Job done: get engineering design and construction job interviews right

If your application is successful, you’ll be called for an interview. First things first, find out what process will be followed. Will the day include a number of interviews, group exercises, tests, technical interviews, dinner and opportunities to meet people from the company? ‘Good employers will often provide you with this detail in advance,’ says John Wallis of Snamprogetti Limited.

EDC recruiters want you to perform well at interviews and aren’t out to trip you up. ‘We try to make the interview process as stress free as possible so that candidates can be open and honest and show themselves in their true light,’ reassures Julie Dewar from M.W. Kellogg Limited. First interviews are typically a general assessment of your skills and why you are applying. Interviewers want to confirm you are who you say you are and that you live up to what you have put in your application.

Preparation for interviews is the key to confidence

Typically questions include: Why do you want to work in the EDC industry? What do you know about our company? Why do you want to work for us? ‘We don’t expect applicants to recite statistics from annual reports, but candidates should have a good view of where the organisation fits within the industry and the type of work it does. A good start is to know the difference between operators and contractors,’ highlights Angela Spooner from Foster Wheeler Energy Limited.

Interviewers will also explore what skills you are bringing to the table. Organisation, teamwork and communication skills are essential for working in this industry so expect questions on how you organise your time, for example, to fit in studies and extra-curricular activities, or how you worked with others in a group project. Prepare a range of examples that you can draw upon. ‘Relax and remember that you don’t have to relate everything back to technical, or indeed, academic examples. You can use examples from all areas of your experience,’ says Angela.

Tackling the technical bit of interviews

EDC employers will want to check out your technical prowess through a technical interview, but they are not seeking regurgitation of figures and theorems. ‘We are looking for how you apply your theoretical engineering knowledge,’ explains Julie. ‘You may be asked about different parts of your degree or your project, and even asked to respond to some hypothetical situations. When presenting your ideas, explain your thoughts and any knock-on impacts different solutions might have.’ Communication is an important element of a technical interview, so pitch your responses at the right technical level for your interviewer.

Your questions for them

All interviews should include time for you to ask your own questions. ‘It should be a two-way flow of information,’ says John. ‘Correctly pitched, appropriate questions also show us that you are interested in our company and what it does. Try to ask sensible questions that avoid the “what’s in it for me” approach,’ he advises. If it helps, prepare a list of questions to take into the interview with you so that you remember to explore everything that interests you about the organisation: what it is like to work there, what graduates typically go on to do, how the mentoring scheme works and so on. ‘Companies invest a considerable amount of time and money in graduates so we want to make the right choice, but this cuts both ways.

The decision to join an organisation on your first career appointment is as critical for you,’ highlights John. So make sure you use the whole process to get a feel for the organisation and find out what’s right for you.

With thanks to Julie Dewar, human resources manager, M.W. Kellogg Limited; John Wallis, human resources, Snamprogetti Limited; and Angela Spooner, human resources adviser, Foster Wheeler Energy Limited.

Top tips for interview success

• Research the industry and the employer.
• Dress reasonably formally.
• Bring documents and any information you think will be helpful for recruiters.
• Behave professionally but be yourself.
• Emphasise your strengths and what you can offer a potential employer in a friendly but assertive way.
• Have a range of examples that you can draw upon to demonstrate your skills and competences.
• Prepare questions that you can ask to find out more about what it is like to work for the organisation.