7 Common Engineering Interview Questions

Last month, you received a notification that you passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Excited and relieved that you pulled off something so difficult during your senior year of undergraduate college, the first step you took as an engineer in training was to apply to as many jobs as you could. 

Fast forward a few weeks. Now, you're sitting in the lobby of one of six engineering firms who have given you a call back. This is your first interview. The secretary already asked you if you wanted water to drink and you immediately declined, too nervous to even think about anything other than the upcoming interview. As you periodically glance at the ticking clock on the wall, you start to run through your personal interview list in your head. 

• Resume- check. 
• Letters of recommendation- check. 
• Suit jacket buttoned- check. 
• Job description- check. 
• Prepared answers to expected job questions- wait... 

You freeze. You can't believe it- you forgot to look up common engineering interview questions to practice with. How will you know what questions will be asked? ____ 

Do you have an engineering interview coming up! Great! 

Although interviews can be really nerve-wracking, sufficiently preparing for interviews before-hand can make, rather than break, your success. 

One of the best things you can do is research a list of common engineering interview questions. Write down those interview questions that you see repeatedly come up and jot down your answers to those questions. Practice reciting your answers with a family member, friend, or even with just yourself in the mirror to perfect your responses to your liking and satisfaction. 

Not sure where to start in your search for common engineering interview questions? To help you out, we've compiled a list of some of the most popular interview questions below: 

1. What engineering software are you familiar with? 
2. How do you ensure that you stay up to date with the latest engineering technology? 
3. What attributes make you a valuable engineer? 
4. Tell me about a time that you used logic to solve a difficult problem. 
5. What was the most challenging thing for you during college, and how did you overcome it? 
6. What would be your approach in dealing with a difficult client? 
7. What are your goals for your career? 

The list can go on and on, but the above questions are great base questions to build upon in preparing for your next interview. 

One last interview tip: always accept water during an interview as having a dry mouth during an interview can make it much harder to speak clearly.

Good Luck!