Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, preparing for a job interview is just good sense. This is your window of opportunity to show hiring managers your knowledge, skills and potential, proving that you’re the right candidate for the job.
As a mechanical engineer, you’ll be asked a mixture of technical and behavioral questions to which your answers will determine if you’re a good fit for the company and the role.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the most common mechanical engineer interview questions and sample answers — to help you make a lasting first impression.
1. “What is your favorite part of being a mechanical engineer?”
Through this question, the interviewer can better understand why you have pursued this career path and your main interests as a mechanical engineer.
Ideally, your answer should encompass your motivations and some highlights from your career thus far. You want to focus on the reasons you’re passionate about what you do and show the interviewers that you’re dedicated to what you do.
2. “In your opinion, what is the most important skill a mechanical engineer should have?”
Interviewers want to understand what you deem makes a good mechanical engineer. You could choose from a number of skills including analytical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, mathematical skills, or whatever else you believe is suitable for this question.
It would bode well to include examples of the ways you have relied on your chosen skill in the past to simultaneously highlight your expertise.
3. “What was your first engineering design?”
Your answer to this question offers hiring managers a glimpse into your professional background and history. Make sure to walk them through the processes followed and the overall outcome.
Even if the design was not entirely successful, you can talk about the lessons learned and the improvements that were made to optimize it later on.
4. “What computer programs do you use for your work?”
When answering this question, you want to demonstrate your familiarity with different software and tools that are commonly used in mechanical engineering.
Be honest about your experience with each of them, and if you’re asked about a program you haven’t worked with in the past, show interviewers that you’re willing to learn and expand your knowledge.
5. “Can you describe a time you overcame a design challenge?”
This question allows hiring managers to gauge how you will respond to difficulties that could arise during a project. In your answer, you should provide the necessary context, detailing what exactly was the issue, how it was identified and the steps taken to overcome it.
6. “Can you explain the basic principles of thermodynamics?”
This question is meant to test your technical expertise. Your response and way you deliver it are equally important. You need to be confident and show no hesitation when offering your answer, as this is fundamental knowledge for every mechanical engineer.
7. “How do you explain designs and processes to non-engineers?”
Soft skills such as communication and collaboration are equally important to technical skills. This is why hiring managers want to assess if you’re able to work with others efficiently and relay information to them in a clear manner.
8. “How do you ensure quality control in a manufacturing process?”
This question aims to assess your attention to detail and analytical skills. It’s wise to show your interviewers that you follow certain procedures and steps to ensure quality control, demonstrating your experience and knowledge as a seasoned mechanical engineer.
9. “How do you prioritize overlapping projects?”
As a mechanical engineer, you’ll likely have to juggle multiple projects at the same time. This question will allow you to demonstrate your time management and multitasking skills, as well as your ability to work with tight deadlines.
10. “What is a process flow diagram?”
Once again, this is a question that wants to test your technical expertise. When responding, you need to show that you have an in-depth understanding of what a process flow diagram is and that you are familiar with its utility.
Final thoughts :
As a mechanical engineer, you can expect a series of behavioral and technical questions related to your field during your interview. So, to achieve interview success, and to avoid being caught off guard, take the time to familiarize yourself with the questions we have listed above.
