Electrician interview questions and answers
These Electrician interview questions will help you look for important skills among your candidates. Adjust them to fit your own company and position.
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Electrician Interview Questions
Electricians are the people you call when you have an electrical problem or want to install an electrical system. Hiring for one can be tricky since, apart from theoretical knowledge, you need people who respect safety precautions, work well in teams and possess an analytical mind.
Requirements will vary depending on whether you’re hiring for an apprentice, a journeyman electrician or a master electrician. Apprentices should be motivated and able to follow instructions to the letter. With other candidates, ask questions to determine the level of their technical expertise and ability to solve problems. Master electricians also need leadership skills and knowledge of regulations and processes (e.g. acquiring permits or building codes).
Role specific questions should be tailored according to the industry you operate in. For example, someone working in an industrial setting may need a different skillset than one who works as a service electrician. Additionally, electricians employed by construction companies will need specialized knowledge such as installing complete electrical systems from scratch. The following questions provide examples on how to assess candidates effectively.
Operational and Situational questions
- How do you know whether an outlet was grounded properly? What do you do to ground it?
- Walk me through your process of troubleshooting a blackout
- How can you prevent high-voltage electrical systems from breaking down?
- What would you do if a coworker got an electric shock?
- If you had to install a new system at an entire floor of a building, where would you start?
- If a master electrician yelled at you for something you had done wrong, what would be your reaction?
Role-specific questions
- What’s your experience in construction/industrial/commercial setting?
- What did you find most challenging during your apprenticeship?
- What’s your experience troubleshooting a PLC?
- What’s the most necessary piece of PPE (personal protective equipment) for an electrician?
- Are you familiar with the NEC (National Electrical Code)?
- What’s overlamping and why is it dangerous?
- When would you use 14/3 instead of 14/2 wires?
- Why would you use a multimeter and how?
Behavioral questions
- Tell me about a time you managed to motivate an apprentice
- Recall a time you offered excellent customer service as an electrician
- Describe a time you were given incomplete instructions about a project. What did you do?
- Tell me about the most challenging task you had to perform as an apprentice
- Have you ever made a mistake on the job? How did you correct it and what did you learn?
Pro tip: Licensure varies depending on location. Make sure you check the legal requirements and screen out candidates who don’t meet them. As this profession is often unionized, make sure you know of the union’s guidelines as well before you hire.