Machine operators make great money, have steady jobs, and perform vital tasks in the business world. If you can land one of these jobs your skills will be in demand. If you’re searching for a new machine operator position, you may feel a little nervous about the questions your interviewer will ask. That’s why we’ve assembled some tips to help you prepare for machine operator-specific interview questions. Read this blog to ace your next interview.
Common Questions Asked During a Machine Operator Interview
Machine operators do exactly what the name implies; they run and maintain heavy machines that get big jobs accomplished. You can expect questions about the equipment itself and production, including those related to meeting deadlines and troubleshooting machine problems.
The employer may ask you questions about why you got into the field in the first place. A typical question is, “Why did you choose this profession?” Be prepared to tell the story of why you got into the field. Don’t say you took the job because there was nothing else or because the pay was great (although those two things may be true.) Instead, talk about why you like about the job. Do you feel a sense of accomplishment when you can get a machine running that other people have problems with?
Another question may have to do with how you prioritize the work at hand. Expect a question such as, “What is the most important tasks that you accomplish every day. You can talk about the pre-checks you do before the shift and how important they are to keep your machine and production running smoothly. You could also talk about the production tasks you perform and how they impact the company itself. Both of these examples strongly relate to your desire to get the job done well.
You should also be ready to talk about the duties you perform every day. This is a common question. You could respond by talking about the tasks you performed most recently in your last job. You may also be asked about prioritized problems with your machine. How do you do it? What factors come into play?
Another typical question is, “What about quality control? How do you handle quality control checks?” The answer to this question is that everything you do is about quality. Quality should impact the products you’re creating, the safety checks, machine maintenance, and so much more. It’s a good idea to mention these three important quality metrics:
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The machine room should be both safe and sanitary.
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Reporting on daily machine operations is important.
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Checks and audits should be done daily to make sure the machine is in compliance and running properly.
Finally, you can almost certainly expect the question, “Have you ever had to work with a difficult boss? What did you do?” Since we’ve all experienced this at one point or another, it’s okay to admit, that yes, you’ve experienced this type of challenge. The trick is to answer this in a way that is positive. You don’t want to put a former in a bad light but you also want to be able to say that you understand why your boss was difficult. For example, “My boss struggled with delegation and was always overworked and under pressure. Over time, he became a micromanager to try to better control the work environment. I just tried to roll with it and do my best.”
Now that you’re prepared for your next machine operator interview, why not practice your skills with People Plus. We work with candidates to match them to top jobs and can help you find your next job. Call on us today.