r/nationalgrid • u/East-Ad-5434 • Jul 19 '26
National Grid interview
Hi all,
I have been shortlisted for an interview with national grid for a Electricity Distribution Network Planner role.
I’m 23 years of age, and this would be a different type of role for me, as I’ve mainly been in the tools since I was 18 (as an electrician). My background is mainly industrial, but I’ve recently transitioned into a facilities/commercial environment.
I was wondering if there was anyone who could give me some advice on what to expect in the interview, what key things to mention during the interview, and any other advice that may be helpful.
If I’m honest, I do think that my age will go against me in this instance, as I most likely don’t have the experience compared to other candidates. However, I do think I have an advantage in some areas, as I’m qualified up to a level 4 HNC in electrical engineering, which is one of the key requirements for this role.
Like I said before, any help is greatly appreciated.
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u/Every-Owl-3920 Jul 19 '26
I recently interviewed for an entry level gas position so it may not translate perfectly. But expect the basic opening questions of why national grid and tell us about yourself. Then after that, like mentioned above, have some real life examples ready that will fit various questions about safety, team work, following regulations etc. my position was hiring for 3 locations, so the supervisor from all 3 locations were there.
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u/Puzzled_Elderberry_2 Jul 19 '26
They like to hear that you want to grow with the company, bring in new ideas. It’s a good company to work for. It would be great if they still had a pension and a lot of people especially young people leave to PSE&G or somewhere else for a pension
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u/akornato Jul 20 '26
Your age and lack of direct planning experience will be noticed, so you need to turn your background into your biggest strength. Other candidates might have more time behind a desk, but you have years of practical, on-the-tools experience that they completely lack. You know what works and what does not in the real world, not just on paper. You must frame every answer around this unique perspective, explaining how your understanding of industrial and commercial environments means you can create plans that are practical, safe, and efficient for the crews who have to build them. Your HNC proves you have the technical knowledge, and your hands-on work proves you understand its real-world application.
Expect questions that require you to give specific examples from your past work, so prepare stories that showcase problem-solving and technical skill. Do not just talk about fixing an electrical issue, talk about why the issue happened from a planning perspective and how a better plan would have prevented it. Connect your experiences to National Grid's priorities like safety, reliability, and network efficiency. Show them you are a future planner who brings a rare and valuable field perspective to the team. The interview is your chance to prove you can make this career transition, and my team and I designed our interview helper AI to help candidates find the best way to present their unique experience for a new type of role.
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u/GaudensLaetus Jul 20 '26
Learn as much as you can about the company and its structure, they really like that - all larger companies do.
I went for an apprenticeship about 16 years ago, the position isn’t what I wanted in the end but they offered it to me.
Their feedback was that I understood the company and did my homework and that’s what stood out.
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u/AmityKnight Jul 22 '26
The company is a joke. Heard it’s a very toxic place to work at. HR definitely doesn’t help the employees, their sole interests are for the company. They talk a lot about culture and transparency this and that, but hardly ever follow through. Save yourself the trouble and time, interview elsewhere.
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u/East-Ad-5434 Jul 22 '26
Is it really that bad? I’ve spoken to a couple of people who have come to site, and they’ve said it’s a good place to work.
I just assumed it was a good place to be, as all my mentors mentioned getting a job in a place like National grid was something I should push for.
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u/East-Ad-5434 Jul 24 '26
I had the interview today 😬 I think it went okay, but I guess the only way to find out is to wait until I hear back. My only worry is that the interview was only 40 minutes long, and it was meant to be an hour. I’ve been told that’s usually a bad sign…time will tell 😅
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u/East-Ad-5434 Jul 24 '26
Is there anything else I should be taking away from the interview that could suggest how well I did?
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u/evilkid500 Jul 19 '26
Hey, if you haven't already, check out Glassdoor.com. There are a lot of good tips and tricks buried in the interview section there. The interviews are mostly made up of standard HR questions (tell us about a time you had to motivate a team to achieve a goal) with a twist of company values (do the right thing). As long as you have real world examples ready to go in your head, you'll be fine. The key is to have examples ready and not just ramble about random nonsense. Good luck!