Preparing for Your Bechtel Plant Machinery Interview: 8 Key Questions and Answers

Interviewing for a job at Bechtel Plant Machinery can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. As a leading engineering, procurement, construction, and project management company, Bechtel attracts top talent across multiple industries. Standing out among the competition requires thorough preparation.

In this article, I’ll discuss some of the most common Bechtel Plant Machinery interview questions and provide sample answers to help you get ready for your big day. With the right preparation, you can walk into your interview feeling relaxed, confident and ready to showcase why you’re the ideal candidate.

Overview of Bechtel Plant Machinery

Before we dive into the interview questions, let’s briefly overview Bechtel Plant Machinery (BPM) and what they look for in candidates

BPM serves the fossil power, nuclear power, petrochemicals, and oil & gas sectors. They handle complex, large-scale projects across the entire asset lifecycle. From new design and construction to maintenance, turnarounds and operation.

Some key facts about BPM:

• Subsidiary of Bechtel Corporation, one of the largest engineering, procurement & construction companies in the world
• Over 5,000 employees worldwide
• Focus on safety, ethics, innovation, delivery and value creation for clients
• Diverse portfolio from gas turbines to nuclear reactors

When hiring, BPM looks for team players with strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities and communication skills. They want self-motivated professionals who align with their values of ethics, safety, quality, and collaboration.

Let’s now dive into some frequent interview questions so you can showcase these qualities and skills

8 Common Bechtel Plant Machinery Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 8 interview questions candidates commonly face for BPM positions along with tips on how to best answer them

1. Tell me about yourself

BPM’s interviewers will likely start out broad by asking you to walk through your background and qualifications. This is your chance to give an overview of your greatest strengths and achievements.

Sample Answer:

“I’m an experienced project engineer with over 7 years in the power industry. I started out on a construction site managing teams of electricians and welders. This taught me key safety practices and how to coordinate cross-functional groups. I then earned my Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering while working full-time. This allowed me to transition to a lead project engineering role where I oversaw procurement, testing and commissioning for major gas turbine projects. I’m known for my technical expertise in thermodynamics and turbine systems as well as my ability to deliver projects on-time and under budget. I’m now looking to take on more responsibility leading complex, multi-million dollar projects which is what initially drew me to BPM.”

This answer hits on his technical background, education, project management experience and interest in BPM. It provides an engaging snapshot of his competencies and motivation.

2. Why do you want to work at Bechtel Plant Machinery?

Hiring managers want to gauge your passion for their specific company. Show them you’ve done your research and are truly excited by their mission and projects.

Sample Answer:

“I’ve been following Bechtel’s work on major LNG production facilities and nuclear power plants for years. BPM specifically stands out for incredible projects like [insert major project]. I’m impressed by your commitment to project execution and stellar safety track record across hazardous environments. My goal is to work for the premier engineering firm leading the industry, which BPM exemplifies based on your history, values and portfolio. I also appreciate your focus on ethics, quality and encouraging innovation from all employees. The projects you handle require best-in-class technical experts which I’m looking forward to contributing my skills toward.”

This demonstrates knowledge of their projects, culture and values that appeals to the interviewer. Show them you want to be part of their team specifically.

3. Walk me through your experience with [insert relevant skill]

Interviewers will dive into your expertise in specific areas that are critical for the role. Be ready to have in-depth discussions on your biggest accomplishments and projects.

Sample Answer

“As a project engineer, I’ve used AutoCAD extensively to create P&IDs, mechanical drawings and 3D models for turbine assemblies. For example, my last company assigned me to a $20M turbine upgrade project in Nigeria. I was responsible for the design package and led a team of 5 draftsmen. We used AutoCAD to revamp the mechanical drawings for the entire steam path based on the new turbine retrofits. I collaborated with the procurement team to ensure all drawings accurately reflected the new parts and materials. We ended up delivering over 500 high quality design drawings on-time, which allowed installation to begin on-schedule. The client was thrilled with the final drawings and gave special recognition to our design team.”

Giving a specific example demonstrates you truly have the hands-on experience and capability to deliver results using those skills.

4. How do you handle a difficult team member?

BPM wants people who can work collaboratively with diverse groups and resolve conflicts. Share how you bring out the best in others.

Sample Answer:

“When dealing with a difficult team member, I focus on listening first to understand their perspective and motivations. I then have an open and honest dialogue to uncover the root issues, like workload or misaligned expectations. From there, I work collaboratively with them on solutions, like adjusting responsibilities or setting interim milestones. I find when you take the time to understand their viewpoint and empathize, people are much more willing to cooperate. For example, I had an engineer reporting to me who was struggling with our rapid project timeline. Through an open discussion, I realized he simply needed more direction setting priorities. We worked together to create a plan of attack which improved his performance tremendously. Maintaining patience and engaging in respectful communication is key.”

This highlights your emotional intelligence and people management skills – critical for excelling at BPM.

5. Tell me about a time you had to persuade team members to do things your way. Were you successful?

They want to know how you influence without authority and get buy-in for ideas. Share your logic and approach.

Sample Answer:

“There was a turbine retrofit project where my team was installing new high pressure casing. I noticed the alignment was off and raised concerns we needed to re-machine the casing flange before moving forward. However, some technicians felt the alignment was adequate and were ready to bolt it down. To persuade them, I patiently showed the measurements and alignment specs again and calmly explained why this could damage the turbine if we didn’t address it now. I also asked their perspective on how long it would take to re-machine versus potentially re-doing major repairs later on. By engaging the reluctant technicians collaboratively in the decision and not forcing my viewpoint, I was able to get their buy-in to stop and re-machine, avoiding a much larger issue down the road.”

This example showcases your technical knowledge while demonstrating your ability to influence others without authority.

6. Describe a time you successfully managed multiple projects with tight deadlines. How did you prioritize?

Time management and organization are essential skills in this fast-paced industry. Discuss how you effectively juggle tasks and deadlines.

Sample Answer:

“In my last role, I was managing three turbine retrofit projects simultaneously – two in California and one in Texas. All three had tight deadlines and budget constraints. To stay organized, I created detailed project plans for each with milestones in MS Project which allowed me to track progress and deadlines. I held weekly sync calls with each client to review status and risks. I also maintained an overview matrix to monitor budget and resources across the projects. When unexpected delays came up, I adjusted resources and priorities between the projects. For example, when we hit permitting delays in Texas, I was able to shift engineers over from a California project that was ahead of schedule. This allowed me to keep everything on track through proactive planning, communication and resource allocation between the projects.”

This highlights your experience successfully managing competing priorities through organization, planning and flexibility.

7. How would you handle a safety situation where procedures aren’t being followed on a job site?

Safety is the utmost priority for BPM, so they will probe your dedication to safety protocols and procedures. Demonstrate you’d take a principled stand.

Sample Answer:

“If I ever observed work being done in an unsafe manner, I would immediately stop the work and address the issue. I would consult the procedures and specs and have a direct conversation with the workers and supervisor to review why proper protocols exist. I would coordinate with the supervisor and safety personnel to verify the appropriate procedures and emphasize the critical importance of following them before resuming work. I would also escalate any recurring issues to site leadership and recommend refresher safety training sessions. At the end of the day, I’m fully committed to maintaining a safe work environment and would exercise firm judgment if I ever observed unsafe practices.”

This shows you take safety seriously and would promptly address issues according to procedures.

8. Where do you see your career in 5 years?

Share your passion for growth and development. Demonstrate you’re in it for the long-haul and want to grow with BPM.

**Sample Answer