Welder Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Applying for a Welder job in the UK? Here is what you are likely to be asked. These questions come from our Welder question bank of 25 questions, written for UK employers at mid-level level.

Eight Welder interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. What are the main differences between MIG, TIG and MMA welding, and when would you use each?

Why they ask: This is the opener for most welding interviews; they want to know you can choose the right process.

2. What is the relationship between a WPS, a WPQR and welder qualification to BS EN ISO 9606-1?

Why they ask: Coded work depends on this documentation, so they want to see you understand the chain of approval.

3. What are the common weld defects and what causes them?

Why they ask: Spotting and preventing defects is core to quality, so they test your diagnostic ability.

4. How do you prepare a joint for welding, and what checks do you make before striking an arc?

Why they ask: Preparation affects quality more than anything else, so they want to see good habits.

5. What health and safety hazards are associated with welding, and how do you control them?

Why they ask: They want to see you are safe on a shop floor and know the specific hazards.

6. You are asked to weld a joint but the material and thickness aren't covered by your welder qualification. What do you do?

Why they ask: They want to see integrity about coded work and your understanding of qualification limits.

7. Tell me about a time you had to weld to a high standard, such as on coded or inspected work.

Why they ask: They want evidence of discipline in following procedure and delivering quality under inspection.

8. What does a typical day for a welder involve?

Why they ask: They want to be sure you understand the working pattern of the role.

A sample answer to question 1

What are the main differences between MIG, TIG and MMA welding, and when would you use each?

MIG, or MAG with an active gas, uses a continuously fed wire and shielding gas. It's fast, easy to learn and good for mild steel, stainless and aluminium production work and thicker sections. TIG uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and a separate filler rod with argon shielding. It's slower but gives the cleanest, most precise welds, so I'd use it for thin material, stainless, aluminium, pipe root runs and critical or visible work. MMA, or stick, uses a flux-coated electrode that creates its own shield. It's portable, copes with wind and dirty or rusty steel, and is good for site work and structural repairs. I'd choose based on material, thickness, position, quality requirements, location and speed. In practice, I've used MIG for fabrication, TIG for stainless and pipework, and MMA for outdoor structural steel.

Common mistake to avoid: Saying one is simply better; Mixing up the shielding gases

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 25 questions are on the Welder interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.