Interview Questions Every Trades Employer Should Ask
Hiring the right tradesperson takes more than checking tickets and experience.
A good interview helps you understand how a candidate works, communicates, and solves problems onsite. The questions you ask can reveal whether someone will be a reliable fit for your team and your clients.
Below are practical interview questions every trades employer should consider, along with what each question helps you uncover.
1. Can you walk me through your recent work experience?
This question gives candidates room to describe their day-to-day responsibilities rather than just the job title. It also lets you hear how they communicate and whether they take ownership of tasks.
Listen for clear explanations of the work completed, safe work practices used, and the type of environments they have worked in. You will get an early indication of their technical comfort level and how closely their past work aligns with your job requirements.
2. What types of tools and equipment are you confident using?
Trades work varies greatly from site to site. This question helps you understand the candidate's technical range and where they may need support or training.
Strong candidates will outline specific tools, machinery or systems they have used, as well as any tickets or plant competencies they hold. This helps benchmark whether they can step onto your site with minimal hand-holding.
3. How do you approach working safely on the job?
Safety is non-negotiable. Asking about their approach allows you to evaluate mindset, not just compliance.
Look for candidates who mention hazard identification, using PPE correctly, following site procedures and speaking up when something is not right. It shows they will actively contribute to a safe and compliant workplace.
4. Can you tell me about a challenge onsite and how you resolved it?
This question reveals problem-solving, teamwork and resilience. Tradespeople face unexpected issues all the time, so it is useful to hear how they handle pressure.
Listen for examples where they stayed calm, communicated clearly with others and made practical decisions to keep the job moving.
5. What do you value in a good supervisor or team?
Cultural fit affects productivity as much as technical skills. Asking what they value gives insight into how they work with others.
Candidates who value communication, respect, structure and fairness are more likely to fit well into established teams. It also highlights whether your work environment matches what they are looking for.
6. How do you keep your skills up to date?
A good tradesperson understands that skills evolve. This question helps you determine whether the candidate takes pride in improving their craft.
Positive signs include interest in learning new tools, staying across industry changes, completing short courses or volunteering for new tasks to broaden their experience.
7. What are your expectations for this role?
Misaligned expectations are a common reason placements do not work out. Asking upfront ensures clarity about duties, hours, travel, and the physical demands of the job.
A candidate who can clearly explain what they want in their next role is more likely to settle in and stay long term.
8. Why do you want to work with us?
This question checks motivation. Strong responses show the candidate has researched your business, understands your work, and sees long-term value in joining your team.
If their answer focuses only on pay or location, it may be a sign to dig deeper into commitment.
Make Your Interviews Count
Structured interview questions help trades employers uncover far more than the basics. They highlight a candidate’s attitude, safety mindset and long-term suitability for your workplace.
If you want support sourcing quality tradespeople, MiRecruit specialises in recruitment for skilled trades and technical roles.
We also offer Outsourced Apprentice Management for businesses employing apprentices directly and needing expert help to support and retain their apprentice workforce.
Talk to MiRecruit to find the right fit for your business.