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Interviewing Help/Tips
3

Interviewing Help/Tips

Interviewing Help/Tips

(OP)
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

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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 | http://bwstructuralengineer.com | http://bwcivilengineer.com

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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

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

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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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RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

(OP)
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.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

" 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.

TTFN
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RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

" 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.

TTFN
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RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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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RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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 ....

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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)

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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

- Steve

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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..

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

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.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

(OP)
In regards to my over-qualified comment, that was not about technical proficiency or knowing how to better do things than others. Its not in my nature to overconfident (I probably wouldn't be asking questions here if that were the case). It is more that the type of work I have been doing has significant creative aspect with creating new products from a clean sheet. Some of the jobs I have interviewed for may be equally (technically speaking) rigorous, but they are looking for someone to work on products that are already designed not create something new.

Ive managed to get two interviews so far this year. The first one I had set up a time with the company's director of engineering. When I showed up I was told he had an emergency and could not make it and they had me meet with two engineers (both individually). During the interviewing, one of them said that the job they have is much like what I already have been doing. So there was no issue with my technical abilities. I felt like both conversations went well with good repoire between us. I was completely sure when the director was back in that they would want me in for more interviews. Despite some follow ups, I never heard back from this company. Im still disappointed because I really wanted this job. In fact, this is the second time I had interviewed at this company. The other many months before for a different position and interviewed by other people. Same results both times. The second interview I had was at a company that has set their office up to be completely open. Just one big room, no cubicles, with workers sharing tables. I walked in the main door and really was not sure where to go as there was no main desk and no obvious person to talk to...it was different. Anyway, once the interview got going the owner of this company said that people either love or hate their office set up. He then asked me how I felt about it. I figured at the time that that was probably *the* make or break question in this interview. Unfortunately, that type of office set up does not appeal to me and I figured that I could not lie convincingly enough that I loved it. So I just said that it was very different and left it at that.

...as far as just relaxing and being yourself goes, what if that is the problem?

Another question here, there is a rule of thumb to never say anything negative in an interview about your current position. Although it is not my only reason, the main reason why I am really wanting to move on is because I work for a guy who is stuck in the 70s or 80s in regards to engineering. He likes the work I do, but not the way I do it. Seems to be fond of how the engineers he had 20-30 years ago did their jobs (before 3D CAD). They had to work through multiple prototypes to work through all the wrinkles in a new product. I design in a computer and the first prototype, at most, needs minor modifications. He also pays like its 1985, which is an even bigger issue. Since that sounds negative, when asked why I am looking for a new position, I will never give that answer. I will say its because I just want to do something different, or take on new challenges. Both of these are true, they just are not the main reason. I am not great at stretching the truth, is the straight answer acceptable for an interview?

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

"Another question here, there is a rule of thumb to never say anything negative in an interview about your current position."

Well, you certainly run the risk that someone will hear what you say and it gets back to your (former) employer, so you do it at your own risk. Additionally, negative information to someone who is potentially a competitor to your employer is clearly a disloyal thing to do.

TTFN
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RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

Public speaking exoerience is great. Look them in the eye.

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

I see nothing wrong with telling an interviewer that you feel you are underpaid and looking for a new opportunity with pay to match your qualifications and opportunity to learn new skills. Whether you are interviewing for a new position or not, you need to have some basis for making this claim. The interviewer may ask you how you know you are underpaid. Do you have targeted salary surveys or other job offers to show this (you don't need to share every detail with them). To be honest, if someone I was interviewing told me "I just want to do something different" and left it at that, I would think they were hiding something. Nothing wrong with wanting to do something different...but that, by itself, is rarely motivating enough to cause someone to leave a job and move to a new location, new employer, etc. Almost everyone wants to do something different at some point, but the motivating factor is unhappiness of some sort, or an opportunity presents itself which causes you to act on your desire to do something different.

What you should never say negative things about is specific people. Saying that your boss is an idiot stuck in the 1980's who doesn't know the value of an engineer...will NOT get you a job. Being honest that you like most aspects of your current job, but you are looking for an opportunity to utilize current technology to make your work more efficient while at the same time earning a wage comparable to your education and experience will keep the interview going and may lead to a job offer, or at least discussion on the pay range for the job. EVERYBODY has something they don't like about their job, your interviewers know that (because there's something about their job they don't like).

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

Your resume is fine beause they looked at it and brogught you in. I think you are nt answering e=questions appropriatly or showing interest and enthusiasm. Don't talk unless asked question.

Answer this question: Tell me about youreslf. Only worrk related.

Ex.. I am a skilled whatever Engub=neer with x years experience doing X and an accomplished Project Manager with the initiative and ability to clrarly define goals and effectiely use resources to achieve them.

Older:
List accomplishement lirkr Twenty years engineerig and managing projects for NPD. The ptojects included.... list what bedt natches job sescription.

As soon as possible ask the to better answer qyestuibsvabiut this job, ca you tell me what yur are looking for to make an efffective ehatever. Now you j=know what he is lookig for and can tailor your responsed accordinly. Know you company and have a few question prepared.

It usually work for me. If the compnay breaks out tests then to hell with them. I think SLB is the worst compnay I have ever seen and I was hired but common sence took over. Why bt miserale. They only hire MS and PH'ds fro university. Masters leel Enguneers should be paid less han anyone becasue they couldn't land a job as a BS and they learn and offer nothing to th compnay. French are idiots but the compnay was top notch technicallly BEFORE this policy.[highlight ][/highlight]

- CJ

RE: Interviewing Help/Tips

Your resume got you the interview. It is what you are doing during the interview that is sinking your ship.

Ask what they are looking for in an engineer for this position. Let them tell you what they want, as much as possible and remember all of it. Then you turn around and tell them that is you in a nutshell.

YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION OUT OF THE GATE WITH EASE AND PROFICIENCY.

"Tell me about yourself".

This is where you spell out that you are a seasoned Mechnaical Engineer who has specialized in ? over the past x years. Before that I did this etc... Also experienced Project Manager with track record of finishing on time and within budget. Gear it towards things the compnay you are interviewing with will want to hear. Don't tell them you like cheetos and watch any movie with Kate Beckinsdale.

- CJ

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