1. Practice
  2. Jobs
  3. Skilled trades and field work

Automation Technician (PLC) practice interview

PLC-controlled equipment, sensors, actuators, electrical fault finding and safe automation support. Practise the 5 questions interviewers ask for this role with follow-ups. Paid plans add scored feedback on every answer.

Practise this interview free

Free with an Intaviu account: 320 credits a month, at 10 credits a minute of practice. Private: interview creators never see them.

About the role

This interview tests practical support for PLC-controlled machinery at entry level. The panel is looking for a structured approach to inputs, logic and outputs, sound electrical safety, and the discipline to document changes rather than guessing under production pressure.

How to prepare

  1. Revise how digital inputs, outputs, relays, sensors and solenoids interact in a simple control sequence.
  2. Practise reading basic ladder logic and identifying permissives, interlocks, timers and fault states.
  3. Prepare a fault-finding example that moves from symptoms to measurements and a confirmed cause.
  4. Review safe isolation, stored energy and the limits of forcing PLC signals.
  5. Be ready to explain how you would restore and test equipment after a change.

Common mistakes

  • Changing PLC logic before checking power, wiring and field devices.
  • Treating interlocks as obstacles rather than protections with defined purposes.
  • Using technical terms without explaining the measurements that support your conclusion.

What to expect

A real first-round interview

5 questions the way interviewers ask for this role, with follow-ups when an answer needs more.

Spoken, like the real thing

Speak your answers in your browser or the free desktop app, with live captions. You can ask the interviewer to repeat anything.

Scored on 4 areas

The things this interview weighs most. With a paid plan, your report shows how you did on each one.

A private report

On Plus, Pro and Premium: every answer scored, your strongest lines quoted and what to say differently next time. Interview creators never see it.

Free with an Intaviu account. Ready when you are.Practise this interview free
Skilled trades and field work

Electrical Technician (Manufacturing Plant)

Safe electrical isolation, motor control fault finding and reliable repairs on factory equipment.

Skilled trades and field work

Instrumentation Technician (Oil and Gas)

Instrument calibration, loop checks, signal fault finding and safe work on process measurement and control systems.

Skilled trades and field work

Packaging Line Technician

Packaging line set-up, changeovers, minor fault finding, quality checks and safe production support.

See all 2252 practice interviews

Rehearse it tonight. Walk in ready.

Practise this interview free
Automation Technician (PLC) interview practice · Intaviu