Ready to grow your career in engineering? Interview prep is critical. Just as with any interview, it’s important to come ready to put your best foot forward. That means dressing for the job you wish you had, doing your homework on the company and the role you are applying to, and coming prepared to answer some common interview questions that will help an interviewer see that you are ready to hit the ground running. Here are some common questions you should know how to answer.
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Tell me about yourself.
What an interviewer wants to hear in response to this question is more or less why you think you’re qualified for the role. It may be tempting to cover a wide range of interests or activities, but keep in mind that whatever your answer is, it should all relate back to you being a great fit for the role. Focus on your job history, accomplishments, and professional goals when answering this question. But also feel free to add in a little extra information about what you enjoy doing in your free time to add a little personality to your interview and make yourself that much more memorable to your interviewer.
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Why do you want to work here?
The worst possible answer to this question is because you need a job. Employers want to know that they are talking to candidates who are in it for more than just the paycheck. They want employees who want to be part of something bigger. Take this question as an opportunity to use your background knowledge about the company and about the role you are looking to fill. Show your interviewer that you are sincere in your interest and that you are committed to the company that you want to work for. That dedication will make you much more interesting to hiring managers because they know you will go the extra mile to make things work in your new job.
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What are your biggest strengths?
Strengths are a critical part of your value to a company. Talking about your strengths is what you should be most able to do in an interview. But reading a laundry list of skills and abilities isn’t good enough. Your interviewer has presumably already read your resume. An interview is your chance to put those bullet points into context. Tell a story showcasing your strengths. Help your interviewer understand your value to an employer. Focus on the projects you’ve worked on and how your strengths led to business success.
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What is your biggest weakness?
Weaknesses are also something an interviewer wants to know about. But be careful; you don’t want to talk yourself out of a job offer in response to this question. Since most interviewers are used to hearing fake-sounding responses of perfectionism and problems of being too invested in the work, talk about a real weakness of yours. Do what you can to put a positive spin on it, but more importantly, discuss how you are working to improve. Your weaknesses shouldn’t hold you back so long as you are self-aware enough to understand how they impact your work.
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What would you do if you ran into a problem that you did not understand?
Lack of clarity (on problems or solutions) can lead to big problems for an organization. Describing how you would handle that lack of clarity with a mindset toward problem-solving is an important way to explain what you would do in such a situation. Reassuring a hiring manager that researching a problem, finding solutions, learning from the problem to prevent future mistakes all help show care and intention in growing within a role, something all managers want to see from candidates.
For help finding your next job opportunity in engineering, connect with the recruiting team at ESGI today.
