20 Duke Energy Interview Questions and Answers

Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Duke Energy has approximately 29,000 employees and a service territory that covers approximately 100,000 square miles.

Duke Energy is known for its rigorous interview process, which often includes questions that are specific to the company. If you’re preparing for an interview with Duke Energy, it’s important to be familiar with the types of questions that you may be asked.

In this article, we’ll provide some examples of Duke Energy interview questions that you may be asked, as well as some tips on how to answer them.

Duke Energy Interview Process

The interview process at Duke Energy can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most interviews will involve behavioral questions and may last up to an hour. In some cases, panel interviews or phone screens may be used. The overall experience is generally positive, although some applicants have found the process to be somewhat unstructured.

1. What is your current salary?

Duke Energy wants to know what you’re currently making so they can determine if they can offer you a competitive salary. If your current salary is higher than the job posting, it’s likely that Duke Energy will not be able to match it. However, if your salary is lower than the posted rate, they may still consider hiring you at that rate.

Example: “I’m currently making $50,000 per year as an accountant for a small business. I am looking for a career change and would love to work for a company like yours where I could use my skills in accounting to help grow a large corporation.”

2. How would you handle a customer complaint if they were unhappy with their service?

Duke Energy is a large utility company that provides electricity to millions of customers. As such, it’s likely you’ll encounter some unhappy customers during your time with the company. Interviewers want to know how you would handle these situations and ensure they’re satisfied with their service. Use examples from past experience in which you helped resolve customer complaints.

Example: “I have had several experiences where I’ve encountered unhappy customers. In one instance, a customer called me because her power was out for over 24 hours. I apologized for the inconvenience and offered her a $50 credit on her bill. She accepted my apology and agreed to accept the credit. Another time, a customer called me because he thought his bill was too high. After explaining our billing system to him, he understood why his bill was so high and decided to pay it.”

3. Why do you want to work at Duke Energy?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for Duke Energy. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific about the company that interests you or how your skills and experience align with their job listing.

Example: “I want to work at Duke Energy because I am passionate about renewable energy sources. In my last role as an engineer, I worked on developing new solar panels that were more efficient than previous models. Working here would allow me to continue working in this field while also helping people save money by using renewable energy.”

4. Is there anything else that we should know about you that isn’t included in your resume?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and interests. It also gives you an opportunity to see if they have any unique skills or experiences that might be useful in this role. If you are hiring for a specific position, it can be helpful to ask questions related to that job.

Example: “I am very passionate about renewable energy, so I volunteer at my local solar farm every weekend. I enjoy working with others who share my passion for clean energy and educating people about its benefits. I think Duke Energy would be a great fit for me because of your commitment to renewable energy.”

5. What experiences have you had with customers who are deaf and/or hard of hearing?

Duke Energy is a large company that serves many customers. The interviewer wants to know how you will handle any challenges that may arise with customers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Use examples from your experience in customer service to show the interviewer that you can communicate effectively with all types of people and help them solve problems.

Example: “In my previous role, I worked as an assistant manager at a local coffee shop. One day, we had a customer come into the store who was deaf. We didn’t have anyone on staff who knew sign language, so I asked one of our baristas if they could learn some basic signs for me. They learned several common phrases like ‘I would like’ and ‘thank you.’

The next time the customer came in, I used those phrases to communicate with them. It took us a few tries to get it right, but eventually, we were able to understand each other. After that, I made sure to always ask employees if they wanted to learn more about communicating with deaf and hard of hearing customers.”

6. Tell me about a time where you had a difficult customer or coworker, how did you handle the situation?

Duke Energy wants to know how you handle conflict and challenging situations. This question can help the interviewer determine your problem-solving skills, communication skills and ability to work with others. Use examples from your experience where you were able to resolve a conflict or disagreement in a positive way.

Example: “In my previous position as an account manager, I had a coworker who was always late for meetings. It became a challenge because he would often miss important information that we needed to discuss during our meetings. I approached him privately about his tardiness and explained how it was affecting our team’s productivity. He understood and made sure to arrive on time for all future meetings.”

7. What experience do you have working on projects from start to finish?

Duke Energy is a large company that requires employees to work on projects from start to finish. The interviewer wants to know if you have the experience working on projects of this size and complexity. Use examples from your past job or describe what you would do in this situation.

Example: “In my last position, I worked on several projects at once. One project was updating our customer service software. This required me to research different options, create a list of vendors and compare their products. Then, I had to choose which vendor we wanted to use and negotiate with them for pricing. After that, I had to implement the new system into our current one. It took about six months to complete.”

8. Do you feel comfortable working independently?

Duke Energy is a large company that offers many opportunities for advancement. However, some positions require employees to work independently and make decisions without the help of others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you feel about working alone and what your previous experience has been with independent work.

Example: “I have worked in my current position as an accountant for five years now, and I’ve always felt comfortable working independently. In fact, I enjoy having the freedom to make my own decisions and learn from them. My previous employer was very hands-off when it came to accounting, so I learned how to manage my time and stay organized on my own.”

9. Describe any project management skills you may have.

Duke Energy is a large company that requires employees to manage projects. Employers ask this question to see if you have the skills necessary to complete tasks and meet deadlines. Use your answer to explain how you plan, organize and delegate tasks. Share an example of a time when you successfully completed a project.

Example: “In my last position as a marketing manager, I had to create a new campaign for our product line. My team and I met to discuss ideas and brainstormed several concepts. We decided on one idea and created a budget based on what we needed. I delegated tasks to each member of my team so we could all work on different aspects of the campaign. In the end, we launched the new campaign and saw a 10% increase in sales.”

10. Give an example of a time when you had to be very strategic in order to meet all your top priorities.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and manage competing priorities. Use examples from previous roles to highlight your ability to plan ahead, set goals and meet deadlines.

Example: “In my last role as a marketing manager for a small business, I had to be very strategic in order to meet all of my top priorities. One of my main responsibilities was creating content that would attract new customers while also maintaining existing relationships with current clients. In order to do this, I created a strategy where I would create one piece of content per week that would appeal to both audiences. This helped me maintain relationships with our current clientele while also attracting new customers.”

11. Have you ever encountered a major problem while working on a team? If so, what was it and how did you resolve it?

Duke Energy wants to know that you can work well with others and resolve conflicts. This question helps the interviewer determine your problem-solving skills, communication skills and teamwork abilities. In your answer, explain how you resolved the conflict and what steps you took to ensure it didn’t happen again.

Example: “At my previous job, I was working on a team project when one of my teammates submitted their part of the assignment late. The rest of us had already completed our parts, so we were unable to submit ours on time. We decided to resubmit our assignments later in the semester, but this meant we all lost points for submitting late. To prevent this from happening again, we agreed to set up weekly meetings to check in with each other about our progress.”

12. What type of engineering skills do you have?

Duke Energy is a large company that needs many different types of engineers. The interviewer wants to know what type of engineering skills you have and how they can apply them to this role. Use your answer to highlight the specific skills you have, such as problem-solving, communication or leadership.

Example: “I am an electrical engineer with five years of experience in both residential and commercial projects. I also have two years of experience working on energy efficiency projects. In my last position, I worked on a team of engineers who were all experts in their own field. We would collaborate together to solve problems and find solutions for our clients.”

13. How well do you think you would fit into our company culture?

Duke Energy is a large company with many different departments. The interviewer wants to know how you would fit into their specific department and the overall culture of Duke Energy. Show that you have done your research on the company and understand what they value most.

Example: “I’ve read about some of the initiatives Duke Energy has in place, such as its commitment to renewable energy sources. I think my values align well with those initiatives, which makes me excited to work for this company. I also love the idea of working in a team environment where we all support each other’s success. I’m looking forward to learning more about the culture here.”

14. Describe a time when you saw something unsafe happening, but you felt uncomfortable saying something due to influence of others around you; what did you do?

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and willingness to speak up when you see something wrong happening. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the situation in detail and explain how you overcame your discomfort to take action.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at a restaurant, I noticed that our servers were not being tipped properly by customers. This happened often enough that I knew it wasn’t just one or two instances of bad tipping but rather a pattern. However, my managers told me they didn’t want me to mention anything about it to the wait staff because we had recently implemented a new policy where tips were pooled among all employees. They said if I mentioned it, it would make them look like they weren’t doing their job.”

15. Have you worked with budgeting previously?

Duke Energy is a large company that requires its employees to work with budgets. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working with budgets and how well you can manage your time. Use your answer to highlight any budgeting skills you have, such as the ability to create a budget or analyze financial data.

Example: “I’ve worked with creating budgets in my previous positions. I find it helpful to use software programs like Excel to help me organize my thoughts when creating a budget. I also find it beneficial to break down my budget into smaller categories so I can better understand where my money is going. This helps me make adjustments to my spending habits and save more of my paycheck.”

16. Can you tell us about a time you solved a technical problem without help?

This question can help the interviewer understand your problem-solving skills and how you apply them to technical issues. Use examples from your previous job or a time when you helped a friend with computer problems.

Example: “At my last job, I had a coworker who was having trouble connecting to our company’s network. He tried everything he could think of, but nothing worked. Finally, he asked me for help. After looking at his computer settings, I realized that he hadn’t changed his password after we updated it. Once he reset his password, he was able to connect.”

17. How would you go about getting funding for a new project idea?

Duke Energy is a large company that has many departments. As an employee, you may have ideas for new projects or ways to improve existing processes. This question helps the interviewer determine how well you collaborate with others and your ability to communicate your ideas effectively. Use examples from past experience when answering this question.

Example: “I would first present my idea to my supervisor. If they thought it was a good one, I would then meet with other members of my team to discuss the project further. We would decide on a timeline for completion and create a budget for the project. Then we would submit our proposal to upper management for approval.”

18. Tell me about a time where you had to solve a complex issue.

This question can help the interviewer understand your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. Use examples from previous work experiences to highlight your critical thinking, analytical and reasoning skills.

Example: “At my current position, I had a customer who was having issues with their bill. They were calling in frequently asking for assistance, so I decided to call them to see if there was anything else we could do to assist them. After talking with them, they mentioned that they hadn’t received their bill in over two months. We immediately sent out a new bill and contacted our billing department to ensure this wouldn’t happen again. The customer was happy with our response and appreciated us taking care of the issue.”

19. What type of experience do you have working with energy efficiency programs?

Duke Energy is a leader in the energy efficiency industry, and your answer to this question can show the interviewer that you have experience working with similar programs. Use examples from your previous job or explain how you would implement an energy efficiency program if you haven’t worked with one before.

Example: “In my last position as an environmental specialist, I helped create a plan for Duke Energy’s customers to reduce their carbon footprint by 20% within five years. We created a variety of different initiatives including home improvement projects, renewable energy sources and more efficient appliances. The company exceeded its goal two years early.”

20. Do you prefer working in teams or individually?

Duke Energy is a large company that often requires employees to work in teams. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience working with others and how well you collaborate. Showcase your interpersonal skills by explaining how you enjoy teamwork and collaboration.

Example: “I find I am most productive when I can work both individually and collaboratively. When I’m working on my own, I like to take time to reflect on the project and make sure I understand all of its components. Then, I feel more comfortable collaborating with other team members to discuss ideas and brainstorm solutions. I think this balance between individual and group work helps me produce high-quality results.”