The Complete Guide to Acing Your Preventative Maintenance Technician Interview

Preparing for a preventative maintenance technician interview? You’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide an overview of the preventative maintenance technician role, typical interview questions you can expect, and detailed sample answers to help you craft winning responses.

Whether you’re fresh out of technical school or a seasoned maintenance pro, interviewing for a new preventative maintenance technician position can be nerve-wracking. However, understanding what skills and competencies employers look for and going in armed with strong example stories can give you a leg up on the competition.

Read on to learn insider tips and tricks to help you land your next preventative maintenance technician job.

What is a Preventative Maintenance Technician?

Preventative maintenance (PM) technicians are responsible for the upkeep and repair of equipment, machinery, and facilities Unlike reactive maintenance, which involves fixing things when they break, preventative maintenance focuses on proactively servicing assets to avoid breakdowns and optimize performance.

Typical preventative maintenance technician duties include:

• Performing scheduled equipment inspections and tune-ups
• Diagnosing issues and making repairs
• Replacing worn components
• Maintaining maintenance logs and documentation
• Identifying improvement opportunities
• Collaborating with production teams

Strong technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and communication abilities are must-haves for success in this hands-on role. PM techs may work in factories, plants, hospitals, commercial buildings, or other facilities with mechanical systems.

Why Are PM Tech Interviews Important?

The preventative maintenance technician interview allows hiring managers to assess your technical proficiency, soft skills, and workplace competencies relevant to the role. It’s your chance to showcase your maintenance experience and make a case for why you are the ideal candidate.

Do your homework ahead of time to learn about the facility or organization you’re interviewing with. Understanding their specific equipment maintenance challenges and goals will help you craft tailored responses.

You don’t need to memorize textbook definitions or get too technical. The main objective is proving you have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the PM technician job duties successfully.

12 Common Preventative Maintenance Technician Interview Questions

Here are twelve of the most frequently asked preventative maintenance technician interview questions along with suggestions for responding:

1. Tell me about your experience with preventative maintenance.

This open-ended question allows you to provide an overview of your relevant PM work history. Focus on highlighting specific tasks and achievements rather than just listing job titles.

Sample Response

In my current role as a preventative maintenance technician at Acme Manufacturing, I conduct weekly inspections of hydraulic presses and CNC machines on the production floor. This involves oil changes, lubrication, belt adjustments, and component swaps. I schedule maintenance with team leads to minimize downtime. Last year, I created a PM tracking database which has helped improve compliance by 15%.

2. How do you handle emergency or unplanned repairs?

This behavioral question tests your time management and priority-setting abilities. Demonstrate you can balance preventative maintenance with reactive work skillfully.

Sample Response:

When an unexpected equipment failure happens, I assess the situation quickly to understand the root cause and determine the optimal repair approach. I leverage my troubleshooting experience to diagnose issues efficiently. If I encounter an unfamiliar problem, I consult maintenance manuals or colleagues for guidance. I keep stakeholders informed about the status and timeline while working safely and swiftly to return the asset to service.

3. What qualities are most important for a preventative maintenance technician?

This question evaluates whether you understand the key competencies needed to excel as a PM tech. Emphasize must-have soft skills along with technical capabilities.

Sample Response:

Preventative maintenance technicians need strong technical knowledge of equipment systems as well as crucial soft skills like organization, communication, and problem-solving. Attention to detail is key when performing inspections – you must be meticulous and have an eye for spotting issues proactively. Time management and planning abilities are also vital for balancing preventative and reactive work. The best PM techs have excellent manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination as well. Most importantly, safety-mindedness is an absolute must to avoid hazards on the job.

4. How do you stay up-to-date on maintenance best practices and new technologies?

This question tests your commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Show you are always looking to improve your technical knowledge and skills.

Sample Response:

I make a point to continually expand my maintenance knowledge and expertise. I regularly read industry publications, take online courses, and attend seminars to learn about emerging technologies, tools, and best practices. When I encounter an unfamiliar repair, I thoroughly research the asset to expand my skills. I’m an active member in discussion forums and maintenance professional associations where I can exchange insights with peers. Within my own facility, I cross-train with experienced technicians and volunteer for challenging assignments.

5. Why is preventative maintenance important?

This common question assesses your understanding of why PM is a vital part of asset management programs. Explain the key benefits it provides.

Sample Response:

Preventative maintenance is crucial for several reasons. It helps avoid unexpected downtime by catching issues before they cause breakdowns. This results in less lost production time and revenue compared to reactive maintenance. It also extends the useful life of equipment. Moreover, PM improves system reliability and product quality by keeping assets performing optimally. It’s far more cost-effective than repairs or replacements needed from deferred maintenance.

6. How do you prioritize your preventative maintenance workload?

Employers want to know your time management and organizational process for balancing PM tasks. Show you use a systematic approach.

Sample Response:

I utilize a computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) to track and schedule all PM work orders. This system allows me to see upcoming inspections and maintenance needs at a glance. I touch base with department leads regularly to understand which equipment is most critical based on the production schedule. This helps me properly prioritize and sequence my PM workload. I also collaborate with the operations team when planning large overhauls that may require shutdowns. My goal is maximizing asset uptime and minimizing disruptions to production.

7. What maintenance tools or equipment are you skilled at using?

This question evaluates your hands-on mechanical competencies and technical capabilities. Respond confidently by listing specific tools you have experience with.

Sample Response:

Throughout my maintenance career, I’ve become adept at using a wide variety of tools and equipment. For inspections, that includes ultrasonic thickness gauges, infrared thermometers, multimeters, and vibration analyzers. For repairs and PM tasks, I’m highly skilled with hydraulic torque wrenches, pneumatic tools, precision measuring instruments, rigging equipment, and manual machinist tools. I’m also comfortable operating cranes, forklifts, and aerial work platforms safely per OSHA standards.

8. How would you inspect an AC system as part of a PM program?

Expect at least a few technical questions specific to equipment you’ll work on if hired. Use industry terms in your response and demonstrate logical inspection procedures.

Sample Response:

When inspecting AC systems, I start by visually checking all components for signs of wear, corrosion, or damage. I verify refrigerant levels visually as well. Next, I perform an operational inspection, measuring supply and return temperatures, pressures, voltage, and amperage. I’d also check for leaks, odd noises or vibrations, and airflow issues when the system is running. Filters would be changed if dirty. Finally, I would use a combustion analyzer to inspect burner operation and emissions before completing any necessary adjustments, cleaning, or repairs.

9. What steps would you take if you discovered a safety hazard on the job?

This question tests your safety knowledge and commitment to following proper protocols. Emphasize you always prioritize safety.

Sample Response:

If I discovered a safety hazard such as a slippery oil leak or ungrounded electrical connection, I would take immediate action. First, I would cordon off the area using cones, tape, or signage to prevent access until the issue is addressed. Next, I would notify my supervisor and maintenance team lead about the hazard. We would then coordinate the proper remediation plan, whether that involves cleaning up the spill, repairing the electrical fault, or calling in a specialized contractor. I would also document the safety hazard and mitigation steps taken in our hazard log.

10. How do you ensure your preventative maintenance work is high quality?

This behavioral question allows you to demonstrate your commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in your work. Share examples of how you verify and enhance PM quality.

Sample Response:

I use formal quality assurance processes for all my PM tasks. I adhere strictly to equipment specs and maintenance manuals for inspections and repairs. Afterwards, I perform functionality tests on the machinery and document results. I also request feedback from production teams on any asset performance improvements they notice post-maintenance. If any deficiencies are reported, I troubleshoot immediately to address them. I routinely review my PM checklists and procedures to identify areas for improvement as well. My goal is optimizing equipment effectiveness