Why this matters:
Experienced project engineers may have worked in a number of fields, from pharmaceutical to architecture. Although variety isn’t crucial to success, it could indicate a candidate’s ability to deal with different types of stakeholders and develop ideas to meet their needs. Willingness to tackle unfamiliar and challenging situations may also reveal a project engineer’s commitment to self-improvement.
What to listen for:
- Comfort in moving from one industry or project type to another
- Willingness to learn new skills and adapt to unfamiliar types of projects
Why this matters:
Project engineers wear many different hats, from leading to outsourcing. An engineer will have professional training, but much of this role involves learning as one goes, so the ideal candidate will demonstrate a good balance of book learning and practical experience.
What to listen for:
- Mention of specific training vehicles, such as licensure as PE (professional engineer) or certification as CPEM (certified professional in engineering management)
- Willingness to attend courses to fill gaps in knowledge
Why this matters:
Because they’re responsible for a wide range of people and materials — and, ultimately, project success or failure — engineers should have excellent record-keeping skills. Strong answers will highlight a candidate’s carefulness and attention to detail. They'll also provide insight into which project management systems and software have been used previously by the candidate.
What to listen for:
- Details about record-keeping methods and how they help achieve the project goals
- A mindset for organizing and an ability to maintain accurate records while focusing on multiple tasks
Why this matters:
This question compels candidates to reflect. All project engineers have faced failure occasionally — and the best ones can turn their experience into an opportunity for growth. Perhaps they take a training course or ask a mentor for assistance. What’s important is that they recognize the mistake, learn from it, and apply its lessons to future projects.
What to listen for:
- Honest and open discussion of difficulties
- Placing blame on others even though project engineering is about leading a team and taking responsibility
Why this matters:
New technologies are constantly changing the field of engineering. Good candidates will be able to describe how technology has changed not just a project outcome but also the entire profession. This discussion may include mention of digital blueprints, performance trackers, equipment management tools, and online schedulers.
What to listen for:
- Understanding of and appreciation for technological advancements in the engineering field
- References to training and ongoing professional development
Why this matters:
Safety and budget are the pillars of project engineering, and candidates should be able to demonstrate their awareness and appreciation of it. The ideal candidate will be comfortable keeping project costs in check while ensuring that the team feels safe and supported. This could mean reconfiguring personnel assignments, so that those who have more experience can focus on challenges or liaise with contractors to keep costs down.
What to listen for:
- Specific examples of how the well-being of colleagues was balanced with the company’s bottom line
- Ability to shift priorities quickly and effectively to maintain balance
Why this matters:
Because project engineers must work with stakeholders at all levels — from accounting to management — a sense of teamwork is fundamental. The ideal candidate will demonstrate an ability to solve problems collaboratively and delegate when necessary. Experience in developing a team is highly desirable.
What to listen for:
- Ability to explain complex plans to people who have varying degrees of experience, making clear what’s expected of them
- Balance of encouraging collaboration and fostering independence
Why this matters:
This question gets to the heart of how a project engineer approaches the work. Although decisiveness is vital to this role, a project engineer shouldn’t rush to judgment. The ideal candidate will be confidently able to absorb large amounts of complex information quickly, and will always ask thorough follow-up questions.
What to listen for:
- Examples of how the candidate made a decision — and the impact it had on the project
- Awareness of when a decision must be made quickly and when it’s important to gather more information
Why this matters:
Communication skills are essential to this role because a project engineer regularly reports on progress to clients and managers. The best engineers have an excellent ability to communicate both verbally and in writing, as well as a flair for distilling complex information into a few easily understood sentences.
What to listen for:
- Ability to explain complex concepts without using jargon and meaningless buzzwords
- Understanding of when to use verbal or written communication methods — ex: verbal for addressing an emergency; written for conveying details
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