20 ONEOK Interview Questions and Answers

ONEOK is one of the largest energy companies in the United States, with operations in natural gas gathering, processing, storage, and transportation, as well as natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation and marketing. With a workforce of over 4,000 employees, ONEOK is always looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join their team.

If you’re hoping to land a job at ONEOK, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of ONEOK interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

ONEOK Interview Process

The interview process at ONEOK is fairly typical and involves mostly behavioral-based questions. The turn around time is average, and the overall experience is generally positive. However, some positions may take longer to fill than others, and some candidates may never hear back after their interview.

1. What do you know about ONEOK and the oil pipeline industry?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of ONEOK and how you might fit into their company. When preparing for this interview, make sure to research ONEOK thoroughly so that you can answer questions about its history, current projects and future goals.

Example: “I know that ONEOK is one of the largest pipeline companies in the United States. I also understand that it has been operating since the 1930s and that it’s headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In my research, I learned that ONEOK was founded by W.A. Moncrief, who started the company as an oil well supply business. Today, ONEOK operates over 20,000 miles of pipelines across the country.”

2. How would you describe your leadership style?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would lead your team if hired. Your leadership style is a personal preference, but it’s important to be able to explain what makes you effective in leading others and motivating them to achieve goals.

Example: “I believe that my leadership style is collaborative. I like to involve everyone on the team in decision-making processes so they feel invested in the outcome of their work. I also think it’s important for leaders to set an example by being highly productive themselves. If I expect my employees to put in long hours, then I should do the same. This helps me build trust with my team members.”

3. Tell us about a time when you had to make an unpopular decision.

This question can help an interviewer learn more about your decision-making skills and how you handle conflict. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation where you had to make a tough call that was unpopular but ultimately helped the company or organization succeed.

Example: “When I first started working as a manager at my previous job, we were having some issues with our budget. We were spending too much money on certain projects and not enough on others. I knew that making cuts would be unpopular, but I also knew that if we didn’t make them, we wouldn’t have enough money for all of our projects. So, I met with each department head and explained the issue. They understood and made their own cuts so we could save the rest of the money.”

4. Why do you want to work at ONEOK?

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 ONEOK or how much you enjoy working in the oil industry.

Example: “I want to work at ONEOK because my father worked here as an engineer when I was growing up, so I grew up around this company. He would tell me stories about his job that made it seem like such a fun place to work. Now that I am older, I realize he was right—working at ONEOK is exciting and challenging. I also love the idea of helping people by providing them with energy.”

5. Which of our core values do you identify with most?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your understanding of ONEOK’s values and how they align with the company. Your answer should show that you understand what each value means and can explain why it’s important to you.

Example: “I identify most with our core value of teamwork because I believe that working together as a team is the best way to achieve success. In my previous role, I was part of a team that worked on a project where we had to come up with new ideas every week. We were able to generate some great ideas by brainstorming together and supporting one another. This experience taught me that teamwork is essential in any job.”

6. If hired, what are some ways you could contribute to the company’s growth?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and how you could help it grow. You can answer this question by describing some ideas you have for improving processes or increasing revenue.

Example: “I believe that ONEOK’s greatest growth opportunities are in its customer service department. I would like to implement a new system that allows customers to submit questions online, which will allow employees to respond more quickly. This should reduce wait times and improve overall satisfaction with the company. Additionally, I think we should expand our social media presence so we can reach more people.”

7. What is your experience with accounting software such as Quickbooks?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of accounting software and how you use it. If you have experience with Quickbooks, explain what the program does and how you used it in previous roles. If you don’t have experience with Quickbooks, discuss other accounting software that you are familiar with and why you prefer one over the other.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different accounting software programs throughout my career, including Quickbooks, FreshBooks and Wave Accounting. I find that Wave Accounting is the most efficient for managing multiple projects because it allows me to create separate accounts within a single account. This helps me keep track of all of my expenses and revenue streams while still being able to access specific information when needed.”

8. We look for candidates who have strong communication skills. Can you give me an example of how you demonstrated those skills in the past?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have excellent communication skills. You can answer this question by describing a time when you had to communicate with someone who was upset or frustrated and how you helped them understand your point of view.

Example: “I once worked with a customer who called in because they were having issues with their service. They were very upset, but I remained calm and listened to what they had to say. After listening to their concerns, I explained our policies and why we couldn’t offer them any discounts on their bill. The customer understood my explanation and thanked me for being so helpful.”

9. Give us an example of a time where you had to deal with conflict on a team.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others.

Example: “In my previous role as a project manager, I had a team of five people who were all working on the same project. One day, one of my employees came to me and said that another employee was not doing their fair share of the work. This created conflict between the two employees because they both felt like they were being treated unfairly. I met with each employee separately and asked them what they thought about the situation. After hearing both sides, I decided to give the other employee an extra week to complete their tasks so everyone would have more time to do their part.”

10. Do you have any experience working with natural gas pipelines?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with ONEOK’s specific type of gas pipeline. If you do, share your previous experience and how it helped you in this role. If you don’t, explain what other types of pipelines you’ve worked with and why they’re similar to ONEOK’s.

Example: “I haven’t had the opportunity to work with natural gas pipelines before, but I am familiar with the process of installing them. In my last position as a construction manager, we installed several different types of gas pipelines, including propane and liquid petroleum gas. These are all similar processes that involve digging trenches and laying down pipes.”

11. Have you ever worked in a safety-focused environment before?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and experience. If you have worked in a safety-focused environment before, share what that was like. If you haven’t, explain how you would approach working in such an environment.

Example: “I’ve never worked in a safety-focused environment before, but I am very familiar with the importance of it. In my last job, we had weekly safety meetings where we discussed different ways to stay safe on the job. I think this is a great idea because it helps employees remember important information while also helping them feel comfortable asking questions.”

12. Are you familiar with operating procedures and protocols used in the oil and gas industry?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the industry and how it operates. They want to know if you have experience working in an oil and gas environment, but they also want to see that you understand the importance of following procedures and protocols. In your answer, try to show that you are familiar with operating procedures and explain why these are important.

Example: “I am very familiar with operating procedures and protocols used in the oil and gas industry. I worked for a small company where we had to follow all safety regulations and ensure our equipment was always functioning properly. We also had to adhere to specific guidelines when transporting materials or personnel. These rules helped keep us safe while on site and ensured we were doing everything by the book.”

13. What do you think is the biggest challenge that the oil and gas industry will face in the next 10 years?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the industry and how you can apply it to future challenges. Your answer should include an example of a specific challenge that you faced in your previous role, as well as what steps you took to overcome it.

Example: “The biggest challenge I see for the oil and gas industry is finding qualified employees. In my last position, we were looking for new hires with experience in drilling operations. Unfortunately, there weren’t many candidates who had this exact skill set, so we ended up training some of our existing employees on the job. This was a good solution because it helped us save money by not having to hire someone else.”

14. What kind of things do you do to keep yourself motivated during long projects?

When working in a team environment, it’s important to be able to motivate your coworkers and keep them focused on the project at hand. Employers ask this question to make sure you have strategies for keeping yourself motivated during long projects. In your answer, explain what motivates you and how you help others stay motivated as well.

Example: “I find that I’m most productive when I set realistic goals for myself each day. If I know exactly what I need to accomplish by the end of the workday, I can focus my energy on getting those tasks done instead of worrying about what else I might get assigned. I also try to encourage my teammates to do the same thing so we’re all working toward the same goal.”

15. Describe a time when you were able to successfully build rapport with others.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you interact with others. This can be an important skill for a customer service representative, as they need to build rapport with customers in order to provide excellent customer service. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you were able to successfully build rapport with someone.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, I was responsible for interacting with our customers over the phone. One day, I received a call from a customer who was upset because he had not received his bill on time. I listened carefully to what he said and tried to understand why he was so frustrated. He explained that he needed the bill to pay some bills of his own. I apologized for any inconvenience and assured him that we would send out another bill right away.

I also offered to help him find ways to save money on his bill. After speaking with him for a few minutes, I realized that he was just nervous about starting a new job. I told him that I understood how he felt and that I hoped everything went well at work. By building rapport with him, I was able to calm him down and reassure him that we would take care of the issue.”

16. What kinds of people do you like to work with?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your personality and how you might fit in with their team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific qualities that you admire about people you’ve worked with in the past.

Example: “I like working with people who are hardworking, honest and friendly. I think those traits make for an excellent work environment because they encourage collaboration and positivity. In my last position, there was a group of us who would often go out for lunch together or meet up after work to hang out. We were all very different from each other but we got along really well and supported one another at work.”

17. What is your experience working with financial statements?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with financial statements and how you interpret them. Use examples from previous work to explain what a financial statement is, how it’s used and how you use one yourself.

Example: “In my last position as an accountant for a small business, I helped prepare monthly financial statements that included income and expenses. I also reviewed these statements each month to ensure they were accurate. This process helped me understand how to read and interpret financial statements so I could make sure the company was staying within its budget.”

18. What are some examples of how you have contributed to a successful team project?

When working in a team environment, it’s important to be able to contribute to the success of your project. Employers ask this question to learn more about how you work with others and what skills you bring to the table. Use examples from previous jobs or school projects that highlight your teamwork abilities.

Example: “In my last job, I worked on a marketing campaign for our company. My team was responsible for creating social media posts, writing blog articles and developing an email newsletter. We all had different strengths, so we were able to divide up the tasks and create a successful campaign. In college, I also took part in many group projects. One time, my group was tasked with creating a video advertisement for a product. We each contributed ideas and created a final product that earned us an A.”

19. What makes you unique compared to other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you can contribute to the company culture. They want to know what makes you stand out from other candidates, so be sure to highlight a unique skill or quality that will help you succeed in this role.

Example: “I am an extremely organized person, which is why I have always been successful at my previous jobs. In my last position as a customer service representative, I was responsible for managing all of our social media accounts. This required me to create content on a regular basis, but I found it easy to stay organized with a calendar and scheduling system. My coworkers often commented on how well-organized everything looked.”

20. What do you think it takes to be a good leader?

Leadership is an important skill for any employee, especially those in management positions. Employers ask this question to see if you have the skills and abilities that are necessary to be a good leader. Use your answer to explain what leadership means to you and how you would apply these skills to your role at ONEOK.

Example: “I think it takes more than just technical skills to be a good leader. I believe leaders need to be able to motivate their teams and inspire them to do their best work. They should also be able to communicate clearly with their team members so everyone understands expectations and goals. As someone who has been in several different leadership roles throughout my career, I know that I am well-suited to this type of position.”