20 Pipefitter Interview Questions & Answers

Pipefitting can be a great career. You can improve your answer by explaining what the individual you spoke with enjoys about being a pipe fitter. Most people who enjoy a pipefitting career tend to like practical, hands-on problems and solutions and working with physical materials. In addition to solid pay, you can also share that you would appreciate working in a field with the opportunity for future advancement as you grow in skill and experience.

Safety is a primary concern for any pipefitting operation. I like that you confirmed that you would take immediate action to address the coworker breaking a safety procedure or otherwise acting unsafely. You can also state that you'd approach your co-worker with kindness and understanding rather than accusations as you request that they maintain a safe work environment for the sake of everyone. Then, if they continued the unsafe behavior, you'd rightly bring it to your supervisor's attention rather than allowing it to continue.

Pipefitters are often tasked with lifting heavy materials, climbing ladders, or working in tight spaces, making it very physical work. If you've done this work or similar work before, consider talking about your past experience with physical work to show the interviewer that you know what you're up against and are confident that you can handle the physical demands.

PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment, is intended to keep you safe on the job. This can include masks/face shields, safety goggles, gloves, or protective skin covering (long-sleeves, coat, etc.)

It is also important that all PPE is well-fitted and perfectly intact because a breach in your goggles or a rip in your gloves can result in injury. You can improve your answer by confirming that you understand PPE use is vital to workplace safety. If you've worked in a position requiring you to wear PPE, tell the interviewer what you wore and why. How did it protect you? You can also emphasize that you value workplace safety and would adhere to any safety guidelines, including PPE use, to keep yourself and others safe.

If you've earned any vocational certifications after high school, this is where you'd share what your certification is in (i.e. carpentry). You can also relate the foundational carpentry or other technical skills you've mastered and explain how those skills would translate to the world of pipefitting. You can include a variety of skills such as accurate measuring and cutting of materials, use of heavy equipment or power tools, and safety guidelines around using power tools or other equipment.

If the role you're applying to is that of an apprentice, it's unlikely that the interviewer would expect you to have a journeyman license. However, if this question were asked you could confirm that you don't have one but hope to gain the skills and experience needed to earn a journeyman license in the future.

Conflict is just part of working with others and if you haven't experienced it yet, you will eventually - even if you're easy to get along with! Because this is a situational question, you can answer it with an example even if you haven't dealt with conflict at work yet. Consider talking briefly about a conflict that you resolved with a classmate, teammate, or family member instead. Relate the skills or strategies you used to understand and resolve the issue such as clear communication and active listening to understand an opposing view. Make sure to emphasize the resolution rather than the conflict itself. You can also explain the lessons you learned from the experience.

Safety awareness is vital in a labor-intensive setting like pipefitting. You can make your commitment to safety clearer by explaining how you stay safe by adhering to all workplace safety guidelines, wearing appropriate PPE, making sure you understand your role or task, communicating clearly with supervisors or team members, and speaking up if you feel a situation or activity is unsafe.

You're right. In contrast to gate valves, butterfly valves are often used for throttling or regulating flow. The pressure lost when using a butterfly valve is much smaller in comparison to a gate valve. You can also share that butterfly valves are typically used in situations where space is limited, showing the interviewer that you would have some idea of what type of valve you'd encounter in a tight-space situation.

I can see where you're headed here. It sounds like you're looking for a solid company that gives you the potential to grow into more challenging roles with increased responsibility. Consider doing a little online research into the company you're applying to. Then, talk about how that company's mission or values align with your career goals or personal values. This gives the interviewer greater insight into how you would fit with the company's culture and in the role you're hoping to obtain.

If you're just starting out as an apprentice and the interviewer is aware that you don't have previous experience in the industry, it's unlikely that he or she would ask what you dislike about the position. However, if this question were asked you could pivot away from your lack of experience by talking about how excited you feel to enter the field and learn as an apprentice.

Good start! You've done well in pivoting away from your lack of experience and toward your ability to learn quickly. You can also emphasize your ability to think logically. If you have experience reading other mechanical drawings or schematics based on experience in another role you can also discuss how that experience serves as a solid foundation for you to build on when it comes to learning how to read isometric diagrams.

Well done! When applying to an apprentice role, it's more about your potential than your current level of experience. You've shared that you're dedicated, responsible, honest, and ready to learn.

As an apprentice applicant, it likely wouldn't be expected for you to have installed piping yet. However, the interviewer is trying to determine how you function in a difficult or challenging situation. You can wrap this answer up by talking about a challenging project or task you've completed. What made it difficult? What tools or strategies did you use to overcome the challenge? What was the positive outcome? Using an example in this way helps the interviewer see your potential for growth in the field.

No one has the answer to every problem all the time and pipefitting can be challenging, especially if you're dealing with a leak or other emergent situation. With this question, the interviewer is trying to determine how you respond when you aren't sure what to do, so talk about how you approach problem-solving. Do you research the issue, consult a more experienced team member, or ask your supervisor for assistance? It's important to emphasize that you take appropriate action by seeking out qualified sources to ensure the problem is solved as quickly and appropriately as possible. If possible, share an example of a time when solved a complex problem when you weren't sure what to do at the beginning. What was the issue, who or what did you consult for expertise, how did you resolve the issue, and what was the positive outcome?

You're right. Globe valves are used to regulate flow or pressure. They also serve to completely shut off flow. You can expand your response by sharing that they're widely used in plant piping and can be used via manual and automatic operation. Sharing a few more details shows the interviewer that you have done your research and are eager to learn more.

You're correct. When the gate valve handle is parallel to the valve, it is closed, and when it is perpendicular to the valve, it is open. Confirming that you can tell if a gate valve is open or closed shows the interviewer that you have an understanding of the basics that can be built upon through the apprenticeship process.