See below a summary of Collins Aerospace Interview Questions you should expect. Collins Aerospace is a leading aerospace and defense company. They support multiple products under military, surveillance, commercial aircraft, and much more. Raytheon Technologies owns Collins Aerospace. Raytheon Technologies is one of the companies I list as one of the “Big 4” February 29, 2024.
Interviewing at Collins Aerospace can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. As one of the world’s largest aerospace companies Collins Aerospace hires thousands of employees every year across a variety of roles from engineering to business. Doing well in your Collins Aerospace interview is key to landing your dream aerospace job.
In this article we’ll overview what to expect in a standard Collins Aerospace interview, common Collins Aerospace interview questions, and tips to help you craft winning answers. Read on to learn how to master your Collins Aerospace job interview!
What to Expect in a Collins Aerospace Interview
The Collins Aerospace interview process typically consists of one or two rounds of interviews, depending on the role.
Here’s what you can expect:
Phone Screen
Most applicants will first complete a 30-45 minute preliminary phone screen with a recruiter or hiring manager. This is a chance for the company to confirm your qualifications and interest in the role. Be prepared to discuss your resume, accomplishments, and why you want to work for Collins Aerospace.
In-Person Interview
If you pass the phone screen, you’ll be invited for an onsite interview. This usually involves 4-6 interviews throughout the day, each 30-60 minutes long. Your interviewers may include managers, engineers, and senior leaders. Questions will focus on your technical skills, problem solving abilities, leadership potential, and cultural fit.
Interview formats vary but often include:
- Behavioral questions about how you’ve handled situations in the past
- Technical questions related to the role
- A case study or presentation to assess your analytical abilities
- Panel interviews with multiple interviewers at once
Some tips for a successful Collins Aerospace interview day:
- Arrive early and dress professionally
- Greet each interviewer with a firm handshake, smile, and introduction
- Ask insightful questions to show your interest in the company
- Send thank you notes to your interviewers within 24 hours
With preparation and practice, you can feel confident and ready to impress your Collins Aerospace interviewers!
Common Collins Aerospace Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Here are some of the most common interview questions at Collins Aerospace, along with some good examples of how to answer them:
1. Tell me about yourself.
Collins Aerospace often starts interviews by asking candidates to walk through their background and qualifications. Structure your answer by highlighting relevant experiences first before providing a quick summary of your education, special skills, and passions. Emphasize why you’re a great culture fit for Collins Aerospace and how this role aligns with your career goals.
Sample Answer:
“I have over 7 years of experience working in avionics engineering roles at top aerospace companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. In my current role at Boeing, I led cross-functional teams to deliver key avionics systems for the 787 program on time for major milestones. I spearheaded process improvement initiatives that improved first-time quality by 18%. In addition to my engineering background, I hold an MBA from Northwestern which allows me to understand the business side. Collins Aerospace’s innovative culture and values match my work style and passions perfectly. This principal engineer role is the ideal next step to lead complex avionics projects from concept to delivery.”
2. Why do you want to work for Collins Aerospace?
Hiring managers want to confirm you’ve done your research on the company. Demonstrate this by highlighting specific things that excite you about the company culture, products, vision, and values. Share why these align well with your own career goals and passions. Do your homework ahead of time so you can speak knowledgeably.
Sample Answer:
“Collins Aerospace is the perfect next step for me because of its industry leadership in avionics and connected aircraft solutions. I’m inspired by the innovation I’ve seen on projects like HeliSure for rotorcraft safety and Ovation Select for premium passenger experiences. The collaborative culture and focus on inclusion, wellness, and development matches my own values. I also see a lot of growth and development potential for my career here as Collins continues expanding into connected ecosystems. The avionics systems this team is building are the future of aerospace, and I’m excited to contribute and grow here.”
3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Hiring managers want to understand your self-awareness. Share 2-3 relevant professional strengths you bring, backed up with examples. For weaknesses, pick skills you’ve been actively working to improve. Show how you’re addressing those weaknesses so they don’t derail your performance.
Sample Answer:
“My key strengths are creative problem solving, communication, and relationship building. For example, I spearheaded a hackathon event at my company to spark innovative solutions to supply chain bottlenecks. This led to an automated inventory tracker that reduced shortages by 13%. Relationship building is crucial for leading cross-functional teams, so I make it a priority to understand teammates’ motivations and connect 1:1. This helps build trust and collaboration. In terms of weaknesses – public speaking used to be challenging for me. To improve, I asked to present challenging projects at all-hands meetings. With practice, it became much easier. I also joined Toastmasters which was incredibly helpful for building confidence.”
4. Tell me about a time you faced a conflict at work. How did you handle it?
Interviewers ask behavioral questions like this to understand your people skills and emotional intelligence. Share a real workplace story highlighting how you listened first, found common ground, and arrived at a constructive resolution. Focus less on the conflict itself and more on the collaborative process you used to overcome it.
Sample Answer:
“When I was heading up a new product launch, tensions arose between team members over timelines and handoff of deliverables. To resolve this, I invited them to an open discussion where we set expectations and aired any frustrations. Making it a safe space to vent defused a lot of tension upfront. I asked clarifying questions to understand all perspectives, then we collaboratively mapped out a revised plan with accountability built in. Checking in weekly ensured we stayed aligned. While delays still happened, the team dynamic remained positive which drove us to rally at the end. The launch succeeded and we built greater trust by working through the conflict constructively.”
5. How do you handle working under pressure or with tight deadlines?
Aerospace moves fast, so interviewers want to know you can operate effectively during crunch times. Share an example of a high-pressure situation you faced and how you stayed calm, organized, and focused on delivery. Emphasize times you sought help or solutions to keep projects on track vs. getting derailed.
Sample Answer:
“Working under tight deadlines is very familiar to me in aerospace – projects often have immovable release dates so staying cool under pressure is crucial. When my team needed to deliver a complex subsystem design for an upcoming aircraft release, I broke our goal into smaller milestones with owners and tracked them closely. When roadblocks popped up, I brought in cross-functional experts to problem-solve together and reforecasted schedules when needed. While we worked some long nights and weekends, the team trusted the plan which kept morale and productivity high. We ended up delivering our final design on time for integration testing, thanks to everyone rallying together.”
Additional Common Collins Aerospace Interview Questions:
- Why are you leaving your current job?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- What is your experience with [insert required skill]?
- Describe your leadership style and experience.
- What aerospace projects have inspired you recently? Why?
- How do you handle a difficult teammate?
- How do you stay organized when juggling multiple tasks and projects?
- When faced with two equally qualified candidates, why should we hire you?
5 Collins Aerospace Interview Tips to Stand Out from the Competition
Now that you know what to expect and have ideas for common questions, here are some final tips for excelling in your Collins Aerospace interview:
1. Research the Role, Product Lines, and Company News
Get up to speed on your potential role, products/programs you’d support, and Collins Aerospace’s vision and recent initiatives. This shows commitment.
2. Prepare 2-3 Concise Stories Highlighting Your Fit
Pick key strengths, skills, or values to showcase and develop stories from your experience that highlight these. Practice telling them concisely and confidently.
3. Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare 2-3 smart questions that show your understanding of Collins Aerospace’s priorities and how you can contribute. Jot these down to reference.
4. Express Passion and Culture Fit
Share your excitement for their work and showcase how your work style and values align with the culture. Use examples.
5. Follow Up and Say Thank You
Follow up with a thank you note reiterating your interest and strengths. This leaves one final positive impression.
With the right preparation, you can ace your Collins Aerospace interview. Best of luck as you embark on this exciting next step in your aerospace career!
What hand tools are you familiar with?
This question applies if you’re in any type of manufacturing or technician role. Be able to explain the tools that you have used articulately. An easy way to prepare for this is to generally be a handy man outside of work. You’re going to be familiar with tools very easily and there’s cross over between those tools.
What do you do outside of class? (If you’re a student)
The person interviewing you just wants to make sure that you’re interested in more than just engineering. An interviewer basically wonders if they can imagine working with you the entire time. Make sure you leave a lasting impression.
To answer this question, assess the type of person your interviewer is. A book I recommend is What Every Body Is Saying, by Joe Navarro, an Ex-FBI agent. This book tells you everything you need to know about subtle body language. Based on what the interviewer is wearing and how they act, figure out what they like and answer in a way that fits that.
If they seem active:
Mention sports, hiking, or something outdoorsy.
If they seem more laidback:
Say that you like art, reading, or photography. Be prepared to follow up with specific examples if you do provide this answer.
If they’re older (Age 50+):
Depending on their personalities, either something classical related or sports/outdoorsy related will work.
Collins Aerospace Video Interview Questions and Answers Practice
FAQ
How hard is it to get hired at Collins Aerospace?
What questions are asked in an aerospace interview?
Why do you want to work at Collins Aerospace?
What is the interview process like at Collins Aerospace?
Interview process is pretty informal. Seems more connections or networking based than anything. Never had much of any real questions on the jobs I received. The interviews were simple and short. Questions regarding background, experience and provide examples of various situations. What was your interview with Collins Aerospace like?
How long does it take to get a job at Collins Aerospace?
The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Collins Aerospace (Mississauga, ON) Pretty standard and questions are relevant to the job you are applying for (combination of technical, if applicable and behavioural questions). First one is done through Sureview, followed by a series of interview depending on the hiring team/department.
How do I apply for a job at Collins Aerospace?
Pretty standard and questions are relevant to the job you are applying for (combination of technical, if applicable and behavioural questions). First one is done through Sureview, followed by a series of interview depending on the hiring team/department. Why do you want to apply to Collins Aerospace and this job?
Does Collins Aerospace have Glassdoor?
On Glassdoor, you can share insights and advice anonymously with Collins Aerospace employees and get real answers from people on the inside. I interviewed at Collins Aerospace (Cedar Rapids, IA) Met with IE manager and some of the IE team to discuss the roles and ask questions.
