This is a great opportunity to answer with an example of a time when you were offered constructive criticism.
"When I first began my apprenticeship, I was given feedback on my job site habits. My supervisor asked me to be more aware of where I was leaving my tools. I was newer to the career and would sometimes be so focused on the task at hand that I would become forgetful. The criticism he offered helped me to realize that I was being a bit messy on the job site. I made sure to clean up after myself consistently after that."
You can answer this from a more personal perspective to allow the interviewer to get to know you a bit better.
"I always knew that I wanted to be in the trades. My uncle, who I looked up to a lot as a kid, was an electrician. I would spend time with him a lot and loved the pride he took in his work. My critical thinking skills have always been strong and thus, I had a natural attraction to the career path."
Tell a personal story while answering this question.
"When I first began as an apprentice, I was witness to an accident on the job. My colleague was in a rush and did not take the required steps to ensure his safety. He was injured quite severely and it was a really eye-opening experience. Since then, I always ensure that I have taken all of the appropriate steps and that my tools are proper, insulated tools."
Answer this by describing your most recent jobs. You can begin with a brief list. If the interviewer would like more detail on a specific project, they will ask. You can leave this open ended as well.
"My most recent projects include commercial work which has included the installation of water heaters and wiring of a few commercial buildings' electronic key systems. Would you like some specifics of buildings I have worked on?"
This should be a factual answer. You can create your own favorite way of explaining the difference between a fuse and circuit breaker. Be sure to memorize your answer so that you are clear, and do not stumble through it.
"The fuse works on the electrical and thermal properties of the conducting material, while a circuit breaker works on the electromechanical principles."
This can be a simple answer based on the job description the company has put out.
"In your job posting you said you were looking for an apprentice with some experience and the right attitude. Not only do I bring the classroom training required, I also bring a refreshing go-getter attitude. I think, based on your preferences, that I would be a very strong addition to your team."
This is a great opportunity to answer with an example of a time when you were given explicit or more complicated instructions and were able to implement the steps correctly.
"I am able to take instructions very well. Being an apprentice, I swap between classroom training and on the job training. I am able to take instructions well in both settings. Recently, I was given instructions on a more complicated job site. Even though some of the instructions were very simple, I was happy that my supervisor walked me through it so thoroughly to ensure that I understood prior to leaving me to it on my own."
This is a time to give a specific example in your career when you were under a great amount of stress and came out of it with positive feedback.
"When I first started my apprenticeship, I was given a pretty important job to troubleshoot. My supervisor was aware that it was above my abilities but he wanted to see if I would ask for help. I took a critical eye to the situation, a few deep breaths and presented my recommendation to him. The general feedback in my career is that I do handle stressful situations quite well."
When answering this question, it is best that you keep in mind what field this particular company specializes in. Be sure to tie this into your answer. For example, if the company only offers Commercial work, you could say: "I have always been most interested in commercial electrical work. My biggest interest is to work on construction sites, in commercial buildings and on mechanical electrical systems."
"I have always been most interested in commercial electrical work. My biggest interest is to work on construction sites, in commercial buildings and on mechanical electrical systems."
Your answer should reflect your long term and short term goals. The answer you give should, of course, align with the usual career course of an Electrician Apprentice.
"In the short term, I would like to stay with one company for all of my apprenticeship hours. After completing my apprenticeship hours, my goal is to be hired on full time by that same company. I am looking for stable employment with a reputable organization that I can stay with long-term."
Answer this by briefly describing the electrical systems you have worked on. You can also add in your level of comfortability in each type of system. If the interviewer would like more detail on a specific project, they will ask. You can leave this open ended as well.
"Since beginning my education and apprenticeship I have spent the most time working on X, Y and Z. I have spent the most time with X ; however, I am comfortable with many others. Would you like some specifics examples of where I've used these electrical systems?"
Always respond with excitement and enthusiasm. You can make this answer a bit more personal if you'd like.
"I have always been interested in the logistics of how electrical works. I also love the variety that I get to see on the job, as well as the ability to work with other skilled trades. I feel like I learn something new every day and that is very appealing to me."
Electrician apprentices work as assistants to qualified electricians. Electrician apprentices have the necessary knowledge in this field but they are not qualified or licensed to work as independent electricians. After gaining some experience, most electrician apprentices enroll in an appropriate program, obtain the necessary state license and go on to work as independent electricians.
Anyone wishing to work as an electrician apprentice must be at least 18 years old and have a GED or high school diploma. Most master electricians will ask you to take an aptitude test to assess your on-the-job skills. Critical thinking, troubleshooting, and mechanical skills are basic requirements for the job. Electrician apprentices must also have good color vision.
Your interview for an electrician apprentice job will most likely be conducted by the master electrician who is looking for someone to help them on the job. Check out mock interview questions if you are interested in knowing more about the kind of questions to expect at your electrician apprentice interview.