20 Pipefitter Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Pipefitter interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. When did you become interested in pipe fitting?
How to Answer
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a pipefitter? Talk to the hiring manager about where your interest in this line of work arose.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I decided that I wanted to be a pipefitter when I was in vocational school to become a plumber. The classes were so interesting to me and once I realized it was an option, I fully focused on pipe fitting."
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2. Are you interested in taking on a leadership role one day?
How to Answer
Do you aspire to lead a team? Talk to the hiring manager about your desire to possibly take on a leadership role one day.
If you are interested in taking on a leadership role: "Yes, I would love to be a leader one day. I feel that I already naturally take on a leadership mentality. It is the type of growth that I would really appreciate, once I've proven my abilities."
If you are not interested in taking on a leadership role: "At this time, I really enjoy my current job function. Perhaps in the future but, at the moment, being a leader isn't my primary aspiration."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"Yes, I would love to be a leader one day. I feel that I already naturally take on a leadership mentality. It is the type of growth that I would really appreciate, once I've proven my abilities."
Written by Rachelle Enns
3. If you were to witness a co-worker behaving in an unsafe manner on the job, how would you handle it?
How to Answer
Are you very safety conscious? Would you report a co-worker behaving unsafely? Tell the hiring manager how you would handle a situation like this.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I take safety in the workplace very seriously. If I witnessed a co-worker behaving unsafely, I would immediately approach them on their behaviour. If that wasn't enough, or if the behaviour continued, I would report the behaviour as per company policy."
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4. Are you physically capable of heavy lifting and bending throughout the day?
How to Answer
Being a Pipefitter is extremly demanding, physically. Discuss with the hiring manager your physical capabilities and any constraints that you may have.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I am very accustomed to heavy lifting, and bending through the day. I keep in good shape and have been doing this for a long time so I am aware to keep my personal safety in mind and not over-do it, physically."
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5. Are you comfortable wearing the required PPE on the job?
How to Answer
Assure the hiring manager that you are willing to put safety first on the job, and that you are familiar with the required protective equipment.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I am very comfortable, and willing, to wear the appropriate PPE gear while on the job. In my current role, safety is a priority, and I appreciate that from responsible employers."
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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.
6. During vocational school, what was your best subject? Which subject did you struggle with the most?
How to Answer
Tell the hiring manager about your best subject while attending vocational school. Why do you feel it was your best subject? Discuss the same in regards to your most difficult subject.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"While attending vocational school, my best subject was on commercial plumbing. I feel that it was my best subject simply because of my interest in it. I also felt that I could relate best to that particular professor. I had the most difficulty in the math related courses, as math isn't naturally my strong suit. I have taken additional training in that area."
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7. Tell me about your post-secondary education.
How to Answer
Take the hiring manager through your post-secondary education. Did you receive any accolades? Scholarships? Did you graduate top of your class? Think of anything that would make you a stand-out candidate.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I attended my post-secondary education at St. Johns River State College in Florida. While attending school, I received two scholarships and graduated top of my class."
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8. Do you hold a Journeyman license?
How to Answer
This answer can be very simple and to the point.
If you do hold a Journeyman license: "Yes, I obtained my Journeyman license in 2006. All of my tickets and certifications are up to date."
If you do not hold a Journeyman license: "I aim to obtain my Journeyman license in the next 8 months. Asides from that, all of my required certifications are up to date."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"Yes, I obtained my Journeyman license in 2006. All of my tickets and certifications are up to date."
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9. Have you ever experienced conflict with a co-worker? How did you resolve the situation?
How to Answer
Give the hiring manager an example of a time that you experienced conflict with a co-worker. What was the resolution, and how did you get there? Be careful to not become negative or speak poorly of anyone.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"Last month I had a conflict with a co-worker who was not abiding by the company's safety regulations. I brought it up and this particular individual became very defensive. I walked away from the situation and the next day, he apologized for overreacting. He committed to put safety first, which was great."
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10. How important is safety to you?
How to Answer
Discuss with the hiring manager what safety means to you. Emphasize the importance of safety in the workplace.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"To me, safety is the basis of everything that we do. If you are not safe on the job, you could lose everything. I am sure to practice best safety regulations at all times."
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11. What is a butterfly valve, and what situations would you use one?
How to Answer
When you answer this question, keep it simple and to the point. Display to the hiring manager that you are able to easily and simply relay basic concepts of pipe fitting.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"A butterfly valve is a valve consisting of a pair of semicircular plates that are attached to a spindle across a pipe and hinged. They are used to allow flow to go only one way."
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12. Why do you want to work at our facility?
How to Answer
What drove you to apply to work with this particular company? Talk to the hiring manager about why their facility is somewhere that you would like to work.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I have heard that your facility is a very safe, organized, and positive place to be. After meeting with you, I can definitely see these things to be true. I would be more than happy to be able to work here."
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13. What do you dislike about being a pipefitter?
How to Answer
If you had the ability to change anything about your career as a pipefitter, what would you change? It's best to not turn the conversation into a negative tone, or to complain about your current employer. Choose to answer in a way that your 'dislike' is not something that is crippling to your success in this position.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"If I could change anything about being a pipefitter, I would ask that vocational schools focus on it a bit more when it comes to the options that they offer. More people are aware that they can be a plumber, or a welder, for example. Pipefitting seems to take a back seat in the sense of trade school options."
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14. How much experience do you have reading piping isometric diagrams?
How to Answer
How much experience do you have when it comes to reading piping isometric diagrams? Talk to the hiring manager about your level of comfortability in this task and how often you come across this task in your current role.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"Currently, I am responsible for reading piping isometric diagrams on a daily basis. In total, I have approximately 4 years' of extensive experience in doing so. I am very comfortable with this task."
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15. Why do you believe you are the best pipefitter for us?
How to Answer
What makes you a stand-out candidate? Talk to the hiring manager about why they should hire you for the job.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I believe that I am the best pipefitter for you because I bring a great amount of experience in the exact type of work that your facility focus' on. I am well educated with a strong safety record and come with excellent references."
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16. What was the most challenging piping installation job you have done?
How to Answer
Talk to the hiring manager about what you feel is the biggest challenge in this line of work. Be careful to not sound negative or complain about your current position.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I feel that pipefitting is one of the most demanding physical trades. You could be working on equipment underneath piping, structural supports or vessels; and the next day you could be up and down on a 30 foot ladder. It's highly demanding work and not for the faint of heart."
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17. If you don't know the answer to a problem, what do you usually do?
How to Answer
Do you ask your employer or co-workers when you have a problem or need an answer? Are you the type to find the answer before you ask anyone for help? Talk to the hiring manager about how you go about finding the answer to a problem.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"If I do not know the answer to a problem, I will usually first search for the answer. I do not want to bother anyone while they are busy so I will first try to independently find the answer."
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18. How do you determine the pipe thickness needed in a line?
How to Answer
Walk the interviewer through your process of determining pipe thickness needed in a line.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I always refer to the ASME B31.3 pipe thickness calculator when I am determining what pipe thickness is needed in a line."
Written by Rachelle Enns
19. What is a globe valve used for?
How to Answer
When you answer this question, keep it simple and to the point. Display to the hiring manager that you are able to easily and simply relay basic concepts of pipe fitting.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"A globe valve is used for regulating flow in a pipeline, consisting of a movable disk-type element and a stationary ring seat in a generally spherical body."
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20. How can you tell if a gate valve is open or closed?
How to Answer
When you answer this question, keep it simple and to the point. Display to the hiring manager that you are able to easily and simply relay basic concepts of pipe fitting.
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"You can look at a gate valve and tell if it is open or closed by the position of the stem."
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