Tips & Interview Questions that will Help You Prepare for Your Next Technical Job Interview

Updated Oct. 4, 2019

Before you head off to your interview, it's important for you to do your homework. I know, you wouldn’t have applied for the job if you didn’t think you are qualified for it but knowing you are prepared for the first or second meeting with your potential employerwill create confidence and improve your odds of getting the job.

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Here are 3 tips to help get you started;

• Learn more about the company – Of course you know how large the company is, in terms of employees and sales, and the products and services it offers but there is definitely much more to know. Understanding the culture and operations of the company is of equal importance and will also help you determine whether your personality and theirs ‘fit’.

• Find out who will be in the interview – Will it be an HR manager or a manager you would work for? A HR Manager will have different questions than the department manager you’d be reporting to.

• Carefully read through the job posting - Match your skills with the position's requirements and be prepared to relay how you would approach real-world work problems, how you problem-solve, and that you understand the technical requirements outlined in the job description

So now that you have done your background research it’s time to prepare for the actual interview questions. Below are some ‘commonly’ asked interview questions.  

• What was your least successful project? How did you respond?

• Tell me about your experience and approach to troubleshooting.

• Where do you think the manufacturing industry is headed?

• What are your strengths?  Your weaknesses?

• What are your qualifi­cations?  

• What would make you more successful than other people applying for this job?

• What annoys or bothers you in the workplace?

• What do people most often criticize about you? And praise about you?

• What type of work environment do you prefer?

• Tell me about a time when you had too many things to do and how you prioritized your tasks.

• Describe a difficult work situation and how you overcame it.

• Do you prefer to work independently or on a team? Why?

• What steps would you take to troubleshoot a Programmable Logic Controller

These question are just a few examples of the kinds of questions that might be asked in your interview. But don’t be surprised when confronted with less conventional questions. It’s the ‘oddball’ questions that are a perfect opportunity for you to communicate your values, demonstrate your character and reveal your technical expertise.

Hopefully these tips will bolster your confidence, make for a more positive interview and help get you the job. Good Luck!