Going into the interview, you know you’re going to get asked a lot of technical questions related to your engineering field. And you’re prepared for those. However, there will also be some social and even curveball job interview questions that may be difficult to answer.
Here are some questions you should be ready to answer when you walk in the door. And to help you out, there are also some suggestions to think about as you formulate your responses.
Tell us about yourself.
OK, technically that’s not a question but it does deserve some consideration.
This is the perfect opportunity for you to blend your personality and your strengths into a compelling story. Start with a little bit of your background or hobbies. Chose those which will relate to your engineering skills. Maybe talk about what compelled you to get into engineering. For me, it was taking apart the VCR and getting grounded when I couldn’t put it back together.
Then talk about how your strengths and passion have grown from that background. Passion is a key element here. Show passion for your career. That will set you apart from 90% of the other candidates.
What role do you normally play on your work teams?
Every team will have a variety of personalities. The alpha, the slacker, the planner, the facilitator, the negotiator, the caretaker, the quality assurance expert, etc.
Let’s start off on the right foot. Don’t say “the slacker” unless you just don’t want the job.
Focus on how you work and play with others. Talk about how you get along with others and support the team. Describe why you like to play a specific role.
Why do you want this job?
The underlying answer is, “I am willing to exchange my time for money. I have skills that might be useful to you and you have money that will certainly be useful to me.” We all know that to be true because we all need to eat. Customize this answer to each company where you have an interview. Dig a deep and connect yourself to the work of the company.
- “I know that you’re working on these two projects [fill in the blank] and those are interesting to me because [something connected to your background.]”
- “Being a small company, I’ll get a view of many facets of the operation. I think the company is set for growth and that will give me the ability to take on more responsibilities quickly.” Note: If you say this, be prepared for the follow up question, “Why do you think our company is poised for growth?”
- “Being a large company, I know there are many experienced people who will be able to mentor me and help me grow. I’m eager to learn and [the company name] is a leader in our industry.”
What is your greatest weakness?
You know your greatest strength, right? I hope so because you’ll probably be asked that, too. But that’s usually an easy question.
Let’s start with some obvious don’t before we get to the do. Don’t talk about weaknesses which are strengths in disguise:
- I care too much.
- I work too hard.
- I’m too much of a perfectionist.
While you’re at it, don’t dodge the question (“I don’t have any”) and don’t be too candid (“I’m a kleptomaniac. By the way, that’s a nice pen.”) Both raise red flags during the interview.
Be real with your answer and show that it’s something you’re working to fix.
- “I’m not good at selling my ideas to others on the team. But a friend recommended Dan Pink’s To Sell is Human and I’m reading that now.”
- “I can a bit too blunt and honest with people. I was raised to be very straightforward but I know there are times when I need to be more diplomatic. Keeping a journal of my conversations and reflecting on them is helping me improve in my relationships with others.”
- “I need to get better at delegation. I’ve always been a do-it-myself kind of person. But I know that if I let go and delegate some of the tasks, the team will get more done and in
turn I will grow new leaders. A friend is mentoring me through this. I’ve already seen improvement but I know I can get better.”
The Curveball Question
What’s your spirit animal?
They’re looking for some insights into your personality and a little creativity.
How many balloons fit in a limousine?
They’re giving you an ambiguous problem on purpose. You don’t know if it’s a plain limo or a stretch Hummer. You don’t know if the balloons are large, small, or deflated. The point is, ask some questions. You’re an engineer and you deal with facts and measurements. Make them give you some parameters. The worst answer is a definite one. Without delay, an interviewee once told me, “Two thousand, six hundred, eighty-two.” The last thing I wanted was for him to get hired and start BS’ing our clients.
Who would win in a fight between Batman and Superman?
Wonder Woman. Obviously.
Once again, they’re looking for some creative and critical thinking. Unless one of them is wearing a Batman t-shirt or has a visible Superman tattoo, you can’t go wrong. And even if they do have one of those, the others might like you just for taking the opposite stance on the argument.
Do you have any questions for us?
They are going to ask this job interview question. You know it. They know it. I know it. My mom knows it. Come in prepared for this.
Don’t ask about time off, salary, benefits, or things that could be found with a quick Google search.
Try these:
- “What makes you stay here at (company name)?”
- “Can you tell me about the company culture?”
- “In the role I’m interviewing for, what is a normal day like?”
- “Why are you filling this position? Is it new or did someone leave?”
The Final Takeaway
Some job interview questions are going to be very straightforward and will test the technical skills that you’ve been trained to perform. Others can throw you if you’re just thinking about the tech skills.
Just a little bit of planning will go a long way in helping you successfully answer some of these tough questions.
Author: Tracy Thomason
Agile project manager by day, craft beer drinker by night, and avid reader anytime I can get 5 minutes alone with my Kindle.
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