor their breathing. 
• If the casualty is not breathing, get help, call for an ambulance and if available an automated external defibrillator (AED) and start chest compressions (CPR).
• Follow the instructions provided by the AED. Then start chest compressions, leaning over the casualty and pressing down on the centre of the breastbone, 5-6cm deep. 
• Repeat the process at a rate of about 100 – 120 times a minute and after 30 compressions open the airway again, pinch the casualty’s nose and blow steadily into their mouth while watching to see if the chest rises. 
• Repeat and blow steadily once more and then continue with chest compressions.
• Continue CPR until qualified help takes over or the casualty starts breathing normally.   

This question is testing both your hard skills and problem solving abilities. A prospective employer will want to see how you would go about tackling this issue, what your methodology would be and if your response is accurate. Talk them through the process and where applicable explain your rationale. Whilst it’s logical to assume that the interviewer will know the answer to the question and understand each step, don’t be afraid to expand your answer where appropriate and provide useful contextual knowledge. For example, if you mention that you would look for burn marks, explain that you would do so as that would indicate heat damage which may require a different approach.

Questions such as this are a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and experience. The question may be more technical and focus on a time that you used a specific system or tool, or it may relate to soft skills by asking for an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership. Regardless of the focus, it’s useful to answer these questions using the STAR method. 

STAR stands for situation, task, action, result and it provides a structure which allows you to effectively demonstrate your experience. This method enables you to highlight key skills and beneficial qualities to prospective employers whilst providing a clear and concise answer. When using the STAR method be sure to place emphasis on the action and result as this showcases your effectiveness at solving problems and finding solutions.

Questions such as this can cover a wide range of topics. For example, you may be asked about a time in which a colleague didn’t follow proper safety procedures such as by having inadequate PPE and what you did to rectify that. Carefully consider what you are being asked and what attribute the interviewer is trying to see evidence of by asking that specific question. 

As any tradesperson will tell you, teamwork is vital to a productive and efficient working environment. As such, prospective employers will want to know how well you work with others. It’s not enough to simply mention that you have worked in a team in the past, they want to know what you gained from it, what challenges you faced and how you overcame those challenges by working together. This is a great opportunity to highlight your strong communication and active listening skills by affirming their importance to effective team collaboration. 

This is a good opportunity to discuss your experience and link it with your CV. Whilst it’s not a guarantee that you will be asked this question, there will undoubtedly be a moment to mention past projects you have worked on so it’s advantageous to have an answer prepared, or at the very least a project in mind. Discuss the scope of the project, challenges that you faced and how you overcame them. This is also a great opportunity to reaffirm what you have previously said in the interview. If this project included the use of systems that you know the company that you are applying to uses, be sure to mention how you used them. If you worked on the project as a part of a team, mention how that benefited the overall success of the project. Using the STAR method to answer this question can help you to keep your answer concise and relevant, especially when mentioning any difficulties that you overcame whilst working on the project.

This isn’t a trick question and whilst it might seem counterintuitive to ask a prospective employee about mistakes that they have made, questions such as this are trying to assess your ability to learn from your mistakes. Be honest in your answer but try to choose a mistake that you successfully corrected without causing significant delays or costs (you are trying to make a good impression after all!). Everyone makes mistakes and it would be somewhat unbelievable if you answered this question with no. However, you can tailor your answer so that it is both honest and showcases your growth mindset. Clearly explain what the error was and the consequences of the mistake. If you noticed the mistake before it caused an issue and corrected it immediately, be sure to mention that as it highlights a keen eye for detail. Once you’ve explained what the mistake was, move on and focus on what you did to correct it and what you learnt from that process. It’s important to be honest but don’t dwell on the mistake that you made, the focus here should be on corrective actions you took and your ability to turn a negative into a positive. 

As you are applying for an apprenticeship your interviewer is going to want to learn about your potential. They are going to want to see enthusiasm for personal development and that you have done your research about that specific apprenticeship. Mention what you know about apprenticeships, the benefits of hands-on experience and try to include something unique to that specific one. For example, if the apprenticeship to which you are applying specialises in your field of interest, mention that interest and your enthusiasm to learn more about that specialism as part of your motivation for applying.

Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to hit the ground running once you have qualified and it’s not uncommon to continue working at the same establishment you completed your apprenticeship. Your interviewer is going to want to see how you will hit the ground running and the extent of your ambition. If there isn’t a specific role that you see yourself in in 5 years time, don’t simply answer ‘I don’t know.’ Instead, broaden out the question and focus on the environment you would like to be in. For example you may answer ‘in 5 years time I would like to be a qualified domestic electrician with managerial responsibilities and in an environment that challenges me.’ An answer such as this doesn’t necessarily lock you into a set path but it shows a clear sense of ambition and direction. 

If you know in advance that your apprenticeship could lead to a job offer, then you should mention a future with said company. Apprenticeships are a two-way investment and a business will want to see that they can rely on you and get a good return on their investment. 

When answering this question be sure to mention all technology that you have worked with and where possible the environment in which you used them. If you have limited hands-on experience then discuss the technology that you have a theoretical knowledge of and that you are eager to learn more about with hands-on experience. It’s imperative that you do thorough research on where you are applying before the interview. This research can reveal specific technology that is used and if you have experience with that technology you should be sure to mention it. Comparatively, if you know that the place to which you are applying uses a type of technology that you have no experience using, draw parallels with tech you have used and how that knowledge would help you to quickly learn how to use new systems. As apprenticeships are entry-level positions, it’s not necessarily expected that you will have extensive experience using different technologies. However, having an awareness of common tech used in the industry and learning how they work and how to use them, will undoubtedly be advantageous. 

Apprenticeships are learning opportunities and you will be expected to study alongside your vocational learning. A prospective employer will want to see how you go about acquiring more skills and knowledge and how well you will be able to absorb and apply that knowledge. Simultaneous study is a core part of an apprenticeship and you need to demonstrate that you would be able to handle both study and work without compromising the quality of either.