Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond the requirements for a project.
Your resume will outline and describe all of the projects you have worked on in your engineering career, but there's not enough room in those blurbs to really dive into all of the hard work it took to successfully complete the job. When the interviewer asks this question, it's your chance to highlight something special you did on one of those projects to make it run smoothly. Maybe you took on a leading role for detailing steel framing members on a multi-story project when someone else dropped the ball. Maybe you have volunteered for extra field work. Give an example to highlight your experience.
"On my last big project, I volunteered to be my firm's representative on the job site, once we entered the construction phase. This wasn't necessarily an easy job because it required me to be up early and outside in the cold weather. However, I felt that it was important that I was the engineer handling this role because I was responsible for most of the design and could handle relations with the construction team most effectively."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
In the past couple of months, I was invited to work on research for a colleague that wasn't related to my Thesis but I was proficient in the software that was required for the project. Though the work was voluntary and I was not required to spend any more than 2 hours on the project a week, I decided to learn more about the research and provide software guidance to my colleague which would help him work on it in the future.
Marcie's Feedback
You have provided an excellent example in response to this question. It is very nice that you voluntarily helped a colleague out and taught them how to use the software so they could do it themselves in the future. This showcases your giving nature, which is great. It also shows that you are motivated to learn. Good job!
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