20 National Grid Interview Questions and Answers

As one of the largest electricity and gas transmission system operators in the world, National Grid is always looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join their team. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to interview for a position at National Grid, you can expect to be asked some tough questions about your skills and experience.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common National Grid interview questions, along with sample answers to give you an idea of what the company is looking for.

National Grid Interview Process

The interview process at National Grid can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two rounds of interviews, with the first being a phone screen with HR. The second round of interviews is usually with the hiring manager and/or potential team members, and may include a case study or presentation. For some positions, there may also be a third round of interviews. Overall, the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

1. What is your understanding of the electric industry?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the industry and how you can apply it to National Grid’s work. When answering, make sure to include information that shows you have done research on the company and its role in the electric industry.

Example: “I understand that the electric industry is one of the most important industries because it provides power for homes and businesses. I also know that there are many different types of energy sources, including renewable and nonrenewable. In my last position, I worked with both types of energy sources and learned how to manage them effectively.”

2. If hired, what would you want to learn about at National Grid?

This question is an opportunity to show your interest in the company and its culture. You can use this time to ask about a specific department or project that interests you, such as renewable energy initiatives or community outreach programs.

Example: “I’m very interested in learning more about National Grid’s commitment to clean energy. I’ve been following some of your projects online and am impressed by how much progress you’re making toward reducing carbon emissions. If hired, I would like to learn more about the process for developing new technologies and implementing them into the grid.”

3. Are you prepared to travel for this position?

National Grid is a global company that requires its employees to travel. This question helps the interviewer determine if you are prepared for this aspect of the job. In your answer, explain how you feel about traveling and what steps you would take to prepare yourself for it.

Example: “I am excited to learn that I will be working with a global company like National Grid. As someone who has worked in the field for many years, I have developed my own strategies for preparing myself for long trips. For example, I always make sure to pack light so that I can easily transport my belongings from one location to another. I also try to get plenty of rest before any trip so that I can stay energized throughout the duration.”

4. How do you feel about working in a team environment?

National Grid is a large company that requires employees to work in teams. The interviewer wants to know if you’re comfortable working with others and collaborating on projects. Show the interviewer that you enjoy teamwork by explaining how you feel about it and what your experiences have been like.

Example: “I love working in a team environment because I find it more rewarding than working alone. I’ve always enjoyed helping my colleagues, especially when they need assistance or advice. Working as part of a team has helped me develop my communication skills and learn from other people’s perspectives.”

5. Describe a time when you had to effectively communicate with a difficult customer or coworker.

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and challenging situations. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation and the steps you took to resolve it or improve your communication skills.

Example: “In my previous role as an account manager, I had a coworker who was very critical of my work. This made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough to meet their expectations. I scheduled a meeting with them to discuss this issue. They were surprised that I wanted to talk about our relationship, but they agreed to have a conversation with me. We talked about what they expected from me and how I could do better at my job. After that conversation, we became much more productive together.”

6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s used to determine your career goals. When answering this question, be honest about what you want for yourself. If you’re unsure of where you’ll be in five years, explain that you hope to have progressed within the company or industry.

Example: “I see myself as an executive director at National Grid by 2023. I would like to continue working here because I love the culture and feel passionate about the work we do. In five years, I’d also like to have earned my MBA.”

7. Tell me about an experience where you worked on a project that was unsuccessful, and how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can learn from past mistakes. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about the situation but also highlight what you learned from it.

Example: “I once worked on a project that was unsuccessful because I didn’t do enough research before starting. The client wanted me to create an app for their company, however, they didn’t have any information or specifications of what they were looking for in the app. I should’ve asked more questions during our initial meeting so I could better understand what they needed.”

8. Can you describe a situation where you had to make sure all parties involved were satisfied?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and resolve issues. Use examples from your experience where you had to work with multiple parties, such as customers or coworkers, to ensure everyone was satisfied with a solution or outcome.

Example: “In my previous role, I worked with several different departments to make sure our company’s customer service department could answer all questions and concerns in a timely manner. If one team member didn’t know an answer, we would find someone who did so that the customer always received a satisfactory response.”

9. Do you have any experience creating reports?

National Grid needs employees who can create reports that are easy to read and understand. Your answer should show the interviewer you have experience creating clear, concise reports.

Example: “In my last position as a project manager, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of our projects. This included making sure we met deadlines, staying within budget and ensuring quality work. To do this, I created weekly status reports that outlined what each team member was working on and any issues they were facing. These reports helped me communicate with my team members and ensure everyone knew what their responsibilities were.”

10. Have you ever managed a large group of people before?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and how you can manage a team of people. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the skills you have that make you a good leader.

Example: “I’ve managed a large group of people before at my previous job where I was in charge of managing a team of customer service representatives. In this role, I had to delegate tasks to my employees so they could work on them independently while also providing guidance when needed. This helped me learn more about what motivates different types of personalities and how to communicate with all types of people.”

11. Would you say that you are more comfortable leading meetings or attending meetings?

This question is designed to assess your leadership skills. As a manager, you will be responsible for leading meetings and communicating with your team members about important company information. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the types of meetings you have led in the past and what made them successful.

Example: “I would say that I am more comfortable attending meetings than leading them. In my previous position, I was often tasked with attending weekly staff meetings where we discussed our progress on projects and any issues we were facing. I found these meetings to be very beneficial because they allowed me to learn from other employees and share my own ideas and suggestions.”

12. Are you familiar with using Microsoft Office Suite?

This question is a basic test of your computer skills. It’s important to show that you can use the most common programs, including Microsoft Word and Excel. If you’re not familiar with these programs, it’s best to practice using them before your interview so you can demonstrate your knowledge during the meeting.

Example: “I am very familiar with Microsoft Office Suite. I have used all of its programs since my freshman year in college when I took an introductory course on computers. I’ve also taken several advanced courses on how to use each program more efficiently. I find that being proficient in these programs helps me complete work faster and more accurately.”

13. Describe a time when you were under pressure but still delivered quality work.

This question is a great way to show your ability to handle pressure and still perform well. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the situation in detail and explain how you handled it.

Example: “When I was working as an IT specialist for a small business, we were under pressure to complete a project before our deadline. We had already worked long hours and weekends to get everything ready, but there was one last thing that needed to be done. I volunteered to stay late to finish the work so my team could go home and rest. It took me longer than expected, but I got the job done and ensured the company met its deadline.”

14. At National Grid we believe that being innovative helps us stay competitive. How do you think you can help our company be innovative?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have what it takes to be a valuable team member. Use examples from your past experience of how you helped your company or organization become more innovative and efficient.

Example: “In my last role, I was part of a team that developed new software for our inventory management system. The software we created allowed us to track all incoming and outgoing products in real time, which made it easier for us to identify any issues with stock levels. This innovation saved the company money by reducing the number of times we had to send employees out to check on stock levels.”

15. Give an example of a time when you created and implemented a new process.

This question is an opportunity to showcase your problem-solving and critical thinking skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of how you used these skills to create a new process that benefited the company or organization.

Example: “At my current job, I noticed that we were spending too much time on paperwork for our customers. We had multiple forms that needed to be filled out when there was a service interruption. This led me to create a single form that could be filled out by both the customer and the technician. The form included all of the information that was previously collected in separate documents, which saved us time and improved our customer service.”

16. Why should we offer you this internship over other candidates?

This question is an opportunity to show your passion for the position and why you are a good fit. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight any skills or experiences that make you unique from other candidates.

Example: “I am passionate about clean energy and want to help create more of it. I have been researching different renewable energy sources and how National Grid has implemented them in the past. I think my research would be useful to the company as we continue to develop new ways to produce clean energy.”

17. We need someone who has strong analytical skills, tell me about a time when you used data to draw conclusions and solve problems.

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to use data and information to make decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a time when you used data to solve a problem or help the company achieve its goals.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for analyzing customer complaints about our service. This helped me understand what issues customers were having with our services and how we could improve them. For example, one of the most common complaints was that customers weren’t receiving their bills on time. After looking at the data, I realized that there was a pattern in which certain employees were late sending out bills. By identifying the cause of the issue, I was able to implement new procedures to ensure all bills were sent out on time.”

18. Why are you interested in working at National Grid?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for their company. Use your answer to highlight any personal connections you have with National Grid or how you learned about the position.

Example: “I am interested in working at National Grid because of my uncle, who works as an engineer there. He told me that it’s a great place to work, where he gets to use his engineering skills every day. I also love the idea of helping people by providing them with clean energy. It seems like a fulfilling career.”

19. Have you ever been involved in planning a long-term project?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to plan and organize a project from start to finish. Use examples of projects you’ve completed in the past that required planning, organization and attention to detail.

Example: “In my current role as a senior engineer, I am responsible for overseeing several long-term projects. One of these projects was creating a new system for monitoring energy usage at residential homes. This project took me over six months to complete because it involved hiring new employees, training existing staff members on the new technology and installing the equipment in thousands of homes.”

20. We’re looking for someone who understands how important safety is to the job. Can you explain why safety is so important?

National Grid wants to ensure that all employees understand the importance of safety and how it relates to their job. This question is a great way for them to assess your knowledge on this topic and see if you’re ready to work in such an important role.

Example: “Safety is one of the most important aspects of any job, but especially when working with electricity or gas. I know that National Grid has some of the best training programs available, so I’m excited to learn more about what they have to offer. I also want to make sure that everyone who works here understands the importance of safety as well.”