Mechanic Interview Questions

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How experienced are you in drawing up and reading technical plans? See answer
What would you do if you saw someone violating safety standards on the job? See answer
If you were to make a diagnostic error while working, how would you go about fixing it? See answer
How do you respond when a customer has a complaint or is unhappy with the work you’ve done? See answer
How much experience do you have with evaluating the damage on vehicles and other machines? See answer
Describe your experience with industry software. See answer
How do you develop a loyal customer?
Another mechanic disagrees with your vehicle damage evaluation on the shop floor. How do you handle it?
Do you think it’s okay to borrow or lend your tools? Explain your answer.
Describe the safety protocols you use while working.
Tell me about some of the vehicles you’ve worked with.
Is customer service important to a mechanic? Please explain your answer.
What are the technical areas in which we could help you to improve your skills?
You make a diagnostic error during a vehicle damage evaluation. How do you avoid making the same type of mistake again?
We want our employees to comply with company policies and procedures on damage evaluations, repairs, customer service and safety. How would you comply with our requirements?
There is an urgent vehicle repair project and we’re short-staffed. Your supervisor asks you if you’re willing to take on some extra work at the usual rate. What would you do? Please explain your answer.
Describe three of your strengths that make you a good fit for our auto shop.

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6 Mechanic Interview Questions and Answers

Q:

How experienced are you in drawing up and reading technical plans?

A:

Technical drawings are an important aspect of many mechanics’ jobs. Ideally, a candidate should be comfortable with this aspect of the job and even be able to list a favored program they use to generate plans on the computer.

What to look for in an answer:

High degree of technical knowledge
Computer literacy
Familiarity with industry standard technology

Example:

“Drawing up technical plans is easy for me. My preferred program would probably be Autodesk, given that’s what I was trained on and its ease of use.”

Q:

What would you do if you saw someone violating safety standards on the job?

A:

As a mechanic, being unsafe usually means people are seriously hurt or killed. Candidates can’t be lax when it comes to safety violations for this reason and should show a willingness to speak out even at the expense of others for the sake of everyone’s safety.

What to look for in an answer:

Concern for safety around the shop
Low tolerance for poor conduct
Willingness to speak up for the sake of others

Example:

“For me, everyone gets one chance to make up for a mistake. If I catch someone goofing off in a way that might get someone killed, I’ll tell them not to do that again. If they don’t listen, I’m reporting them to a higher up.”

Q:

If you were to make a diagnostic error while working, how would you go about fixing it?

A:

It’s not uncommon for mistakes to be made from time to time, but how a candidate deals with these mistakes is another story. A good mechanic will admit to their mistake and work to make up for any lost time or damage that mistake might have made. They also shouldn’t try to hide it from others or work in secret as this can often lead to issues.

What to look for in an answer:

Honesty and integrity in admitting mistakes
Willingness to make up for issues they cause
Attention to detail in identifying mistakes

Example:

“If something isn’t working right, my first instinct is to double check what I’ve done. If I find I’ve caused a problem, I’d point it out to others so that we wouldn’t be wasting any more time. That would hopefully make fixing it a quick and easy process.”

Q:

How do you respond when a customer has a complaint or is unhappy with the work you’ve done?

A:

A mechanic’s shop will live or die by their customer base. Maintaining a good relationship with those who use your services is integral, so making a mistake or doing something they aren’t pleased with isn’t a good situation to be in. If this happens, a candidate should focus on mitigating the damage as they attempt to regain a customer’s trust.

What to look for in an answer:

Professional attitude
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Excellent customer service skills

Example:

“If something we’ve done isn’t the way the customer wishes, I’d have a look at what’s going on. Once I can confirm that we’ve made a mistake, I’d apologize on behalf of everyone and work to fix things to a satisfactory degree without charge.”

Q:

How much experience do you have with evaluating the damage on vehicles and other machines?

A:

Given that one of the main duties of a mechanic is to fix things that are broken, being able to identify these problems is a major part of the job. This question gives candidates a chance to talk about their experiences in the industry and highlight some accomplishments or specialized training they might have undergone.

What to look for in an answer:

Extensive knowledge of mechanical techniques and machines
Unique experience or training in background
On-field industry experience

Example:

“I actually grew up watching my father work on cars at our family-owned shop, so I was being taught about assessing damage from an early age. Later on, I studied under some other mechanics and learned more specific terminology and got a good handle on estimating the price of parts and repairs.”

Q:

Describe your experience with industry software.

A:

Mechanics use specialized software to perform their job duties. An employer can use this question to find out if a candidate understands the functionalities of standard software and has industry experience. A suitable mechanic candidate should demonstrate their knowledge of programs like Integrated Diagnostic Software (IDS) and Autodesk.

A candidate's answer should emphasize:

Knowledge of industry technology
On-the-job experience in using standard software
Interest in using industry software programs

An example answer could look like this:

Example:

"I've used Integrated Diagnostic Software and SAE J2534 during the diagnosis, reprogramming and repair of vehicles. I've also used the 3D CAD functionality of Autodesk's Inventor software to design products during my free time."

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