Interviewing Help/Tips 3

[Pace82]

I have been on a few interviews recently, but have not had any offers. When interviewing I always make sure to dress appropriately, have some knowledge about the position and company, have some questions to ask, have answers in mind to some questions they may ask, have a portfolio of projects I have worked on, and always send a thank you afterward. So, basically, I have the major bases covered, but based on my track record of no offers in the past 10 interviews or so I have reason to believe I am missing something...

Anyway, I am interested in hearing what it was you did in your interview to get your present or past jobs. Like, what questions you asked, how you answered difficult questions they asked, if you brought in any sort of portfolio of your experience. Also, some advice on how to handle some difficult questions I often get. Which are questions about gaps in my resume, it took me about 7 months to get a job after graduating and I have I was laid off for all of 2009 and part of 2010. I also get questions about how I work in a team environment (I work with others, but I am one of two engineers at my job) and how I handle multiple projects and meeting deadlines/scheduling (I do work on multiple projects, but they are not well defined, nor are there ever deadlines...management does not set clear cut expectations and rarely know what projects they want worked on anyways). Ive had the sense in some cases that my answers to these questions are not effective.

Also, for anyone who has been on the other side and hired people, when you have a few candidates who all could do the job, what might set them apart?

Thanks

 

[brandonbw]

I always would say I don't know if I didn't know something, and try to sway it towards how I would solve whatever it was I didn't know. Don't try to make something up.

If someone is asking, don't mention that your role wasn't well defined or no deadlines. Say that you tried to get things done as fast as you could in a reasonable amount of time to beat the expectations of your boss and clients. Even if it doesn't sound as great that you don't work with a lot of people I am pretty sure you can make that sound better. Don't downplay yourself and your work.

Gaps in your resume are easy. Everyone knows just how hard hit the industry was in those years. Say you decided to take a break from work to catch up on some much needed rest. Don't say I have been looking for an extended amount of time.

I have been with project managers when they were deciding to hire people, and its amazing how many people just say yes I know how to do this when they don't. Then those people get some difficult assignments as their first test and fail miserably. I saw this with multiple people moving across the country. Just be open and don't downplay yourself. I would always bring some small printouts of what I have worked on minus the title blocks. But be ready to answer what you did. I am a shy soft spoken person and have generally had the job from every interview I went on after my first job. So you don't have to be a talker type. But you must be confident.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer

http://bwengr.com

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[PhilBW]

I would never ever hire anyone who told me he took several months off for some much needed rest. I can't imagine anyone hiring someone who thought work was so taxing that they needed a break periodically. On the other hand, I would not be concerned that it took you over a year to find a job during a recession. I would be more interested in what you did during the months you were looking for work. Moving in with Mom and Dad and playing video games all day would not be a good answer. Getting a non-engineering job (even a low paying hourly job), volunteering, taking classes, or otherwise engaging in productive activities would be what I would look for.

 

[StevenHPerry]

Tell the truth. You might not get any points for your answer, but dancing around the truth will deduct points.

My gut take from your short post is that you need to hone your skills at your present job so that you have credible answers to the teamwork and project deadline questions. If you are not given a deadline, do you just obey Parkinson's law? Take charge. Move yourself into the power vacuum left by management. Go make things happen, get the team moving in the right direction. Job advertisements say "self starter" or "independently motivated" for a reason.

Do that and you won't have any trouble answering those questions. The question about a gap in the resume may not even come up at that point.

Two short reading reocmmendations:

The Go Getter - Peter Kyne
QBQ - John Miller

- Steve Perry
This post is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is offered with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering engineering or other professional service. If you need help, get help, and PAY FOR IT.

 

[IRstuff]

This subject seems to be mostly similar to other questions posed in the past. There are over 1600 hits for "interview" as a search term.

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[truckandbus]

Remember who your audience is. The 24 year-old HR specialist and the 50-something engineering manager will each have their own take on what they think the candidate needs to fill the position.

 

[ewh]

Whatever you do, don't ask if OSHA had ever paid a visit.


“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[MadMango]

We recently interviewed for an ME position, and had 4 candidates. Our company interviews Round Robin style, where a candidate will sit with 1 or 2 people at a time, for 45-60 minutes, then another wave of interviewers come in. Sometimes I have been in the initial wave, other times I am last to interview. I end up asking different types of questions based on where in the process I interview, with more technical questions being asked first, and more personality related questions at the end of the day. After the interview is over, the interviewers meet up and discuss the candidate; pros and cons of their experience, directly related experience, scope of project involvement, etc. All the technical qualifications aside, it always comes down to how well we think the candidate will fit within our work culture. I suspect that you should probably practice interview skills with friends. There's a fine line between being confident and faking confidence. Being confident that you don't know something is far better in faking that you do, because as potential co-workers we're willing to each you what you need to know if we hire you.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[Noway2]

MadMango,

When I read your reply, I thought for a moment that we might be coworkers. We too recently interviewed for an ME position and had 4 candidates. We used a panel interview of 3 people (when I was hired, it was 5 for some reason). We asked a few tech questions but most of it had to do with personality, which was the biggest factor. As you said, if you've got a sufficient background, we can teach the specifics of our operation but if your personality will class with the organization you will cause grief for years to come.

 

[IRstuff]

Toastmasters hasn't been brought up in a while, but they're an organization that helps people with building confidence in public speaking.

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[Pace82]

Madmango, Noway2

You mention weighing personality traits more highly than anything else. What sort of personality traits are you looking for and how do you gauge them in an interview? Also, do you have any particular examples of what someone did in an interview that showed they did not have these traits or that they do?

I cannot recall an interview where I believed I was not technically proficient for the job. If anything, it seems its more likely I may be overqualified than under-qualified in that aspect. I have suspected that that personality traits or being a fit for the company culture mattered more.

 

[IRstuff]

" What sort of personality traits are you looking for and how do you gauge them in an interview? "

Not relevant to you. They are looking for people that would "fit in" with whatever personalities and cultures there are at their companies. What they are looking for is not relevant to your next interview. There is nothing you can do to prepare for this; you simply have to be yourself and take the lumps as they come.

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[IRstuff]

" If anything, it seems its more likely I may be overqualified than under-qualified in that aspect."

Now, this may be relevant, not whether you are overqualified or not, but the fact that you think you are. There's nothing worse than someone coming in and telling us that we're doing everything wrong, and that only they know how to do it right. That sort of attitude can sometimes be hard to hide. It may well be that you are indeed overqualified, but pointing out your overqualifications will not win you points during an interview.

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[MadMango]

IRstuff nailed it, when personality is a determining factor between candidates it's more of what the company "team" wants to tolerate/desires. Most of our candidates have been out of school and employed for 5-10yrs, they should know how to draw a cantilevered beam or free body diagram, explain mechanical advantage, be familiar with several types of manufacturing processes and requirements, and push papers around. We generally want (like most) someone that can think on their feet, isn't adverse to giving and receiving some humored ribbing, is comfortable in not only wearing "different hats" but being able to "switch hats" at a moments notice, and shows initiative and eagerness to learn our industry. These factors can be determined by general conversation with a candidate. If the conversation flows smoothly, and responses are intelligent and witty/sharp, it's a good indication that personality-wise, the candidate will fit-in with our team. As Noway2 stated, having the wrong fit can be an adverse situation for everyone, drawn out over several years, simply because you can't fire someone for being a stick in the mud if all other factors are satisfactory.

It's hard to give specific examples without sounding like some HR flunky. One I like to ask of a candidate is which universe they enjoy more, Star Wars or Star Trek? If they don't have a preference, or have to think about it for more than 15 seconds, that's a warning for me (and only me). How can you be an ME and not have a preference or interest in Sci-Fi? If they state their preference, I follow that question with asking what one technology would they transfer to their preferred universe from the other if they could. These types of questions and answers help give idea of their personality. Another question might center around that fact that we are less than 1 mile West of the Atlantic Ocean and less than 1 mile East of a river, and surrounded by lakes. What hobbies does the candidate have, do they think they'd take up a water sport. If a candidate would rather stay home on his Xbox or PS3, they probably wouldn't fit in with our group.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[corus]

Interviews are usually decided within a matter of seconds, just as you walk in and sit down. My guess is that the OP is trying too hard to impress and is failing on body language. Be relaxed, but not so that you sit with your feet on the desk. Smile, but don't grin ananely at them as they'll either think you've overdone it on the botox or you're on drugs. Be open, have your arms apart, and if you're a male, legs wide too. It shows you're not afraid to expose yourself to unknown dangers. For a female interviewee, it's probably best to ignore thet advice. If there's 3 or more people interviewing then accept the free cup of coffee, ask about expenses, and then cut the interview short. They're obviously over manned in the management department and all trying to stab each other in the back, and not a good place to work anyway. If it's a 2 man interview then one of them will either be there to make notes, or to support the main man in case you get violent when asked if you'd prefer to be a bumble bee or a grasshopper. Always answer the question by looking at the second man. It makes sure that he doesn't nod off and keeps him engaged and feeling important. If it's a one to one interview then you've nailed it. He's probably just got you in to make sure you've not got 2 heads and you've not been telling too many porkies in your cv, as everyone does. If you have 2 heads then never never crack the joke about 2 heads are better than ....

 

[kirrer]

MadMango, sounds like you're working in a great office environment, within a great geographical region. Lucky you!

Also, Star Wars all the way, I'd take the Force but that's not technology and therefore I'd have to say a hyperdrive unit.

 

[IsaacStructural]

Kirrer you passed on the chance at a lightsaber?!!?... very interesting... well that concludes this interview... we'll be.... in touch...

M.S. Structural Engineering
Licensed Structural Engineer and Licensed Professional Engineer (Illinois)

 

[SomptingGuy]

Star Trek. Peaceful. And the whole beaming people around thing.

- Steve

 

[kirrer]

Isaac, I was going more for benefit to society than coolest way to carve a turkey... but lightsaber is certainly a close second. Though there's no telling how fast 'faster than light' travel is, I suppose, and therefore how practical the technology would be.

Too bad there are no second interviews when the first runs afoul..

 

[racookpe1978]

I'm a field engineer, not an office or cubicle type, and my "interview" probably reflected that.

My (current) boss and his boss had arranged to meet me at the airport hotel lobby for an interview on a Saturday morning. They were a bit late, and so I was left "unattended" at the hotel lobby for a while before they came in.

Being bored, and being an amateur welder and blacksmith, I wasn't going waste time sitting in the bar, so their first impression on walking was me, coffee cup in hand, looking at the bottom of the welds on the limb and the leaves of the hotel's "artistic" metal art sculpture ....

Got the job. Got a 25% raise. Got a 65% increase in total salary.

Be yourself. Have something to sell that they want, that they they need, that you can provide better than the next man or woman ... so they don't have to keep looking for that next person.