Almost funny but serious question

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Kyell

Kyell

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Location
Titusville Florida USA
Hello,
I want to thank you all for your help recently it is very much appreciated. I need to pose a new question that is NOT code related but electrical in nature. I have been ask by my Manager (supervisor) to help him create a short list of questions for job interviews. I work in a CNC machinist environment. 277/480 buss duct and drops to panels. The plant is 400,000 square foot. (and old) with upgrades over the past 18 years.

While I am qualified and enjoy my job, I am hesitant at this because the real chief attribute needed is being flexible and adaptable. Knowledge wise, I am dabling with a few questions about buss ducts and motor controls. However I still feel lost in this pursuit.

All insight is appreciated so do NOT be shy

Bob
 
What type of job are they interviewing for? Electrician, journeyman, machinist, etc?

Explain ohms law.
How does VA differ from Watts?
When is it ok to work on a live circuit?
 
Kyell said:
Journeyman electrician
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Couple of things come to mind in this type of environment:

1) draw a 3-wire start/stop. If they can't draw it how confident are you that they can troubleshot it?
2) How would you meg a motor?
3) Ask them to point out a few things on a set of prints (fuses, types of switches, etc.)
 
If troubleshooting in a large plant is involved, here are a few, and somewhat in this order:

What type of loads would make a delta wye transformer run much hotter than with nameplate loading ? How would your correct the overheating ?

What is positive, zero, and negative sequence ?

Hand them a scopemeter, ask them to show the operation.

What does it mean if the white wire in a 3 phase system has turned brown ?

For a residential journeyman, the above are mostly inconsequential, but for an industrial plant, at least some familiarity with harmonics is advisable. That is the intent of the questions above.
 
Is there a lot of troubleshooting involved or is it installation? (to be blunt- is it brains or hands? different skills and questions)

I've gotten a lot of mileage, so to speak, by asking people for the most interesting problem they've had to solve in the last couple of years. Not necessarily the most complex or difficult, but the one that really grabbed them. You can tell a lot from the way they talk about it.

An example- the machine wouldn't run in the morning on sunny days but would after about 10am and all day on cloudy days. (Direct sunlight would hit a stop sensor; wasn't a problem on cloudy/rainy days or in the afternoon.)
 
Done a few "interesting" interviews.
I put together a one page sheet. The usual things I won't repeat. But the final question was "Would employing you give us an edge over our competitors in our field?"
 
Besoeker said:
Done a few "interesting" interviews.
I put together a one page sheet. The usual things I won't repeat. But the final question was "Would employing you give us an edge over our competitors in our field?"
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I would ask "WHY would . . . "
 
This is along my thoughts here

This is along my thoughts here

Thank you
I like this idea this works for me
Bob


MattS87 said:
Couple of things come to mind in this type of environment:

1) draw a 3-wire start/stop. If they can't draw it how confident are you that they can troubleshot it?
2) How would you meg a motor?
3) Ask them to point out a few things on a set of prints (fuses, types of switches, etc.)
Click to expand...
 
I want to thank everyone

I want to thank everyone

I want to thank everyone who has replied it has helped JUMP START my thoughts I really needed that.

you all are a great help.

Bob
 
Kyell said:
I want to thank everyone who has replied it has helped JUMP START my thoughts I really needed that.

you all are a great help.

Bob
Click to expand...
I've sat on many oral boards, don't try to show how smart you are by asking tough questions that even you might have to look up. Also make sure that you tell your applicant's to relax and that there are no trick questions so don't over think them.

We one time asked a question of ten applicants "you're called because the lights are out, tell us what you would check first" Only one of the ten said, "I'd check to see if the switch was on."
 
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