Why did you become a mechanical engineer?

How to Answer
Answer Example

You will likely be asked a variation of this question in addition to 'tell me about yourself.' A successful answer will highlight your personal story in addition to your technical aptitude, as both are important to communicate to a potential employer. Be honest, and keep the story simple. You do not have to tell your entire life story, but do be prepared to explain in more detail in case the interviewer has a follow-up question.

"I have always been motivated by curiosity and learning more about the world. When I was younger, I liked to take apart toys to see how they worked. In high school, I found that I really enjoyed my woodworking classes as well as drafting and mathematics. I also wanted to help address larger problems facing humanity, such as global warming and poverty. As I studied mechanical engineering in college, I found that I really liked the design and prototyping process, as it allowed me to combine my curiosity and creativity with the technical skills I learned from my coursework. As a professional mechanical engineer, I am looking for a position where I can apply these skills to solving real-world problems, and I believe that this role is an excellent fit for doing so."

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How to Answer: Why did you become a mechanical engineer?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Mechanical Engineer job interview.

29. Why did you become a mechanical engineer?

How to Answer

You will likely be asked a variation of this question in addition to 'tell me about yourself.' A successful answer will highlight your personal story in addition to your technical aptitude, as both are important to communicate to a potential employer. Be honest, and keep the story simple. You do not have to tell your entire life story, but do be prepared to explain in more detail in case the interviewer has a follow-up question.

Written by Jason Toby on October 12th, 2020

Answer Example

"I have always been motivated by curiosity and learning more about the world. When I was younger, I liked to take apart toys to see how they worked. In high school, I found that I really enjoyed my woodworking classes as well as drafting and mathematics. I also wanted to help address larger problems facing humanity, such as global warming and poverty. As I studied mechanical engineering in college, I found that I really liked the design and prototyping process, as it allowed me to combine my curiosity and creativity with the technical skills I learned from my coursework. As a professional mechanical engineer, I am looking for a position where I can apply these skills to solving real-world problems, and I believe that this role is an excellent fit for doing so."

Written by Jason Toby on October 12th, 2020

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