HRInterviewQuestionsForFresher’s
1. Tellmeaboutyourself?
Iamdown-to-earth,sweet,smart,creative,industrious,andthorough.
2. How has your experience prepared you for your career?
Coursework:
Aside from the discipline and engineering foundation learning that I have gained from my courses,
Ithink thedesignprojects,reports,andpresentations haveprepared memostformycareer.
WorkExperience:
Through internships, I have gained self-esteem, confidence, and problem-solving skills. I
alsorefinedmytechnicalwritingandlearnedtoprepareprofessionaldocumentsforclients.
StudentOrganizations:
By working on multiple projects for different student organizations while keeping up my grades,
I'vebuilt time management and efficiency skills. Additionally, I've developed leadership,
communication,andteamworkabilities.
LifeExperience:
In general, life has taught me determination and the importance of maintaining my
ethicalstandards.
3. Describetheidealjob.
Ideally, I would like to work in a fun, warm environment with individuals working
independentlytowards team goals or individual goals. I am not concerned about minor elements,
such as
dresscodes,cubicles,andthelevelofformality.Mostimportanttomeisanatmospherethatfosters
attentiontoquality,honesty,andintegrity.
4. Whattypeofsupervisorhaveyou foundto bethebest?
I have been fortunate enough to work under wonderful supervisors who have provided
limitedsupervision, while answering thoughtful questions and guiding learning. In my experience,
the bestsupervisors give positivefeedbackandtactfulcriticism.
5. Whatdo you plantobedoinginfive years'time?
TakingthePEexamandservinginsupervisory/leadershiprolesbothatworkandinprofessional/communityo
rganization(s).
6. What contributions could you make in this organization that would help you to stand
outfromotherapplicants?
Inpreviousinternships,myindustriousnessandabilitytoteachmyselfhavebeenvaluableassetstothe
company. My self-teaching abilities will minimize overhead costs, and my industriousness
attargeting needs without prompting will set me apart from others. Additionally, one thing that
hasalways set me apart from my scientific/engineering peers are my broad interests and strong
writingabilities. I am not your typical "left-brained" engineer, and with my broad talents, I am likely
toprovidediverseviewpoints.
7. Whatsortofcriteriaareyouusingtodecidetheorganization youwillworkfor?
Mostimportantly,Iamlookingforacompanythatvaluesquality,ethics,andteamwork.Iwouldliketo
workforacompanythat hiresoverachievers.
8. Whatmadeyouchoose yourmajor?
My academic interests are broad, so I sought civil engineering to achieve a great balance
ofmathematics,chemistry,biology, physics,andwriting.
9. Haveyouruniversityandmajormetyourexpectations?
The College of Engineering at MSU has exceeded my expectations by providing group
activities,careerresources,individualattention, andprofessors withgenuineinterestin teaching.
My major has met my expectations by about 90%. I would have enjoyed more choices
inenvironmentalcourses,andwouldhavepreferredmorecalculus-basedlearning.
10. Whatmadeyouchoosethiscollege?
I chose this college for the following reasons: my budget limited me to in-state schools, I
wasseeking an area with dog-friendly apartments, the MSU web site impressed me, I saw
activestudentgroups,andthepeople wereveryfriendly.
11. List 2-3 of your greatest achievements since you've been in college and why?
ReceivingtheSWEOutstandingMemberAwardandCollegeofEngineeringStudentServiceAwar
d
I got involved with student activities to overcome my debilitating shyness. Receiving these
awardssignified that I had accomplished a transition from dragging myself to participate to
feelingenergized byit.
ReceivingtheSWEWebSiteAward
Without training in web design, I competed against not only the other student sections,
butprofessional sections around the nation. Despite competing with more HTML-experienced
people, Ibrought this award to my section. After getting so much from SWE, I was able to give
somethingback.
Earningthehighest gradeinanorganicchemistryclassof~200people
I worked very hard for this grade and loved the subject, so it was a great feeling to see that the
hardworkpaidoff.
12. Whichsubjectshaveyouenjoyedstudyingthemostandwhy?
Ihaveenjoyedhydrology,fluids,solid&hazardouswastemanagement,waterandwastewatertreatment,and
oceanographybecause Ilove water andenvironmental topics.
Calculus and linear algebra excite me because I love
logic.Ienjoyedthewritingandanalysisineconomichistory.
BusinesslawthrilledmebecauseI haveastronginterestinlegalmatters.
13. Whichsubjectsdidyou dislikeandwhy?
Introductory soil elicited little interest in me, most likely because the professor was
inexperienced,thebook wasineffective,andI hadlittlesparetimethatsemestertolookinto
otherresources.
14. Doyouhaveplanstocontinueyoureducation?
Yes,butnotimmediately.IplantocontinueparttimewitheitheranMBAoranenvironmentalengineering
masters,dependingonwhich willbemorebeneficial tomywork.
15. How would a professor who knows you well describe you? One who does not know
youwell?
Aprofessorwhoknowsmewellwouldlikelydescribemypersonalqualities:sweet,down-to-
earth,smart,hard-working,andconscientious.
As specific examples of those who did not know me well, my soils professor and soils
teachingassistant each considered me smart and respectful, and both thought that I must have
enjoyed theclassalot,duetomyperformance.
16. Giventhechance,how wouldyoualteryoureducation?
Knowing now what I like the most, I would have used my electives for extra math and
psychologyclasses, since I tend to be well-rounded enough that a variety of classes are
unnecessary; mypersonal reading is diverse enough. I have found that mathematics and
psychology are helpful to allcareerandlifepaths.
17. Whichpart-timejobdidyou enjoythemost and why?
Working for PM Environmental was most enjoyable to me, since I felt like I was
significantlycontributing tothecompany,andI enjoyedlearningon myown.
18. Interests:
Some of my interests include dogs, hiking, snow-shoeing, water sports, writing, reading
(especiallyCharlesDickens'novels),skiing,drawing,crafts,and computers.
19. Whatareyourstrengths?
Mystrongeststrengthistheabilitytoteachmyselfdifficultmaterial,regardlessofthesubject(withthe
exception of theater and drawing blood from dogs, which I have no talent for). Additionally,
Ihavealwaysexcelledverballyandlookforwardto writingopportunities.
20. Whatareyourweaknesses?
I tend to try to do too many things, leaving little time for myself. I have worked on balancing
myselfforthelastseveralmonths.Iamalso workingonimprovingmypublicspeakingskills.
21. What sort of serious problems have you experienced, and how have you handled
them?My apartment building burned down at the end of January during one of my semesters at
MSU.Before the fire got too bad, I was able to rescue my pets and the neighbor's dog, as well as
mytextbooks and backpack, but I lost most of my mementos and possessions. While the firemen
werepreparing their hoses, I drove to school (with the animals in the car) to meet my lab partners,
whowere waiting for me. I explained the situation, emailed my professors, and rushed back to
theapartment.
Fortunately, I had renter's insurance. I missed about a week of school to deal with the
insurancematters and find a new place to live. In order to salvage my grades and sanity, I
dropped a courseand honored my existing student group and research commitments. Staying
active socially andkeeping myself well-rounded were the best healing tools for me. Within a few
weeks, I was caughtupandhadrecoveredreasonablyfromthelossof sentimentalitems.
22. Doyouorhaveyouinthepastexperimentedwithillegaldrugs?
No.Myonlyaddictionsarecaffeineandsugar.
23. Wouldyou bewillingtotakea drugtest?
Ofcourse.
24. Doyoudrinkalcoholsocially?
No,butIenjoyShirleyTemplesquiteabit.
25. Ifyouhadyourwholelifetoliveover,whatwouldyoudodifferentlyandwhy?I was
always good in math, but I wish that I would have focused on math more. I feel
thatmathematicscanleadoneanywhere,andisthebasisofmostdisciplines.
Onapersonallevel,Iwouldhaveensuredthat,despitepre-teenangstandinsecurity,Iwouldhavebeen
nicetoeveryone, evenonespeciallybaddays.
26. Whichismoreimportanttoyou,yoursalaryor yourjob?
Salary is important, but I couldn't stay with a job that brought me misery when I could
supportmyself doingsomethingelse;hence,myjob ismoreimportant.
27. Whathaveyou foundtobethebiggestsourceofmotivationinyourlife?
Takingadvantageofmystrengthssothattheyarenotwasted.Sincenobody
isluckyenoughtobestrongineveryarea,Ithinkitisimportanttomakegooduseof one's strengths.
28. Whatsortsofthingscauseyou stress,andhowdoyoudealwiththem?
Lackoforganizationthrowsmeoff.Todealwiththis,I
comeupwithsomekindofsystemtoorganizethings,evenifit isonlyinmyhead, inthecase
whenchaosisdesirable.
29. Whatis yourdefinitionofsuccess?
Being a good person by improving the quality of the lives of others, whether it be through
work,doingsweetthings,improvingtheenvironment/community,takingcareofone'sfamily,etc.
Superficially,Itendtomeasuresuccessbylevelofeducationandabilitieswithinone'scareer;however,I
trytoremindmyself of thethings thataremoreimportant.
30. What qualities should a successful supervisor possess in regard to job requirements
andthosewhoreport tohim/her?
Asuccessfulsupervisorshouldbeabletotactfullygivecriticism,guide,motivate,encourageandfosterapositi
veworkenvironment.
31. Howwouldyoudevelopteamspiritamongthepeoplethat yousupervise?
My experience in student groups has taught me that people work best when their
friends(teammates) are counting on them to do well; therefore, I believe that bonding motivates
people. Iwouldalsofosterteampridebypromotingourteam'sassets.
32. Do youliketoworkindependentlyorasateam?
Iliketoworkindependentlytowardsateam goal.
33. Whatkindof workenvironmentdoyou likethebest?
Ienjoyworkingwithfriendlyco-workerswhocansharealaugh whileworkinghardandoverachieving.
34. Howwouldyouresolveconflictswithemployees,coworkers,andsupervisors?
If possible, I would refresh my memory on what I've learned about conflict communication, and
thenI would discuss things, honestly and tactfully. I am a big fan of kind sincerity and honesty, as
well as humility (when appropriate).
35. Inwhatwayshaveyoulearnedfromyourmistakes?
Upon getting myself overwhelmed with involvement in too many projects, I changed my
approach.When possible, I now start with less than I can handle and add more only as time
allows, and insmall increments.
36. Inwhatareasdoyouneedtoimproveyourskills?
I would like to improve my public speaking skills.
