What do you enjoy most and least about civil engineering?
Interviewers will often ask this question to determine your goals and motivations for being in the engineering industry. They realize that not every job is perfect--every job has some sort of undesirable components. They are expecting you to show enthusiasm for the things you enjoy and honesty about the things you dislike about the profession.
"I really love the creative process and design work in engineering. I also enjoy the face-to-face interaction with clients and the opportunity to see projects come to life. But if I had to pick one thing that I don't enjoy as much, I would have to say it's contract preparation and negotiations."
"I've always loved creating things and solving puzzles--and that's what engineering's all about. I believe that as an engineer you should see yourself as an Applied Scientist. After all, what we are doing on a day-to-day basis is taking scientific principles and applying them, sometimes in new ways, to the engineering project that we're working on. My least favorite part of the job is the bureaucracy and the regulations we have to work with, which are coincidently very important to ensure we get things built safely and for the long-term. However, they can slow down the process--sometimes it means that we have to think ahead to ensure things happen and get approved at the right pace."
Start your preparation by making a list of what you enjoyed most and least about your engineering classes, your last job, and how this opportunity compares. Your answer should include the key parts of engineering you enjoy most/ least and the typical challenges you strive to overcome. You want the interviewer to think that the things you like most about engineering match up to the things that the new job can provide you.
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