Interview Questions for Experienced Mechanical Engineer 1

[Downstream]

I need some help here. I am looking to interview some mechanical engineers for an experienced level position working with rotating equipment. This would be motors, pumps, hydraulic turbines. I am an electrical engineer.

I was looking for some good interview questions about standards or instrumentation or materials or machine analysis?

Anybody got any good broad technical questions to ask that will give me a flavor for their skills and abilities?

 

[CESSNA1]

DOWNSTREAM: In my opinion you want to get the person to talk. I have been in many interviews and have been amazed at the lack of competence that engineering managers have as interviewers. Congratulations on attacking this subject with a brain. I like to think of the interview as a two way street, where the participants are relaxed and at ease and are having a conversation with a close friend of colleague. If can do this you will go a long way toward a successful interview. Do not stick with technical topics / ask open ended questions like:

What was your greatest success?

What was you greatest failure?

What are your assets/weaknesses?

Give them a problem and and ask what their approach would be? (give then time to formulate and answer). Something like: "Assuming you have everything you need what are the equipment/considerations/and other factors needed to measure and analyze vibration data?

Why do you want to work here?

Why do you want to leave you present company?

Using a first name only, of the people you know, who would be the best choice for this job?

Do not sit behind a desk, that is a barrier to communication. Have some refreshments available. Discuss your company, the work that is doen, the organizational make-up and flow, what you are looking for in an engineer. Use good language. Avoid the company jargon.

You then have to evaluate the reponses and please do not forget to check refreences.

Regards
Dave

 

[stanier]

Why not approach the local chapter of ASME or Institution of Engineers in your country. Ask if they can provide an experienced engineer in your particular field to assist in the interviews.

I have been on a panel of engineers in Australia where interviews are conducted to gain memebership of an overseas institution. It is amazing that you figure out in the first five minutes if the candidate is genuine. The apnel just lets the applicant talk about their written application. Then specific questions are put by experts in the field.

You would be quite happy to pay for an expert witness, lawyer, accountant or auditor to come into a company, possibly a plumber to fix the tap. You have a need of a specialist to provide advice here. This resource that you are planning to invest in could cost you a lot of money if he hood winks you.

Dont be tight and invest in an expert opinion.

 

[JStephen]

Ask them about the problems they've run into in the design of whatever they did. If they've just read about it, they won't know of any. If they've done it, they'll have all sorts of stories.

 

[vonbad]

There are a lot of thread in the forums in regards to interview questions (both good and bad).

Run a thread search and you will find many listed that may be of help.