Interview Questions

Question 1

1. Tell me about yourself

Answer 1

1. Well first I would like to say thank you for giving me the chance for this interview today.
   
   2. I am currently a third year undergraduate student studying civil engineering at RMIT university.
   3. I have a great passion in civil engineering specifically in the areas of structural and construction engineering.
   4. I have fundamental skills learnt in uni such as AutoCAD, ETABS, Spacegass, and many more.
   5. and I wish to bring these skills to your company and look for new challenges that will help me grow professionally in my future career as a civil engineer.
   6. I’m currently working at the company Bubble Tea Club, which is a business that sells DIY bubble tea kits.
   7. I work in the operations department and my role there is second in charge and trainer for new employees.

Question 2

Why are you interest in this position/ why you want to work for us?

Answer 2

Strength
3. I want to work for Strength because I want to be a apart of the engineering world, and this is the first step I can take.
4. I want to work for your company because I want new challenges and experiences that will expand my horizons in the civil engineering field.
5. After researching your website and learning about the type of work you do for example, low rise apartments, , local roads, short span bridges, retail shops, car parks and many more.
or
(After researching your website and learning about the type of work you which some of them I have listed before.)
6. This is the type of work I would really love to be a part of and which is why it would be an honor to work with you.
7. I also am inspired by your company’s values and view.
8. You look at your clients as partners in your journey and you believe their growth is your growth.
9. Because of this, I wish to bring great value into your team and participate in your company’s projects.

Question 3

Why should we hire you?

Answer 3

1. Although I have no previous work experience in the engineering field, I believe that my experience with technology, especially in AutoCAD and ETABS makes me a great addition to your company.
   
   2. Although your company may use different softwares, I always have an eager to learn and I am somebody you can train up and develop to be the person you need me to be.
   3. You should hire me because during my academic studies, I always put in the time and the dedication needed to achieve my goals.
   4. This can be seen with my current gpa of 3.5 which proves I am someone you can rely upon to achieve difficult targets and complete tasks on time.
   5. You should also hire me because In my current work, I have possessed leadership skills as I am assigned second in charge and trainer for new employees.
   6. Having this leadership skill means that I can work efficiently both in a team or independently while delivering great results.

Question 4

What are your strengths?

Answer 4

Loyalty and trustworthiness

1. My greatest strength is my loyalty and trustworthiness. 
2. You can always trust on me to carry out tasks in line with procedures and can always rely on me to be a positive role model when representing your company. 
3. My loyalty can be seen in my current work place where I almost have been working there for almost 2 years now and because of this, I have been assigned second in charge and trainer for new employees.

Collaborative worker

4. Another one of my strength is that I am a collaborative worker. 
5. I constantly work with a team in both uni and at work. 
6. So I understand the importance of effective teamwork and always help my teammates whenever they need help to get the task done correctly and efficiently. 
7. I strongly believe that a team can achieve brilliant things when they support each other and when they all focus on the same goal.

Leadership skill

8. Lastly I would also consider my leadership skills to be one of my greatest strength. 
9. As I said before, I am second in charge at my current workplace meaning whenever my manager is not in, I am responsible for leading the team and assigning them tasks. 
10. Having this leadership skill has allowed me to teach and mentor, solve issues that arise on the job, and make decisions quickly.

Question 5

Why do you want to be an engineer

Answer 5

1. In Civil Engineering I really think it’s amazing how humans can come together and build something 1000x times bigger than them.
   
   2. Civil engineering in my opinion is one of the best career because of what it can achieve.
   3. For example, in Dubai they’ve the Burj Khalifa and palm island, In Australia, they have built the Sydney opera house and Sydney harbor bridge.
   4. These ground-breaking civil engineering accomplishments have really inspired me and makes me want to be involved in the civil engineering world.
   5. I know your company doesn’t work on skyscrapers or giant infrastructure but they still focus on civil engineering and is what passionate about.
   6. I also think it’s great how every day you work with others engineers to solve problems and come up with new creations.

Question 6

What do you know about our company

Answer 6

Strength

1. Strength Engineering is a structural and civil engineering consultancy founded in 2020 and based in Melbourne. 
2. They play their part in the development and growth of Melbourne, by offering quality structural and civil engineering services
3. They do work in all major sectors of the built environment including low rise apartments, local roads, short span bridges, retail shops, car parks and many more
4. Their focus is to do their bit in building a better stronger future through providing their clients with a 
	a. holistic, 
	b. cost-effective, 
	c. And on-time engineering design, 
	d. while upholding the highest standard of work.

Question 7

5. What are your weaknesses?

Answer 7

1. A weakness of mine is that I sometimes find it hard to ask for help when I am unsure of how to do a task and I will try to do the task on my own.
   
   2. I do this because I am afraid that others might judge me and see me as unreliable.
   3. But I am trying to improve in this area as I understand that asking questions is beneficial and essential in growing professionally.

Question 8

6. What makes you unique?

Answer 8

1. One thing that makes me unique from others is that I take pride in the company that I work for and always have a sense of ownership.
   
   2. I do this because I am grateful that I have been given a chance to work and because of this, I am always committed to bringing great values to the company.
   3. For example, in my current job I constantly aim to be one of the fastest pick packers in the company.
   4. This has worked well as I have maintained one of the top KPI throughout the year, improving company shipping efficiency by 15%.

Question 9

Why are you leaving your current job?

Answer 9

1. As much as I love working there, I think it is time I start focusing more on my future career as a civil engineer.
   2. So I am looking for more civil engineering related work that will help me gain knowledge and experience in the civil engineering industry.

Question 10

8. Tell me about a time when you experienced conflict with a co-worker and how you dealt with it.

Answer 10

1. So one time at work we had to do food preparation which is packing the ingredients into its packaging.
   2. We were working as a team but I had one workmate who was working too slow and had no motivation and we needed to get this task done by the end of the day.
   3. Instead of yelling at him and telling him to work faster, I gave him verbal support like we got this and good job team because I know yelling at someone particularly when they’re having a bad day is just going to make things worse.
   4. As a result, this brought his mood up and his pace went a bit quicker.
   5. To get this task done on time, I moved over to help him every time I was done with my part which made the task done more efficiently and we managed to finish everything by the end of the day.

Question 11

9. Can you describe a work or school instance in which you messed up?

Answer 11

1. When I was put as second in charge, I became overwhelmed with the responsibilities that I was given such as telling everyone what to do and making sure everything is done correctly.
   2. My team members became frustrated because they always had to wait for me to find them something to do.
   3. I quickly recognized this problem, had a chat with my manager about it, and would always make sure that I come into the warehouse with a clear plan and responsibility for everyone whenever the manager is not there.
   4. As a result, there is always certainty in the tasks to be completed and both everyone and I would always knew what to do around the warehouse.

Question 12

10. How would your current manager describe you?

Answer 12

1. As someone who seeks to help others, I would hope my manager would say I am kind and supportive.
   2. We had a good working relationship where one always looked out for the other.
   3. More than once she had thanked me for stepping up.

Question 13

11. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Answer 13

1. In five years, I see myself working in your company as someone in a stable position with great civil engineering knowledge.
   2. I see myself working with other engineers and coming up with new solutions and innovations.
   3. And I see myself working on projects and driving to the sites for inspections.

Question 14

12. Expected Salary

Answer 14

1. I don’t have a specific value but I carried out some research for the average salary of an engineering intern and found it to be in between $58000 to $68000 a year.
   2. So any in that range would be good.

Question 15

13. What questions do you have for me?

Answer 15

If I get this internship, what would a normal day at work look like for me?
What do you enjoy most about working at Strength?
How could I impress you throughout the internship?

Question 16

1. Tell me about a time when a project or assignment didn’t go as planned. How would you approach the situation differently in the future?

Answer 16

1. This semester, I had a group project that took about 6 weeks.
   
   2. We divided the work amongst each other and my part was shared with another group mate so we both did it together.
   3. I told him he can do the first half and do whatever he can then I can finish off the rest.
   4. Few weeks later it turned out he wasn’t pulling his weight and the work he was giving was very rushed and could be a lot better.
   5. I didn’t want to tell him his work was bad and needed improvement because I didn’t want to make him think that I was pushing him too much.
   6. So I ended up fixing his work before I could start my part.
   7. This resulted in me spending more time than I should’ve on the project which increased my stress.
   8. If I could do it again, I would give him clearer instructions on what I wanted to be done and I will also report back to my group about his efforts in the project so they can work around that accordingly.

Question 17

2. What do you enjoy most and least about engineering?

Answer 17

1. I really love the design work in engineering.
   
   2. I enjoy working in a group and solving problems together.
   3. I like the different CAD softwares that I get use because I get the chance to be creative and come up with new designs.
   4. I enjoy the practical classes RMIT provides me, because there I can get some hands-on learning experience about the theory learnt in class which is very fun.
   5. One thing I like least about engineering would be the report writing.
   6. Because the formatting and referencing can get quite tedious.
   7. Another thing I enjoy least about engineering is going through my work to make sure everything is done correctly, because when I find a mistake in one step, all the others steps would be wrong.
      So I would have to change everything up which can take a long time.

Question 18

3. What new engineering skills have you recently developed?

Answer 18

1. This semester I have been taught how to use ETABS, SIDRA and MS Projects.
   
   2. In ETABS I designed a multi-story level carpark that includes primary beam, secondary beam and column placements.
   3. In SIDRA, I designed a 4-legged intersection and analysed its level of service and performance.
   4. And in MS Project, I modelled a work breakdown structures for the construction of a bridge and analysed the cost, resources required and duration.

Question 19

4. Tell me about a time when you became aware of a hazardous workplace condition. How did you handle it?

Answer 19

1. At my workplace, there is an area outside the warehouse where we keep wooden pallets the we don’t need and we stack them on top of each other.
   
   2. One day, I saw that the wooden pallets weren’t stacked properly and that they can easily fall over.
   3. First thing I did was informed everyone including my workmates and manager.
   4. I think it’s always best to inform any hazard to everyone in the warehouse, so they immediately act on it and be more cautious in the future.
   5. After I informed everyone, the pallets immediately got fixed and the manager made sure to not let this hazard appear again.

Question 20

5. How would you deal with a difficult client?

Answer 20

1. I would listen to what they have to say and what they want.
   
   2. I would reassure the client and think of solutions that would work out for both of us and to make them happy.
   3. I understand that clients are a very important aspect of the company to us and they are the reason we’re operating.
   4. So I would always prioritize exceptional customer service and make sure the client leaves with a positive experience.

Question 21

6. How do you keep yourself organized?

Answer 21

1. I always add due dates and deadlines into my notes and calendar so I never miss it.
   
   2. For each day I add tasks that need to be done, prioritizing the most important first.
   3. This has worked well since I have never submitted anything late before and I am always ahead of my work.

Question 22

7. What motivates you, what makes you stand out?

Answer 22

1. Setting a goal really motivates me and drives me towards the goal.
   
   2. Doing what I love most is my main motivation.
   3. The things that motivates me in engineering are the problem solving, using different engineering software, and getting the chance to be creative.

Question 23

What subjects did you like at uni and why?

Answer 23

1. The subject I really enjoyed most would be Steel Structures.
   
   2. I think my lecturer has done a great job at delivering this course.
   3. He is engaging and teaches us many useful things that can be very helpful for later in our careers.
   4. He makes the subject interesting by teaching us how to use different CAD softwares.
   5. And He makes the assignments very enjoyable as it required us to come into groups and design real life structures.

Question 24

9. If you retired tomorrow, what would you want to be known for?

Answer 24

1. If it retire tomorrow, I would want to be known someone who was a valuable asset in the company.
   
   2. I would want to be remember as someone who brought great positives and ideas into the company leaving behind a legacy.

Question 25

10. What do you think we do here? What is the role of an engineer?

Answer 25

1. Strength - In strength engineering, your services are structural, civil, forensic, geotechnical, land surveying and energy assessment. 2. You cover all major sectors of the built environment including buildings infrastructure and urban development. 3. Civil engineers plan, design and manage large construction projects. 4. This could include bridges, buildings, transport links and other major structures. 5. They use computer modelling software, data from surveys, tests and maps to create project blueprints. 6. These plans advise contractors on the best course of action and help minimise environmental impact and risk.

Question 26

11. How can you demonstrate this company's values?

Answer 26

For your company's value of : 1. Customer Focus - I will build relationships by collaborating and delivering promises with my clients. 2. Working together - I will communicate effectively, engage frequently and always share my knowledge. 3. For honesty & integrity - I will always do what is right and be transparent with my work towards both my team and my clients. 4. Performance excellence - I will always strive to exceed expectation.

Question 27

12. What was your favorite and least favorite project you've ever done?

Answer 27

1. Most favorite project would be in Steel structures 2 where I designed a multi-level carpark on ETABS. 2. It took a very long time but the end result was very rewarding and overall it was a very fun learning experience to use ETABS. 3. The least favorite would be analyzing a frame structure using calculation methods. 4. This project required a lot manual calculations to the find bending moments and shears forces in a real life structure and it was very tedious. 5. But it was still very interesting to observe the different methods used for analysis.

Question 28

13. How do you employ problem solving skills in practical situations?

Answer 28

1. I would start by identifying the issue, come up with solutions, implement those solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness. 2. Then I would select the most effective solution, implement it, monitor its progress and make adjustments.

Question 29

14. What do you think innovation is? And how would you apply it in the workplace?

Answer 29

1. For me innovation is coming up with new ideas, methods and solutions. 2. Innovation can also be about changing the way business is done. 3. For example, new technologies, improved industry methods, and meeting changing customer demands or needs. 4. I would apply innovation In the workplace, by getting creative on the softwares that I use and experiment with different designs to find new innovations.

Question 30

15. Give an example of a time where you demonstrated good attention to detail.

Answer 30

1. I paid great attention to detail in one of my previous jobs as a bubble tea team member. 2. In that job I was required to memorize and make up to 70 different drink flavors. 3. So it was critical that I stay organized and pay attention to detail each day each time I was working. 4. It's become one of my top skills and it's something I enjoy.

Question 31

16. What is your knowledge of basic engineering principles and techniques?

Answer 31

1. One principle in engineering design is to keep it simple or KISS which stands for (keep it simple stupid). 2. This is something that engineers must remind themselves to do when they are faced with very fancy complicated projects. 3. Another principle might be to "keep the target user in mind". If the user does not want a simple solution, then an engineer will have to make a choice between those two principles.

Question 32

17. What engineering concepts are you familiar with?

Answer 32

1. I am familiar with problem solving and coming up with new innovations. 2. I mainly have done this through the softwares I use that required me to design solutions to real life problems which includes, roads, bridges and buildings.

Question 33

19. Describe the engineering design process?

Answer 33

1. First step in the engineering design process is identifying the problem. 2. Next step is to brainstorm and tests different solutions to the problem. 3. When a solution is selected, a design is developed. 4. Further tests and evaluations are made to the refine the design. 5. Lastly the design is created and the results are observed.