20 TC Energy Interview Questions and Answers

TC Energy is one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America. The company operates a diverse portfolio of assets across the continent, including natural gas pipelines, power generation plants, and oil sands developments.

If you’re hoping to land a job at TC Energy, you can expect the interview process to be competitive. To give yourself the best chance of success, you’ll need to be prepared to answer a variety of questions about your experience, qualifications, and availability.

In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of sample TC Energy interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

TC Energy Interview Process

The interview process at TC Energy is generally pretty straightforward and easy. There are usually three rounds of interviews, with the final round being a presentation to the director. The questions asked in the interviews are mostly scenario-based or technical in nature. Overall, the experience is positive and the company is receptive to questions from candidates.

1. What is your experience working with pipelines?

This question is a great way to see how much experience you have working with the company’s specific pipelines. If you don’t have any, it’s okay to say so and explain what your experience has been in other areas of pipeline work.

Example: “I’ve worked on several different types of pipelines throughout my career. I started out as an apprentice for a gas line construction company where we installed both natural gas and oil lines. Then, I moved into a position at a power plant where I was responsible for maintaining all of the pipes that carried fuel from the refinery to the facility.”

2. How do you think the oil & gas industry will change in the next 5 years?

This question can help the interviewer get an idea of your knowledge about the industry and how you might fit in. Your answer should show that you are aware of current trends and have a plan for adapting to them.

Example: “I think we will see more automation, especially when it comes to safety measures. I also believe there will be more focus on renewable energy sources as people become more environmentally conscious. In my last position, I helped implement new safety protocols that reduced our injury rate by 50%. I would like to continue working toward making the oil & gas industry safer.”

3. Describe a time when you had to deal with an upset customer.

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and stress. It’s important to show that you’re willing to take responsibility for your actions, apologize when necessary and learn from the situation.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they didn’t receive their bill on time. I apologized for the inconvenience and explained that we were experiencing technical issues with our billing system. The customer accepted my apology and agreed to wait an extra week for their bill. We fixed the issue so it wouldn’t happen again.”

4. Tell me about a project that you managed and how did it turn out.

This question is a great way to see how you manage projects and if you have any experience working in the energy industry. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a project that was successful or one that taught you something new.

Example: “In my last position as an engineer, I worked on a team of five people who were tasked with creating a more efficient solar panel. We had two months to complete the project, which seemed like plenty of time at first. However, we soon realized that there were many factors that could affect our timeline. For example, some members of the team would occasionally miss meetings or take longer than expected to finish their work. In the end, we finished the project within the two-month deadline.”

5. Are you able to work independently?

This question is a great way to determine how well you can work without constant supervision. Employers ask this question because they want to know that you are capable of completing tasks on your own and not needing someone else’s help all the time. In your answer, try to explain that you enjoy working independently and have done so in previous roles.

Example: “I am definitely able to work independently. Throughout my career, I’ve had many responsibilities where I was the only one responsible for certain projects or tasks. For example, at my last job, I was the sole person who managed our social media accounts. This meant I needed to create content for those accounts every day. I also regularly completed other tasks like creating reports and answering emails.”

6. Why should we hire you instead of someone else?

Employers ask this question to see if you can sell yourself. They want someone who is confident and knows their strengths. When answering, think about what makes you a good candidate for the position. Try to focus on your skills and abilities rather than just listing personal details.

Example: “I am an excellent communicator with strong leadership skills. I have experience working in teams and know how to motivate others. My technical knowledge of energy systems is extensive, and I would be able to use it to solve problems as they arise. I also have excellent time management skills that allow me to meet deadlines while still producing high-quality work.”

7. Do you have experience working with engineers?

Engineers are a key part of the construction process, and employers may ask this question to see if you have experience working with them. If you do, they might want to know how well you communicated with them and what your relationship was like. If you don’t have experience working with engineers, you can talk about other professionals you’ve worked with in the past.

Example: “I’ve never worked directly with an engineer, but I have worked with several different types of specialists on various projects. For example, when I worked for my last company, we had a team of specialists who would come in and work on certain aspects of our projects. I always made sure to communicate clearly with these individuals so that everyone knew exactly what their roles were.”

8. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you view yourself. They want to know that you are honest, but also confident in your abilities. When answering this question, be sure to focus on your strengths rather than weaknesses.

Example: “I am a very organized person who is always prepared for meetings or presentations. I have excellent communication skills and can work well with others. My weakness is that sometimes I get so focused on the task at hand that I forget to take breaks. This has led to me feeling overwhelmed at times, which is why I make sure to set realistic goals each day.”

9. We want our business analysts to be able to work well on their own, do you think you would be a good fit for this type of environment?

This question is a great way to determine if you are self-motivated and independent. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some of your past experiences working independently or how you would approach being on your own in the workplace.

Example: “I have worked as an analyst for several years now, so I am used to working independently. In my current position, I often work from home when needed, which has helped me become comfortable with working alone. I think that I would be a good fit for this type of environment because I enjoy having time to focus on projects without any distractions.”

10. What’s one thing we can improve at TC Energy?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills and ability to think critically. It’s also an opportunity for you to show the interviewer that you’re willing to give constructive feedback. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on one specific thing rather than multiple things.

Example: “I noticed that there are some areas of the office where employees aren’t recycling properly. I would suggest implementing a recycling program in all departments so everyone knows how to recycle correctly.”

11. Describe a time when you were given a task but didn’t know what to do, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you learn new things. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you took to research or ask for help until you were able to complete the task successfully.

Example: “When I first started working in my current position, there was an issue with one of our servers that caused some customers’ accounts to become inactive. At first, I wasn’t sure what the cause of the issue was, so I researched different ways to fix the server issue. After looking at several articles online, I realized that we needed to upgrade our software. Once I figured out the solution, I contacted my supervisor and asked if they could send someone to upgrade the software.”

12. Have you ever worked in a team where there was conflict, how did you manage it?

This question is a great way to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team. It also helps the interviewer understand how you might handle conflict with their team members. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of a time when you helped resolve conflict within a team.

Example: “In my last position as a project manager, I had a team member who was consistently late to meetings. This caused them to miss important information that could have affected our projects. After talking with them about the issue, they agreed to start arriving on time. However, they continued to arrive late to some meetings. I met with them again and explained that if they were late one more time, they would need to find another job.”

13. Explain the difference between TCP/IP and UDP protocols.

This question tests your knowledge of networking protocols. TCP/IP is a set of communication protocols that are used to connect computers and other devices on the internet. UDP, or User Datagram Protocol, is also a protocol that allows for data transmission over the internet. Your answer should show that you understand how these two protocols work together.

Example: “TCP/IP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means it requires a handshake between the sender and receiver before any data can be transmitted. This protocol uses IP addresses to identify each device connected to the network. The TCP/UDP protocol is a connectionless protocol, meaning there’s no need for a handshake before sending data. It’s useful when you want to send small amounts of data without establishing a connection.”

14. Can you tell us about a time when you successfully handled a difficult situation?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you react to challenging situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation that involved working with others or collaborating on a project.

Example: “In my previous role as an engineer, I was tasked with creating a new system for monitoring energy usage in our company’s buildings. This process took several months of research and development, but once we implemented the new system, it helped us save money by identifying areas where we were using too much energy. During this time, there were some challenges with implementing the new system, but I worked with my team to find solutions to these problems.”

15. Give an example of how you demonstrated leadership in a previous position.

As a manager, you need to be able to lead your team. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience leading others and how you did it. When answering this question, think of an example where you were in charge of a project or group. Explain what the goal was and how you helped your team achieve it.

Example: “In my last position as a marketing specialist, I led a small team that worked on creating content for our website. We had monthly goals we needed to meet, including writing new articles and updating existing ones. To help my team reach these goals, I created a schedule so everyone knew when they would write their articles. This allowed us to create more content each month than we originally planned.”

16. Describe a time when you were under pressure, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to assess how you handle pressure and stress. It can also help the interviewer determine if you have experience working under pressure, which is often necessary in this field. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a time when you were able to overcome pressure or perform well despite being stressed.

Example: “In my last position as an engineer, I was responsible for overseeing several projects at once. This led to some stressful days where I had to work long hours to ensure all of the projects were completed on time. However, I learned that by delegating tasks to other engineers, I could focus on the most important aspects of each project while still ensuring they were completed on time.”

17. Tell me about a time when you had to make decisions without consulting your manager.

This question can help interviewers understand your decision-making skills and how you handle challenges. Use examples from your experience to show that you’re capable of making smart choices on your own.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for managing a team of five people. One day, one of our employees called out sick, leaving us with only four staff members to cover the entire restaurant. I knew we could still operate without an issue if two of us worked the front of house while the other two worked the back of house. However, I also knew that it would be best to have all of us working together so we could provide better customer service. So, I decided to work both sides of the restaurant myself until another employee returned.”

18. What is your experience with designing software?

This question is a great way to see how much experience you have with the software used by TC Energy. If you don’t have any experience, it’s okay to say so and explain what other software you’re familiar with.

Example: “I’ve worked on several projects where I was responsible for designing software that would help our clients use their energy more efficiently. In my last position, I designed an app that helped users track their energy usage and find ways to save money. It also allowed them to communicate directly with me about any questions they had.”

19. If hired, how long do you plan on staying at TC Energy?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re committed to the company. They want employees who are going to stay for a long time, so they can invest in their training and development. When answering this question, be honest about your intentions. If you don’t know how long you’ll stay, explain that you’re looking for a long-term career.

Example: “I’m hoping to stay at TC Energy for many years. I’ve been searching for a job like this for quite some time, and I feel like this is an excellent fit. I am very committed to my work, and I would love to continue developing my skills here.”

20. How would you approach troubleshooting a problem in production?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills. It also allows the interviewer to see how you apply your knowledge and experience to solve problems in an efficient manner. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of past experiences where you applied your critical thinking skills to troubleshoot production issues.

Example: “In my last position as a senior engineer, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of production. One day, we had a power outage that caused our entire facility to shut down. I immediately began assessing the situation by checking with each department to determine what they needed from me. After speaking with everyone, I realized there were multiple departments that required my attention.

I decided to split up the tasks among myself and other engineers so we could get everything back online as quickly as possible. We managed to restore power within two hours, which allowed us to avoid any major losses.”