How do you set goals for yourself?

"In my professional and personal life, I set goals that are measurable and achievable. Professionally, I try to have a conversation with my supervisor every couple months or so to make sure that I am on-track to acheive my goals and also to see if he or she has any recommendations."

Show your interviewer that you are interested in doing well at your work and that you are self-aware and can assess your own abilities. Show that you are interested in career progression, but avoid implying that you want to get out of this job as quickly as possible.

Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure.

"At the end of last semester, I had three different group projects all due on the same day. We were all worried because we all had different schedules and priorities. I came up with a scheduling spreadsheet in Excel that I shared with all my project groups through One Drive. We were able to figure out times when we were all available and set meeting times that way. Additionally, next to the time we planned to meet, we made a list of action items to achieve before the meeting."

Working as a Material Handling Engineer will require you to handle more than one project at the same time. Your position may also involve field work in hot, dirty, or noisy warehouses and manufacturing plants. Show the interviewer that you can handle high pressure situations by identifying and managing your own stress. Time management skills are also important for this question. Avoid mentioning a situation where you created the stress or saying that you fold under pressure.

How do you approach learning about a new industry?

"I know that learning a new industry is more than just learning how to do my specific job. For that reason, I plan to approach learning about warehousing and logistics from a couple different perspectives. When I'm working on my job, I can learn by reviewing older project files. Supplier brochures, websites, and trade magazines can help me understand the equipment we put in our systems. When I'm in the field, I can ask the customer questions to learn exactly how they use our equipment. Do you have any recommendations for .general reading that can help me get a feel for the field?"

Material Handling, Warehousing, and Logistics is a niche field which you may not have been exposed to during your education and your previous work experience. Show the interviewer that you are interested in the industry and that you can quickly get up to speed and be a contributing member of the team. Ask the interviewer if they have any specific recommendations on where to begin.

Do you prefer office work or field work?

"Early in my career, I envision spending some time at different project sites. Even if my position is mainly office based, I would like to be exposed to how the whole system works and to see each individual part in action. Furthermore, I know that your company's equipment is installed in different types of plants, such as food manufacturing facilities and distribution centers, and I would like to be able to see how we choose different types of equipment for different project site. Later in my career, I envision spending the majority of my time in the office communicating via phone or email with our representatives in the field. "

Read the job description to determine if the Material Handling Engineer position you are applying for is mainly in the field or in the office. Be honest about your preferences, but be willing to be flexible. Oftentimes companies may believe it is critical to see how the interconnected parts of warehousing and logistical systems actually work together.

Tell me about a time when you made a mistake.

"During a group project in my Design for Manufacturing class, I was given the task of drawing our roller on SolidWorks. I spent too much time trying to learn everything about SolidWorks and not actually drawing the roller, and we ended up missing the project's deadline and asking for an extension. Little did I realize that one of my project team members was an expert in SolidWorks and if I would have asked for help, I could have finished the drawing much more quickly. Now I make sure I gather my resources before burying myself in a task."

Be honest about your mistake, but avoid dwelling on the mistake's severity. Focus on what you learned from the mistake and how you have taken steps to avoid similar mistakes in the future. Try using the STAR - Situation, Task, Action, Result method of answering to keep your answer concise and positive.

What are your greatest strengths?

"I enjoy talking to people, getting to know them, and figuring out what their needs are. It gives me a sense of satisfaction when my expertise helps solve their problems. I can see this working in this position both in the office and in the field. For example, with my AutoCAD skills, I can ask my supervisor what plan sets he or she needs help with and work that into my schedule. If I'm in the field, it will be important to listen to the customer so I can help troubleshoot problems with their existing equipment or bring that information back to the office so we can design a new system for them that best meets their needs."

Tell the interviewer something you are good at that would make you a strong candidate for the position. Read the job description to get a sense of the day-to-day duties of the job and who you will be regularly communicating with (the customer or only other people in your organization).

Tell me about yourself.

"My name is John and as you can see from my resume, I recently graduated from University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Last summer, I had an internship as a CAD technician and I learned how to use AutoCAD. I applied to this company because I'm looking for a challenging position where I contribute based on my education and technical skills. I'm also interested in the material handling industry - the idea of how a product gets from where it's made to the consumer really interests me."

Tell the interviewer the story of why you are applying for this job. Briefly re-introduce yourself, remind the interviewer of what you've recently accomplished, and tell them why you're applying for this job.

What is your greatest weakness?

"I have some of the stereotypical engineer in me and I'm an introverted person. Sometimes this prevents me from sharing my ideas and I defer too often to others. I've realized that this is often because I'm nervous around people I don't know or when I'm working with subjects I'm not familiar with, so I've started making overt efforts to get to know people and subjects more quickly. I've found that asking many questions early on is helpful in this regard."

Show the interviewer that you are honest, self-aware, and working towards self-improvement. The interviewer will know that nobody is perfect and they are seeking an employee that is capable of recognizing his or her faults and actively tries to improve themselves. Try to choose a weakness that won't directly interfere with your performance in the job you are applying for.

How do you see your previous work experience benefitting you in this position?

"The summer before my sophomore year of college I worked at FedEx moving boxes. While it wasn't an engineering position, I was exposed to several different types of conveyors and the general idea of how boxes move from one end of the warehouse to another. As a Material Handling Engineer, I look forward to learning how the systems that I used as a box mover are actually designed and installed."

Show the interviewer that you have progressive career development by explaining how your previous work experience has prepared you for this position. If you've had any previous exposure to the material handling or warehousing industry, such as by moving boxes at FedEx or by picking items at an Amazon warehouse, mention it here. If you've worked primarily in customer service, show how this experience has attuned you to noticing customers' unique needs. If you've had a previous internship where you learned an applicable skill, now is the time to mention it.

How do you see your education benefitting you in this position?

"As you can see from my resume, my degree is in Mechanical Engineering, which is a pretty broad field. While I didn't learn specifically about material handling and warehousing equipment, I did take a class called Design for Manufacturing and an elective class called Systems Engineering. In Design for Manufacturing, I worked with a group to design a roller, which as I understand from your website is part of a conveyor. In Systems Engineering, I learned about how complex projects are developed from the design stage, through production, to management after the system is in place. I look forward to applying the general principles from these classes as I learn about the overall systems and individual pieces that make up the material handling industry."

Show the interviewer that you can connect academic theory to practice and that you are familiar with the general academic disciplines that are used in the material handling industry. For a strong answer, tell the interviewer about an applicable class you had or a group project you worked on.

How do you delegate tasks?

"When delegating tasks, it's important to me to make sure my coworker and I are on the same page. Before handing off a task, I explain the task to the best of my ability and give my coworker the opportunity to ask any questions. I want to make sure we both understand what needs to be done by when and what I can do to help my coworker complete the task in time."

Depending on your experience level and the company you work for, you may have to delegate drafting tasks to AutoCAD technicians or drafting and field work to younger engineers. Show the interviewer that you are respectful of others' time and that you are interested in helping others' perform well. Avoid giving the impression that you like to dump your work on others.

How would you describe your leadership style?

"I know that leadership is more than just delegating tasks. One day, I see myself in the position of project manager. Right now as a design engineer, I believe I can show my leadership style by getting to know as many people and disciplines working on the project as I can. That way, even if my technical abilities are in the mechanical engineering discipline, I can still talk to the software engineers and understand how their work interfaces with the conveyor assembly I've set up. As a project manager, this would help me keep track of the whole project while allowing my team to work within their personal areas of expertise."

Material handling projects often have team members from several disciplines and companies; including mechanical, civil, or software engineering, drafting technicians, field representatives, and the customer. Adapt your answer to fit your long term career goals. If you see yourself as a budding technical expert, show how you learn and share your discipline. If you see yourself as a project manager one day, show how you seek interdisciplinary coordination.

How do you solve problems beyond your capabilities?

"While it depends on what the problem is, I try to figure it out on my own before asking my supervisor. If I'm working on a design problem, I can ask a coworker or my supervisor if there is an older, similar project which I could compare my project to and see if there are any similarities. If I'm having trouble with AutoCAD or Solidworks, oftentimes there are tricks on YouTube or AutoCAD help that I can use to figure something out. Once I feel like I've got a handle on the problem, I usually talk to another coworker or my supervisor to see what they think."

Show the interviewer that you are willing to learn and that you have a method to figure things out which you don't already know. Show that you are willing to figure something out on your own and ask your supervisor questions after you've already thought about possible answers. Avoid giving the impression that you can't think for yourself.

Are you more comfortable with verbal or written communication?

"I prefer written communication because I like to have the opportunity to think and I like having a paper trail. Taking the time to write out my thoughts helps me slow down and make sure I am actually communicating what I mean to say. However, I know there are situations where verbal communication is more effective, such as when a question needs to be answered quickly so I can meet a deadline or if I have a design question that has a complicated answer. In those situations, it's possible to more efficiently share information in a conversation than by trying to figure it all out over email."

Both written (email, text message, or chat) and verbal (phone or face-to-face) communication will be necessary in the position of Material Handling Engineer. Be honest about your preference, but also show the interviewer that you are flexible. There will be situations where an email is more appropriate than a phone call and vice versa.

How would you approach a situation where a project team member disagreed with your idea?

"While I work hard to come up with good solutions, I know that there is no way I can know everything, and especially when I'm starting out in a new discipline, my project team, supervisors, and even the customer probably know a lot more about the problem than I do. In a situation where a project team member disagreed with an idea I had, I would try to find out the 'why'. It may be that I don't understand this particular customer's preferences or I'm forgetting some element of the project that my supervisor usually looks at, such as the budget. By figuring out the 'why', I know that I'll become a better engineer and in the future a more valuable contributor. Also, the project will go smoothly."

Show the interviewer that while you are confident in your own abilities, you are able to listen to the knowledge of others. This is both a leadership and a teamwork question. It is your chance to show that you value others' opinions and care about the outcome of a project over your own ego.

Imagine we are at the beginning stages of a project. The customer has defined their needs and we are starting to come up with solutions. What is one way we could quickly come up with several solutions?

"After some initial brainstorming, I think that simulation is the key here. If we are able to build a model of their warehouse and simulate how products move through the facility, we can see multiple possible solutions in a short amount of time. After we've ran several simulations, we can take the ones we think will best meet the customer's needs and create a presentation which highlights each potential solution. This will help the customer envision the solution already installed, hopefully preventing changes later on, and allow us to really optimize our solution."

Many material handling companies use simulation software to figure out the most efficient ways to move materials through a facility. Before the interview, research the company you are interviewing at and see how they incorporate simulation into their business.

Do you have any previous safety training?

"Last summer I worked for a construction company and I had to get my OSHA 40-hour certification. I know that I'll have to renew this certification when I get started here. Safety is important to me. I want to make sure my coworkers and I go home at the end of the day."

As a Material Handling Engineer, regardless of whether you are in the field or in the office, you will probably have to go through safety training. This may include OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER training, OSHA 10-hour training, or facility specific training. In your answer to this question, tell the interviewer if you have completed this training before and affirm your committment to safety.

Imagine you are onsite and a piece of equipment our company recently installed isn't working right. How would you troubleshoot the problem?

"In a situation like this, it is important to get the equipment up and running again. That way, the customer can move product and will be satisfied with our work. First, in order to understand the situation, I would ask the person working with the equipment if they've had this problem before and what they've done. It may be an easy fix. Then, I would check our O&M manual. There should be a copy at the facility, but if it isn't available, I would call the office and ask them to send me one. Finally, I would call the manufacturer of the equipment and ask them to troubleshoot the equipment. I would do that step last because it is the most likely to cost money and affect the project budget. However, ultimately I would do what it took to get the equipment up and running again."

This situation could occur if your position requires field work. If your position is wholly in the office, you may have to put together Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Manuals that explain how the equipment of the system your company designed and installed work. Use your answer to this question to show the interviewer your resourcefulness, critical thinking skills, and attention to the customer's needs.

Imagine you are using AutoCAD and you are given the task of creating a plan to fit as many warehouse racks into a given floor area as possible. How do you proceed?

"First, I have a couple follow up questions. What size are the racks? What size is the warehouse? What is the required spacing between the racks? Are there any obstructions or is the floor totally open? After taking those dimensional restrictions into account, I would use AutoCAD to create a block representing a warehouse rack of the proper size. Then, I would use the Array command to fill the warehouse area with racking. Finally, I would go back through and delete any individual racks that interfered with columns or were in areas needed for other things, such as drive aisles or bathrooms. This method probably wouldn't be exact enough for a permanent solution, but it would give us a general idea of what the customer could expect."

Here is your chance to show the interviewer your thought process and show off any specific knowledge you have of design software. Show the interviewer that you can think on your feet and don't be afraid to bring out a pen and paper to sketch your solution.

Imagine you are in a situation where you are an onsite field representative expecting the delivery of some warehouse racking. The delivery is late and the project is in danger of falling off schedule. What do you do?

"If for some reason we can't track the shipment, I would call the supplier to confirm that they shipped the racking. If they shipped it on time, then there really isn't anything we can do to make it arrive more quickly. Then, I would call the project manager and let him know the situation and that the overall project schedule might be delayed. I would ask him if there are other stages of the installation that we could move around in order to keep the project moving, even if this stage is delayed."

This is a common situation which you may encounter if your position requires some field work. Show that you can take initiative, solve the problem on your own, and that you are cognizant of how this piece of the project affects the overall schedule.

What do you think are the greatest rewards of working with a team?

"I think that one of the greatest rewards of working with a team is that I can see how my individual expertise contributes to the bigger picture. While I look forward to developing my skills as a Material Handling Engineer, I'm excited to see how my skills interface with software engineers and logistics professionals. And of course, I look forward to seeing how the system we create can help the customer work more efficiently."

Here is your chance to show that you are excited about the position and getting to know the industry and your coworkers. Avoid cliche phrases such as being part of something bigger than yourself, but do illustrate your interest in growing as a professional and accomplishing goals as a company.

Have you ever worked for a manager with whom you disagreed?

"I did a significant amount of AutoCAD drafting work in a previous position I held. Oftentimes, my manager would want the drawings done a certain way, when I thought they should be done a different way. As it turned out, most of the difference was due to personal preference; for example, she preferred straight call-out arrows whereas I thought the spline call-out arrows looked best. Because she was the manager, we went with her opinion and we didn't have any trouble finishing projects on-time. Additionally, I learned the importance of having company-wide AutoCAD standards to avoid situations like this in the future."

Show your interviewer that even if you disagree with your manager, you are still able to work with him or her to get the project done. Avoid implying that your previous manager was 'wrong' and never accuse your previous manager of doing his or her job poorly.

What do you feel is the individual's role when working as part of a team?

"I believe that an individual's role within a team is first and foremost one of accountability. We each have individual strengths and areas of expertise. If I do my job well and others can count on me, then I know that I am contributing to the project's success. However, I do think it is important to not get too locked into one particular position and to be willing to help out other team members."

Warehouse equipment and logistics projects typically have several project team members. These members may include a design engineer, a software engineer, a project manager, a field engineer, and the customer. Understanding your role within the larger team is critical to ensuring the project moves smoothly. Show the interviewer that you know different team members have different roles and that you are prepared to do your job well and help out when needed.

What do you think is the most important part of communication?

"While I believe it is critical to explain information you are giving someone else in a way that is clear and concise, I think the most important part of communication is listening. It is difficult to have a productive conversation if you aren't sure of the message the other person is trying to convey. Especially in this position, where my job will include designing and modifying material handling systems, it's important to practice active listening and make sure we can identify what the customer actually wants and what designs we can actually provide."

When asking this question, your interviewer is trying to see if you can think critically and if you recognize the importance of good communication. Show your interviewer that if they hire you, they can rely on you to transfer important information between team members or between the design team and the customer.

Tell me about a time when you were part of a group project that didn't go well.

"In one of my classes we had a group project with four members. One of the members wasn't doing his share of the work and we weren't sure what was going on, since he was normally a responsible person. Instead of ignoring him and just doing his work for him, we decided to ask why he wasn't holding up his part of the team. Turns out, he was really struggling with another class and that was taking all his time. As a team, we were able to help him study and then he had more time to contribute to the project."

In this question, your interviewer is looking to see how you handle interpersonal conflict. Avoid making accusations towards other group members. Instead, show how you tried to get the group members to work well with one another and share how you and your team eventually solved the problem.

What do you know about material handling, warehousing equipment, and logistics?

"Honestly, not much right now, but I'm willing to learn. I spent some time on your website and from there I learned about storage systems, conveyor systems, and automated systems. In the most general sense, it looks like pallets and containers are stored on racks and materials are moved through warehouses with a combination of automated systems and systems where workers actually pick up each item. Many operations seem to be controlled by computers and robotics. Speaking of which, can you tell me more about AS/RS cranes?"

The interviewer is asking this question to find out how familiar you already are with the industry. In your answer, use terminology you learned from researching the company and the job before the interview. Additionally, if applicable, this is also your chance to say that while you don't know much, you are willing to learn and to ask a relevant question.

What drafting software have you used?

"In school I took a class on drafting. We had to use SolidWorks to draw a small object of our choosing, first in 3D, and then we had to break it down into multiple 2D drawings. I chose to draw my guitar and I ended up with a set of five drawings: 1) an overall 3D view, 2) a front view, 3) a profile view, 4) a top view, and 5) a detail view showing the frets. I know that in this position I'll probably be working with much larger drawing sets, but this project gave me the chance to use SolidWorks and to help me understand how to create different views of the same object."

Most material handling companies draw systems using AutoDesk AutoCAD 2D or 3D or SolidWorks. For a strong answer, tell the interviewer how familiar you are with both programs and provide an example of when you used one.

What do you know about how a plan set is put together?

"While I haven't worked with material handling project plan sets specifically, I did intern at a site design firm last summer. There, I worked with plan sets that included sheets showing overall views, detail views, and grading plans. I would expect something similar here - some sheets will show the whole warehouse, some the conveyor system, some the electrical schematic system, some the structural racking system, and other sheets will show details of smaller pieces such as rollers and ladders."

As a Material Handling Engineer, you will likely be responsible for creating project plan, or drawing sets. If you have worked with plan sets before, tell your interviewer about your previous experience. If you have not, tell the interviewer about all the pieces you think go into a plan set.

How would you describe the movement of products through a facility that contains our equipment?

"I haven't been inside a facility before, but I did some research before this interview. It looks like there are two main types of systems - First In First Out, or FIFO systems and Last In First Out, or LIFO systems. FIFO systems tend to be used for perishable items, such as food, whereas LIFO systems are used when the items won't go bad. From my research I saw that different types of storage rack are used in different systems, such as Push-Back rack is typically used in FIFO systems. What kind of system do most of your customers use?"

As a Material Handling Engineer, your job will be to design systems which move products throughout a facility. If you have been inside a manufacturing plant, warehouse, or distribution center before, tell your interviewer what you observed. Additionally, researching this topic before the interview can help you answer this question. Asking a question at the end of your answer shows your interest in the industry.

How familiar are you with Programmable Logic Controls (PLC)?

"Honestly, I have not had much experience with PLC controls specifically, but I understand that they are really what runs the plant. In high school, I was part of the robotics team and in undergrad I took a class where we learned to progam using Python, so the concept is not entirely unfamiliar to me. I know that PLC systems have very strict Input/Output (I/O) requirements, so it will be important for me to be able to articulate exactly what needs to happen for each type of item going through the warehouse."

Automated systems within material handling facilities are controlled using PLC and PC control systems. Even if your position is not a software engineering or controls position, it is helpful to have a general idea of how these systems work. Here is your chance to mention your time on the Robotics team, your knowledge of programming, or an electrical engineering class you took.

Material Handling Engineer Interview Questions

Go Back

1. How do you set goals for yourself?
2. Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure.
3. How do you approach learning about a new industry?
4. Do you prefer office work or field work?
5. Tell me about a time when you made a mistake.
6. What are your greatest strengths?
7. Tell me about yourself.
8. What is your greatest weakness?
9. How do you see your previous work experience benefitting you in this position?
10. How do you see your education benefitting you in this position?
11. How do you delegate tasks?
12. How would you describe your leadership style?
13. How do you solve problems beyond your capabilities?
14. Are you more comfortable with verbal or written communication?
15. How would you approach a situation where a project team member disagreed with your idea?
16. Imagine we are at the beginning stages of a project. The customer has defined their needs and we are starting to come up with solutions. What is one way we could quickly come up with several solutions?
17. Do you have any previous safety training?
18. Imagine you are onsite and a piece of equipment our company recently installed isn't working right. How would you troubleshoot the problem?
19. Imagine you are using AutoCAD and you are given the task of creating a plan to fit as many warehouse racks into a given floor area as possible. How do you proceed?
20. Imagine you are in a situation where you are an onsite field representative expecting the delivery of some warehouse racking. The delivery is late and the project is in danger of falling off schedule. What do you do?
21. What do you think are the greatest rewards of working with a team?
22. Have you ever worked for a manager with whom you disagreed?
23. What do you feel is the individual's role when working as part of a team?
24. What do you think is the most important part of communication?
25. Tell me about a time when you were part of a group project that didn't go well.
26. What do you know about material handling, warehousing equipment, and logistics?
27. What drafting software have you used?
28. What do you know about how a plan set is put together?
29. How would you describe the movement of products through a facility that contains our equipment?
30. How familiar are you with Programmable Logic Controls (PLC)?

Material Handling Engineer Interview Questions

1. How do you set goals for yourself?

2. Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure.

3. How do you approach learning about a new industry?

4. Do you prefer office work or field work?

5. Tell me about a time when you made a mistake.

6. What are your greatest strengths?

7. Tell me about yourself.

8. What is your greatest weakness?

9. How do you see your previous work experience benefitting you in this position?

10. How do you see your education benefitting you in this position?

11. How do you delegate tasks?

12. How would you describe your leadership style?

13. How do you solve problems beyond your capabilities?

14. Are you more comfortable with verbal or written communication?

15. How would you approach a situation where a project team member disagreed with your idea?

16. Imagine we are at the beginning stages of a project. The customer has defined their needs and we are starting to come up with solutions. What is one way we could quickly come up with several solutions?

17. Do you have any previous safety training?

18. Imagine you are onsite and a piece of equipment our company recently installed isn't working right. How would you troubleshoot the problem?

19. Imagine you are using AutoCAD and you are given the task of creating a plan to fit as many warehouse racks into a given floor area as possible. How do you proceed?

20. Imagine you are in a situation where you are an onsite field representative expecting the delivery of some warehouse racking. The delivery is late and the project is in danger of falling off schedule. What do you do?

21. What do you think are the greatest rewards of working with a team?

22. Have you ever worked for a manager with whom you disagreed?

23. What do you feel is the individual's role when working as part of a team?

24. What do you think is the most important part of communication?

25. Tell me about a time when you were part of a group project that didn't go well.

26. What do you know about material handling, warehousing equipment, and logistics?

27. What drafting software have you used?

28. What do you know about how a plan set is put together?

29. How would you describe the movement of products through a facility that contains our equipment?

30. How familiar are you with Programmable Logic Controls (PLC)?