You're preparing for a structural engineering job interview. How do you show off your skills and experience?

1 Review the job description

Before you go to the interview, make sure you have a clear understanding of the role and the expectations of the employer. Review the job description carefully and identify the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities that are required. Think of specific examples from your previous projects or education that demonstrate how you have applied those skills and delivered results. You can also research the company's background, mission, values, and current projects to show your interest and fit for the culture.

2 Prepare your portfolio

One of the best ways to show off your skills and experience as a structural engineer is to have a portfolio of your work. A portfolio is a collection of documents, drawings, models, photos, videos, or software that showcase your design, analysis, testing, and problem-solving abilities. You can create a digital portfolio using a website, a PDF file, or a cloud-based platform, or you can bring a physical portfolio with printed copies or samples. Make sure your portfolio is organized, relevant, and easy to navigate. Include a brief summary of each project, highlighting your role, objectives, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. You can also include any awards, recognitions, or feedback you have received for your work.

3 Practice your technical skills

As a structural engineer, you need to be able to demonstrate your technical skills and knowledge in various areas, such as structural analysis, design codes, materials, loads, safety, and sustainability. You can expect to face some technical questions or tasks during the interview, such as solving a problem, explaining a concept, or performing a calculation. To prepare for these scenarios, you can review your notes, textbooks, or online resources on the topics that are relevant to the job. You can also practice your technical skills using software tools, such as AutoCAD, Revit, SAP2000, or MATLAB. Be ready to explain your methods, assumptions, and results clearly and confidently.

4 Showcase your soft skills

Besides your technical skills, you also need to show off your soft skills as a structural engineer. Soft skills are the interpersonal and communication skills that help you work effectively with others, such as teamwork, leadership, creativity, and adaptability. You can showcase your soft skills by using the STAR method to answer behavioral questions. The STAR method is a technique that helps you structure your answers using four elements: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. For example, if you are asked to describe a time when you worked on a challenging project with a team, you can use the STAR method to explain the situation, the task you had, the action you took, and the result you achieved.

5 Follow up after the interview

After the interview, don't forget to follow up with the employer and thank them for their time and consideration. You can send a thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview, expressing your interest and enthusiasm for the job, and highlighting your main qualifications and skills. You can also use this opportunity to ask any questions you may have, or to clarify any points you may have missed during the interview. A follow-up email can help you leave a positive impression and show your professionalism and courtesy.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?