Are you preparing for an interview for a site engineer role? Well, we have some top hints and tips on how candidates can make the most of their opportunity.
General interview tips.
Always leave plenty of time to get to the appointment, having double-checked the address and ensuring that you have a contact telephone number in case you are delayed for any reason. Always ring if you are going to be late, even if only by a few minutes. It is bad manners not to do so.
On a site, engineers might be dressed in anything from a suit to overalls, but an interview always calls for smart attire – also check the cleanliness of your shoes. Do some homework beforehand and read up about the company and the post being applied for, and avoid having to ask basic questions by running them by the recruitment agency first.
If CVs or application forms were required, take along a copy, and read them over again just before going into the interview and think about which elements might be of most interest to the prospective employer, as well as making a note of anything new that might be of interest - qualifications gained since initial application, for example.
Further information for site engineer candidates.
A site engineer is often in a position of considerable responsibility, and as such interviewers will need to be convinced that a candidate is reliable, level-headed and is someone that others will respect, as well as having the requisite problem-solving skills demanded of all engineers (e.g. test engineer, site engineer). Think about how best to demonstrate these skills; it could be by highlighting past roles in which these elements were essential, or perhaps a specific project where these skills came to the fore.
A candidate should try to have a few examples prepared, as well as being ready to discuss how they see their career developing going forward. Interviewers will be expecting site engineer candidates to be able to communicate clearly and maintain a professional attitude at all times.
Site engineer interview questions.
- What do you see as the key challenges faced by site engineers on a day-to-day basis?
- What other practical experience do you have that might be relevant to being a site engineer?
- Are there any further qualifications you would like to work towards?
- What would you say is the most useful learning experience you will take from your current role?
- Tell me about the most challenging engineering task you have worked on.
- What would you say are the most important skills a site engineer should have?
- If you were asked to negotiate a deal for site materials, how what would you approach the task?
General interview questions.
- Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
- What appeals to you most about this role?
- What are the key attributes you can bring to this job?
- What would you say were the elements of the role you are least confident about?
- Do you have any questions about the role or the company?
Scenario interview questions.
- Give me an example of a time when you have had to think logically or mathematically to solve a site related problem.
- Describe a task in which you had to lead a team of others and encourage them to work together.
- Can you tell me about the least successful project you have managed? What went wrong and how would you approach the situation differently now?