Civil Engineering Technicians Interview Questions & Answers
Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers to plan, design, and build bridges, highways, and other infrastructure projects for industrial, commercial, residential, and land development projects.
Interviewers look for candidates who demonstrate excellent critical-thinking skills, decision-making skills, math skills, observational skills, problem-solving skills, and reading and writing skills.
In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for aerospace engineering positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!
Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.
Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates
Below we discuss the skills that you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.
Critical-thinking skills
Why the interviewer is interested in your critical-thinking skills:
As assistants to civil engineers, civil engineering technicians must be able to help the engineers identify and solve problems; to develop infrastructure plans; and to help agencies avoid wasting time, effort, and funds.
Decision-making skills
Why the interviewer is interested in your decision-making skills:
Pressure from deadlines means that technicians must be able to quickly discern which types of information are most important for the work at hand, and which plan of action will help keep the project on schedule.
Math skills
Why the interviewer is interested in your math skills:
Civil engineering technicians use math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. For this reason, they need to be familiar with algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
Observational skills
Why the interviewer is interested in your observational skills:
Civil engineering technicians sometimes have to go to jobsites and assess a project for the engineer. Therefore, they must know what to look for and how best to report back to the engineer who is overseeing the project.
Problem-solving skills
Why the interviewer is interested in your problem-solving skills:
Like civil engineers, civil engineering technicians help design projects to solve a particular problem. Technicians must be able to understand and work with all the related systems involved in building a project.
Learn more about interview questions about problem-solving skills and how to answer them!
Reading skills
Why the interviewer is interested in your reading skills:
Civil engineering technicians carry out plans and designs for projects that a civil engineer has approved. Thus, they must be able to understand all the reports, plans, and documents describing these designs.
Writing skills
Why the interviewer is interested in your writing skills:
Civil engineering technicians often are asked to relay their findings in writing. They must be able to write reports that are well organized and clearly written.
(source: bls.gov)
Civil Engineering Technicians Job Interview Questions & Answers
During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:
- Employment history
- Skills and abilities
- Accomplishments
- Job qualifications
- Educational background
- Career goals
- Personality
Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.
Examples Of General Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- How would you describe yourself?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What interests you about this position?
- Walk me through your resume.
- What motivates you?
- Why are you leaving your current job?
- Describe your work ethic.
- What is your greatest strength?
- How does your experience qualify you for this job?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
- What are your expectations for this position?
- What are your career goals?
- Why should we hire you?
- What did you like most about your last position?
- What did you like least about your last position?
- How do you handle stress?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!
Examples Of Specific Behavioral Interview Questions
Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.
- Can you describe the day-to-day responsibilities of civil engineering technicians?
- How developed are your AutoCAD [or any other skill] skills?
- Tell me about a time you had to deliver a project under time pressure?
- Describe a time a certain project did not go as planned. How did you (and your team) correct this issue?
- Tell me about a rewarding team experience.
- What have you done to improve your knowledge as a civil engineering technician the last year?
- In your opinion, what personality traits do civil engineering technicians need to possess to be successful?
- Can you walk me through your field experience as a civil engineering technician?
- Tell us about your work experience working on ‘X.’
- Can you explain fatigue? Can you point out some structures that may be subjected to fatigue?
- What is the most relevant job experience on your resume?
- Give me an example of a time you thought outside of the box to solve a problem. How did this help your employer?
- Describe the various types of slump test indications.
- What was the most challenging project you have worked on? How did you ensure it became a success?
- What is your biggest accomplishment?
- Which of your prior work experience will help you most in this position?
- What made you become a civil engineering technician?
- Describe a time when you applied new technology or information in your job. How did this benefit your company/team?
- Give me an example of a time you managed an important project
- What do you think are the biggest challenges that civil engineering technicians face?
Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview.