This is usually the hardest part for people – waiting. First, make sure you’ve sent your résumé to all possible places you are qualified for and would like to work. Once that’s done you have the perfect time to prepare yourself for any interviews you may get based on your résumé. All companies are different, but an engineer is an engineer regardless of the company they work for so many things about the interview will be very similar if not the same. In fact many interview questions are generic enough that they would work for any position, in any company, and in any town. So, as you see, we don’t need any secret list of questions to practice and become prepared. Just remember, they will try to shake you up a little and throw in a question you have no idea how to answer. Just stay calm. Remember, they called you and the better prepared you are, the less likely they will be able to shake you.
The Interview
Plan ahead. Ensure whatever you have planned to wear (and I hope it’s appropriate; you’re Patriots football jersey that you refuse to wash along with the jeans you wear with it to play football in the backyard are not only inappropriate, they’re disgusting) is semi-formal to a little on the casual side. You’ve been in the building before, I hope, what were the employees wearing then? I know if you get the job you’ll be wearing jeans and old shirts but for the interview you need to present a professional office appearance. If the men wear sport coats over dress shirts with collars and nice Docker’s or whatever, than that is how you should dress for the interview. If they wear casual, but collared shirts, Docker’s, and no sport coat than that’s what you wear. For the ladies, it’s probably business dresses or skirts, if they wear pants it’s probably because they are part of a business suit. Make sure ahead of time that you have appropriate attire and that it fits. If it needs ironing, do it the night before. Alright, appearance is covered. One thing that will impress an interviewer more than just about anything else is how much you know about the company. As soon as you are notified of the interview, start researching. Following are the kinds of things you should know (even though you will probably not come up but you never know):