- 30 CNC Machinist Interview Questions. …
- What do you know about our company?
- Tell me about your process of inspecting finished products.
- What machines have you worked with and what did you build?
- What machine brands have you worked with?
- Have you ever performed product checks?
Computer numerical control (CNC) machines are manufacturing equipment that cut and move material according to instructions provided by CNC machine operators. Working with CNC machines may be a good career for people who enjoy mathematical and technical work. If you’re pursuing a career as a CNC machine operator, it’s a good idea to review the questions you might encounter in a job interview.In this article, we provide 64 potential questions that may be asked in a CNC machine operator interview and explore four example answers.
CNC Operator Interview Questions and Answer Examples
You and a team member disagree about a safety measure. How would you resolve this?
Displays the ability to work with others and adhere to rules.
Tell about the machines you’ve worked with in the past and what you did with them.
Details experience with machinery.
Interview Questions for Machinists:
Reveals inspection capabilities.
6 CNC Operator Interview Questions and Answers
What skills are most important to succeed as a CNC operator?
This question can help you see how well the candidate understands the roles and responsibilities of the job and the skills required to succeed. Within their response, a candidate should be able to effectively communicate a unique response that highlights some of his or her best skills qualifying them for the position. A qualified candidate is aware of the demands a CNC operator must meet and will express those clearly.
The candidate’s response should emphasize:
- Attention to detail
- Effective quality control practices
- Persistence
A response to this question may look like this:
Describe the most interesting part that you’ve made in the past.
CNC operators sometimes encounter complex part drawings that require a multi-step manufacturing process. Most experienced candidates will have an example they can share without much trouble. Asking this question helps you gauge how much experience the candidate has with complicated CNC programs. It can also give you an idea of how efficiently they can handle problems with programs that need code changes or measurement adjustments. What to look for in an answer:
- Experience with complex CNC programs
- Ability to handle problems with CNC programs
- Familiarity with difficult manufacturing processes
Describe how you inspect finished parts to ensure that they meet all specs.
CNC machining involves creating precision parts in various ways, and CNC operators are usually responsible for checking that the parts they produce meet specific dimension measurements. Operators should understand tolerances and be familiar with quality control practices. Pay attention to how much detail the candidate pays to balancing production against quality assurance and the importance of adhering to a manufacturing process. They should also be familiar with accurate measuring techniques and tools. What to look for in an answer:
- Knowledge of blueprints
- Understanding of measuring devices
- Familiarity with quality assurance
What’s an example of a time you argued for a process change, and how did you go about it?
Manufacturing processes often are improved thanks to insights from production workers like CNC operators. CNC programs sometimes aren’t as efficient as they could be when new parts are introduced, which is something operators can bring to the attention of engineers. Experienced candidates should have examples of these situations that they can discuss. Sometimes operators need to be assertive with engineers, so pay attention to the candidate’s approach to dealing with disagreements. What to look for in an answer:
- Attention to potential CNC program improvements
- Ability to make CNC programs more efficient
- Assertiveness when communicating ideas to engineers
What kinds of preventative maintenance have you performed on CNC machines in the past?
Asking this question tests how important the CNC operator candidate considers machine maintenance to be. It also will indicate how much experience they have with maintenance and machine troubleshooting. If they have work experience, they should be able to relate specific examples when answering the question. Pay attention to the candidate’s knowledge of potential problems that can happen when maintenance is neglected. What to look for in an answer:
- Knowledge of CNC machines
- Understanding of preventative maintenance
- Ability to communicate technical information
How do you handle time pressure when a job needs to ship the same day?
Production workers often find themselves in situations that require stress management when orders need to ship as soon as possible. Asking this question will gauge a CNC operator candidate’s experience with time pressure, but it’ll also shed light on how much they consider customer satisfaction. Pay attention to the level of professionalism they apply to the problem as they answer. For example, they should indicate that how the situation came about is unimportant. What to look for in an answer:
- Importance of customer satisfaction
- Time management skills
- Professional attitude
How have you improved your skills as a CNC machine operator?
This question helps interviewers evaluate your professional drive and motivation to grow. If youve taken any additional courses or attended optional training programs, this is a great time to talk about them. You can also talk about less formal methods youve used to improve your skills. For example, you could tell them you ask for frequent feedback on your work or describe a time you sought mentorship from a more experienced operator.
Example: “I found out through a coworker that there are quite a few courses you can take online to improve CNC skills. Ive completed courses on g-coding to become a better programmer. When theres time, I also observe coworkers who manage other machines. Even if I never use that machine myself, I feel that watching how they work has taught me how to operate my machines better.”
Interview questions with sample answers
Here are four interview questions with example answers to help you prepare your own responses:
Questions about experience and background
Youre likely to get questions during an interview about your work experience and background. Interviewers ask these questions so they can understand your qualifications for the job. Here are 20 questions an interviewer may ask about your experience and background:
Machining.Blog® is a weekly blog focused on manufacturing career development. It features blog articles on the fundamentals of manufacturing for aspiring machinists. Our goal is to create an interest in manufacturing in the USA. Our writer Matthew Schowalter has worked in manufacturing for 24 years, and he covers the topics that matter to someone starting their career in manufacturing.
Why Are You Interested In This Role?
The goal of asking this question is to learn about your motivation for being a machinist, as your enthusiasm will propel you to higher positions within the company. The interviewer also wants to know how dedicated you are.
Sample Answer:
“I’m interested in this position because of the hard tasks it entails, as well as my desire to operate the equipment professionally and meet customer expectations. I worked with many machines in the past and now I am completely prepared for this role.”
Why do you want to work as a machinist?
This is a test of your motivation. You should not say that you apply because you graduated from the field, or something similar. Try to focus on the future, not on the past.
Tell them that you enjoy doing what machinists typically do in work, that you see a bright future for this career, and that you have the skills that make from you a great candidate for the job–theoretical knowledge, some experience with operating the machine, attention to detail, precision in work, ability to concentrate on the task at hand, etc. They should hear some enthusiasm in your voice.
FAQ
How do I prepare for a machinist interview?
- What do you look for when inspecting finished workpieces? …
- Tell about the machines you’ve worked with in the past and what you did with them. …
- Have you ever done quality checks? …
- You and a team member disagree about a safety measure. …
- Are you able to read blueprints and schematics?
How do you interview a CNC Operator?
- What kinds of preventative maintenance have you performed on CNC machines in the past? …
- Describe how you inspect finished parts to ensure that they meet all specs. …
- Describe the most interesting part that you’ve made in the past.
Why should we hire you machinist?
“I’m interested in this position because of the hard tasks it entails, as well as my desire to operate the equipment professionally and meet customer expectations. I worked with many machines in the past and now I am completely prepared for this role.”
What should I wear to a CNC machinist interview?
