The Engineering Interview: 15 Tips for Engineer Candidates

Updated February 3, 2023 – Author Indeed Editorial Team – Article from Indeed.

When applying to engineering jobs, you need to show employers you’re the right fit for their company. Your job interview may vary based on where you’re applying and for what engineering role, whether that be electrical, computer, civil, mechanical or another kind of engineering. Regardless, though, what’s important for engineering interviews is you have the ability to showcase your skills and relevant experiences.

In this article, we’ll discuss what engineering candidates should do before, during and after their engineering job interview.

Preparing for engineering interviews

Like any other interview, it’s important to prepare for engineering interviews because employers may take notice of your confidence and level of preparation. An engineer is someone who always needs to be on top of their tasks, which is why many employers are looking for a candidate who is both skilled and intelligent.

Since engineers often work on a team, your interview is also an opportunity to show that you can effectively communicate with others. By preparing for your engineering interview, you can be a more personable candidate. Anticipating what kind of questions an employer may ask you can help you come up with better responses.

Tips for the engineering interview

While your application materials may prove you are the perfect fit for the job, your interview is the final step in securing your job offer. You need to prove that you are going to be a good person to work with. Follow these tips to show you are the top candidate for an engineering position:

Before the interview

Here are some tips for what to do before your engineering interview:

1. Reflect on your skills

Engineers need to be intelligent, technically savvy, curious, attentive to detail and clear communicators. Before your interview, think about what specific skills you want to highlight during your interview. Read through the job description to learn what kind of candidate the employer is looking for. You should tailor your responses to this particular position.

2. Research the company

Learn what kind of engineering work this company does. Get to know all about the products and services it offers. Get to know who its clients are and past projects the team has done. If you want even more talking points, you should see who its top competitors are.

3. Practice with another engineer

Find a fellow engineer to help you practice for your interview. Have them ask you common interview questions. See if they would be willing to provide you with feedback on your answers. Finding someone who is in a similar position as you can be helpful. See if any of your engineering peers would be willing to give you advice or insights.

4. Prepare for common engineering interview questions

Employers looking to hire an engineer tend to ask similar questions. When looking up interview questions, search for your specific type of engineering. The questions will likely vary based on your field. Here are some general engineering questions to prepare for:

What is the most challenging engineering project you have worked on?
Tell me about a time you had to present a project to a client.
How would you describe your working style?
How would you adapt to a limited budget when working on a project?
What is your thought process when troubleshooting a problem?

5. Dress for success

While the dress code can vary by engineering companies, you should always look your very best during an engineering job interview. You should wear formal business attire, even if you suspect you’ll look more dressed up than your interviewer.

Dressing nicely and grooming yourself shows that you know how to act in professional settings. Having a clean appearance shows employers that you’re taking this opportunity seriously. It also indicates that you have the ability to dress up for important meetings or clients if you were to get the job.

6. Bring your resume

An employer may want you to guide them through your resume. Bringing a copy for yourself and the employer makes this process much easier for you. It also shows your interviewer that you are prepared. When describing your resume to them, elaborate on your experiences that are directly related to the role you’re applying to.

During the interview

Here are some tips for what to do during your engineering interview:

1. Show your social skills

While engineers need to be smart, they also need to be sociable. This is especially true if you’re working with a team or have a client-facing position. Prove you can make positive connections with others with your demeanor and nonverbal communication. Walk into the interview looking confident and eager to meet your interviewer.

Throughout the meeting, remain attentive. While you should answer all of your interviewer’s questions, you should also show you’re a good listener by giving them a chance to speak.

2. Bring up previous projects

When an employer asks you about previous accomplishments, try to highlight your project work. Explain what role you had when working with a team. Talk about some challenges you needed to overcome along the way and point out your major successes. Employers want to hear about the actual work you have done that is relevant to their job opening.

3. Leave your electronics behind

Either leave your phone in the car or completely turn it off and put it away during your interview. Along with it being a common courtesy, many engineering firms ban the use of personal devices due to security concerns.

4. Be thoughtful about your response

If an employer asks you a challenging question, take a moment to gather your main ideas. Rather than rushing into your answer, show employers that you are a conscientious and thoughtful person. Engineers need to be considerate of what they do and say, which is why having clear and concise answers is so important.

5. Show your thought process

Employers might ask you a brain teaser to see if you’re a quick thinker. When answering such questions, feel free to talk through your thinking process. This can show employers how you come to your conclusions.

6. Ask the right questions

Show your employer you care about the role by asking thoughtful questions at the end of the interview. Here are a few quality questions engineering candidates can ask:

On what kind of projects will I be working?
What is the work environment here?
Who would I be working with?
Which clients would I be working for?
Is this a client-facing position?
What programs does your team use?

After the interview

Here are some tips for what to do after your engineering interview:

1. Send a thank-you note

You can either send this letter by hand or via email. In your note, highlight some parts of the interview. Reiterate why you are a qualified engineer and what value you can add to their team. Thank the employer for their time and for meeting with you.

2. Reflect on how it went

If you are actively searching for engineering jobs, think of each interview as your chance to further develop your interviewing skills. Think about what went well and what you could improve upon. Taking a moment to review how your engineering interview went can help you do even better on your next one.

3. Research salaries

When you are waiting to hear back from the employer, start to look into how much you might make in this engineering role. You can use Indeed’s salary search to find out. This way, you are prepared to negotiate your salary if you happen to get a job offer. Remember, the pay range for engineers can vary quite a bit by discipline, so make sure you type in your particular job title.