Use these questions to identify a candidate’s technical knowledge and abilities
Use these questions to determine how a candidate handled situations in the past
Use these questions to assess a candidate’s personal traits and cognitive skills
Why this matters:
Experienced project engineers may have worked in a number of different fields, from pharmaceuticals to architecture. Though variety isn’t crucial to success, it may demonstrate a candidate’s ability to deal with different people and conceptualize ideas. Workers who throw themselves into new and challenging situations also reveal a commitment to self-improvement.
What to listen for:
- Candidates should feel comfortable jumping from one industry or project type to another.
- Top answers will demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills and adapt to new types of projects.
Why this matters:
Project engineers wear many different hats, from leading to outsourcing. As such, ideal candidates will likely have some sort of professional training. However, much of this job involves learning as you go, so the best candidates will demonstrate a balance between book learning and practical skills.
What to listen for:
- References to specific training schemes, including Project Engineer Certifications or Certified Professional in Engineering Management.
- If necessary, a willingness to take extra classes to fill gaps in knowledge.
Why this matters:
Since they are responsible for a wide range of people and material—and, ultimately, for the overall success of a project—great project engineers should have excellent record-keeping skills. Strong answers will highlight a candidate’s care and attention to detail. Their answer may also provide insight into which digital management platforms they have used in the past.
What to listen for:
- Candidates should be able to describe their method of record-keeping in detail and explain how it helps them achieve their aims.
- Strong answers will demonstrate an organized mindset and an ability to keep accurate records even when occupied with other tasks.
Why this matters:
This question forces candidates to self-reflect. Even excellent project engineers face the occasional failure—but they use those experiences as an opportunity to grow. Perhaps they took training courses or asked a mentor for assistance. What’s important is that they recognize the mistake, learn from it, and apply those lessons toward future projects.
What to listen for:
- Top candidates will talk honestly and openly about difficult situations they’ve faced during their career.
- Be mindful of answers that defer blame. Project engineering is all about leading a team and taking responsibility.
Why this matters:
New technologies are constantly changing the face of engineering. Good candidates will describe how technology has changed their profession throughout a project, not just in one small area. This might include references to digital blueprints, performance trackers, equipment management tools, online schedulers, and other tools.
What to listen for:
- An understanding of and appreciation for technological advancements in the field.
- Listen out for references to training they’ve undertaken. Top candidates will be committed to understanding new engineering techniques on an ongoing basis.
Why this matters:
These are the two pillars of project engineering, and applicants should prove they appreciate their significance. Good candidates will be comfortable keeping a project’s costs in check while ensuring their team feels secure. That might mean reconfiguring where personnel work so that more experienced staff focus on more challenging roles, or liaising with contractors to keep costs down.
What to listen for:
- Specific examples of how they balanced the wellbeing of colleagues with the bottom-line.
- An ability to shift priorities as needed. For instance, if a project is running over budget, candidates should be willing to cut costs elsewhere.
Why this matters:
Because they have to work with stakeholders at all levels of a project—from accountants to managers—teamwork should be fundamental to every project engineer. Good candidates will show an ability to solve problems collaboratively and delegate when needed. Proven experience developing a team in the field is highly beneficial.
What to listen for:
- An ability to explain high-level plans to people with varying degrees of experience, making clear what’s expected of them.
- A balance between encouraging team members and fostering independence.
Why this matters:
This question gets to the heart of how a project engineer goes about their work. Though decisiveness is vital in this role, project engineers also shouldn’t rush to judgement. Ideal candidates will be confident in their ability to absorb large amounts of complex information fast, and will always ask intelligent follow-up questions.
What to listen for:
- Examples that explain how a candidate came to a decision—and what impact that had on the project as a whole.
- An appreciation that judgements may have to be made quickly, but that gathering relevant facts first is important.
Why this matters:
Communication is perhaps the most important skill that a project engineer can possess, as they will regularly be expected to report on a project’s progress to clients and managers. The best project engineers have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and a flair for compressing large ideas down into a few easily understandable lines.
What to listen for:
- An ability to explain complex concepts without resorting to jargon or buzzwords.
- An understanding of when to use written or verbal communication. For example, fast-moving crises are typically better solved in person, while detailed reports can be put down in writing.
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