This article contains a sample of the types of questions you will encounter in Engineering jobs and for positions such as Civil, Structural, Buildings, Electrical, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineers of all levels, up to Engineering Manager, Projects Manager and Head of Engineering.
Most interviews in this sector will follow a standard structure which includes: – Introduction – Setting the Scene – Exploration – Selling – Closure.
The Exploration Stage is all about the questions and these will vary depending on the employer, the level of job you are applying for, the amount of experience you have, the recommended recruiting policy and the personal preference of the interviewer.
Most employers are now using Competency Based Interviewing techniques so you should expect both Competency Based and Behavioural Questions. These will typically exploring the core competencies regarded as essential in this sector.
- Excellent Technical Skills
- Strong Understanding of Principles and Processes
- Able to use initiative
- Problem Solving
- Analytical Thinking
- Excellent Computer Skills especially in design programs such as CAD
For Senior Engineering and Manufacturing positions, expect questions exploring:
- Your ability to build and motivate a team
- Your ability to deliver and manage projects
- Strong commercial and sector awareness
- Your ability to manage a large department
- Your experience with developing effective strategies
For each of the above you should expect 3-4 questions along with standard questions exploring your Training and Qualifications, Skills and Experience, and Personality and Motivation.
Sample Interview Questions For Engineering Jobs
How would you answer these questions?
Interview Question 1: Describe a critical system or program for which you acted as the primary developer and tell me how that system, program, or process is being used?
Interview Question 2: Tell me about a product you have designed which has gone into production, what was the inspiration and what process did you follow?
Interview Question 3: Describe for me a situation where you were required to gather a large amount of data, to analyse it objectively and to make a decision or a recommendation based on the results.
Interview Question 4: Part of the role will involve setting challenging and measurable goals and targets for your team. What steps would you take in doing so.
Interview Question 5: Give me an example of the different approaches you have used when persuading your team, colleagues or manager to agree with your views.
Interview Question 6: Describe a time when you had to build a collaborative relationship either within your department or outside in order to achieve a particular goal. What steps did you take to ensure this was a success.
* Questions taken from the InterviewGold Interview System
How to Succeed in Engineering Job Interviews
The classic mistake that many people make is to arrive at an interview thinking they can just talk through their CV. This tactic rarely results in success, especially in the current highly competitive environment. Preparation and practice are vital and to help I recommend InterviewGold for Engineering, the leading online interview skills training system that has helped thousands of candidate win jobs.
With InterviewGold you will quickly an easily learn all the skills to succeed in any interview you will also get EXPERT INTERVIEW ANSWERS to any interview question they can ask.
 |
About InterviewGold
|
|
|
