Apprentice Bricklayer Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Most Apprentice Bricklayer interviews in the UK follow a pattern, and knowing it beats guessing. Below are eight questions from our bank of 12, each with a note on what the interviewer is really after.

Eight Apprentice Bricklayer interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. What brickwork bonds do you know, and where would you use each one?

Why they ask: Bonds are basic bricklaying knowledge and show how much you have learned at college or on site.

2. How do you mix mortar for brickwork, and why does the mix matter?

Why they ask: Mortar mixing is a daily task and wrong mixes cause weak or cracking walls.

3. Why do you want to become a bricklayer, and what do you think a typical day involves?

Why they ask: They want commitment to the trade and realistic expectations of physical outdoor work.

4. How do you set out and build a straight, level and plumb wall? Which tools do you use?

Why they ask: Accuracy in setting out is the main measure of quality in bricklaying.

5. What is a damp proof course, where is it positioned in a wall, and why are movement joints needed?

Why they ask: They want to test your understanding of key building-in details that protect the structure.

6. You arrive on site and notice a scaffold lift where a guard rail is missing, and your supervisor says to just get on with the wall. What do you do?

Why they ask: Work at height safety is a critical issue on every building site.

7. You come back after a break and notice that a corner you built earlier this morning is out of plumb by a few millimetres. What do you do?

Why they ask: Quality and honesty with unseen mistakes are essential for a tradesperson.

8. Tell me about a time you had to learn a new practical skill from a more experienced person, and how you went about it.

Why they ask: They want to see you can take instruction and develop skills as an apprentice.

A sample answer to question 1

What brickwork bonds do you know, and where would you use each one?

Bond is the pattern in which bricks overlap so the wall spreads loads and does not develop continuous vertical joints. Stretcher bond, with every brick laid lengthways and each course half a brick offset, is the most common for half-brick leaves of cavity walls. English bond alternates courses of stretchers and headers and is very strong, used for thick walls, retaining walls and traditional Victorian-style work. Flemish bond alternates stretchers and headers in each course, looks attractive and is often used on facing brickwork for period-style houses and repairs. I have also practised Flemish garden wall bond and header bond for curved work. The key rule is keeping the perpend joints, the vertical joints, correctly lapped, normally by at least a quarter of a brick, and using closers and queen closers at corners and reveals so the bond holds throughout.

Common mistake to avoid: Confusing English and Flemish bond; ignoring perpend lap

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 12 questions are on the Apprentice Bricklayer interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.