Drilling is its own skillset, but it shares skills with plenty other skilled trades, from welding to trucking. Read job descriptions carefully, and let interviewers know what crossover skills you might have.
This article is for people who want to work as a driller but don’t know how to get the job. Most of my advice is for employers.
There is a lot of information on the internet about “preparing for an interview,” but keep in mind that interviewing for a skilled trade job is very different from interviewing for an office job. These sources might be useful, but today we’ll focus on tips for interviews for jobs as a driller, assistant driller, or field technician.
The Top 30 Assistant Driller Interview Questions with Detailed Answers To Help You Prepare
Landing an assistant driller role is no easy feat. You’ll need to demonstrate technical expertise, leadership skills, and unflinching dedication to safety protocols. That’s why acing the interview is so crucial.
To help you put your best foot forward, I’ve compiled the 30 most common assistant driller interview questions along with tips on how to craft winning responses. With thorough preparation, you’ll be ready to impress hiring managers and take the next step in your drilling career.
Let’s dive in!
- Walk me through your experience in drilling operations. How has it prepared you for this role?
Interviewers want to gauge your hands-on experience and assess how it aligns with the assistant driller position. Highlight specific responsibilities you’ve held, the types of equipment you’re familiar with, and any specialized skills gained. Emphasize how this foundation makes you an ideal candidate to take on additional responsibilities and grow with their organization.
- How have you ensured safety compliance on drilling sites in previous jobs?
Drilling is inherently high-risk, so safety is paramount. Discuss the safety protocols and procedures you enforced, highlighting proactive measures like equipment checks, crew training, and hazard identification. Convey your vigilance and commitment to maintaining a secure work environment.
- What drilling machinery and tools are you most proficient with?
Rattle off specific equipment and briefly explain your competency. This displays your technical knowledge and versatility as an operator. Key tools to mention include top drives, mud pumps, BOP stacks, rigs, drill bits, and downhole tools like MWD systems.
- Walk me through a time you had to make a critical decision under pressure during drilling operations.
Recount a challenging situation, the split-second decision you made, and the outcome. Demonstrate critical thinking, technical know-how, and grace under fire. Emphasize how you prioritized safety while acting decisively to mitigate risks and continue operations.
- How familiar are you with drilling equipment maintenance procedures?
Detail your knowledge and experience with preventative maintenance, routine inspections, lubrication, part replacement, and troubleshooting equipment issues Convey your commitment to following manufacturers’ specifications to minimize breakdowns and safety hazards.
- Describe your experience with directional drilling. What are some key challenges?
Showcase your technical grasp of directional drilling and the intricacies of controlling drill path and borehole stability. Discuss hurdles like equipment failures, tricky geology, and the precision needed for accurate wellbore placement.
- How does communication factor into drilling operations? Give an example of when you demonstrated effective communication on the job.
Spotlight communication’s integral role in safety, efficiency, and morale. Recount a time you gave clear instructions to coordinate crews, resolved misunderstandings, or delivered feedback to improve performance.
- What have you done to minimize environmental impact during drilling projects?
Demonstrate your environmental awareness and stewardship. Discuss efforts like utilizing horizontal/directional drilling to reduce surface footprint, implementing proper waste management, monitoring wildlife, and employing low-impact operating practices.
- How would you respond to unexpected equipment failure during drilling operations?
Showcase your technical troubleshooting skills, safety mindset, and ability to react quickly under duress. Discuss inspecting equipment, attempting repairs, communicating issues to the team, stopping operations if necessary, and implementing contingency plans to minimize downtime.
- How would you assist in planning and executing a drilling program?
Prove you can collaborate effectively to deliver results. Discuss strategies like analyzing geological data, optimizing equipment selection, monitoring/adjusting progress, and implementing safety measures. Highlight communication and teamwork.
- Tell me about your experience handling drilling fluids and waste.
Detail your know-how related to drilling fluid selection, testing, monitoring, and maintenance. Emphasize your meticulous approach to environmental compliance when storing, handling, and disposing of drilling waste.
- Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult team member on a drilling site. How did you handle it?
Demonstrate professionalism, empathy, and tenacity by recounting how you approached the individual, suggested improvements, escalated the issue when necessary, and upheld safety standards throughout the situation.
- How do you verify and ensure the accuracy of key drilling parameters?
Discuss the advanced equipment and rigorous procedures you follow to collect precise real-time data. Highlight the importance of monitoring, documentation, equipment checks, training, and collaboration in maintaining accuracy.
- Tell me about your experience with well control procedures.
Prove your expertise by detailing your hands-on experience detecting/controlling kicks, deploying BOP stacks, circulating kill-weight mud, and implementing other well control measures during emergencies.
- If you had to train new crew members, how would you approach it?
Show you can impart technical knowledge and cultivate new talent. Discuss prioritizing safety, explaining equipment operations/maintenance, providing hands-on supervision, giving regular feedback, and reinforcing best practices.
- Walk me through your strategy when troubleshooting drilling equipment issues.
Demonstrate a methodical approach by discussing steps like inspecting equipment, diagnosing issues, consulting manuals/specialists, developing repair plans, and addressing problems while minimizing operational disruptions.
- Describe a time you improved processes or procedures during drilling operations.
By detailing an example like optimizing equipment changeovers or maintenance workflows, show how you boosted safety, efficiency, or productivity through critical thinking and process improvements.
- How do you handle the stresses and physical demands of drilling operations?
Prove your resilience, vigilance, and commitment to workplace safety. Discuss techniques like regular exercise, proper nutrition, adequate rest, open communication, and mindfulness practices that enable you to operate under pressure.
- Tell me about your experience with the latest drilling technologies and techniques like managed pressure drilling.
Demonstrate you stay current by detailing your hands-on experience and knowledge related to innovative tools like rotary steerable systems, top drives, high-tech mud systems, and data analytics software.
- Describe a time you had to adhere to strict drilling regulations. How did you ensure compliance?
Reassure interviewers by recounting how you monitored operations, conducted training, implemented tracking tools, performed routine audits, and collaborated with regulatory bodies to satisfy all guidelines.
- How would you handle a situation where you disagreed with the drillers’ decision?
Affirm your respect for leadership while tactfully asserting your readiness to voice concerns, understand differing perspectives, follow proper protocols, and maintain open communication in service of the team’s cohesion and success.
- What preparations would you make at a drilling site before operations to ensure safety?
Demonstrate vigilance by discussing critical steps like hazard identification, implementing preventive measures, PPE requirements, emergency response training, and equipment inspections/maintenance to guarantee site readiness.
- Tell me about a time you worked in challenging weather conditions. How did you adapt?
By recounting your resilience operating offshore rigs or job sites in extreme weather, prove you can quickly implement safety protocols, modify operations, and lead teams through adversity.
- What steps do you take to ensure accurate documentation and reporting?
Cite diligent practices like double-checking data, using digital tools, adhering to standardized formats, soliciting feedback, and continuous training as evidence of your meticulous approach to precise record-keeping and reporting.
- Describe your experience working with automated drilling systems.
Detail your hands-on experience operating automated rigs, top drives, pipe handling systems, and drilling control software. Underscore your ability to optimize performance, oversee operations, and troubleshoot issues.
- Recall a time you responded to an emergency or crisis during drilling operations.
Illustrate your crisis management skills by walking through a challenging scenario, your real-time response, how you prioritized safety, and the ultimate resolution.
- How do you stay current with the latest safety standards and drilling regulations?
Demonstrate proactive learning by citing use of publications, trade groups, seminars, on-site training, and government resources to remain apprised of evolving guidelines you integrate into daily operations.
- Tell me about your experience with rigging up and down drilling equipment.
By summarizing your step-by-step participation in rig assembly/disassembly, highlight hands-on expertise, safety consciousness, technical savvy, communication, and preparedness to perform these critical procedures.
- What would your approach be if drilling operations weren’t going according to plan?
Affirm you’re poised under pressure by discussing steps like swiftly assessing issues, implementing contingencies, stopping operations if necessary, consulting experts, communicating changes, and realigning the team towards solutions.
- Imagine you disagreed with the drilling plan or approach. How would you handle it?
Tactfully assert you would communicate concerns directly but respectfully, offer alternatives, follow proper hierarchy and safety protocols, and maintain a collaborative spirit to arrive at the right solution, even amid disagreements.
Mastering the Art of Drilling Interviews
Preparing for an assistant driller role interview is no small feat. You need to demonstrate a rare blend of leadership, technical expertise, problem-solving ability
Be a Team Player
Identify your experiences in working with a team. As a driller, you will always be working with a small group, so you will need to be able to communicate well and sometimes make good decisions.
Tell Them What You Do
Highlight any transferable skills you have acquired in your career. Have you ever worked on heavy equipment (even if it wasn’t a drill)? Do you have a CDL? Read the job description ahead of time and figure out what skills and knowledge you can bring to the table.
Assistant Driller Job Duties and Responsibilities | Oil and Gas
What questions are asked in an assistant driller interview?
During the interview, you will be asked a variety of questions about your experience, skills, and qualifications. You will also be asked questions about your knowledge of the drilling process and safety procedures. To help you prepare for your interview, we have compiled a list of the most common assistant driller interview questions and answers.
What are Driller interview questions?
Driller interview questions will assess your experience and competence in this area. If you’re looking for a job as a driller, it’s important to be prepared for the interview. This guide will help you do just that by providing you with some common driller interview questions and answers. Are you comfortable working in confined spaces?
How do you answer a drill interview question?
This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have unique skills and abilities. You can answer this question by describing a skill or ability that makes you stand out from other drilling engineers. This could be something like having experience with a specific type of drill, working in a remote location or being bilingual.
What does an assistant driller do?
An assistant driller is responsible for the operation of drilling rigs and related equipment. They also supervise the activities of the drilling crew and maintain the rigs. If you want to become an assistant driller, you will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent.
