30 Civil Engineer Interview Questions & Answers
1. When do you have difficulty working in a team environment?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to hear that you enjoy being on a team and thrive in the team environment. Tell the interviewer that you really like working with other people, and you do not have difficulty working in a team environment. Share that the team environment excites you, and you look forward to getting to know your team members each time a new team project starts.
1st Answer Example
"For me, the best part of being a civil engineer is working as part of a team to solve difficult design problems. I love bouncing ideas off each other and collaborating to find creative solutions for our clients."
2. How would you handle a situation where a design flaw led to a serious accident?
How to Answer
Hopefully something like this never happens to you in your career as a civil engineer, but one of the biggest ethical dilemmas you may face is how to handle a situation where your error or your firm's error led to a serious accident or structural failure. Engineers are called on to take responsibility for their work -- even when something goes wrong. Especially when something goes wrong. Show that you're a stand-up engineer by offering an honest, ethical answer.
1st Answer Example
"Accidents are serious, and if our firm was responsible for a failure or accident, we would have to accept blame quickly and honestly. Doing so would allow us to work to remedy the design flaw and ensure that no further damage or harm occurs. If we are honest, it would help us salvage our reputation and move on as a stronger team."
3. What is the best way to deal with a difficult client?
How to Answer
In retail, they say the customer is always right, and that applies to engineering to a degree. Civil engineers will no doubt cross paths with difficult clients throughout their career and will have to find a way to grit their teeth and get through it. A client may be too demanding or lacking in communication skills. It's up to you as the engineer to navigate your clients' whims and moods to prove to them that your firm has what it takes to get the job done. Highlight an experience you had with a difficult client and how you were able to make the relationship work and complete the job successfully.
1st Answer Example
"At my previous job, we worked with a land developer who was constantly micromanaging our work. He always felt he could figure out how to do the job better and was critical of our work. However, we knew that he was a valuable client with potential for repeat work, so we made it a point to afford him opportunities to feel involved in the design process."
4. What should be the top priority for civil engineers today?
How to Answer
Civil engineers will play a major role in moving humanity forward. Engineers will be involved in shaping the future of infrastructure in a sustainable manner. We must stay on top of emerging technology and trends to make sure we are doing our part to protect the earth and create a built environment that works fairly for everyone. In your response, make sure to show the interviewer that you value your role as an engineer and want to serve the public.
1st Answer Example
"I believe the top priority for civil engineers is helping to build towards a more sustainable future. This means embracing green technology wherever possible. We should be studying new building materials and construction techniques that reduce waste or are more resilient. Civil engineers should also be pushing for more development of clean energy sources."
5. What do you think is the most important trait for a project manager?
How to Answer
Having strong project managers is one of the most critical aspects of running an engineering firm. The project managers are responsible for managing budgets and schedules, distributing workload fairly and efficiently and developing junior staff and helping them mature into more valuable members of the team. A good project manager needs to be organized, have strong attention to detail, communicate effectively and have confidence in their engineering judgement. Stress to the interviewer that you possess these traits and give concrete examples where possible.
1st Answer Example
"First and foremost, a good project manager must be organized and extremely focused on details. This helps keep projects on track. I have experience developing budgeting and tracking tools that contributed significantly to my prior firm setting new records for profitability in the last quarter."
6. Why are you interested in joining our firm?
How to Answer
Interviewers use this question to see if you've taken the time to do your own research on the company before you sit down in the interview chair. Before every interview, you need to spend some time on the company's website becoming familiar with their culture and type of projects they work on. When you answer this question, you need to show that you understand the company's priorities and profile.
1st Answer Example
"I have always respected the work that this firm does. You are a leader in the field of bridge engineering and design, and it has always been my goal to work for one of the biggest firms in the business. I believe this will allow me to challenge myself with larger and more complex projects."
7. What was your favorite class in undergrad?
How to Answer
When a company is interviewing you for an entry-level position, they're really trying to do their best to get to know you. If you've made it to the interview, they're already interested in hiring you. Now, their focus is on getting a feel for whether or not you're a good fit for the opening. When making their recommendation, a good interviewer will also be honest about whether or not the position is a good fit for the applicant's career goals and passions. If you're applying for a job with a niche engineering firm, hopefully your favorite class falls into that discipline.
1st Answer Example
"My favorite class was Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering my junior year. I had no idea how interesting and complex soils could be. I love that geotechnical engineering doesn't always have a correct, by-the-book answer and that geotechnical engineers have much more freedom to exercise their own judgement when evaluating a site."
8. How familiar are you with using AutoCAD?
How to Answer
AutoCAD or any other similar CAD software will quickly become a part of your every day work when you enter the professional ranks of civil engineering. Entry-level civil engineers will likely use AutoCAD or Microstation on a daily basis. An employer won't expect their fresh hires to know everything there is to know about CAD right out of school, but they also don't want someone who has never opened the program. Be honest about your experiences, either in undergrad or as an intern. Don't inflate your AutoCAD experience, which will only set you up for failure.
1st Answer Example
"I have been using AutoCAD for two years, dating back to my junior year of college. I have interned the past two summers at a small land development firm and have used AutoCAD to prepare subdivision and site plans."
9. Tell me about a time when you created a unique idea or solution, and it was rejected by your colleagues. How were you able to bounce back?
How to Answer
Putting yourself out there with new ideas can be intimidating because we all want to be accepted. Talk to the interviewer about how you would handle the feelings that come with having your idea rejected. Rejection is inevitable at all stages of your career as an engineer, so it's best to embrace it. Being rejected can only happen if you were willing to put yourself out there with an idea that you felt strongly about.
1st Answer Example
"A couple of years ago I made a recommendation for scheduling that would have included some split shifts. The result was less overtime and reduced expenses for the company. My colleagues were unhappy with the idea of split shifts. I was able to see their perspective which made it much easier to bounce back from the rejection. My overall attitude is, you win some - you lose some!"
10. When have you had to think outside of the box to solve a problem?
How to Answer
Talk to the interviewer about a time that you have problem solved in a creative way. Highlight the specific challenges you faced on the project and how your approach deviated from your typical work. Explain how your creative problem solving pleased the client or helped your company improve its market position. If your solution won any awards or was featured in engineering publications, mention that.
1st Answer Example
"As the leader of my current firm's construction management practice, I have pioneered the use of drones to monitor construction activities and earthwork quantities. We believe drones are one of the major areas for growth in the field of civil engineering and have made several presentations at ASCE meetings on our findings. I believe I can help you implement similar solutions if given the chance."
11. When have you taken an existing process and used your own engineering judgement to make it better?
How to Answer
Innovation in the field of engineering happens when staff is given the freedom to draw on their own unique skills and experiences to make existing processes better. Being given the license to use your own creativity to improve an internal process is a sign that your coworkers and managers respect your judgement and think highly of your abilities as an engineer. Talk to the interviewer about your ability to take an existing process and improve it in a creative way.
1st Answer Example
"I have developed a new approach for calculating bridge quantities using 3D modeling software. At my current firm, I have led the charge into changing the way we perform cost estimates by using the most current modeling software available to us and it has greatly improved our efficiency for quantity takeoffs. My method is now being implemented across the firms branch offices."
12. How do you handle stress on the job?
How to Answer
Talk to the interviewer about your ability to manage pressure in the workplace. Civil engineering isn't necessarily the most stressful career path in the world, but there will be times where you're facing a tight deadline or dealing with a difficult client with a long list of demands and little patience.
1st Answer Example
"I think I handle stress very well. When I am under pressure on the job, I focus on the task at hand and make sure to not get distracted. Staying on deadline is very helpful and I will delegate when necessary to alleviate some stress. I've found that I am able to manage my stress levels much more effectively when I keep a running checklist of tasks that need to be done each day."
13. What was the most challenging team you worked with? Why?
How to Answer
There are some people who create challenges at work by simply opening their mouth. Some individuals waste time and energy by causing distractions or being lazy. Working with personalities that are different from you can always pose an extra challenge. If you have experienced issues with conflicting personalities or worked with others who just didn't seem to carry their weight or weren't willing to work hard, share how you made an effort to bring the team together and work collaboratively.
1st Answer Example
"At my previous company, there was a senior engineer whose demeanor just rubbed me the wrong way, very abrasive and stubborn when it came to accepting other people's ideas. It's a difficult position to be in when you don't get along with someone in charge of you, but I handled it by striking up conversations with them unrelated to work and seeing where we had similar interests. We worked together much better after that."
14. What qualities do you believe are most valuable for a team?
How to Answer
We recommend listing 3-4 attributes that you feel are most valuable for a team. Good examples might include: trust, accountability, commitment, being humble, being results-oriented, ability to debate with each other, and respect for one another. All of these attributes are valuable in a team setting, and any of them will make sound examples for you.
1st Answer Example
"I believe a team works at its best when members are willing to humble themselves for the good of the team and have a willingness to consider every member of the team's input on a problem. No one team member should view themselves as having all the right answers or being too good to take constructive criticism. Respect, strong communication skills, and perseverance are also important qualities to have on a team."
15. What role do you generally like to take in team projects?
How to Answer
Be candid with the interviewer. The interviewer truly wants to hear how you fit best with a team. Giving an honest answer will allow the interviewer to determine whether or not you'd fit well on their team. Being dishonest or trying to tell the interviewer what you think they want to hear could backfire on you if you are hired with the expectation that you will handle a role on a team that doesn't mesh with your personality. If you usually like to take the lead, speak up! If you usually like to generate new ideas and allow someone else to execute them, now is the time to share your creative side. If you usually like to carry out ideas as you are told, be sure to mention that you are the execution person. Whatever your strength is, now is the time to share it!
1st Answer Example
"When I work on a team, I prefer to actively lead discussions and contribute my own ideas for the group to debate. I find this keeps me more engaged with the day-to-day project work and I enjoy developing creative ideas to share with the rest of the team."
16. When did you realize you wanted a career as a civil engineer?
How to Answer
This will be a very common interview question for internships and entry-level civil engineering positions. At this early stage of your career, companies aren't necessarily as interested in your technical engineering knowledge as they are about your willingness to learn and fit in the company culture. They'll be able to bring you up to speed on the ins and outs of actually working in the field after college, but they want to make sure you're enthusiastic and eager to learn as a young engineer. Companies are looking for people who are truly passionate about their work as engineers and are in it for more than a paycheck.
1st Answer Example
"As long as I can remember, I've been fascinated with bridges and skyscrapers --- structures that seem to defy gravity and stand as a testament to our human ability to solve impossible problems. I just marvel at some of our iconic bridges like the Golden Gate Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge that were built without computers and modern engineering software. So, studying civil engineering seemed like a natural fit for me, and I've concentrated my studies within the major in structural engineering. I have loved studying and learning about structural engineering and can't wait to start my career."
17. Tell me about an error or mistake you made because of a breakdown in communication from you or one of your team members.
How to Answer
On occasion, mistakes will happen and communication will be broken. Talk to the interviewer about a time that this occurred in the workplace. It's important to own up to your mistakes quickly as an engineer so that it can be taken care of before it snowballs and has farther reaching effects on the project. Every engineer will make a mistake at some point in their career, so remember that it's not the mistakes that define you, but how you respond to them.
1st Answer Example
"On one of my bigger bridge projects, we had to use more complex software that our team was learning on the fly. We did not realize until we began an internal QA review that our live loads were not being applied the correct way. Luckily we caught the error and adjusted our model before it was too late."
18. Tell me about a time when you improved communication between yourself and a co-worker or client.
How to Answer
Possessing the skills to improve communication in the workplace is a very valuable asset. Being a good engineer at the senior level requires you to recognize how to communicate with your team. Everyone will have a different communication style, and it's up to you as the leader to meld the team's unique personalities and quirks into a cohesive unit with good communication skills. Talk to the interviewer about how you have identified breakdowns in communications based on difference in personality and worked to make things run more smoothly.
1st Answer Example
"In my current position I have one particular client who was an exceptionally brief communicator. If I asked two questions, he would answer just one. I learned quickly that he would not acknowledge anything he did not have a direct answer for. I began to ask him questions in a different way. For example, I would say 'Do you have an answer for me on question X?' and he would say yes or no. We would then go from there. This was an effective method of communication for that particular client."
19. Tell me about a time when your communication skills greatly benefited your team.
How to Answer
Strong communication skills are required in order to be an effective leader. Good project managers use their communication skills to keep everyone on the same page. They delegate tasks effectively and keep the project moving along without any snags or delays. Communication and teamwork are very important in the field of civil engineering, so highlight specific examples where you have used good communication to benefit your team.
1st Answer Example
"I have really honed my communication skills while working on a big project where work is being shared among three of my current firm's offices. Without good communication, the project would stall and we would lose track of which office was responsible for certain tasks. I lead a weekly conference call to make sure that the team is on the same page."
20. Describe an ongoing problem at your current or former employer that you were able to overcome.
How to Answer
Every place of employment will have it's challenges. Talk to the interviewer about a specific issue that you were able to overcome in your previous role. Be sure to remain positive. The interviewer isn't looking for you to dump all over your current boss or coworkers, especially if you're applying for a job with a competitor, so avoid complaining or saying negative things about your previous employer or co-workers.
1st Answer Example
"In my most recent position we had an ongoing problem with different offices fighting with each other over who would work on a specific project. One office's work wasn't up to our high standards and we were slipping behind schedule, but they kept pushing to be included in the project. We had to have a difficult conversation with their branch manager and explain what needed to be done to keep the project on track."
21. Tell me about your greatest work related accomplishment.
How to Answer
Talking about your greatest accomplishment will give the interviewer a strong idea of where you place your values. It will also show the interviewer more about your personality, how you like to be motivated, and how to coach you in the future. It is okay to brag a little bit when answering this question. This is your chance to add more color and personality to your resume Show that you are proud of yourself and your career accomplishments!
1st Answer Example
"The greatest accomplishment in my career was leading the bridge design team on a massive Interstate reconstruction project. It was my first time being given a chance to work as a project manager on such a large project, but our team successfully managed design of 10 bridges."
22. Can you talk to me about your GPA during undergraduate/graduate school?
How to Answer
Your GPA shouldn't define you -- and it doesn't -- but this topic can be unavoidable in interviews for entry-level jobs, especially with larger companies who may be sifting through hundreds of applicants for the same position. It's up to you as the candidate to show the interviewer that you are more than your GPA. Even if you graduated with a 4.0, try and highlight other experiences on campus that show you did more than just study for four years.
1st Answer Example
"I graduated top of my class and am very proud of my accomplishments during University. The experience taught me to study hard and set goals for myself."
2nd Answer Example
"I feel that my GPA could have been higher; however, I was also a varsity athlete and served as team captain my senior year. I think this really did help me learn a lot about discipline and commitment."
23. What part of being a civil engineer brings you the most stress?
How to Answer
Stress can often be a regular part of the day-to-day work experience as a civil engineer, but what's important is how you manage it. Talk to the interviewer about which areas of your career are the most stressful. Ensure that your answer does not include a factor that would make you appear unfit for the position. So, if you are applying for a position as a structural engineer, don't tell the interviewer that designing steel beams makes you nervous.
1st Answer Example
"The thing that brings me the most stress is when the schedule is running behind due to lack of hustle on my team's part. I really like to be on time with my schedule to ensure that my clients are assisted properly. When I know we're running behind, I find it helps to go directly to my team and ask them for a little extra push to get us across the finish line."
24. Describe a situation where you had a confrontation with a construction crew.
How to Answer
Navigating relationships with construction crews can be tricky for civil engineers, especially younger ones who are typically assigned the duty of monitoring work or inspecting construction sites. Construction crews have their own way of doing things that might not always run in tandem with engineering plans and calculations. They may be reluctant to deviate from their own methods, but the engineer must step in if something unsafe is happening or if work is not being performed to a high standard. Discuss with the interviewer a scenario where you had to step in and stop work until steps were taken to correct the construction team's method.
1st Answer Example
"On my last big job, I was monitoring the construction of a basement for a multi-story apartment building. The construction team was cutting corners on their safety protocol and leaving their workers exposed to a potential cave in while excavating. I halted work until they agreed to correct their work in accordance with the proper OSHAA standards."
25. Tell me about a time when you had to work long hours to reach a project deadline. How did you handle it?
How to Answer
Overtime will be required at some point in your engineering career, and the interviewer wants to know how you handled a situation where more than 40 hours was expected of you. Explain to the interviewer that going above and beyond to complete a project on time is not something that scares you. Engineers who do not shy away from putting in the extra effort to hit a deadline or keep a project on schedule are invaluable to a company.
1st Answer Example
"My team was facing an end-of-year crunch to turn in final plans for a highway bridge last year. I embraced the opportunity to work extra knowing that things would slow down and get back to normal after the submission. I don't mind working overtime if it's required to help our firm meet deadlines and keep clients happy."
26. What's your dream project to be a part of?
How to Answer
Interviewers want to get a sense of your ambition. Civil engineers should be able to dream big and have a vision for the future of our built environment. If it's your goal to be involved in a signature bridge project or an iconic high rise that will be a part of New York City's skyline, tell the interviewer why you think you have the skills and smarts to be a valuable team member on a big project. Don't be afraid to share your big dreams, but also back them up with your own past accomplishments.
1st Answer Example
"Driving into the city of Philadelphia has always been a nightmare on the Schuylkill Expressway. Every time I sit in traffic I wonder why civil engineers haven't been able to come up with a better solution. I'd love to be involved in a project that brought better transportation options to the region and replaced that outdated system."
27. Do you have experience using 3D modeling software or finite element software?
How to Answer
Your interviewer will want to gauge what type of experience you have using higher-level engineering software, especially if you are applying for a structural engineering position. Engineering software has gotten incredibly advanced and is now able to model more complicated structures and bridges. Having experience using finite element analysis or 3D modeling tools like BIM or BrIM will help you stand out. Be honest with your experience and level of comfort using these programs. Highlight past projects where you used the software and how it helped advance the project. If you do not have experience, discuss your willingness and eagerness to learn.
1st Answer Example
"I have experience using Bentely's LEAP software to design a curved steel bridge. I really enjoyed using the software to perform a more complex design. I have also used Open Bridge Modeler to perform quantity and cost estimates."
28. Tell me about a time when you were in disagreement with the construction crew. What was the problem and how was it resolved?
How to Answer
As engineers move up the ladder, their responsibilities evolve to include more direct conversations with clients and construction crews. This is where conflicts can begin to develop. Construction crews have their own agendas, which might differ from how you saw it as an engineer when you drew it up. Construction companies have their own internal procedures, driven by their ultimate goal of completing the job safely for the lowest cost possible.
1st Answer Example
"On a large bridge project, the construction team kept pushing us to design a temporary shoring system to their specifications, but there was no way their proposed section could be safely installed. They went to another firm in the hopes that someone else could give them what they wanted. Ultimately, they came back to us to complete the design of their shoring system as we had originally intended."
29. What part of being a civil engineer do you dislike the most?
How to Answer
Let's face it, we can't all be in love with our job every single day. Employers know that, and they realize that there are certain tasks that aren't exactly scintillating or exciting. When you answer this question, it's ok to be honest about what you don't like, but provide some insight into how you still find a way to stay motivated to do your best work even when you're not loving your job.
1st Answer Example
"Try as I might, I struggle to get excited about working on box culvert projects, but I understand they're a good way for a smaller office to build up trust with the DOT and generate revenue. Even if I'm not excited about a specific project, I try and remind myself that it's still important to do my best work."
30. What do you enjoy most about being a civil engineer?
How to Answer
Engineering should be more than just a job for you. When asked this question, it's your choice to show the interviewer that you have passion about your career and profession. This is a chance for them to learn more about you, why you became an engineer, what motivates you and how your interests align with the company's mission.
1st Answer Example
"I have always loved solving math problems, and nothing gets me more excited as an engineer when I have the opportunity to pull out a blank page of paper and do some good old fashioned hand calculations. I think this is a great way to keep yourself sharp as an engineer."