Search
Close this search box.

Interviewing for a Skilled Trade Job? Practice These Questions

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians often enjoy a rewarding and hands-on trade. These technicians require practical skills, problem-solving abilities and a passion for technical knowledge about heating, A/C and refrigeration equipment.

Individuals working in this trade should also understand HVAC safety standards. Whether you’re an HVAC student starting training classes, or you’ve been working in the field for years, you can find ways to protect yourself and others from potential hazards. Here are some HVAC safety tips to improve day-to-day operations:

What do you enjoy most about your line of work?

Hiring managers want to know about you and your technical skills and professional work habits. It’s a good idea to provide an answer that shows you have hands-on training. Instead of talking about how you will enjoy the company truck or the flexibility to set your own hours, you may consider discussing topics like working with your hands, solving problems and feeling accomplished that you completed the job on time and on budget.

How did you handle a disagreement at old job?

The interviewer is looking for evidence that you are a self-starter who can make decisions independently but who can also solve problems when they arise. Talk about a time when you and a coworker or customer disagreed about something. Maybe the customer wanted something that was unsafe or not permitted at your place of employment. Discuss how you listened to them patiently and worked to remedy the situation while ensuring no rules or safety measures were broken. If you can’t think of an example from a job on your resume, you could also give an example of a disagreement you had in trade school. Think back to shop and theory classes—did you know you had the right answer, but a classmate insisted his answer was right instead? Maybe you found out your answer or technique was wrong. Tell the hiring manager how that impacted you, what you learned and how you approach this technique now.
job-interview-questions

Why do you want to work here?

While this question may seem easy on the surface, it requires some thought. People need jobs to make money to support themselves and their family—that much is true. However, if a hiring manager asks you this question, that’s not the answer they are looking for. Instead, they want to know why you think you’re the best fit for their specific company.

To answer this question, prepare an answer by completing some research. Before your interview, visit the company’s website. Read about what the company mission—do you believe in that too? Why? Explore their services and offerings. How do those align with your own skills and abilities? Be able to explain why you think this company is the best place for you.

certification-for-mechanics

Find Job Placement Assistance at Apex Technical School

Why do students choose Apex? Students say our job placement assistance is one reason. We provide support to students during training and upon program completion. Learn more about how we offer job placement assistance to Apex students by contacting us today.

*Apex Technical School and its instructors are licensed by the State of New York, New York State Education Department.

Disclaimer: Apex Technical School provides training for entry-level jobs. Not everything you may read about the industry is covered in our training programs.