Diesel Mechanic Interview Tips

Preparing for a diesel mechanic interview?

Interviewing can be a nerve-wracking process, no matter what job you’re doing it for.

But it’s worth it—because nailing it and making a good first impression could lead to an exciting new professional opportunity. By taking some key steps beforehand to prepare, you can set yourself up for success when meeting with an employer.

Follow along as we share our top diesel mechanic interview tips, from the questions you might be asked to the appropriate way to dress for the big day!

Key Summary Points

• Prep is crucial for success: Before attending a diesel mechanic interview, research the position and the company, prepare your resume, practice answering potential interview questions and think of questions to ask the interviewer. This preparation will demonstrate your skills, professionalism and genuine interest in the role.
• Common interview questions for a diesel mechanic: Expect a mix of general and technical questions during the interview. General questions might include inquiries about your background, career goals, strengths and weaknesses. Technical questions will assess your industry knowledge and problem-solving skills, such as diagnosing vehicle issues or performing specific mechanical tests.
• Questions to ask the interviewer: Showing preparedness by asking insightful questions about the company culture, daily responsibilities, team structure, success metrics, challenges and career progression opportunities can leave a positive impression on the interviewer. It also helps you determine if the company and role are a good fit for you.
• Appropriate interview attire: Dressing professionally for a diesel mechanic interview is advised. A clean, long-sleeve button-up shirt paired with dress slacks and clean work boots can convey respect and seriousness about the position. Keeping a backup set of work clothing handy is also recommended in case a practical assessment is requested.
• Final interview tips: Acquiring additional certifications, like the EPA 608 Technician Certification, can enhance your appeal to employers. Confidence, backed by thorough preparation, is key to a successful interview. Remember to relax, be confident in your abilities and view the interview as an opportunity to showcase your skills and fit for the role.

Read: 6 Reasons To Make a Career Change

Preparation for the Diesel Mechanic Interview is Key

Preparation is everything. You might meet all of the qualifications of the job you’re applying for, but you should still do your research and effectively communicate the value you can bring to the role during your interview. Employers look for candidates with the right skills and professionalism—so it’s vital to demonstrate both.

The key to a good interview is being able to highlight your abilities in every answer you give to the interviewer. No matter what the question may be, always try to tie your answer back to your skills and provide real-life examples of when you’ve demonstrated these skills whenever you can.

Diesel mechanic interview prep checklist

• Research the position: Would you enjoy the role, and is this a place you want to work?
• Research the organization: Learn what kind of reputation the company has and speak with current employees, if possible.
• Prepare your resume: Bring several printed copies of your resume with you to give to the interviewer.
• Prepare for interviews and practice: Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview with you. Your UTI Career Advisor can also assist you with this!
• Prepare questions for your interviewer: Remember, you’re interviewing the employer just as much as they’re interviewing you.

Read: Tips for Finding Jobs as a Veteran

Diesel Mechanic Interview Questions

Whether you’re preparing for your first interview or have interviewed for several jobs in the past, take some time to review the potential questions you might be asked. When it comes to applying for a diesel mechanic role, employers will often ask a mix of both general and technical interview questions for a diesel mechanic.

General diesel mechanic interview questions

The interviewer will most likely start by asking you a set of general questions to get to know you and your level of professionalism. It’s important to practice your answers ahead of time so you feel confident and prepared when the time comes!

“Tell me about yourself.” This is one of the most common questions interviewers start with. It’s a simple icebreaker question that shouldn’t be overlooked!

When answering, respond in a way that’s related to your industry and the type of work you’re pursuing. Provide your background, such as your education and work experience, as well as where you would like to go in your career.

“Why did you choose this career?” Many employers ask this question to gain an understanding of why you’ve chosen this career path. This provides an opportunity to share your passion for the industry and what motivates you.

“What goals do you have in your career?” This question provides an opportunity to share what you want to accomplish in your career and show that you’re goal-oriented. If you’re applying for a technician role but one day hope to advance to a service advisor role, this is the time to let the employer know.

“How do you plan to achieve these goals?” Being action-oriented is a quality many employers look for. When answering this question, provide specific steps you will take in order to achieve your goals.

“Tell me what you know about this company.” Employers want to know that you’ve researched their company, as this shows you have a genuine interest in working for them. Prior to your interview, make sure you have an understanding of what the company does. Knowing a little bit of the company’s history is a bonus.

“What do you consider your greatest strength?” When highlighting your strengths, explain how they relate to the role you’re being interviewed for. For example, if one of your strengths is having great communication skills, share how this will help you when working with customers.

“What is your greatest weakness?” This question can be tricky, but it’s important to not shy away from it. Describe your weakness in a short, concise way, and don’t feel like you have to go into great detail.

Be authentic in your answer, but don’t pick a weakness that will discount you as a candidate for the role. After describing your weakness, share how you’ve taken steps to improve.

“Where do you want to be five years from now?” It’s always good to think about the future. While you can’t always predict what you’ll be doing in exactly five years, employers ask this question to learn more about your career goals and how the position you’re applying for fits into your plan. Employers want to hire someone who is excited about the position and is ready to invest in the role.

“Tell me about some of your recent goals. What did you do to achieve them.” Mechanic job interview questions that require you to provide specific examples are common, so it’s wise to prepare a few experiences you can reflect on. Whether you’re discussing a class you took in school or a past work experience, provide enough detail about the specific steps you took to achieve your goal.

“Give me an example of a time when you were confronted by an angry customer. How did you handle the situation?” One of the top skills employers look for in technicians is good customer service.

When answering this question, provide a specific example and emphasize how you created a solution. Dealing with unhappy customers is inevitable, and employers look for someone who has the ability to turn the situation around.

“Why should I choose you for this position?” This simple question is one of the most impactful because it gives you a chance to sell yourself. What sets you apart from other candidates?

Take some time to think about how your skills and experience could be of value in this role, and practice answering this question aloud to ensure you hit all of the points when you’re asked.

Technical diesel mechanic interview questions

Many interviewers ask technical questions to get a feel for your industry knowledge. In fact, some employers may even have you perform a hands-on task during your interview! Here are some common technical diesel mechanic interview questions and answers:

• “Why would you perform a voltage drop test? How would you perform it and what would it tell you?”
• “What is the most difficult problem you’ve had to solve with a vehicle? Explain how you solved it.”
• “If you heard a noise from the front of a vehicle, suspected a wheel bearing failure and could not tell what side the noise was coming from, how would you diagnose which bearing it was?”
• “If you had an engine miss-fire and had no test equipment to determine which cylinder was miss-firing, how could you diagnose this?”
• “How would you diagnose a head gasket leak?”

Read: 5 Questions To Help You Find a Career You’ll Love

Questions To Ask the Interviewer

While a majority of the interview may be spent asking you questions, it’s important to have questions prepared for the interviewer as well. In addition to providing you with the information you need to make your decision about the opportunity, it will show the interviewer that you came prepared and are serious about the role. Even if you feel like you don’t have questions, always ask.

Here are some examples of thoughtful questions:

“Describe the culture of the company.” Asking about company culture can give you an idea of what the work environment would be like and whether it’s a good fit for you. For example, some workplaces are more formal in their management style while others are more casual. Company culture can play a big role in your happiness at a job overall, so this is an important question to ask.

“What does a typical day on the job look like?” While the job description and interview may provide you with a general idea of what you would be doing in the role, asking a specific question like this can help you to understand what a day in the life would be like. It’s important to learn as much as possible about the role to determine if this is the right fit for you.

“Who will I be working closely with?” Knowing who you’ll be working closely with can give you an idea of how the company’s hierarchy works. If you were chosen for the role, knowing this can give you an idea of who to ask your questions to.

“What does success look like in this position? How is it measured?” This question can help you determine the expectations for the role and set goals for yourself. It also shows your drive to succeed.

“What are some of the challenges of this role?” In addition to showing that you’re ready to overcome challenges, this question can further help you to determine if your skills are a good fit for the role and the obstacles you may face.

“What is the typical career path for someone in this role?” Asking this question can help you to learn if the company promotes from within. It also shows your interest in growing with the organization, which many employers value. However, just be careful to ask this question in a way that doesn’t seem overly self-serving.

“What are the next steps in the interview process?” Asking this question shows that you’re eager to move forward in the process. It can also give you information about the company’s timeline so you know what to expect going forward and when to follow up. 

Read: Train for a Career That’s In-Demand: Advice From a Diesel Employer

Additional questions to ask

Here are a few more specific questions you can ask to get a feel for what it would be like to work for the company:

• “What would my work schedule be?”
• “What tools do you require?”
• “How many employees do you have?”
• “What is your retention rate?”
• “Is this a year-round position?”
• “Does the company provide any type of ongoing training?”
• “What qualities are you looking for in an employee?”
• “Do you have multiple locations?”

Read: Diesel Service Manager Explains the Benefits of a Career in Diesel

Attire: What To Wear to a Mechanic Interview

When thinking about your upcoming interview, you’ve probably asked yourself, “What should I wear to a diesel mechanic interview?”

Dressing in the right attire for an interview shows that you’re serious about the position and are respectful of the interviewer’s time. According to Kelly Johnson, Career Advisor at UTI Long Beach, it’s important to dress professionally.

Kelly encourages students to be well-groomed, keeping their hair and facial hair trimmed. For clothing, she suggests wearing a nice, long-sleeve button-up shirt paired with dress slacks. When it comes to shoes, she tells students to wear their work boots as long as they are clean and in good condition.

Additionally, Kelly recommends keeping a backup pair of clothes in the car, because you never know if the employer may want to have you look in the shop or have a working interview!

Final Diesel Mechanic Interview Tips

In addition to preparing your questions, answers and attire for your interview, Kelly recommends acquiring certifications, like the EPA 608 Technician Certification. This certification is fairly inexpensive to complete and will likely impress employers when interviewing.

Last but certainly not least, it’s important to be confident. Once you’ve adequately prepared for the interview, take a deep breath and relax. Nerves are normal—in fact, a little bit of nerves can be good! Project confidence in your answers and enjoy the process. Good luck!

Read: Marcy Negron Follows Her Passion as a Transmission Technician

Train To Become a Diesel Mechanic

UTI’s 45-week Diesel Technology program is designed to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and hands-on training today’s industry requires—knowledge and skills employers want from their diesel technicians.^1,7,18

As you train for a career, our Career Services team will be there to support you every step of the way. To learn more, visit our program page and request information online or by calling us at 1-800-834-7308 today!

UTI Campuses That Offer Diesel Mechanic Training

• Avondale, Arizona
• Long Beach, California
• Rancho Cucamonga, California
• Sacramento, California
• Miramar, Florida
• Orlando, Florida
• Lisle, Illinois
• Bloomfield, New Jersey
• Exton, Pennsylvania
• Austin, Texas
• Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
• Houston, Texas