Engineering Job Interview Tips for Students and Recent Graduates

Most interviewers managing graduate engineering jobs won't spend much time evaluating your conversation in detail. They just want to get a general sense of who you are, and get the right soundbites that justify advancing your application. What really sticks with them isn't a meticulous analysis of your answers, but rather an overall impression that they can confidently relay to their team, encapsulating your potential with comments like "they’re really great."

In this guide, we'll cover tactics that help deliver those memorable soundbites for all engineering fields, whether it be civil engineering or electrical engineering. We know there’s a lot of conventional interview advice for getting into graduate engineering jobs, so we try to give the nuanced and the not-so-talked-about tactics that elevate your interview game.

How to prepare for engineering graduate job interviews

Don’t over-prepare

When doing interview preparation for engineering jobs, avoid the trap of rote memorisation or over-preparing exhaustive answers for an endless list of potential interview questions.

Regardless of how many engineering interview questions you prepare for, the interviewer will almost certainly ask one you haven't prepared for, or at least one from an unexpected angle. Such moments demand flexibility rather than a frantic search through your mental index of rehearsed responses. The goal is to engage in a fluid and natural dialogue, rather than appearing to retrieve canned answers.

Moreover, leaning too heavily on memorised responses can stop you from relaxing and engaging authentically during the interview. It often becomes obvious when answers are recited from memory, which can stifle the conversational flow crucial for a successful interview. Also, relying on memorisation poses the risk of disrupting your thought process, making it easy to lose your train of thought and decreasing your overall performance.

Go beyond the fluff

Go beyond the superficial information on the company’s website. Find detailed and insightful sources like annual reports and Glassdoor reviews.

Identify key details like their business challenges, employee retention issues, and areas where they might be falling behind competitors.

This information will give you opportunities to show the interviewer you understand their business and that you’re motivated.

Get a lot done during all your "free" time

Everybody knows you have lots of time to kill at university. Seize this opportunity or you'll regret it. Optimise your time at university!

How to answer engineering graduate job interview questions

Don’t come across as too excitable

Excessive excitement might look like an attempt to mask your nervousness, which it probably is. Instead, aim for a demeanour that exudes calmness and composure. This conveys a sense of maturity and real confidence; which you will need in an engineering job.

Don’t use formal-speak or unnecessary jargon

Use natural language, not lingo from a past era. Overly formal language and complex terminology can distract your interviewer and won’t impress them. They might even find your attempt amusing.

Consider that your interviewer, probably younger than 40, typically uses straightforward, everyday language with peers. By mirroring this relaxed communication style, you demonstrate both confidence and an understanding of contemporary workplace dynamics.

Avoid “and then” storytelling

Use "but" and "therefore" instead of the more traditional "and then" sequence to connect plot points and drive narratives forward.

The issue with "and then" storytelling is that it often leads to a predictable and boring narrative, where events simply unfold one after another. To combat this, introduce causality and conflict into your stories with "therefore" and "but" moments. For instance, start with a situation that gets complicated by a "but" moment, introducing a twist or conflict. Then, use "therefore" to show the consequences of that twist and how you respond, propelling the story forward.

Every part of your story should be connected to the broader narrative through cause and effect, rather than just a series of unconnected events. This storytelling method not only adds depth your narrative but also keeps the interviewer engaged by making the plot unpredictable and dynamic. Yes, these are still interview tips for engineering jobs.

Have a conversation that you don’t own

Avoid structureless monologues. The interviewer will switch off. Keep your responses concise, well-organised and directly related to the questions asked, so you can have a conversation. This is particularly important for online interviews, where it's easy for the interviewer to become disengaged.

Strive for brevity in your answers. Unless your interviewer’s jaw is wide open due to the awesomeness of your story, limit your continuous speaking to no more than three minutes. Prolonged responses undermine the coherence of your message, dilute your key points, and make the interviewer feel like they’ve lost control of the conversation.

Be concise; address the specific question without digressing into unrequested topics, especially if you're tempted to incorporate pre-prepared remarks.

Encourage a genuine dialogue with the interviewer by adopting a conversational tone and inviting comments and minor questions. However, always ensure that they feel in control to transition to another question or adjust the pace.

What to keep in my mind during an interview for a graduate engineering job

You don’t have to revere the company

When asked why you want to work at company X, it's ideal to share a thoughtful rationale tied to a specific project or company value. However, a simple response like "because you're good at X" is also acceptable, and often better than an insincere and confusing explanation.

It's also okay to express concerns in an engineering graduate job interview. This shows that you're searching for the best growth opportunities and aren't afraid to speak up. Remember, no engineering graduate scheme is perfect. Recruiters won't penalise you for pointing out their faults as long as you don’t appear arrogant.

Use the right definition of authenticity

"Be authentic!" is often-given advice to students applying to engineering jobs. However, without the correct understanding of authenticity, it can be misleading.

So let me give you my definition: authenticity is not about being the the most “real you” or speaking without a filter. Being authentic means being the best version of the person you aspire to become.

So think of the honest, ambitious, and caring individual you want to become, and act in accordance with that persona.

Don’t be thrown off by an unfriendly persona

Remember, your interviewers are human, each with their own set of preferences and styles. It's important to present yourself as personable and easy to get along with, bringing a confident and engaging presence to the table. Often, interviewers lean towards candidates they can see themselves working with in the future, influenced by their personal rapport with them.

Typically, an interview may start and end with about 30 seconds of light-hearted conversation. This is a golden opportunity to showcase your amiable and engaging personality, making a positive impression right from the start.

However, be adaptable. Some interviewers might prefer to skip the small talk and focus on the interview questions. This could be their personal style, a deliberate strategy to apply pressure, or simply a preference for efficiency. If you encounter this, maintain your composure and show that you're comfortable and flexible enough to align with their conversational tone.

Technical engineering questions aren’t necessarily used to test your knowledge, but to test your though process

The interviewer is less interested in how much you know and more focused on understanding how you approach complex problems. Technical interview questions serve as a window into your critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to navigate challenges under pressure.

Don’t recite memorised facts or solutions, take this opportunity to articulate your thought process clearly and methodically. Explain your reasoning, the steps you would take to tackle the problem, and how you would adjust your approach if faced with obstacles. This approach offers valuable insights into your potential as a collaborative and adaptive team member.

Be open about what you don’t know

The aim of a graduate scheme is not to get immediate value from incoming engineering graduates but to grow them into engineering professionals who will deliver value in the future. Consequently, interviewers will be focused on your capacity for growth. Your focus should not be on presenting yourself as a know-it-all; it should be on signalling that you’re going to be awesome in 10 years.

Personal growth requires self-awareness, and team growth necessitates openness about individual limitations. By openly acknowledging your information gaps to the interviewer, you present yourself as someone who is self-aware, committed to growth and a team player.

Also, coming across as overconfident and arrogant is a quick way to loose the interviewer’s sympathy.

How to ask questions in a graduate engineering job interview

At the end of an engineering job interview, you will have the chance to ask questions. This part is crucial and often more impactful than it might seem. It's also the part where you have complete control.

Ask hard-hitting questions like you still need to be convinced

Present yourself as someone evaluating multiple job options, rather than appearing overly eager to accept the job regardless of their responses.

Engage interviewers by inquiring about their personal experiences and perspectives. Try getting information that you’ll never find on a careers leaflet.

Use Questions to Truly Learn

Don’t ask questions just to sound smart. Ask questions you are genuinely curious about. If you’ve done your research, you’ll notice information gaps or weaknesses in their scheme that spark your curiosity. For example:

Conclusion

Remember, your interviewer will interview lots of candidates and won’t overanalyse your answers like you will. It is not always about the individual responses you give, but the overall impression you leave behind, that will get you an invite to an assessment centre. You don’t need to show off your knowledge, you need to focus on signalling that you have great potential.

Finally, remember that every conversation is different and requires adaptability. So ignore any of the engineering interview tips above if it doesn’t feel right.