skilled trades technical operationsbs7671electrical installationfault diagnosistesting and inspection
Complete evaluation framework
What to assess and how to score it
Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Hands-on competence
35% weight
Check what they wire day to day: three-phase distribution boards, SWA terminations, containment runs, EV charge points, emergency lighting. Ask which qualification they hold (2391, 18th Edition, ECS card).
Evidence to listen for
Names the equipment, materials, and tolerances they work to
Can describe a job start to finish without hand-waving the hard parts
Holds the tickets, licences, or certifications the work requires, and they are current
Knows what they are not qualified to touch
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot describe the work concretely; lacks required tickets or licences.
2
Needs Improvement
Basic familiarity; needs supervision on routine tasks.
3
Satisfactory
Competent on standard work; slower or unsure on unfamiliar jobs.
4
Very Good
Skilled and independent across the normal range of the role.
5
Excellent
Names specific installs with cable sizes and board types, holds current 18th Edition plus inspection and testing qualification, references BS 7671 naturally.
02
Evaluation factor
Safety discipline
30% weight
Probe safe isolation step by step: proving unit, lock-off kit, GS38 test leads, permits. Ask about work near live parts and how they handle asbestos or unsafe existing wiring.
Evidence to listen for
Treats procedure as protection rather than paperwork
Can describe a time they stopped work and why
Knows the specific hazards of this trade and the controls for each
Reports near misses instead of hiding them
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Casual about safety; describes shortcuts with pride.
2
Needs Improvement
Follows procedure when watched; cannot name the hazards that matter.
3
Satisfactory
Sound safety habits; less certain on unfamiliar hazards.
4
Very Good
Safety is instinctive; can describe stopping work over a real concern.
5
Excellent
Recites safe isolation sequence without prompting, refuses live working, describes stopping a job over an unsafe consumer unit or missing earthing.
03
Evaluation factor
Fault finding
20% weight
Test diagnosis of intermittent faults: nuisance RCD tripping, high Zs readings, borrowed neutrals. Ask which instruments they use (MFT, clamp meter, insulation resistance tester) and how they narrow it down.
Evidence to listen for
Has a method for narrowing a fault rather than swapping parts
Reads schematics, manuals, or error codes and acts on them
Knows when to escalate rather than guess
Can describe a fault that took real work to find
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Parts-swapper; no diagnostic method.
2
Needs Improvement
Fixes symptoms; cannot explain how they found the cause.
3
Satisfactory
Solid on familiar faults; less structured on new ones.
4
Very Good
Clear systematic method with a real hard-fault story.
5
Excellent
Walks a real fault to root cause using measured values, explains split-load or circuit-splitting logic, quotes test results rather than guesswork.
04
Evaluation factor
Reliability and conduct
15% weight
Look for evidence of finished paperwork: EICs, minor works certificates, EICRs with correct C1 to C3 coding, plus punctuality on site and conduct in occupied homes.
Evidence to listen for
Turns up, on time, prepared
Handles shift work, callouts, or travel as the role requires
Documents work so the next person can pick it up
Deals with customers or site staff professionally
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Unreliable attendance; unprofessional on site.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent; documentation is an afterthought.
3
Satisfactory
Dependable; paperwork is adequate.
4
Very Good
Consistently reliable, documents well, professional with customers.
5
Excellent
Produces complete certification without chasing, arrives ready with own tools and calibrated instruments, leaves clean sites and cites repeat client work.
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