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Interview Questions
6

Interview Questions

Interview Questions

(OP)
What are some your favorite interview questions to gauge competency of a structural engineer ?

My favorite is to ask someone to explain the generation of seismic forces in layman's terms.

RE: Interview Questions

I give them a simple frame with a load and ask for shear/moment diagrams. Just the shape, not the absolute values

RE: Interview Questions

Oooooh, good topic.

I've only helped interview one person but one thing that I would do in the future for a structural interview is ask the applicant what the moment of inertia of a rectangle is. I'd probably also hand them a steel book (or code of choice) and have them find sections to judge how familiar they are with certain codes.

Also, you might want to check if they stayed at a Holiday Inn the night before. :P

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

RE: Interview Questions

Oh, and work portfolios. It's not just for artists! Prior to getting my current job I brought a bunch of drawings, design samples, calculation samples, etc to my interviews and everyone said that really helped them make a decision (got a job offer at both places, turned them down though).

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

RE: Interview Questions

I’m not sure I would have done well in some of these interviews except for the portions involving shear and moment diagrams and the moment of inertia of a rectangle. But in my defense, those involve actual engineering principles, not the constantly changing building codes. My only internship had involved shovels and wheelbarrows. At the time I thought I was behind the curve but in truth that was the best experience I could have had.

I consider codes and drawing presentation something to be taught to new hires but engineering principles are not. Someone with a grasp of the latter can be taught the former but not the other way around…at least not without going through engineering school. I only say that as a precaution against weeding out competent people who aren’t up on the latest load factors.

A classmate of mine was asked to draw the shear and moment diagrams for a particular loading and his response was, “I can do that but the fastest way to do it would be to take that steel book behind you and look it up in the beam diagram section.” The interviewer was reportedly impressed by that.

One famous interview question is “why are manhole covers round?” (So they won’t fall in.) I’m told they ask that of business students to see how they handle pressure, which I consider a silly stunt. Though I suppose it could smoke out the bs artists…

RE: Interview Questions

I just went for a couple interviews and the only questions they asked were along the lines of "Give us an example of how you have dealt with difficult contractors/situations, blah blah blah?"

They were looking for my ability to communicate and work with the contractors towards a common goal of a properly designed, constructable solution. I got offers from the two places I interviewed at. Could be that I'm a master of bullshitting the bullshitters..

RE: Interview Questions

Are you a member of Eng-Tips?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Interview Questions

m^2,

Funny enough I volunteered that I am a member here so they could see I was willing to do some of my own research when required.

RE: Interview Questions

Here is a steel book, size this beam

How big is a 2x4

Here is a basic load diagram, what is the reaction here?

If you were a sandwich, what would you be? (to gauge their sense of humor)

RE: Interview Questions

I’ve always been on the receiving end of questions (not the other way around)…….and I have to admit my amusement at some of the garbage they ask. They’ll be sitting across from a proven engineer that they’ve gotten good references on asking him all these fundamental type questions (i.e. “hey, you ever designed anything that had seismic loads?”)

Probably the best one they come up with (if you’ve been out of work for more than 10 minutes) is: “What have you been doing while you’ve been out?” One time I mentioned that I had taken a vacation and this guy acted like he didn’t like that answer for some reason…..so (irritated) I asked him: “So what the hell was I supposed to be doing if you don’t mind my asking?” Sometimes I think they just want to yank your chain. (And if you’ve got high blood pressure like me, you need to learn to relax. bigsmile)

RE: Interview Questions

manstrom:

Answers:

1.  Can't you find a lighter book?
2.  As big as the manufacturer makes it.
3.  Basic/2.
4.  Ham.  (add green eggs)


Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

RE: Interview Questions

I would ask them if they know Eulers equation, and if not, what its for?

Also ask them the difference between concrete and cement, and a footing vs footer

Last, would ask if a sky hook is better or structural paint in a high rise building.

RE: Interview Questions

I think this question would be a little different depending on the level of the engineer.
For a graduate, the only good one I've heard was asked to a friend out of college:
What are the different failure mechanisms for a concrete member?
(shear, flexure, axial, servicability)

Once you're interviewing PEs, I assume a basic level of competency and would ask about the best project they've worked on. You can learn a lot about what drives them, and a favorite project would typically be one that challenged them so you learn about their level of expertise.

RE: Interview Questions

I am adding "structural paint" to my lexicon for discussions with architects. That's great.

RE: Interview Questions

Manhole covers - Cost. Any shape won't fall in if it's big enough, but the round ones use the least material, so should cost the least.

Ask if they understand the Citigroup Center error.

RE: Interview Questions

Manhole covers, a square would fall in if placed vertically with a side perfectibility horizontal and positioned opposite corners of the opening (think of a hypot. on a triangle) and it will fall in.

+ +
\
\
\
\
+ +

I was asked what major structural failures I was aware of and why they happened. (Kansas Hyatt, etc

RE: Interview Questions

A manhole has a shape to it. That manhole will likely need a cover to keep things from falling into it. How big does the cover need to be? Since the cover can be any size, all that is required is the shortest distance across the cover is larger than the greatest distance across the hole. So a two-foot wide hole could have a four-foot wide cover, which won't fall in. The least expensive option to ensure the cover doesn't fall in is round, even for square holes, but that doesn't mean the only shape that will work is round.

RE: Interview Questions

Got what you mean now Dave, I was a little surprised at first. I guess i wasn't even thinking that abstract of having a cover X% larger than the opening itself.

RE: Interview Questions

That's what makes it such a great question! It is certainly important to understand the geometry of the situation, but the deciding condition is cost. While I did think the answer up all by myself, it took a while.

RE: Interview Questions

Getting a bit off topic, but the thread got me thinking.

1) I don't buy that manhole covers are round just so they don't fall in. Catchbasin covers are square, with a hinge. There must be numerous reasons, with cost being the main driver as noted by 3DDave. Perhaps the covers are round, because the manholes themselves are round?

2) Has anybody seen the "Project Serene" report outlining the technical issues with the Citicorp building? I couldn't find it with google, only references to it in various articles.

RE: Interview Questions

from wikigoogle

Reasons for the shape include:

A round manhole cover cannot fall through its circular opening, whereas a square manhole cover may fall in if it were inserted diagonally in the hole. The existence of a "lip" holding up the lid means that the underlying hole is smaller than the cover, so that other shapes might suffice. (A Reuleaux triangle or other curve of constant width would also serve this purpose, but round covers are much easier to manufacture.)
Round tubes are the strongest and most material-efficient shape against the compression of the earth around them, and so it is natural that the cover of a round tube assume a circular shape.
A round manhole cover has a smaller surface than a square one, thus less material is needed to cast the manhole cover, meaning lower cost.
The bearing surfaces of manhole frames and covers are machined to assure flatness and prevent them from becoming dislodged by traffic. Round castings are much easier to machine using a lathe.
Circular covers do not need to be rotated to align with the manhole.
A round manhole cover can be more easily moved by being rolled.
A round manhole cover can be easily locked in place with a quarter turn (as is done in countries like France). They are then hard to open without a special tool. Also then they do not have to be made so heavy, because traffic passing over them cannot lift them up by suction.

RE: Interview Questions

Like I said, I don't think I would have done so well on some of these interviews...sad

RE: Interview Questions

The questions that I would ask would be dependent upon the position that we were hiring for.

For example, if we were hiring a new intern or an experienced project engineer the questions would be completely different. I generally wanted to make sure they had a PRACTICAL outlook so I would always ask to see drawings or sketches that they did or had someone draw. These sketches would be with the materials that we would typically design with. I might even give them a problem to solve and have them sketch the solution.

I would also test their overall knowledge/ability on codes, calculation procedures, detailing, estimating, construction administration, problem resolution, client relations, etc.

I interviewed potential candidates for about 27 years.......

I am now happily retired......

RE: Interview Questions

3
I guess I would ask, "Are you fixated on manhole covers like other engineers are?"

RE: Interview Questions

Whatever anyone does can we all agree that the questions that go like; "what would you say your biggest strength/weakness is?", are complete crap?

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

RE: Interview Questions

Blind flanges and flanged manway covers are usually round also, although there's zero concern about them falling through the hole. Perhaps the better question is to ask, why wouldn't they be round?

RE: Interview Questions

BUGGAR,
I think an important one is also "What calculator do you use and why?"

RE: Interview Questions

Or LRFD vs ASD.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

RE: Interview Questions

I always ask fresh grads, EIT's and pretty green PE's this:

If you end up on the phone with a client that was frantically trying to reach the PE in responsible charge for a project, but couldn't reach him/her, and then asks you, "Can I use grade 75 stirrups instead of grade 60 in concrete beam X?" or "Can I use 1" thick plate instead of a 1/2" thick plate for the baseplate of this cantilever pole?" what would you tell that client???

The impetuous ones will quickly answer, "I would say yes because what they want to use is stronger." The ones that know their limits would say, "I'm sorry but I just can't answer that without the Principal's input". The clever ones will know that higher grade reinforcement could lead to wider crack widths (and therefore loss of aggregate interlock) and longer development lengths, and that a thicker baseplate could change the fail-safety (governing failure mode) of the overall structure from ductile to brittle.

The only purely correct answer is that you don't make official judgments without the involvement of the PE in responsible charge... I'm leery to hire on the ones that "say yes because it is stronger".

RE: Interview Questions

LRFD versus ASD only applies in the US. Basically anywhere else in the modern world both have been all but abandoned outside of timber and geotech. LSD is my friend. *evil smile*

RE: Interview Questions

2
I would ask if they know the unladen air speed of a swallow. If their response is "African or European?", I would place them on the fast track to employment.

RE: Interview Questions

If interviews were always about Monty Python knowledge I would be an unbelievably overpaid CEO. Ideally that ability, coupled with a little engineering know-how, and my 42fu will mean I have enough money to retire comfortably in the real world....

RE: Interview Questions

To be sure. Well done on the 42 reference.

RE: Interview Questions

Quote (damsinc)

2) Has anybody seen the "Project Serene" report outlining the technical issues with the Citicorp building? I couldn't find it with google, only references to it in various articles.

Very strange...I too was looking for this just the other day. If anyone knows where a copy can be found, please let us know.

RE: Interview Questions

i'm shocked by the number of uni. graduates who are looking for a structural analysis job and yet they can't solve a simply supported beam ... "derive the moment diagram for a SS beam with a point load"

Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati

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