Have you ever encountered an engineering design that you could not understand? If so, how did you overcome this obstacle?

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Answer Example

Everybody faces obstacles in the workplace - that's just a fact of life! The interviewer wants to understand what steps you take when you face a puzzling situation. As a CNC Operator, you work in a highly technical field so, you must have the ability to problem-solve. Show the interviewer how far will you go to find the information you need, while also avoiding a productivity slump.

Since the question is 'Have you ever...' and 'How did you...' the interviewer is looking for a story-based example that showcases your work in action. Your response to this question is best delivered using the STAR framework. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. By forming your answer using this method, you will stay on track when telling your story, ensuring that you set the stage correctly - allowing the interviewer to follow along easily.

"(Situation) I am very experienced in reading mechanical blueprints and design; however, when working for Shop ABC, I came across a design where the directions were not completely clear. (Task) To avoid accidents or injury, I knew that I needed to understand the design completely before I started the work. (Action) First, I brought the design to my supervisor and asked her if she could help me to interpret the design. She's a whiz at blueprint reading, and even this one stumped her! Then, I asked a couple of senior colleagues for their interpretation as well. Last, I took our collective thoughts and went to a CNC online forum that I know and trust. (Result) It took some time, but after pulling these resources and collaborating as a team, we were able to crack the code. It felt great to have solved this problem."

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How to Answer: Have you ever encountered an engineering design that you could not understand? If so, how did you overcome this obstacle?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a CNC Operator job interview.

30. Have you ever encountered an engineering design that you could not understand? If so, how did you overcome this obstacle?

How to Answer

Everybody faces obstacles in the workplace - that's just a fact of life! The interviewer wants to understand what steps you take when you face a puzzling situation. As a CNC Operator, you work in a highly technical field so, you must have the ability to problem-solve. Show the interviewer how far will you go to find the information you need, while also avoiding a productivity slump.

Since the question is 'Have you ever...' and 'How did you...' the interviewer is looking for a story-based example that showcases your work in action. Your response to this question is best delivered using the STAR framework. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. By forming your answer using this method, you will stay on track when telling your story, ensuring that you set the stage correctly - allowing the interviewer to follow along easily.

Written by Rachelle Enns on August 1st, 2020

Answer Example

"(Situation) I am very experienced in reading mechanical blueprints and design; however, when working for Shop ABC, I came across a design where the directions were not completely clear. (Task) To avoid accidents or injury, I knew that I needed to understand the design completely before I started the work. (Action) First, I brought the design to my supervisor and asked her if she could help me to interpret the design. She's a whiz at blueprint reading, and even this one stumped her! Then, I asked a couple of senior colleagues for their interpretation as well. Last, I took our collective thoughts and went to a CNC online forum that I know and trust. (Result) It took some time, but after pulling these resources and collaborating as a team, we were able to crack the code. It felt great to have solved this problem."

Written by Rachelle Enns on August 1st, 2020

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