3 Common Interview Mistakes of Mechanical and Automotive Engineers

As a mechanical or automotive engineering student, you might be wondering how to succeed in your career. When the date for the interview draws closer the tension and angst of the interview round might overwhelm you. It's only natural, and you're not the only one.

So do not stress yourself.

After placing over 200 students in various companies across different domains, Skill-Lync has found that mechanical and automotive engineers should no longer ask what they need to do to ace a job; rather, they must direct their attention towards what to avoid.

In this blog post, we are going to look at 3 common mistakes of mechanical and automotive engineers during an interview. Instead of following a to-do list, simply avoid these three common mistakes

Let's get started!

 

3 Common Mistakes 

 

1. Thinking GPA Is Everything

It's distressing that the Indian educational system is such that you have to memorize what's there in the text and reproduce the same in your exam paper. So your mind has it framed that "GPA is everything!" for succeeding in your interview.

On the contrary, having a 7 point or a 9 point GPA is not going to land you a job. GPA is just one tiny part of the evaluation criteria that tells the interviewer of your expertise over the fundamental concepts. 

You need to know that, as a mechanical engineer, you would have to undergo the following screening processes as part of your interview. 

• The first is the technical round, wherein you will be questioned on the fundamentals. If you answer well, then your GPA would be a little beneficial. Otherwise, it's just a number.
• The latter part of the technical round is the tool test. Say, you appear for a design role, then you would be asked to design a BIW fixture or a sheet metal, or any other component. So, you have a fixed timeframe to design a particular component using a particular software.

Companies are not interested in your GPA, rather your technical and tool expertise. 

 

2. Ignoring the Importance of a Project Profile

As a mechanical engineer, you would be doing only two projects throughout your college years. One is your final year project, and the other is your mini-project. But they are often not aligned with your area of interest. 

You may want to become a design engineer, yet you execute projects in friction welding or material testing. As you graduate and look for a job, which project will you speak of passionately?

For your area of interest, you would have no project profile. When you apply for a design role and speak about your material testing project, you'd lose the position. 

Your portfolio should have at the very least - ten projects from your domain of interest. Showcase how you've executed the engineering principles behind each of your designs in your interview. 

 

3. Assuming That a Company's Job Description Is Their Expectation

Let's consider a situation where you didn't get placed through your campus and must apply for off-campus interviews. As you look through company profiles, they might propose a job description with 0 to 2 years of experience in any of the solvers - Star CCM+, Ansys Fluent, Converge CFD. 

Thinking that you need two years of experience in all of the solvers is yet another major mistake.

• Understand that you need anywhere between zero to two years in any one of the above. So, you need to be as proficient as a professional with an experience of two-years in any one of the solvers.
• When companies demand a two-year experience, they basically look for 150 hours of simulation training. While 150 hours of training can be achieved in two years, the same could be accomplished in 75 days!
• Professionals do not work only on software in their workstations. They have other bureaucracy and paperwork to attend to. So, dedicating one hour a day, for a year would equip you as much as a two year professional.

Considering your study schedule, you can spend two hours every day for six months to gain the necessary experience, or maybe one hour every day for a year. This way, you'd get industry experience even without a job. 

Of course, you can't achieve a two-year professional's expertise through your college curriculum.

That's why you must get acquainted with more projects and internships. Seek other opportunities that'll help you put your theoretical knowledge into practice and build your domain expertise.  When you enroll in any of Skill-Lync's Post-Graduate programs you will be work on more than 10+ industry-oriented projects. 

 

Ace Your Interview Today!

Engineering students are naturally nervous about interviews in any company. Avoid these 3 common mistakes of mechanical and automotive engineers in the interview, and you'll be well on your way to a successful and fulfilling job.

 

Check out the List of Job opportunities for your Engineering domain