Monthly Archives: April 2019

How to Prepare for Interviews and Tips to Ace Them (Part 2)

The biggest fear that most interviewees have are about how to best answer interview question. I will talk about certain questions I’ve received during interviews. Some of these are also from sites listed in the reference.

1. Why did you pick engineering?

The interviewer is trying to determine your motivation for the job. You should be engaging in your answer. Try to sell engineering as the best career choice. In the past, I would have said that I liked Physics in high school, but that’s not a very great motivation. A better answer would be that engineering makes a large impact in the world we live in. Especially since engineering by definition is to design and improve on technology and systems to better society. You should also tailor this question towards the job, in terms of how you could make the biggest impact through the position in the company.

2. When did you start your job search? Have you been offered any positions?

This goes back to my other blog, Mechanical Engineering Job Searchwhere the job you are searching and applying for should fit your interests and career path. The interviewer can discern whether you’re simply applying to get employed or applying because you want to work in the position. A worker with keen interest is preferred over one who will simply drone on day-to-day. So to answer this question, explain honestly and clearly that you are trying to find the “right job” and what that means to you. Even if you have been offered positions, don’t brag about them, simply answer a yes or no.

3.Tell me about the most challenging engineering project that you have been involved with during the past year.

If you have a portfolio of projects you have worked on (which I strongly recommend), pull it out now. It’s always better to show than talk. Explain the problem solving process using Situation, Task, Action, Result, Transfer (START) technique. For me, one of the most challenging engineering project I had been involved with was developing payload dropper attached to a multi-rotor drone for a solar farm-simulating competition (Situation). There was no precedent system that I could optimize, so I had to design, from scratch, a device to drop off markers onto damaged solar panels (Task). I looked for inspiration on a project-sharing platform, then found a button dispenser to base my marker dropper on. After modelling the marker dropper to fit within the limited space on the drone, I printed and assembled it for testing. As we attempted to test, we encountered unforeseen problems such as wind generated by the drone veering the payload from dropping straight down. With only one day left before competition, we improvised with the available material to make the dropper more stable (Action). Because of this device, we are now able to achieve an important task in the competition (Result). These research, design, prototyping skills will help me transition into any fast-paced workplace and solve engineering problems encountered in the job (Transfer).

4.What new engineering specialty skills have you developed during the past year?

There is no doubt that continual learning is one of the most important aspects in life. Your interviewer wants to know that you’re proactive in acquiring and updating your skills in the ever-changing engineering industry. This question also serves as a great opportunity to show your eagerness to learn on the job. Talk about any skills that are relevant to the position, and how you mastered (or got better at) them. Important skills to Mechanical Engineering include ANSYS, CFD, CAD, and CAM. This semester, I learned how to use Siemens NX 12 software develop CAM programs by assigning appropriate tools, operations and parameters to properly manufacture parts.

There are many more potential interview questions. Take a look at the links provided below. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment them. I look forward to hearing from you! Happy job-hunting everyone.

References:

How to Prepare for Interviews and Tips to Ace Them (Part 1)

As many of you know from Co-op program, interviews can be daunting, but if you prepare sufficiently, then you’ll at least take comfort in knowing you’ve done all you can, the rest is up to fate! From the previous interview experiences I’ve had, I can tell you they were all not completely as horrible as I had imagined. There were many interesting ones as well, stimulating due to the type of brainstorming you get to have. As there are other scenarios that I have not personally experienced, I will be referencing the Interview Toolkit written by UBC Engineering Co-op program.

Interview Appropriate Outfits

First thing you should definitely prepare for is getting an appropriate outfit, especially if you’re on a budget like me. I couldn’t get a complete suit, so I found pieces that fit together from various stores. I got an anti-wrinkle collar shirt and straight-cut black pants from Banana Republic, added a blazer from J Crew, and a pair of black work heels from Aldo. A great store to start off at would be Uniqlo, since they have a variety of very affordable working clothes. Just remember you should get everything neat and clean, meaning ironing out wrinkles and creases and polishing your shoes. These thing should not be left last minute, cause they take time and is crucial to your interviewer’s first impression of you.

Types of interviews

Imagine the scenario of the actual interview, will the interview be one-on-one or will you be placed in a group? If any of the information is unclear, it’s highly suggested that you contact the interviewer or the HR personnel responsible for arranging interviews. I’ve had mostly panel interviews, where two or more interviews take turn asking questions, often about different aspects of the company. One interviewer was usually the higher up manager, while the other was my direct supervisor. This is done so that my supervisor had a chance to see how well they’d work with me. I’ve had one group interview, where about 5 other engineering students were interviewed at the same time as me. We sat around a circular conference table and the interviewers started asking questions. We answered questions voluntarily. As to keep the interview shorter, not everyone was forced to answer each question. I used this opportunity to listen to other interviewee’s responses and tweak mine. Sometimes I felt strongly about an answer so I started first. In this format, try to avoid being aggressive or demeaning, rather, be helpful and agreeable, but at the same time lead conversations where you’d like them to go. Other types of interviews include telephone, live video, and taped video. The expectations aren’t all that different between these formats, and I would say treat them as you would an in-person interview.

Online Networking

When you’re searching for information about the interview, try using LinkedIn. You should know your interviewer’s names, if not, once again I suggest you contact the company. By searching them on LinkedIn, you understand their background, be it in human resources or the technical field. HR professionals will tend to ask non-technical questions related to your soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and ability to overcome obstacles. On the other hand, interviewers who are engineers, or managers with technical backgrounds will ask about your technical abilities, often in the form of a problem for you to solve. On a side note, after you’ve viewed their profile, they will be notified. This shows your initiative and puts your name in their mind even before the interview. They might even click back, checking your profile for more information about you, so this is also serves as an opportunity to stand out. Therefore, ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date. Writing a personal bio and putting up a professional photo are crucial.

That’s it for part 1, but please also check out part 2, where I’ll talk about the questions I’ve received during interviews, how I answered them using the START technique, and other general tips so you’ll be confident about your next interview!