Job Interview - Technical Questions

[tbwttihs]

Hi guys,

I have a second interview for a job in a couple of weeks (having survived an assessment centre). They indicated that they would be asking some technical questions and I just wondered if anyone could shed any light on the sort of things you would ask if you were hiring a graduate mechanical engineer. Incidentally, the company designs and manufactures subsea production systems for oil and gas fields.

I only have experience of one such interview, where they asked me to quote the laws of thermodynamics, describe the flow of air around an object and to draw a stress-strain curve for steel, and answer questions about that. I take it this sort of thing is typical?

Any general suggetions from guy's who have experienced this sort of thing, either as interviewer or interviewee, would be most welcome. Any tips from anyone with experience in this field would be even more welcome.

Thanks guys.

cp

 

[JStephen]

Assuming you paid attention in your classes, I don't know how you'd very well prepare for their questions. It would be worthwhile to take the time to find out more about their industry, so you'd have some intelligent questions for them.

 

[vonbad]

Research the company in depth not only for technical information but business as well. Find our where there facilities are located, etc. Look at all their competitors.

Also look into what codes they are required to follow; ASME, Hazardous locations, NEC, etc.

Jstephen had the correct answer on the technical information.

 

[corus]

Generally people ask basic questions just to make sure you're not an imposter. You may have a doctorate in astro-physics but they'll still ask you what shape the sun is to weed out the riff-raff. As the company works in subsea conditions then they might ask you what would be the most critical factor in the design of a structure there, ie. pressure, and then maybe what stress would you get in a cylinder at a certain depth. If it's someone from Personnel interviewing you then get ready for them asking if you would prefer to be a banana or a strawberry, and why.

corus

 

[ctopher]

Take the others advice and study on the type of position. For you to ask this question, tells me you are not sure if you know the answers. Search the web, go to the library, wipe the webs off your school books and study anything on the subject. Be prepared, you have couple weeks. Good luck to you, let us know how the interview went.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP1.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

 

[arto]

It's not so much "solve the problem" or "what is the answer," but "how would you solve the problem" or "how would you find the answer?"
i.e., your logic/thought process, understanding of the principles involved in the problem [strength of materials, corrosion, etc.,] where to find resources.

p.s. get a good night's sleep before the interview day [if you can ;-) ]

 

[cowski]

Another good forum to visit is forum731
They have a few recent threads on interview questions (mostly the strawberry vs. banana type), but good info to be had there as well.

 

[tbwttihs]

Hey, got the job offer this morning - and still no mention of strawberries or bananas more's the pity!! For the record I'd opt to be a banana, but that's another story...

 

[JStephen]

Congratultions, and thanks for reporting back!

"Six months ago, I couldn't even spell injunear and now I are one"- sign seen in an office long ago.

 

[JStephen]

Congratulations, and thanks for reporting back!

"Six months ago, I couldn't even spell injunear and now I are one"- sign seen in an office long ago.

 

[Ataloss]

Did they ask you any technical questions? If so what were they?

Just curious.

Bob

 

[tbwttihs]

they gave me a drawing of a tool, and some operating conditions, and asked about the forces on certain parts of it, as well as general questions about it's design - any potential problems, etc. Then also a drawing of a section of a wellhead , and asked to design a tool from scratch to check the straightness of the welded sections. was given about 40 minutes to do both.

was a bit stumped at first (not least because it was all in imperial units, having worked in SI all my life - guess i better get used to it in the oil and gas industry though), but got answers to all of the questions. wasnt sure how well i did, but i guess i can't have done too badly... well, maybe i did - but the actual interview part of it went really well. the guys were really cool and put me at ease - a world apart from my previous interview, which felt more like an interrogation.

i start in september...

 

[Cockroach]

....I would ask if you use "TYP" or "4 PLACES" on any of your design drawings....

CTopher, the devil, the devil made me do it! LOL

Kenneth J Hueston, PEng
Principal
Sturni-Hueston Engineering Inc
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

 

[mcguirepm]

Remember one very important thing. Half of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at. If you don't know the answer, you should at least know where ot find the answer. NEVER fake it. They will know for sure and they will not hire someone that does not have integrity.

A thought from an interviewer.

Pat

 

[Enginator]

Congrats on the job. For any others interested, I've heard and USED this one.

Define "work."

This usually catches the post-grads off guard. If they are in one mind set, they want to describe what their work day would be like. If they are still in an academic mindset, they will say: W = F x D.

I don't hold it against them for either answer. It is just something to keep the interview entertaining....for me

 

[stanier]

It isnt always the answer you give but the manner in which you answer the question.

Hirers are not only looking for "knowledge" but things that educationalists cant and wont measure:

Integrity, honesty, inventiveness, entrepreneurship, communication skills, a logical thought process....

Knowledge is easy to come by today with so many of the resources at our finger tips. The skills come from applying the knowledge. IF you dont know an equation at least know where it comes from and the significance in applying it. Think what is the interviewer really asking for? IS it knowledge or how to apply that knowledge? Do you have a logical way of getting the knowledge and then applying it? Can you communicate lucidly and clearly on the subject?

eg Question: What is the equation for hoop stress in a pipe? I would not give the equation. Rather "It appears in the pressure piping code, as do the allowable stresses, material properties etc all of which are needed for the design of a pipe system". Knowing the formula off by heart isnt going to help you comply with the Code. SO the smart answer would be " The formaula appears in the Pressure Piping Code and I would use it with ....... to determine the necessary pipe material to use in an application".

This does not directly answer the question but it is the answer the panel will be looking for but they just asked the wrong question. They want to know what you would do with it. Do you know the process of design?

 

[GregLocock]

I'd be a bit frightened of an engineer who couldn't derive the basic hoop stress equation by themselves.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[SWComposites]

re Question: What is the equation for hoop stress in a pipe?

What is becoming an all too common answer:
Equations? Derivations? Who needs equations. I'll just make an FE model of the pipe to calculate the stress. Now, that should probably be a 3D model, right? The code I learned to use in school can auto-mesh a solid geometry model - you do have a CAD model of the pipe available, don't you?

 

[stanier]

Exactly.

I boot up Algor's Pipepak and Code compliance is done for me. The art of piping design comes from understanding the loading from wind, earthquake,surge,pitch & roll. What code is applicable to the industry. Not questions one would ask a newbie.

What you want to know is does the applican thave the intelligence and commitment to learn and apply. These are things not taught at uni.

If the interviewers had any sense they would be satisfied with the technical acumen of the student as per the University results and then assess the broader capabilities such as persistence, intellect, application, street smarts, communication skills, will this guy/girl make me money and progress throught the company.. If you want a number crunching roboton get the boring one and some smarter software for him/her to use.

Give me a "doer" over a "knower" any day.

 

[JStephen]

"What is the equation for hoop stress in a pipe? I would not give the equation. Rather "It appears in the pressure piping code, as do the allowable stresses, material properties etc all of which are needed for the design of a pipe system".

That answer assumes you have some familiarity with "the" pressure piping code, which essentially assumes you are no longer a student. For example, if you're dealing with DI pipe or PVC pipe, you probably won't find that equation used- you'll just find pressure ratings given. If you're dealing with small fittings, you may not care what the stresses are- they're close to negligble anyway. If you're dealing with heavy wall tubing of some kind, you'll use a different equation than you might for thin walls. If you gave that answer above to an interviewer from GMC, they'd probably just look at you kind of funny.

FYI- I got my BSME and MSME some years back- and don't believe I ever once heard of "the pressure piping code" in college (but did know how to find hoop stresses in cylindrical shells).