Welders are in high demand. Nearly 50,000 new welding jobs become available each year, and that number is predicted to grow.
If you’re interested in getting a job as a welder, your first step will be to pass a welding interview. Below, you’ll find 15 common welder interview questions you might encounter, as well as a few sample answers.
Top 15 Welder Interview Questions
- What type of training and accreditation do you have?
- What’s the difference between welding and brazing?
- What’s the difference between welding and soldering?
- Explain your daily routine as a welder.
- What types of welding are you familiar with?
- How do you protect the safety of yourself and others while welding?
- Which types of welding equipment do you have the most experience using?
- What was your most difficult welding experience? How did you overcome it?
- Tell me about your favorite project as a welder.
- How do you feel about working overtime?
- What's your ideal work environment?
- What would you do if you noticed an error in a colleague's work?
- Who has influenced your welding career the most?
- How do you test and evaluate your creations?
- Have you received negative feedback at work? How did you handle it?
Welder Interview Answers
Your interviewer wants to understand your background and experience. If you attended trade school or have relevant welding experience, this is where you can highlight your qualifications.
Sample answer: “I graduated from American Welding Academy’s Structural Welding & Fitting Course in 2021. I received three AWS certifications and feel confident in my training.”
Don’t stress if you aren’t able to emulate the above answer with examples of your accreditations. If you did not attend a formal welding school, focus on personal experience. Try to tie these experiences into your interest in becoming a welder and the skills that will help you to succeed.
Sample answer: “My father is an experienced welder who worked in the industry for more than 20 years. I learned the craft by his side and helped him build multiple projects in our garage.”
Different operations rely on different welding techniques. Before the interview, look up information about the company so you know what type of welding they require. This question can show how you’ll add value to the company. Your answer could give you an edge on your competition.
Sample answer: “I’m very comfortable with TIG and arc welding. My sister bought a small farm, and I TIG weld her wagon frames. The choice made sense because TIG uses an electrode made of tungsten, one of the most durable materials found in nature.”
Understanding safety protocols is essential if you want to be successful as a welder. Try to show the interviewer that you take safety seriously. Managers want to hire a welder that can follow all of the necessary precautions and contribute to a safe environment. Be prepared to get specific about how you practice welding in a safe way.
Sample answer: “Safety is my number one priority while working. I always remember to wear proper gear, including a helmet, gloves, and fireproof clothing. In addition, I follow standard safety procedures.”
Welding isn’t always easy, so challenges are expected. Your interviewer wants to know if you’re capable of handling unexpected situations. Beyond just the welding career, being able to give an example of overcoming challenges is worth its weight in gold in any job interview. Show your interviewer that they can trust you by explaining how competent you remain under difficult situations.
Sample answer: “During my first apprenticeship, I didn’t understand the physical demands of the job and failed to keep myself in appropriate shape. This led to me feeling tired and unfocused at work, and I eventually made a sloppy welding mistake.
From this experience, I learned that my body needs to be healthy and strong for me to succeed.”
Many full-time welding positions require overtime. Interviewers want to make sure that they can depend on you during a time crunch. It’s also important to care for yourself, however, and make it known that you may have obligations outside of work.
Sample answer: “I’m comfortable working long hours to get the job done, because I know how to stay focused. I can maintain the same quality throughout my entire shift. Having a great work-life balance is important to me, which is why I don’t like to waste time at work - especially when a deadline is closeby.”
These welder interview questions and answers should help you prepare for the interview and grow your career. The experts at FactoryFix are here to help you take part in a great welding career. Click here to start chatting with our Career Coach or visit our job board and search recent listings.
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