Sometimes the most revealing interview questions are not technical in nature (even if the job itself is). In addition to highly technical or hands-on questions, these behavioral interview questions should elicit well thought out answers from potential new hires.
Top 6 Structural Engineer Interview Questions
Talk about your last team project. What part did you play in the process?
The interview should highlight the candidate’s appreciation for teamwork. Did they try to dominate the project? Or did they play an integral role in sharing responsibilities and effectively delegating? This is one of the top structural engineer interview questions, as it paints the candidate as either a team player or more of a one-man show.
Describe some traits of your worst manager.
While this question has a bit of a negative connotation, it can reveal how candidates approach challenging working relationships. Did they learn from this experience? How did it help them grow as a professional? Also, it could be enlightening as to what they qualify as bad traits. If that mirrors your leadership style it may end up like oil and water.
Please describe the most technically interesting building in your city.
This question allows the candidate to provide a detailed response and also reveals their personal aesthetic. Why is the building interesting? Can they use correct technical terminology when describing its structure?
What does our company do, and why do you want to work for us?
Has the candidate thoroughly researched both the role and your company? Their answer will clearly demonstrate how prepared they are for the meeting. What interested them about your business? What kinds of goals to they hope to accomplish if hired?
Describe a situation in which the decision you made was the right one, but not the popular one.
This question demonstrates leadership and teamwork skills. Has the candidate ever taken the initiative to implement something beneficial yet unpopular among fellow team members? How did the situation turn out? Did team members eventually come around?
What was a time you experienced failure, and how did you respond to it?
Paired with the previous question, this invites the candidate to provide an in-depth account of a time they failed. As one of the most crucial structural engineer interview questions, it allows the interviewee to embrace a time when they felt vulnerable and explore how they bounced back from a low point. What did the candidate learn from the experience?
As a hiring manager, you may also ask a few “test your problem-solving ability” questions. For instance, you might give the candidate a particular problem on a construction site and ask for their solution with very limited tools or equipment.
What other structural engineer interview questions would you ask a candidate? Let us know — and contact TruPath for all your hiring needs.
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