Job interviews are a two-way conversation between the candidate and the employer, no matter what field or industry you are in. However, because engineers are in such high demand, companies must impress candidates just as much as candidates must impress the hiring manager. While hiring managers will certainly ask plenty of questions, engineering candidates will have plenty of time to ask their questions, too.
At Austin Nichols, we want to share our top five questions we think all engineering candidates should ask in job interviews.
1. Can You Break Down the Responsibilities of this Engineering Position?
Job descriptions often outline the responsibilities of the position. Depending on the role, the description for an open engineering job may include day-to-day responsibilities, overall goals of the positions, key performance indicators, or skills of the role. While an engineering candidate may have a good idea about the job’s responsibilities, it can be beneficial to ask the hiring manager or interviewer to break down the responsibilities of the position.
First, the hiring manager will likely go into a lot more detail than the job description does. As they begin to cover the responsibilities, there may also be room to ask further questions. Remember to listen carefully. As they go through the responsibilities, there may be good opportunities to ask smart questions that also set you up to share valuable details about your work experience.
2. Where Do You See the Company in 5 Years?
This question is valuable for job candidates to ask in any industry. However, engineering practices can change and grow at much quicker rates than other industries. Depending on the type of engineering you are in, innovations in technology and computer software can mean different outlooks for engineering firms or other companies that rely on the field.
Asking about the company’s future outlook also indicates that you are interested in seeing the future play out at the organization. You indicate that you want to be there for at least five years and be a part of the company’s growth. Additionally, you can ask about the future outlook for the specific engineering position you are interviewing for to get an idea of potential career growth.
3. What Roles Do the Other Engineers on the Team Play?
The size of an engineering team varies by company, industry, and functionality in the organization. Start by asking about the other roles on the team. This question will also give you an overview of the other roles included in the team and their responsibilities. You’ll get familiar with how the team is structured to see if it aligns with what you are looking for.
Should you be hired, you’ll also be more familiar with who to go to if you need help with something. Hearing an overview of how the team is structured will give you a good idea of where you fit in. A great follow-up question would be “how do managers motivate the team?” or “how are team members held accountable?”
4. What Management Style Does the Firm Use?
In addition to asking about other engineers you would potentially be working with, it is beneficial to know what management styles the team uses. Even after only a few years of experience, you’ll get a good idea of the types of managers you work well under and the others that might not be the best fit.
Asking about the management style can also give you insight into whether you could go into a managerial role within the organization (if that is not the position you are interviewing for, that is). If your leadership style aligns with the team, there could be plenty of opportunities for career growth and long-term success.
5. What Are the Opportunities for Professional Development in the Organization?
Professional development and growth opportunities are important to many engineers. Many companies offer growth opportunities, continuing education programs, and leadership training. Asking the hiring manager about the company’s professional development resources allows you to find out about the resources you may be able to take advantage of if you were to be hired.
However, suppose a hiring manager doesn’t have a lot to say about professional development opportunities at the organization. In that case, this might be a sign that this isn’t a good long-term fit, especially if professional development is important to you in your career.
Preparing for Engineering Job Interviews with Professional Recruiters
At Austin Nichols, our professional recruiters will help engineering candidates formulate questions specific to the position they are interviewing for. Our recruiting team is highly knowledgeable about the industry and key players within the local engineering marketing.
Austin Nichols is an engineering recruiting firm in Kansas City that matches high-quality candidates with engineering firms and other employers in Kansas and Missouri. Start working with one of our professional recruiters today.
