What to listen for:

 Comfort in moving from one industry or project type to another

 Willingness to learn new skills and adapt to unfamiliar types of projects

What professional training do you have?

 Mention of specific training vehicles, such as licensure as PE (professional engineer) or

certification as CPEM (certified professional in engineering management)
 Willingness to attend courses to fill gaps in knowledge

How do you ensure consistency and accuracy across a project?

 Details about record-keeping methods and how they help achieve the project goals
 A mindset for organizing and an ability to maintain accurate records while focusing on
multiple tasks

Describe a project that ended in failure. How did you react, and what did you learn?

 Honest and open discussion of difficulties

 Placing blame on others even though project engineering is about leading a team and
taking responsibility

Describe a time when you used new technology in a role. How did it help?

 Understanding of and appreciation for technological advancements in the engineering

field
 References to training and ongoing professional development

Looking back to your most recent project, how did you balance safety and budget?

 Specific examples of how the well-being of colleagues was balanced with the company’s
bottom line
 Ability to shift priorities quickly and effectively to maintain balance

In your experience, what is the key to developing a good team?

 Ability to explain complex plans to people who have varying degrees of experience,
making clear what’s expected of them
 Balance of encouraging collaboration and fostering independence

Do you make decisions quickly or gather as much information as possible first?

 Examples of how the candidate made a decision — and the impact it had on the project
 Awareness of when a decision must be made quickly and when it’s important to gather
more information
How would you report technical concepts to stakeholders and clients?

 How long has the firm been in business?

 What types of projects have they worked on in the past?
 What is their success rate in delivering projects on time and within budget?
 What is their level of expertise in the specific area of engineering that your project
requires?

 Do they have any testimonials or case studies that showcase their work?
 Have they received any awards or recognition for their services?
 Can they provide references from previous clients?

 What types of software and tools do they use?

 access to the technologies and equipment?
 Do they have a team of specialized engineers with deep expertise in your specific area of
engineering?

 What is their project management process, and how do they ensure projects are delivered
on time and within budget?

 What is their communication process, and how do they keep clients informed throughout
the project lifecycle?

 Do they have a dedicated project manager who will be your point of contact throughout
the project?

 What is their pricing model, and how do they structure their fees?

 Do they offer any additional value-added services or benefits?

Will they provide a detailed proposal outlining the scope of work and costs upfront?