Electrician Interview Questions: Your Ultimate List to Hire Better

General interview questions for electricians

Start your interview with these general questions to get a feel for the electrical candidate, their experience, and what skills they’ll bring to your team.

• Why are you interested in the position?

Starting off with this question is always a direct way to set the stage for the rest of the interview. The electrician candidate has the opportunity to show how much they know about your business and the position you’re hiring for. At the same time, the candidate can give you an inside look at how they see their career path.

Example Answer: “I’m interested in this position because I believe I have the skills to excel at your company. I know your company is a leader in this type of work, and I think I would be a great fit on your team. I believe I am qualified to live up to your reputation in this position and grow within your company.”

• Why did you choose to become an electrician?

This question gives you the opportunity to get a sense of the type of person your electrician candidate is, and what kind of employee they could be. Some electricians come from a long line of electricians in the family, while others found their passion much later and are more of the solopreneur in their career choice.

Example Answer #1: “My dad was an electrician, and his dad was an electrician, and his dad was an electrician. I’ve spent my whole life watching my father and grandfather solve electrical problems around the house, and I fell in love with it at an early age. I even got to help them out from time to time! It’s always something I’ve wanted to do in my career.”

Example Answer #2: “I took a few shop classes in high school and I always had a knack for electrical. It was fun and it never felt like work. Coming out of high school it was natural to pursue a career as an electrician, and I haven’t looked back. I want to continue to learn more and it still doesn’t feel like work.”

• What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths and weaknesses can be a challenge to answer because you never want to make yourself look bad in an interview. But self awareness is important, and you should look for your candidate to be honest about where they thrive and where there is room for improvement in both their electrician abilities and their approach to work.

Example Answer: “Some of my biggest strengths are that I’m good at solving problems, especially when it comes to fixing electrical issues, and I’m careful and make sure my work is up to code. Sometimes that means I’m taking longer on tasks because I want everything to be perfect. I’m working on being faster without losing quality.”

• Do you have any additional certifications or licenses?

You need to know how qualified your candidate is before even considering adding them to the team. There are also legal and insurance implications depending on the required certifications and licenses.

Example Answer: “I have my journeyman electrician license and certifications in installing solar panels and working with high-voltage systems. I’m always looking to earn more certifications so that I can do different types of work.”

• What is the most important skill an electrician should have?

While there might be an answer you’re looking for, such as safety or attention to detail, a question about the most important skill for an electrician can tell you a lot about how your candidate sees the trade and how they operate on a daily basis.  

Example Answer: “The most important skill an electrician should have is good safety practice. Being an electrician can be dangerous, so it’s important to know how to avoid accidents and keep everyone safe. This includes proper use of tools and equipment and following safety protocols on the job.”

• What kind of electrical jobs do you work on in your current position?

Understanding experience is key, and knowing how your electrician candidate spends their time in a current position is helpful to identify their strengths and areas they may not have a wealth of experience in. You can follow up with a question about other types of jobs they do or have done to further understand their experience.

Example Answer: “At my current job I mostly deal with house wiring, setting up electrical systems for businesses, and fixing problems in industrial settings. Recently I’ve done more work with making old systems more energy efficient..”

• What’s the biggest electrical challenge you encountered in your last role?

Electricians are known to be expert problem solvers, so you should put that reputation to the test to see how they’ve dealt with challenges and the solutions they provided to complete a job. You should consider a few things in the answer, from evaluating the challenge, to executing the solution, maintaining electrical standards, and dealing with customers if necessary.

Example Answer: “The biggest challenge I faced was upgrading the electrical system in an old building. We had to be very careful not to harm the original structure while making sure the new system was up to code. We worked as a team to find creative solutions and completed the project successfully.”

• What types of electrical systems have you worked with in the past?

Experience questions that dive deeper into specific electrical systems are a great way to hone in on your ideal candidates. If a candidate isn’t familiar with systems you service, they are likely not a fit for your company. If they are, you can explore the topic further to understand what they’ve worked on before.

Example Answer: “I have worked with many different types of electrical systems. This includes wiring for homes, commercial buildings, and industrial sites. I also have experience with renewable energy systems like solar panels and low-voltage systems.”

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

You’re looking for a candidate with a drive to grow and succeed, so it’s important to know how they see their career path and how they plan to achieve their goals. You also want to know how they fit into your company long term.

Example Answer: “I see myself as a senior electrician with more responsibilities and helping to train new electricians. I also want to learn more specialties, like renewable energy, to continue growing in my career.”

• Why should we hire you?

If the interview is the sales pitch, this question is where your electrician candidate can close the deal. A strong candidate should be able to give you direct reasons why they deserve the opportunity to work with you, including how they’ll benefit your business now and in the future. 

Example Answer: “You should hire me because I solve problems quickly and my attention to detail makes me a valuable team member. I have the skills and experience to do the job well and I’m committed to safety and quality in my work.”

Technical questions for electricians

Technical questions let you know if the candidate can do the job you need them to do. By getting into the specifics of the job and understanding the capabilities of your electrician candidate, you can properly evaluate whether they can help your business.

Test your electrical applicant’s skills and knowledge with these technical interview questions for electricians:

• What is the difference between a breaker and a fuse?
• How would you go about troubleshooting an existing electrical system?
• What types of wiring might be used for a residential electrical job?
• What are the most common defects of PLC?
• What are the differences between wiring a high-voltage and low-voltage system?
• Tell me about the most complicated electrical problem you have faced and how you solved it.
• Have you used electrical contractor software in the past?
• What tools, equipment, or machines do you use on the job site?
• What do you know about the National Electrical Code?
• Tell me about any energy-efficient upgrades you’ve recommended for a customer.

Behavioral interview questions for electricians

Role-specific questions for electricians

Depending on what type of electrician you’re hiring, you’ll want to ask the right role-related interview questions to cover specific skill sets and experience levels.

While these questions include many of the themes from the general and behavioral interview questions, they are more specific to the role and experience level of the electrician candidate.

Electrical apprenticeship interview questions

Offering an electrician apprenticeship is a great way to attract aspiring electricians who are eager to learn to your small business. Here are some questions to ask when interviewing an electrician apprentice:

• Why do you want to become an electrician?
• Have you ever worked in the electrical industry before?
• Tell me about a time you had to overcome a challenge in your last position.
• What is your three-year plan?
• Have you received any electrical training yet? If so, tell me about it.
• What would you consider to be the most important safety precaution for an electrician?
• Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?
• What types of electrical problems have you worked on in the past?

Master electrician interview questions

Master electricians can bring a ton of knowledge and experience to your team. If you’re hiring a licensed master electrician to join your electrical business, here are some questions you should ask:

• How long have you been a licensed electrician for? Tell me about your experience.
• When did you get your Master electrician license?
• How do you approach an electrical apprentice if you notice they’re making frequent mistakes?
• How do you stay up to date on the latest trends and changes in the electrical industry?
• How do you troubleshoot a blackout?
• How do you apply the National Electrical Code on the job?
• How do you prevent electrical accidents at work?
• What do you do if there’s a discrepancy between the electrical plans and the layout of a building?

Underground electrician interview questions

If you’re hiring an underground electrician to work on telecommunication systems and mines, consider asking the following questions:

• Tell me about a time where you had to open switches or attach grounding devices to remove electrical hazards from fallen lines or to facilitate repairs.
• What would your first 30, 60, and 90 days on the job look like as an electrician underground?
• How would you identify a defective circuit breaker, fuse, voltage regulator, or transformer using wiring diagrams and electrical testing devices?
• What training or experience makes you qualified for this underground electrician job?
• How do you inspect and test power lines to locate and identify problems?
• What methods have you found most effective to install or repair conduits, cables, wires, and related equipment like transformers, circuit breakers, or switches?

Industrial electrician interview questions

Industrial electricians are responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical systems within an industrial setting. To find a qualified industrial electrician, ask these questions:

• What experience do you have as an industrial electrician?
• What are the most common electrical systems you’ve worked on as an industrial electrician?
• Describe a time when you had to troubleshoot an issue with a large piece of equipment.
• What safety precautions do you take when working on a job site?
• Describe your process for inspecting and testing electrical systems before and after an installation.
• How do you stay organized when working on several wiring projects and installations at once?
• How do you avoid accidents during electrical installations?
• Tell me about how you use diagrams or schematics to solve a complicated problem.

Electrical engineer interview questions

A good electrical engineer will have an impressive working knowledge of electrical systems. If you’re hiring an electrical engineer for your company, ask these questions:

• Why did you choose to pursue a career in electrical engineering?
• What hard or soft skills make you a good electrical engineer?
• Describe a challenge you’ve faced as an electrical engineer and how you overcame it.
• How do you prioritize tasks when working on more than one project?
• What do you know about IEC Codes?
• What’s the difference between an alternator and a generator?
• What do the different electrical wiring colors mean?

Compensation and next-steps questions 

End your interview with questions about their salary expectations and potential start dates. Here are a few questions you can ask:

• What are your salary expectations for this role?

Have your electrician salary range in mind before you start the interview process so you’re able to address any wage-related questions your candidates may have.

• Can you provide a list of references?

References help validate a lot of the answers from your interview. It also gives you a better understanding of what it’s like to work with your candidate and what to expect if you choose to hire them. References from people in leadership positions provide a lot of added credibility. 

• When would you be available to start?

It’s good to know when your new hire can join your team, so coordinate a start date to more effectively plan your upcoming job schedule.

• Do you have a valid driver’s license?

A driver’s license is crucial for your candidate to be able to get to job sites and operate company vehicles. Make sure to ask for a valid driver’s license to avoid any headaches.

• Do you have any questions for me?

Questions from your electrician candidate are important for both parties. It shows how engaged the candidate is in the interview, and helps them learn more about your business and whether it’s a good fit for them.

Example Answer:“Can you tell me more about the team at your company? What are our customers like? Are there opportunities for professional development?