Practice 30 Civil Engineer Intern interview questions covering design fundamentals, site analysis, and technical problem-solving.
Question 29 of 30
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
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Sue is a Recruiter and Talent Sourcer with over 13 years of experience sourcing and interviewing candidates for a variety of roles and industries, including Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Financial, e-Commerce. She
The interviewer isn't really interested in the details of your job or the specific problems you had with those you worked with. What they really want to know is how you handle challenges--particularly those with peers or other employees who are less than motivated to do their job. They are interested in candidates who have the ability to motivate and inspire others to do their best.

Sue is a Recruiter and Talent Sourcer with over 13 years of experience sourcing and interviewing candidates for a variety of roles and industries, including Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Financial, e-Commerce. She
Think about a time when you headed up a project, took the initiative to propose an alternate process, and/or helped motivate your team to get something done. Then use the STAR method to tell your interviewer a story, giving enough detail to paint a picture and make sure you describe the results. In other words, be clear about why you're telling this particular story and connect all the dots for the interviewer. As with any part of a successful interview, answering behavioral questions takes practice. Take extra time to prepare and review your answers--this can make all the difference between you and the competition.

Sue is a Recruiter and Talent Sourcer with over 13 years of experience sourcing and interviewing candidates for a variety of roles and industries, including Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Financial, e-Commerce. She
"When motivating others, I try to tailor my responses to their personal strengths and capabilities. For example, at my last internship, we had a team member that was quiet and shy and never seemed fully invested in the project. In order to motivate him, I made a conscious effort to get to know him better by stopping by his desk every morning. I complimented him on the things he had done on the project and pointed out the skills I noticed he had that were essential to what we were working on. Over a period of a week or two, he started voicing his opinion and giving us original, creative ideas during our team meetings. He felt valued and like he had something to offer, and he was no longer afraid to show it because he knew others felt the same way."

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Written by Sue Oberliesen
30 Questions & Answers • Civil Engineer Intern

By Sue

By Sue