When did you become interested in pipe fitting?

"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."

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.

"I was talking to an individual that works as a pipefitter and they stated it's good work and good pay."

Are you interested in taking on a leadership role one day?

"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."

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."

If you were to witness a co-worker behaving in an unsafe manner on the job, how would you handle it?

"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."

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.

"I would approach the worker and tell him what he was doing was unsafe. If he continued, I would go to management."

Are you physically capable of heavy lifting and bending throughout the day?

"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."

Being a Pipefitter is extremly demanding, physically. Discuss with the hiring manager your physical capabilities and any constraints that you may have.

Are you comfortable wearing the required PPE on the job?

"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."

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.

"Yes, I am comfortable wearing the required PPE for any job that I would be at."

During vocational school, what was your best subject? Which subject did you struggle with the most?

"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."

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.

Tell me about your post-secondary education.

"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."

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.

"While I was in Belle Vernon Area High School I also went to Vo-Tech for Carpentry. I really liked it but I would like to learn about the pipefitter apprenticeship program."

Do you hold a Journeyman license?

"Yes, I obtained my Journeyman license in 2006. All of my tickets and certifications are up to date."

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."

"No, I do not. I am applying for an apprenticeship."

Have you ever experienced conflict with a co-worker? How did you resolve the situation?

"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."

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.

"I can honestly say I have never had any conflict with a fellow worker."

How important is safety to you?

"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."

Discuss with the hiring manager what safety means to you. Emphasize the importance of safety in the workplace.

"Safety is extremely important to me."

What is a butterfly valve, and what situations would you use one?

"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."

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.

"It isolates or regulates the flow of a fluid."

Why do you want to work at our facility?

"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."

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.

"I would like to work at a company where I could learn and grow with."

What do you dislike about being a pipefitter?

"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."

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.

"I am not a pipefitter. I would like to obtain an apprenticeship."

How much experience do you have reading piping isometric diagrams?

"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."

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.

"I actually do not have any experience but I am a dedicated and quick learner."

Why do you believe you are the best pipefitter for us?

"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."

What makes you a stand-out candidate? Talk to the hiring manager about why they should hire you for the job.

"I am a dedicated worker. I am responsible and honest and I am eager to learn about the pipefitter apprenticeship."

What was the most challenging piping installation job you have done?

"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."

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.

"I haven't done any jobs in this field yet."

If you don't know the answer to a problem, what do you usually do?

"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."

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.

"I will do whatever I need to do to complete the job correctly."

How do you determine the pipe thickness needed in a line?

"I always refer to the ASME B31.3 pipe thickness calculator when I am determining what pipe thickness is needed in a line."

Walk the interviewer through your process of determining pipe thickness needed in a line.

What is a globe valve used for?

"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."

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.

How can you tell if a gate valve is open or closed?

"You can look at a gate valve and tell if it is open or closed by the position of the stem."

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.

"If the handle is perpendicular it is closed."

Pipefitter Interview Questions

Go Back

1. When did you become interested in pipe fitting?
2. Are you interested in taking on a leadership role one day?
3. If you were to witness a co-worker behaving in an unsafe manner on the job, how would you handle it?
4. Are you physically capable of heavy lifting and bending throughout the day?
5. Are you comfortable wearing the required PPE on the job?
6. During vocational school, what was your best subject? Which subject did you struggle with the most?
7. Tell me about your post-secondary education.
8. Do you hold a Journeyman license?
9. Have you ever experienced conflict with a co-worker? How did you resolve the situation?
10. How important is safety to you?
11. What is a butterfly valve, and what situations would you use one?
12. Why do you want to work at our facility?
13. What do you dislike about being a pipefitter?
14. How much experience do you have reading piping isometric diagrams?
15. Why do you believe you are the best pipefitter for us?
16. What was the most challenging piping installation job you have done?
17. If you don't know the answer to a problem, what do you usually do?
18. How do you determine the pipe thickness needed in a line?
19. What is a globe valve used for?
20. How can you tell if a gate valve is open or closed?

Pipefitter Interview Questions

1. When did you become interested in pipe fitting?

2. Are you interested in taking on a leadership role one day?

3. If you were to witness a co-worker behaving in an unsafe manner on the job, how would you handle it?

4. Are you physically capable of heavy lifting and bending throughout the day?

5. Are you comfortable wearing the required PPE on the job?

6. During vocational school, what was your best subject? Which subject did you struggle with the most?

7. Tell me about your post-secondary education.

8. Do you hold a Journeyman license?

9. Have you ever experienced conflict with a co-worker? How did you resolve the situation?

10. How important is safety to you?

11. What is a butterfly valve, and what situations would you use one?

12. Why do you want to work at our facility?

13. What do you dislike about being a pipefitter?

14. How much experience do you have reading piping isometric diagrams?

15. Why do you believe you are the best pipefitter for us?

16. What was the most challenging piping installation job you have done?

17. If you don't know the answer to a problem, what do you usually do?

18. How do you determine the pipe thickness needed in a line?

19. What is a globe valve used for?

20. How can you tell if a gate valve is open or closed?