Interview Questions 6

[AUCE98]

What are some your favorite interview questions to gauge competency of a structural engineer ?

My favorite is to ask someone to explain the generation of seismic forces in layman's terms.

 

[dcarr82775]

I give them a simple frame with a load and ask for shear/moment diagrams. Just the shape, not the absolute values

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Oooooh, good topic.

I've only helped interview one person but one thing that I would do in the future for a structural interview is ask the applicant what the moment of inertia of a rectangle is. I'd probably also hand them a steel book (or code of choice) and have them find sections to judge how familiar they are with certain codes.

Also, you might want to check if they stayed at a Holiday Inn the night before.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Oh, and work portfolios. It's not just for artists! Prior to getting my current job I brought a bunch of drawings, design samples, calculation samples, etc to my interviews and everyone said that really helped them make a decision (got a job offer at both places, turned them down though).

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[Archie264]

I’m not sure I would have done well in some of these interviews except for the portions involving shear and moment diagrams and the moment of inertia of a rectangle. But in my defense, those involve actual engineering principles, not the constantly changing building codes. My only internship had involved shovels and wheelbarrows. At the time I thought I was behind the curve but in truth that was the best experience I could have had.

I consider codes and drawing presentation something to be taught to new hires but engineering principles are not. Someone with a grasp of the latter can be taught the former but not the other way around…at least not without going through engineering school. I only say that as a precaution against weeding out competent people who aren’t up on the latest load factors.

A classmate of mine was asked to draw the shear and moment diagrams for a particular loading and his response was, “I can do that but the fastest way to do it would be to take that steel book behind you and look it up in the beam diagram section.” The interviewer was reportedly impressed by that.

One famous interview question is “why are manhole covers round?” (So they won’t fall in.) I’m told they ask that of business students to see how they handle pressure, which I consider a silly stunt. Though I suppose it could smoke out the bs artists…

 

[jayrod12]

I just went for a couple interviews and the only questions they asked were along the lines of "Give us an example of how you have dealt with difficult contractors/situations, blah blah blah?"

They were looking for my ability to communicate and work with the contractors towards a common goal of a properly designed, constructable solution. I got offers from the two places I interviewed at. Could be that I'm a master of bullshitting the bullshitters..

 

[msquared48]

Are you a member of Eng-Tips?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[jayrod12]

m^2,

Funny enough I volunteered that I am a member here so they could see I was willing to do some of my own research when required.

 

[manstrom]

Here is a steel book, size this beam

How big is a 2x4

Here is a basic load diagram, what is the reaction here?

If you were a sandwich, what would you be? (to gauge their sense of humor)

 

[WARose]

I’ve always been on the receiving end of questions (not the other way around)…….and I have to admit my amusement at some of the garbage they ask. They’ll be sitting across from a proven engineer that they’ve gotten good references on asking him all these fundamental type questions (i.e. “hey, you ever designed anything that had seismic loads?”)

Probably the best one they come up with (if you’ve been out of work for more than 10 minutes) is: “What have you been doing while you’ve been out?” One time I mentioned that I had taken a vacation and this guy acted like he didn’t like that answer for some reason…..so (irritated) I asked him: “So what the hell was I supposed to be doing if you don’t mind my asking?” Sometimes I think they just want to yank your chain. (And if you’ve got high blood pressure like me, you need to learn to relax. )

 

[msquared48]

manstrom:

Answers:

1. Can't you find a lighter book?
2. As big as the manufacturer makes it.
3. Basic/2.
4. Ham. (add green eggs)


Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[ztengguy]

I would ask them if they know Eulers equation, and if not, what its for?

Also ask them the difference between concrete and cement, and a footing vs footer

Last, would ask if a sky hook is better or structural paint in a high rise building.

 

[Once20036]

I think this question would be a little different depending on the level of the engineer.
For a graduate, the only good one I've heard was asked to a friend out of college:
What are the different failure mechanisms for a concrete member?
(shear, flexure, axial, servicability)

Once you're interviewing PEs, I assume a basic level of competency and would ask about the best project they've worked on. You can learn a lot about what drives them, and a favorite project would typically be one that challenged them so you learn about their level of expertise.

 

[steellion]

I am adding "structural paint" to my lexicon for discussions with architects. That's great.

 

[3DDave]

Manhole covers - Cost. Any shape won't fall in if it's big enough, but the round ones use the least material, so should cost the least.

Ask if they understand the Citigroup Center error.

 

[EngineeringEric]

Manhole covers, a square would fall in if placed vertically with a side perfectibility horizontal and positioned opposite corners of the opening (think of a hypot. on a triangle) and it will fall in.

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I was asked what major structural failures I was aware of and why they happened. (Kansas Hyatt, etc

 

[3DDave]

A manhole has a shape to it. That manhole will likely need a cover to keep things from falling into it. How big does the cover need to be? Since the cover can be any size, all that is required is the shortest distance across the cover is larger than the greatest distance across the hole. So a two-foot wide hole could have a four-foot wide cover, which won't fall in. The least expensive option to ensure the cover doesn't fall in is round, even for square holes, but that doesn't mean the only shape that will work is round.

 

[EngineeringEric]

Got what you mean now Dave, I was a little surprised at first. I guess i wasn't even thinking that abstract of having a cover X% larger than the opening itself.

 

[3DDave]

That's what makes it such a great question! It is certainly important to understand the geometry of the situation, but the deciding condition is cost. While I did think the answer up all by myself, it took a while.

 

[DamsInc]

Getting a bit off topic, but the thread got me thinking.

1) I don't buy that manhole covers are round just so they don't fall in. Catchbasin covers are square, with a hinge. There must be numerous reasons, with cost being the main driver as noted by 3DDave. Perhaps the covers are round, because the manholes themselves are round?

2) Has anybody seen the "Project Serene" report outlining the technical issues with the Citicorp building? I couldn't find it with google, only references to it in various articles.