Before going to an engineering interview, it may be helpful to know what type of questions the hiring manager may ask. Being prepared before you go will keep your confidence level high and give you a better chance of securing the job. It’s wise to research the company before the interview and take your resume and notes with you.
- Tell me about the most challenging engineering project you’ve worked on.
- Describe a written technical report or presentation you had to complete.
- Explain a time you had to use logic to solve an engineering problem.
- Describe a time you demonstrated leadership skills at work.
Engineering Co-Op or Internship Interview | What to Expect & How to Prepare!
3. Tell Us About a Situation Where You Took Initiative or Took on a Leadership Role.
This question helps the interviewer decide if you’re someone with drive. In other words, are you going to be able to step up when needed?
A lot of times candidates answer this question with an example of leading a group project, which totally works as an option. But it can also be answered with an example of a time when you noticed something that needed to change and took the initiative to change it, whether or not you had a “leadership” title or role.
For example, maybe in your part-time program coordinator role on campus you realized some of your colleagues were struggling with a certain portion of the program because the instructions weren’t super clear. So you took the initiative to ask the other coordinators what could be more clear, and recreated the instructions so the program could be implemented more seamlessly for current and future team members.
7. Can you describe a situation where you dealt with a difficult client?
At any company, you’ll be working with a lot of different people in a lot of new situations, and your interviewer wants to ensure that you can get along with everyone and stay cool under pressure. You can use the STAR method for this classic interview question. In your response, briefly describe the negative part of the situation, and then concentrate on how you resolved it and kept the client happy.
“At my summer internship, I didn’t do a lot of engineering work, but I did do a lot of contract preparation. There was a difficult client who kept pushing back on the contract terms, and it was delaying the project. After exchanging a few emails and phone calls, I asked the client to come in and meet with the project team and me. I thought a face-to-face meeting would help defuse the situation and reassure the client that we wanted to make them happy. It worked, and we were able to move forward.”
3. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Your new employer is going to invest a lot of time and money in your training and development, so they really want you to stick around. While you could be anywhere in five years, a strong response to the five-year question will convey that you expect to be with this company and want to grow with them. Demonstrate your enthusiasm and ensure your response follows a natural career progression from the position you’re being interviewed for to future opportunities with the organization:
“I’m really excited to be kicking off my career as a junior engineer here. I have a lot to offer, and I have a lot to learn. Once I’ve mastered the technical skills necessary to move onto a more senior position, I’d like to assist with larger projects. I know that you encourage professional development here, and I’d eventually like to pursue my master’s in engineering. Then, I can take on a senior engineering role with this company.”
