Check out this article to learn about the technical questions and practice tests that a civil or structural engineering employer might give you, along with some important tips on how to prepare for them.
They will probably test your technical knowledge if you go to an interview for a job as a civil or structural engineer after college. Whether the interview is held in person or over live video link, you may face:
The topics you will be asked about will be appropriate for the entry-level position youre applying for. A lot of civil and structural engineers who have graduated say that their questions were very similar to the basic ideas they learned in their first year or two of school.
As a civil engineering student, getting an internship is one of the best ways to start your career. It gives you valuable hands-on experience and shows you how the engineering ideas you learn in school can be used in real life.
You should really study for the interview by guessing what kinds of questions they might ask you if you want to get hired as a civil engineering intern. We’ve put together this complete guide with 30 common civil engineering internship interview questions and sample answers to help you do great in your interview and get the internship of your dreams!
General Interview Questions
Here are some typical interview questions that assess your general qualifications for the civil engineering intern role
How did you hear about this internship opportunity?
Interviewers want to understand what drew you to this particular position. Tailor your response based on where you came across the opening – job portal, career fair, referral etc. You can also mention why this role caught your attention and aligned with your interests/skills.
Sample Answer: I first heard about this civil engineering internship opportunity through [company name’s] recruitment presentation at my university’s career fair last month. I was immediately drawn to the innovative transportation infrastructure projects mentioned during the presentation. Having always been fascinated with urban planning and traffic management, I felt this would be an excellent chance to gain hands-on experience in an area closely aligned with my interests as a civil engineering student.
Tell me about yourself.
This open-ended question allows you to provide a brief yet persuasive overview of your qualifications for the role. Focus on your civil engineering skills knowledge achievements and passion for the field.
Sample Answer: I am currently a third-year civil engineering student at [university name] majoring in structural engineering. Through rigorous coursework and hands-on lab projects, I have developed a strong foundation in engineering concepts such as mechanics, hydraulics, and CAD software including AutoCAD. As part of various group assignments, I gained experience collaborating with peers to deliver complex infrastructure designs on-time. I am an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter. My passion for sustainable infrastructure combined with strong technical skills in design and project management make me an ideal candidate for this civil engineering internship.
What do you already know about our company?
Demonstrate that you’ve researched the company by highlighting specific details about their projects, values and achievements that resonated with you. This shows your genuine interest in the role.
Sample Answer: From my research, I understand that [company name] is an industry leader in commercial construction with over 25 years of experience delivering iconic projects across the country. You built your reputation on sustainable designs and innovative engineering solutions, such as the net-zero energy mall in Seattle. I am particularly drawn to your commitment to pursuing LEED certifications and integrating green infrastructure across your portfolio. Your work on the light rail expansion shows how you positively impact local communities through context-sensitive transportation solutions. I am excited by the prospect of interning with an organization that aligns so strongly with my values.
What are your career goals?
Show how the internship aligns with your short and long-term goals. Demonstrate that you have put thought into how this experience would benefit your career.
Sample Answer: My short-term goal is to successfully complete my bachelor’s degree over the next year while gaining relevant industry exposure through an internship. Working for [company name] during this critical phase of my education will enable me to apply classroom concepts in real-world settings under the guidance of experienced professionals. It will also provide me with practical skills and knowledge to excel in a civil engineering career. In the long run, I aim to obtain my professional engineering license and work on impactful public infrastructure projects. This internship is an invaluable opportunity to learn on the job and confirm my passion for this field.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Pinpoint 2-3 strengths relevant to the role such as technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, teamwork etc. For weaknesses, choose peripheral traits and display self-awareness in how you are improving on them.
Sample Answer:
Strengths:
-
Strong proficiency in design software including AutoCAD and Revit
-
Ability to think analytically and solve complex engineering problems
-
Effective collaboration skills honed through group projects
Weaknesses:
-
Tendency to get caught up in the details and miss the bigger picture at times
-
Public speaking skills, though I’ve been working on improving through participating in classroom presentations
What appeals to you about civil engineering?
Showcase your passion for the field and highlight specific aspects you find rewarding such as solving complex challenges, developing sustainable infrastructure, or improving communities.
Sample Answer: Civil engineering appeals to me greatly because it allows me to make a positive impact in society by helping build and maintain infrastructure that is essential for everyday life. I enjoy the process of analyzing complex problems, designing creative solutions and seeing them brought to life. The diverse nature of civil engineering also excites me, as I get to work on projects ranging from bridges to water systems that shape how populations live and interact. Ultimately, I find it immensely rewarding to see infrastructure I’ve worked on used by communities for generations.
Technical Questions
The following are examples of skills-based civil engineering questions to assess your technical abilities:
Describe your experience using design software like AutoCAD.
Showcase projects or coursework where you applied programs relevant to the role. Outline the design process and how the software helped you.
Sample Answer: As part of a highway design project in my civil engineering course, I used AutoCAD to develop detailed traffic intersection plans. I studied existing conditions and traffic data to determine lane requirements. After planning alignments, I used AutoCAD to draft the geometry of ramps, islands and sidewalks according to technical specifications. I also optimized intersections and traffic lights placement to improve traffic flow. Completing this project gave me hands-on experience applying AutoCAD across multiple stages of infrastructure design.
Explain the engineering properties of different construction materials.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the strength, durability, workability and applications of commonly used materials like concrete, steel, timber and asphalt.
Sample Answer: Construction materials used in civil engineering each possess unique engineering properties suitable for specific applications. For instance, concrete has high compressive strength but lower tensile strength, making it ideal for foundations, rigid pavements and bridges. Steel has both high compressive and tensile strength, so it is used to reinforce concrete. Asphalt demonstrates good workability at normal temperatures, making it ideal to pave roads. Timber has relatively low strength compared to steel or concrete but its light weight makes it suitable for construction in areas with soil stability concerns.
What experience do you have with surveying equipment and techniques?
Share examples of handling surveying instruments like total stations, GPS systems, leveling equipment for field data collection and measurement.
Sample Answer: As part of a highway design course, I used a total station to record topographic details of the project site including slope contours, drainage points and obstacles like trees. I also used a handheld GPS unit to identify survey control points and benchmarks for the coordinate system. In a team, we used a digital level to take longitudinal and transverse elevations along the highway alignment. These experiences provided me with a solid understanding of utilizing surveying methods to gather accurate terrain data for engineering designs.
How would you evaluate the soil conditions of a site?
Demonstrate your understanding of soil analysis through laboratory and in-situ testing methods. Show how they help determine relevant properties.
Sample Answer: The key steps in evaluating soil conditions are:
-
First, examine site history and geological data for preliminary understanding of expected soil types and properties.
-
Next, conduct in-situ testing such as SPTs (Standard Penetration Tests) to estimate granularity and density of subsurface layers.
-
Afterwards, collect soil samples from boreholes and conduct lab tests like sieve analysis, moisture content tests and consolidation tests to determine properties like permeability, shear strength, compressibility and plasticity.
-
Analyze the data to classify soils and assess parameters like bearing capacity, liquefaction potential, and suitability for construction.
-
Finally, compile findings into a geotechnical report that informs foundation, excavation and site preparation requirements.
What safety precautions would you implement on a construction site?
Emphasize safety procedures and measures such as PPE, training, inspections, incident reporting that you will follow and encourage on-site.
Sample Answer: Construction safety requires proactive measures by everyone involved in the project. As an intern, I will ensure I am well-versed with all organizational and OSHA safety regulations and never hesitate to raise a concern. I will wear all required PPE at all times. I will attend safety trainings and actively participate in job hazard analyses before each task. I will remind coworkers to uphold safe work practices like proper machine operation, lifting techniques and trenching procedures. I will inspect equipment and sites daily to identify risks like defective ropeings or chemical spills. By demonstrating safety-first behavior, I hope to promote a culture of open communication and accountability around jobsite hazards.
How would you determine the stormwater requirements for a site?
Show the workflow of analyzing the site, Required flow mitigations, and designing a management system that
Civil and structural engineering technical interview tips
Before you attend a civil engineering or structural engineering assessment day or interview:
- Find out what the company has done in the division you want to work in and look over any college notes you have on technical subjects that might come up in the interview.
- Read over your project work, coursework, or dissertation, and be ready to explain what you did.
- Work on talking about technical problems, your schoolwork, and any technical skills you’ve learned at internships. You could ask someone who isn’t technical to help you figure out how clear your explanations of technical topics are.
- Practise sketching diagrams.
- Get together a portfolio of your project work to bring to your interview. A lot of people will ask you about it, and it will be easier to talk about if you have it in front of you. Earlier this year, Joshua McGregor, a graduate bridge engineer, told the UK 300, “I’d say take your job because you’ll always be asked technical questions. If they’re about a project you worked on, you’ll probably know the answers!”
When answering technical interview questions:
- Remember that the people interviewing you aren’t always looking for clean answers; they’re more interested in how you think than in whether you give the right answer. Because engineering projects don’t usually involve textbook problems, your future boss wants to see how you solve them. The final answer is often less important.
- If you donât understand a question, ask for clarification.
- If you don’t know the answer or don’t know much about a subject, tell the interviewer what you do know and then show them how you would solve the problem. Most of the time, the interviewer will walk you through the situation to see how you think.
- In order to better explain something, don’t be afraid to ask for paper and pen if you don’t already have them.
- You donât need to rush in to answering. Give yourself time to think. Taking a sip of water or telling the interviewers that you’d like time to think can help you avoid a long pause.
- If you think you didn’t answer a question very well at the end of an interview, you can ask to go back and change your answer. Mott MacDonald’s Emma Hale is a chartered civil engineer who now talks to college graduates. Previously, she told the UK 300, “I’d be impressed if someone wanted to go back to a question they were asked before to add more information or make a point clear.” â .
Will I be asked technical questions in an engineering internship interview?
This will depend on the employer; if you are, the questions will only be about what you have studied. However if you are given the opportunity to talk through technical problems, do try. Joshua had an interview with his future boss during his first year of college. “My interviewers also told me that they werenât going to give me a technical exercise that theyâd give to graduates because I wouldnât have learned the theory yet, but I said I’d like to try,” he said. I was told afterwards that they liked the fact that I was willing to give it a go. He also said that the people interviewing him helped him with things he didn’t know much about, so it was a good way to learn. targetjobs.
This describes editorially independent and impartial content, which has been written and edited by the targetjobs content team. Our non-advertorial policy says that we don’t promote one organization over another. This means that any outside contributors to the article follow this rule.
INTERN INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS! (How to PASS an INTERNSHIP Interview in 2023!)
FAQ
What questions are asked in an engineering internship interview?
How to prepare for a civil engineering internship?
What is expected of a civil engineering intern?
What do employers look for in a civil engineering internship?
Employers look for interns who are reliable, well-organized, and have strong problem-solving skills. In this guide, you’ll find several samples questions and responses, including civil engineering internship interview questions and answers. Are you comfortable working in a team environment?
What questions should a civil engineer ask an interviewer?
Here are five interview questions for an entry-level civil engineer with example answers: 1. Why do you want to become a civil engineer? This question can tell an interviewer about a candidate’s personality and values.
How do I prepare for an engineering internship interview?
Landing an engineering internship is an excellent way to get your foot in the door of the engineering industry. But before you can start working on real-world projects, you’ll need to go through the interview process. One way to prepare for your interview is to learn how to answer engineering internship interview questions.
How do I get a job in civil engineering?
From roads and bridges to water treatment plants and airports, civil engineers are responsible for it all. If you’re a civil engineering student who is looking for an internship, you will likely need to go through a job interview. In this interview, you will be asked questions about your skills, experience, and education.
