Job interview question

[Gktssm]

Hi everyone,

I have completed 2365 L3 couple of months ago and now finally arranged an interview with a big company. Please could anyone tell me what sort of questions should I expect?

Thank you.

 

[jimmymac]

Not in this country I believe unlike else where in the world where you need a degree to call your self an engineer not so in this country.

As if it was 90% of job adverts would be classed as false advertising when using the term engineer especially when it comes to repairing washing machines etc

Exactly! it's unfair on those who have put in the hard work to get to a real engineer level. I don't think gas fitters should be able to call themselves Gas Engineers, it should be more tightly regulated, and it is going that way. It's same with 'Technician', the name makes you sound like you have technical knowledge. My wife went to a car spares store to buy some new wiper blades and they tried to charge her for the 'Technician' to install them, I wonder how long he did at college to learn his trade!

 

[shanky887614]

im going to be multi-skilled me boss is winding me up so when i eventually leave ill finish my plumbing quals, more of a laugh with them boys

 

[Adam W]

True, noone needs a degree to call himself an engineer. Watching tv one day a dyson vacuum cleaner called himself an engineer Lol. I am also an engineer, i fix my iron, toaster, cattle, etc.

I always thought a person who keeps cattle is known as a 'dairy farmer', while a person who 'fixes' them is known as a 'veterinary surgeon' or 'vet'.

 

[Pete999]

Yep engineer is used far to loosely imo.......my title at work is engineer and i hate it!....i make a point of explaining i am not an engineer if i get a chance to anyone who asks and when i sign any certs i use electrical technician.

Ste69, don't want to sound stuck up but you are a trainee aren't you? I.m an Electrical Technician and I have the certificates and experience to prove it, to many people upping their job title to sound important

 

[Adam W]

As for questions it depends who's doing the interview - if it's for a big company the chances are there'll be someone from HR who will want to ask you standard questions from a bank, such as:

Where do you see yourself in 10 years' time?
The answer to this is not 'doing your job', but they're looking for something like 'progressed onto a different role within the company'. This is a good opportunity to ask about scope for career progression - that's a question they like you to ask.

Can you name a time you have exceeded a customers' expectations?
This could be anything, just have an anecdote ready.

Can you name a time one of your ideas has been implemented?
Same - there's no 'right' answer, just have something ready.

Are you a good liar?
The answer to this is yes - sometimes they will need you to bend the truth to avoid confrontation with a client.

If there's someone there from a technical background they'll probably want to ask you more technical questions. Just give technical answers, as if you were answering C&G questions.

Have 3 questions ready to ask at the end - they will ask you if you've got any questions.
Write them down on a pad and take it in with you. Even if they answer the questions during the interview you can tick them off and say 'thank you, you've answered all my questions'. Going in there with no questions makes it look like you haven't prepared and don't care.

 

[Geordie Spark]

You can't be an engineer unless you attend university and get yourself a degree in engineering

I am an Engineer of the Precision variety and have the Indentures to prove it and no Tel - Indentures are NOTHING to do with false teeth!!

The only times I have set foot in Universities was as a member of a band playing at Students Union bashes.

 

[Ste69]

Ste69, don't want to sound stuck up but you are a trainee aren't you? I.m an Electrical Technician and I have the certificates and experience to prove it, to many people upping their job title to sound important

Not stuck up at all mate...its a valid point/question........I am a mature trainee at 33, i have previously done an apprenticeship when i was younger as Maintenance Technician (this was my title) left about a year out of my time (massive mistake by my younger self)........got back into maintenance as a maintenance fitter for a few years.....then decided electrical was the route i wanted to go down more so than mechanical, so i enrolled at night classes to do my 2357 and took a job as an assistant lighting engineer (again not my choice of title)......worked at wknds and for family aswell......got promotion to engineer (again bad title)......appliied for new job, smashed a few interviews and got offered a few jobs.......took job as maintenance engineer electrical bias in building maintenance (bad title strikes again)......now I have never pretended to be anything i am not, i pride myself on being honest and hard working, i told the whole truth in every interview explaining that i am still learning and still on with NVQ3 and AM2......i have varied experience and i am super keen....my boss seems to appreciate this......i wont over reach on my abilities and if i get stuck i ask......

what qualifications do you have pete?

cheers

 

[Pete999]

Not stuck up at all mate...its a valid point/question........I am a mature trainee at 33, i have previously done an apprenticeship when i was younger as Maintenance Technician (this was my title) left about a year out of my time (massive mistake by my younger self)........got back into maintenance as a maintenance fitter for a few years.....then decided electrical was the route i wanted to go down more so than mechanical, so i enrolled at night classes to do my 2357 and took a job as an assistant lighting engineer (again not my choice of title)......worked at wknds and for family aswell......got promotion to engineer (again bad title)......appliied for new job, smashed a few interviews and got offered a few jobs.......took job as maintenance engineer electrical bias in building maintenance (bad title strikes again)......now I have never pretended to be anything i am not, i pride myself on being honest and hard working, i told the whole truth in every interview explaining that i am still learning and still on with NVQ3 and AM2......i have varied experience and i am super keen....my boss seems to appreciate this......i wont over reach on my abilities and if i get stuck i ask......

what qualifications do you have pete?

cheers

Ste69
Wasn't expecting that sort of response, I really thought it would be a younger person having a dig, nice reply though thanks, what quals have I got ? well I'm almost retired now, probably after the new year I'll be hanging up my screwdrivers lol I did the C&GA,Electrician B Approved Electricians and C Technician Electrician and Full Tech certificate when I was about 17-26 years old since then numerous certificates 16th 17th 2391, 2400 HV AP certificate LV AP certificate short courses to many to recall during my working life, if you wat you can check my profile I think that may go into a bit more detail, I 've had a good working life

 

[Gktssm]

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[Gktssm]

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[Gktssm]

I always thought a person who keeps cattle is known as a 'dairy farmer', while a person who 'fixes' them is known as a 'veterinary surgeon' or 'vet'.

Dont worry bro, cattle or kattle as long as you understood. A hint is enough for the wise.

 

[Gktssm]

I hope you are not silly enough as to having thoughts of becoming a domestic installer as your main aspirations within the electrical industry?? You can do a hell of a lot worse than becoming a fully qualified HVAC technician. That small HVAC title covers a very wide field of work, a large proportion of which being electrical. Which will be a lot more involved and a damn sight more interesting than house bashing!!

So you mean without any doubt i should not miss this opportunity?

 

[Engineer54]

If the choice is between a DI or a fully qualified HVAC Technician it's got to be a no-brainer!!

 

[john25]

If the choice is between a DI or a fully qualified HVAC Technician it's got to be a no-brainer!!

Yep especially considering the House bashing sector being crammed with Boil in the Bag Domestic installers from 5 week courses armed with only Part P155 take & 17th Edition Certs ,I would also imagine a HVAC Tech job would keep you in work a hell of a lot longer & also pay considerably more too.

 

[Ste69]

Ste69
Wasn't expecting that sort of response, I really thought it would be a younger person having a dig, nice reply though thanks, what quals have I got ? well I'm almost retired now, probably after the new year I'll be hanging up my screwdrivers lol I did the C&GA,Electrician B Approved Electricians and C Technician Electrician and Full Tech certificate when I was about 17-26 years old since then numerous certificates 16th 17th 2391, 2400 HV AP certificate LV AP certificate short courses to many to recall during my working life, if you wat you can check my profile I think that may go into a bit more detail, I 've had a good working life

Nice! looks like you have put the time and effort in mate......are you looking forward to retiring? ill take a look through your profile now, cheers.......