A profession in engineering allows you to study, create, install, and test devices and systems daily. Earning an engineering internship is the best way to put your feet on the ground in the engineering world. However, you will go through the interview sessions before you get on a long-term opportunity. You must learn the answers to engineering internship interview questions and prepare for the interview. Companies need interns who are trustworthy, organized and have solid problem-solving skills. We have compiled the top 25 engineering intern interview questions and answers to help you prepare and win your dream job.
1. How Would You Rank Your Written Skills As An Engineer To Communicate Effectively?
I have always been a good writer. As an engineer, my writing abilities are crucial to my profession. During my last internship, my boss asked me to write a thorough report on our performance week. I summarized our daily accomplishments and included pictures of our coworkers collaborating on various projects. My manager complimented me on the information I presented and the completeness and clarity of it.
2. Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years From Now?
I intend to stick around and advance with this company. Being a junior engineer is the perfect place to begin my career. I have a lot to teach you, as well as a lot to learn. I would help with big projects after I have acquired the technical abilities required to advance to a more senior position. I would eventually like to get my master’s in engineering because I know that you support professional growth here. After that, I would love to join this company as a senior engineer.
3. Which Engineering Fields Are You Most Familiar With Throughout Your Experience?
I have the most experience working in civil engineering, but I am also skilled in mechanical engineering. My previous internship was working on a team that planned a new bridge for a city. My team was in charge of designing the blueprints for the building, while another was responsible for the design mechanics. It gave me a better experience in understanding mechanical engineering.
4. What Modern Engineering Skills Have You Recently Gained?
I constantly take the initiative to update my skills and knowledge. I believe that engineers must stay up with industry developments and technology trends. Since graduating a few months ago, I have been looking for a job while continuously learning civil 3D. I had a basic understanding of civil 3D from school, but I thought improving my skills would be valuable in my engineering career.
5. What Is Your Experience With Computer-Aided Design?
I am familiar with computer-aided design software. I’ve been using CAD software for several years. My last internship required me to create 3D models of thousands of products and infrastructures. I had to utilize the program to make revisions to these designs. Using CAD software provides one of the most effective ways for me to make comprehensive designs.
6. How Would You Decide What Should Get Top Priority When Scheduling Your Projects?
I am aware that most engineering jobs need to meet many deadlines at a time. I must fulfill internal deadlines, such as project planning with the project manager. Alternatively, there might be external, such as ensuring that a product arrives before a factory shut-down day or that a presentation is ready before the next client meeting. I will use a planner to keep track of my project deadlines. I will prioritize the jobs based on their urgency and significance and prioritize the urgent and essential things first. However, I know that scheduling will not be my only task. So I will call frequent project review meetings with the entire team to see what’s preventing us from progressing and what we must do to succeed. I also plan to collaborate regularly with my boss to identify which of my tasks is the top priority for the organization.
7. Why Are You Interested In This Position At Our Company?
I have done my homework and am interested in your company. I also looked at the company’s website, social media posts, and news releases from recent months. Many organizations talk about diversity, but you do it. They hire engineers, but you are the only one who has the data to prove it. Performing for a company that appreciates all sorts of people with diverse experiences is vital to me as a minority. I believe it fosters a more inclusive atmosphere and leads to the best options for customers.
8. What Would You Do If Your Boss Gave You A Task You Had Never Done Before?
I am constantly eager to take on new tasks and learn new things. I also don’t hesitate to seek assistance, gather information, or experiment with various approaches until I discover a solution. If my boss assigned me a task I didn’t understand, I would seek the help of my supervisor or mentor to explain it to me. If not, I would search for the resources about the assignment on the company’s website or online. I would also consult with other interns experienced in this field to see through the project information to ensure I understood what they expected.
9. How Do You Stay Up To Date With Technology?
I frequently watch YouTube videos and read blogs where software developers demonstrate how to use tools like AutoCAD Civil 3D or the structural application RISA-3D. I’ve discovered that using Civil 3D daily helps me learn a lot. I make it a point to conduct a tutorial or watch a YouTube video on a topic similar to what I am doing at least every week because it may be simple to get into a pattern. It keeps my brain active and gives me information about new skills I could add to my toolkit. I also want to participate in any training programs or lunchtime education your company provides.
10. Tell Me About A Moment When You Were Aware Of A Potentially Hazardous Workplace Situation. How Did You Deal With It?
I understand that worker safety is critical in engineering companies. I once observed a coworker laying an extension cord in the workplace. It was a tripping danger since it intersected a busy hallway. I believe it is always preferable to contact the individual directly rather than escalate the situation to their management, so I approached the guy and stated that the cord was hazardous. They agreed, and I assisted them in securing it in a way that was no more a threat.
11. Can You Relate To A Time When You Had To Deal With A Difficult Client?
I have dealt with a wide range of clients with many new techniques. I can get along with everyone and remain calm under pressure. I didn’t perform much technical work during my summer internship, but I did a lot of contracting preparation. A customer constantly objected to the contract conditions causing the project to be delayed. After emails and phone calls, I invited the customer to meet with the project team and me. I felt a face-to-face discussion would help diffuse the tension and convince the client that we intended to please them. It was successful, and we got permission to proceed.
12. Which Quality Do You Think An Engineer Must Possess?
I think creativity is the most crucial trait for an engineer. Engineers are continuously devising new solutions to issues. Therefore, having a creative mentality can help us come up with fresh ideas. In my previous position, I was responsible for developing a remedy for an issue with one of our products. I considered all the possible solutions to the problem and came up with many. Finally, I settled on a solution that would necessitate only minor modifications to the design drawing.
13. Tell Me About A Moment When A Task Or Project Didn’t Go According To Plan. In The Future, How Would You Address The Circumstance Differently?
I am skilled at fixing issues. I constantly improve and learn from my errors. I did a group assignment last semester that lasted around six weeks. We were all working alone since we had decided to divide and conquer. We finally got together around week four, and it was clear right away that one of the group members wasn’t doing his share. He had done very little. I took the initiative and sent an email to the group requesting another meeting to discuss the problem.
14. Why Do You Want To Be An Engineer?
After enrolling in a department of mechanical engineering in high school, I got fascinated with engineering. I like developing basic math and science skills and putting them together to make new things happen. Finally, I chose to focus on engineering because I like being outside and observing how my projects directly influence people’s lives. In structural engineering, I have discovered that I can combine my early programming interest, which I gained in the mechanical engineering department, with modeling complicated structural systems in buildings that people regularly use.
15. How Do You Stay Organized?
As an engineer, I can constantly juggle several projects, and it is crucial to remain on top of them to maintain them on schedule and under budget. I take great satisfaction in being an extremely organized and timely person. I had a full academic load last semester and had a part-time job. I could only do it by adhering to a fairly strict schedule. Whether for business or school, I use Excel to construct project plans, and my mobile calendar helps me stay organized. I can also restructure my calendar and change my priorities in unexpected circumstances.
16. What Engineering Discipline Do You Find The Most Difficult?
I can carry out the duties of this entry-level engineering job, but I have some disciplinary weaknesses and strengths. My structural engineering classes were challenging, but I am still pleased I got the opportunity to study them. As an engineer, I know I won’t be building construction systems, but occasionally I have to describe material strengths. So it would be helpful to apply my knowledge to my practical life.
17. Describe The Kind Of Working Environment You Want.
I want to work where I can ask questions and make errors without feeling awkward. I enjoy working in a team where everyone supports one another’s ideas and fosters cooperation. Since I learn best by doing, I would adore an internship where I could gain lots of practical experience. I hope to be part of your team because I believe my experience and interests are a good fit for this business.
18. Describe Your Ideal Workplace Culture.
I want to work in a company where I can ask questions and make errors without feeling awkward. I enjoy working in a team where everyone supports one another’s ideas and encourages cooperation. Since I learn best by practicing, I would prefer an internship where I could gain lots of practical experience. I aspire to be a part of your team because I believe my experience and interests are a good fit for your business.
19. Why Should We Hire You For This Job?
I have a strong interest in engineering. I have been pursuing my civil engineering degree for the past three years. I have completed some building and design-related coursework, which has enhanced my ability to solve problems effectively. Although I have little internship experience, I am ready to learn new things and work hard to produce results. I would offer a solid foundation of technical abilities to the work with a strong sense of motivation. I am sure that my attitude and skill set would be the best fit for this position. Moreover, my excitement and commitment will contribute to my success in this role.
20. What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
I prefer private communications. I find it hard to speak in front of bigger crowds. It’s a bit overwhelming, and I frequently have trouble speaking. I am trying to become better and feel more at ease, though. I joined my neighborhood Society last month to boost my confidence. I can already tell a change in my public speaking, and I am confident I will overcome and master communication soon.
21. How Well Do You Respond To Criticism From Superiors?
Working with senior engineers that have more expertise than me is something I always like. I can accept constructive criticism and apply it to my work. I believe that my supervisors are there to support my professional development as an engineer. Since they are providing it for my betterment, I appreciate it. I have had many mentors in the past who have provided me with comments on my work. I always accepted their counsel and made the necessary adjustments to my work. For instance, when one mentor advised me to incorporate more data in my presentation, I looked into other visual representations of the data.
22. Do You Feel Comfortable Working In A Team Setting?
I understand that engineering is a team discipline, and I am comfortable working in a team culture since I like working on projects with people. In my last assignment, we had to design a bridge for a specified site. My group was in charge of the bridge’s structural stability. I assisted in the creation of the drawings for the beams and supports. Working together enabled us to finish our project far more quickly than if we had worked alone.
23. We Want Creative Engineers. Give Me An Example Of A Unique Problem-Solving Technique You Used In Your Experience.
I have dealt with many issues and hurdles throughout my studies and profession. During my last internship in the company, I had to make a fresh design for an established product. The company aimed to increase its effectiveness and cost-efficiency without altering its look. After doing market research, I discovered a product with several of the same qualities as our current model. I used this knowledge to develop a prototype that would be simple to produce and use in production.
24. What Aspects Of Engineering Do You Enjoy And Dislike?
In my experience, no job is perfect. There are favorable and unfavorable elements to every job and business. The design work, face-to-face customer interaction, and opportunity to observe projects develop into reality are what I like most about engineering. If I had to pick just one thing I dislike about engineering, I would say it is a contract trial. Meanwhile, I value the assurance that comes with contract preparation that I can do anything I want.
25. Which College Programs Have You Taken That Could Be Beneficial During This Position?
I have a degree in mechanical engineering, which has helped me develop problem-solving abilities and a basic understanding of how mechanical systems interact. I also have a certificate in automation controls from a community college. This program explicitly focused on Programmable Logic Controllers and Electrical Circuits at a level of hands-on depth. With this information, I am confident that I can troubleshoot the PLCs and keep the operation functional.
Conclusion
You can craft these interview questions and answers according to your specific engineering discipline. It will help you win your engineering interview and open doors for a successful career. All the Best!
