How to Answer: What is the best way to deal with a difficult client?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Civil Engineer job interview.
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.
Written by Josh Sadlock on January 1st, 2021
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."
Written by Josh Sadlock on January 1st, 2021