How to Face Technical Job Interview in Civil Engineering?

How to face technical Job interview in Civil Engineering?

Remember when you sit for a technical interview for construction job follows the top tips of a civil engineering graduate who successfully got the offer from an employer based on his/her technical knowledge. During the selection process for a civil and structural engineering or construction job, you'll be assessed on your technical knowledge. This might involve a technical interview, by conducting a technical workshop or exercise, by giving a presentation on a subject of your choice, or few technical questions on construction field within a more general interview.

Technical interviews: what questions will I be asked?

• The majority of interviewers will start off in familiar area asking you about modules and subjects from your degree that you found interesting or that relate directly to the employer’s work.
• Academic Projects are another common subject for discussion. Interviewers may ask about projects you have done during your degree (graduation) or knowledge gain through your internship or through work experience, exploring the work involved, the results or deliverable generated and the role you played in a group initiative.
• The employer may also be asked the questions about topics relating to the employer’s area of expertise.

Preparing for technical engineering interviews:

• Thoroughly preparing your technical evaluation will help you feel more confident and perform better under pressure.
• Find out what type of work the employer does and predict from that the types of basic questions you might be asked relating to their work.
• Get to learn the Job description and company profile for better understanding of the company’s requirement.
• Get an insight into any issues that may be of concern to the company or organization.
• Research the company’s areas of work and company’s culture.
• Practice sketching diagrams of concerned area or subject, which you find may be asked in the interview.
• Read through your coursework and be prepared to talk about your project work and thesis/dissertation
• Ask an expert or senior to give you feedback on the clarity of your explanations of technical solutions.
• Try to learn as much as possible about the company for each and every Interview.

How to answer the technical questions:

• In many ways, technical interviews at graduate level focus on how you relate your technical ideas and information. Once you are settled, interviewers may extend your thinking further by asking questions and scenarios about which you have more limited knowledge.
• Keep in mind that they are not essentially looking for precise quantitative answers. Engineering projects rarely present textbook problems so your future employer wants to see how you approach problem solving – the final answer can be less important. 
• If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification. 
• If you really don’t know anything about the question, say “No” don’t bluff.
• If you can explain something with the help of a diagram, don’t hesitate to ask for a piece of paper.
• Provide yourself some time to think before answering, take a sip of water to get yourself some time.
• If your knowledge of a subject is inadequate, explain what you do know and then show the interviewer how you would move toward solving the problem.

By following these simple techniques any job aspirant in civil or construction engineering field can easily face any technical interview with confidence.

Best Luck..!!!