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Electrical engineers are tasked with designing, developing, testing, and overseeing the production and manufacturing of electrical equipment, including new technologies, telecommunication systems, satellite communications, and electrical power stations for commercial, industrial, military, and scientific.
If you’re scouting for a job as an electrical engineer, following the tips outlined in this article and taking Zippia’s best career advice will help you prepare for a successful interview and bring you one step closer to getting hired and leading a fulfilling engineering career.
Key Takeaways:
Candidate should highlight technical and hard skills because the interviewer will be lookin for those the most.
Interviewers should ask behavioral and technical interview questions to get an understanding of how the candidate will react in specific situations.
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Here at the top 20 most commonly asked electrical engineer interview questions and sample answers:
Tell me about yourself
This is a common interview question typically asked at the start of the interview. Your answer should highlight your relevant skills and experiences.
Example Answer:
I have six years of experience working various roles and projects that have allowed me to hone my skills in electrical engineering. In my last role, I was responsible for designing and implementing power distribution systems for commercial buildings and ensuring efficient energy utilization and compliance with safety standards.
Throughout my career I have developed proficiency in using programming languages to help implement algorithms and perform simulations for electrical systems. I have excellent problem-solving skills and I am detail oriented in my approach. I am excited about the opportunity to leverage my skills and contribute to the success of your company.
Why do you want to work here?
This question is often asked to see how much research you have done in the company. Your answer should demonstrate your understanding of the company and how your own values and goals align with the company's values and mission.
Example Answer:
I want to work here because of your strong focus on developing and implementing sustainable solutions. I am deeply passionate about renewable energy and energy-efficient systems. I believe working here, I can contribute to creating a greener future through my skills and expertise as an electrical engineer.
I also value that your company has a diverse range of projects and clients, spanning multiple industries. It is appealing to me as an electrical engineer because it offers many opportunities to continually expand my knowledge and skills.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
This type of question is asked to get an understanding of your goals and how you plan to achieve those goals. Interviewers also want to see how their company aligns with your long-term goals. Your answer should convey career growth and your ambition.
Example Answer:
In five years, I see myself taking on more leadership roles within project teams, where I can apply my knowledge and experience to lead successful engineering initiatives. I also aspire to contribute to the development and innovative solutions and technologies that address complex engineering problems.
I also hope to have the opportunity to mentor and guide junior engineers and share my knowledge to help them grow in their own careers. My ultimate goal is to be a valuable asset to this company and contribute to its growth and success.
Why should we hire you?
Interviewers will ask this type of question to see how you sell yourself as a candidate. Your answer should highlight your unique qualifications, experiences, and attributes that make you a strong candidate for this position.
Example Answer:
I have six years of experience in the field. During my time I have been able to hone my skills in various aspects of electrical engineering. I have a proven track record of designing and implementing electrical systems, ensuring their functionality, safety, and compliance with industry standards.
What sets me apart from other is my genuine passion for electrical engineering and my continuous drive for learning and professional growth. I am committed to staying updated with emerging technologies and industry trends.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Your answer should show that you are honest and self-aware of your weaknesses and that you are actively working to improve them to turn it into something positive.
Example Answer:
One of my key strengths would be my strong technical knowledge and problem solving abilities. I have a solid foundation in electrical principles, circuits, and systems. This enables me to analyze complex problems and design effective solutions.
My weakness would my meticulous attention to detail which results me in spending more time on certain tasks than originally planned. I have been actively working on improving my time management skills and finding the right balance between thoroughness and efficiency.
Why did you choose electrical engineering to pursue as a career?
Although highly rewarding, a career in electrical engineering is no simple task to obtain. The job requires extreme dedication and precision and years of schooling and training to perfect your craft.
Working as an electrical engineer certainly isn’t for everyone, so during your job interview, hiring managers are likely to ask you why, specifically, you choose to go after a career in electrical engineering.
Discussing what inspired you to pursue electrical engineering or highlighting what interests you most about the field is excellent for answering this commonly asked interview question.
Example Answer:
I’ve always been very interested in how things are wired and how electrical systems and devices function. I was inspired to pursue a career in electrical engineering after attending a Women in Science and Engineering conference while at Northeastern University. I love working in this industry since it allows me to be on the front lines of designing and manufacturing devices that change people’s lives.
What do you find to be the most rewarding part of working as an electrical engineer?
Working as an electrical engineer can be a high-stress job, so you must be dedicated to your work and find enjoyment in completing the tasks required of you.
On top of education and experience, hiring managers and prospective employers are looking for ambitious applicants and find the job both gratifying and fulfilling.
Example Answer:
For me, seeing a project go from an idea to a fully functioning and state-of-the-art device or electrical system is the most rewarding part of the job. I take great pride in the work I do. Knowing that the technology I help design and develop can directly improve people’s personal and professional lives makes this work even more rewarding.
How do you ensure precision in your work?
Electrical engineers are tasked with working on some of the world’s most complex telecommunication devices, generators, engines, vehicles, and navigation systems, so completing projects with extreme care and precision is essential. This interview question provides a perfect platform for you to illustrate your accuracy at work.
Example Answer:
I always aim for accuracy and precision in my work, as I understand that precision engineering lowers costs and boosts business. When completing projects, I use critical thinking skills to look at problems from all perspectives, and I routinely write concise electrical performance reports and assessments to ensure accuracy and precision. Moreover, I constantly seek opportunities for professional development and ways to perfect my craft even more.
What is your specialty within electrical engineering?
Electrical engineering is a specialty within the engineering industry, but having a specialized area within the field will make you even more marketable to hiring managers.
Example Answer:
Although I have hands-on work experience, certifications, and academic training in all disciplines within the scope of electrical engineering, my specialty lives in power electronics and microelectronics. I am also licensed and experienced using unique wiring techniques, including wire bonding and fine-wire bonding.
What makes you a good electrical engineer?
Employers want to know your professional strengths so they can determine whether or not you would be a good fit for their company. In your answer, you should aim to sell yourself, which can help position you as the best applicant for the job.
Example Answer:
I have extensive experience designing and developing electrical systems, solving wiring and electric issues, testing equipment, performing engineering analyses and assessments, overseeing the installation of hardware and software, following UL certification requirements, and using Revit MEP and AutoCAD software. I have a proven track record of finding low-cost solutions to improve the quality of the world’s most modern technologies and electrical operating systems.
Tell me about a challenge you faced as an electrical engineer and how you solved it.
No matter what professional industry you work in, challenges are bound to come up. Hiring managers and prospective employers often ask this interview question to determine how you work under pressure and understand how you solve problems.
Example Answer:
While I was an electrical engineer intern with Nolan Technologies, I was tasked with designing a prototype firmware under a strict deadline. When I completed the project, the operating system was malfunctioning, so I quickly reviewed the schematics, wiring diagrams, and CAD drawings and determined a faulty piece of control equipment. I collaborated with the senior electrical engineer to replace the part and repair the system on time.
How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple ongoing engineering projects?
Electrical engineers are often tasked with managing multiple projects at once. Illustrating how you prioritize projects and stay motivated and on-task will make you a more desirable applicant and more likely to advance in the interview process and get hired.
Example Answer:
I keep detailed notes on every project I work on and routinely assess my progress to ensure I remain on task. Typically I focus on the projects requiring the most attention first, or those with short and strict deadlines. When possible, I also delegate work appropriately among my team members to ensure all projects are completed promptly and adhere to all industry requirements and quality standards.
What is the biggest mistake you made as an electrical engineer?
Electrical engineering is a highly complex and meticulous industry. When hiring employees, job recruiters look for low-risk applicants who have a track record of making very few errors and quickly correcting mistakes when they do occur.
Openly discussing a mistake that you’ve made as an electrical engineer and illustrating how you resolved it and what you learned is a great platform to demonstrate your commitment to accuracy and precision in your work.
Example Answer:
This biggest mistake I made as an electrical engineer came very early in my career. I had just graduated and started working in microelectronics. I was working on a circuit and mistakenly connected the wrong wires. I quickly realized that fine-wire bonding was not my forte. While I learned so much as a microelectronic engineer, I recognized that my talents and top professional strengths lay, instead, in electrical engineering procurement.
Making that wiring mistake helped me realize my talents and find my specialty in the field. Since refocusing my career more than ten years ago, I now have a 98 percent accuracy rate when designing and developing electrical systems.
What is your understanding of direct and alternating currents?
When hiring electrical engineers, job recruiters often ask technical questions to test applicants’ knowledge and experience. Answering these commonly asked interview questions with confidence and enthusiasm will help you portray why you’re the best candidate for the role.
Example Answer:
I have experience working with both direct and alternating currents. I received extensive schooling and on-the-job training on currents and am highly knowledgeable in deciphering between the two and determining which current is best suited for the electrical project I’m tasked with. I know that an alternating current is one in which electrons flow back and forth at regular intervals, where the electrons in a direct current only flow in one direction.
How knowledgeable are you on Norton’s Theorem and Ohms Law?
Electrical engineers need to have high-level knowledge of various complex theories and laws. Discussing your understanding and practical work experience using Norton’s Theorem and Ohms Law can help you demonstrate how you’re the best candidate for the job.
Example Answer:
While studying electrical engineering at Michigan Technological University, I received extensive and in-depth instruction on Norton’s Theorem and Ohms Law and regularly used this knowledge as an electrical engineer intern. As I continue to craft my skills, I always rely on these engineering basics to simplify linear circuits and understand the relationship between current, voltage, and resistance.
What is the difference between a generator and an alternator?
Getting hired as an electrical engineer requires a lot of technical knowledge and practical work experience. Answering commonly-asked interview questions that aim to gauge your comprehension of various techniques and operating systems will help you continue in the onboarding process and find your dream electric engineering job.
Example Answer:
Generators and alternators both convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. A generator has a stationary magnetic field, where the armature rotates inside a fixed magnetic field, while the magnetic field in an alternator turns inside a conductor windings.
How do you determine what size of electrical wire you should use for a project?
When it comes to electrical engineering, correctly wiring electronic systems is, perhaps, the essential part of the job. Verifying your wiring skills by explaining how to determine what wire to use for a project will make you a more desirable job applicant.
Example Answer:
To determine what size electrical wire to use, you need to evaluate or calculate the load current and voltage and figure out the current capacity and voltage drop per meter.
What are your understandings of analog and digital circuits?
If you’re hired as an electrical engineer, you’ll be expected to understand the inner workings of various electrical circuits and operating systems. By asking this commonly asked question, hiring managers and prospective employers assess your skills and industry knowledge.
Example Answer:
I am familiar with working with both analog and digital circuits. An analog circuit can convert an analog signal into a digital signal, where a digital circuit can only process a digital signal.
Can you explain the difference between active, reactive, apparent, and complex power?
Yet another technical question that is typically asked of electrical engineer job seekers during job interviews. The ability to understand power and electric currents, and the differences between them, is key to finding success as an electrical engineer.
Example Answer:
Active power is power that is delivered to the load, reactive power is the power that bounces back and forth between the load and the source, apparent power is a combination of active power and reactive power, and complex power is the vector sum of active power and reactive power.
What do the different colors of electrical wires indicate?
Although this interview question may seem elementary to seasoned electrical engineers, providing a logical and systematic answer can significantly up your chances of getting hired.
Proving that you can design electronic systems using different sized and colored wires will help you illustrate how you’re the best candidate for the opening.
Example Answer:
The colors of electrical wires indicate different phases in a circuit. Black, red, blue, and yellow wires carry power, white and grey wires are neutral, and green wires are connected to the grounding terminal.
Can you explain the process of designing and implementing a printed circuit board (PCB), including the key considerations and best practices you follow?
How do you approach the analysis and design of power distribution systems, considering factors such as load calculations, voltage drop, and protection coordination?
Describe your experience with electrical control systems, particularly in the context of industrial automation. What types of control systems have you worked on, and what challenges did you encounter?
Can you discuss your familiarity with different programming languages commonly used in electrical engineering, such as C, MATLAB, or VHDL? Provide examples of projects where you utilized these programming languages.
Explain your knowledge of electrical safety standards and regulations, and how you ensure compliance in your work. How do you handle potential hazards or risks associated with electrical systems?
Discuss your experience in conducting electrical simulations or modeling using software tools such as PSpice, ETAP, or MATLAB/Simulink. Provide examples of projects where you utilized these tools to analyze and optimize electrical systems.
Describe your expertise in working with renewable energy systems, such as solar or wind power. What design considerations and challenges are specific to these systems?
Can you outline your experience with electrical troubleshooting and diagnostics? How do you approach identifying and resolving electrical faults or malfunctions?
Discuss your knowledge of power electronics and their applications. Provide examples of projects where you designed or implemented power electronic circuits or devices.
Explain your understanding of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) mitigation strategies in electronic design. How do you ensure that electrical systems comply with EMC/EMI requirements?
As a Candidate:
Bring copies of certifications. The interviewer may ask to see copies of your certifications so it's important to bring them with you to the interview. Common ones to have include Engineer in training certification (EIT) and Electrical Technician Certification.
Highlight technical and hard skills. Technical and hard skills are important in this field. Be sure that you are highlighting skills such as AutoCAD, electrical systems, CAD, and control systems in your answers.
Review technical questions. The interviewer will ask technical and behavioral interview questions to get an understanding of your experiences and knowledge of the field. Reviewing them will help you give clear and concise answers, as well as being confident in the interview.
As an Interviewer:
Ask for certifications. It's important to be up-to-date on your certifications and trainings. Asking for these will allow for you to confirm that the candidate is up-to-date on everything.
Create electrical engineer behavioral interview questions. Create a list of behavioral interview questions to get an understanding of how the candidate will handle and react to specific situations.
Take notes. Take notes on what the candidate says in their answers and what skills and experiences they highlight. This will allow you to evaluate them later.
Experienced electrical engineers are always in high demand since businesses, tech companies, and government agencies are constantly looking to develop new IT technologies and engineering products. Working as an electrical engineer with some of the highest marriage rates among career professionals requires extensive training and qualifications.
Generally speaking, the best qualities of successful electrical engineers include demonstrated abilities to develop budgets, schedules, analyses, and designs to construct electrical systems.
They also perform in-depth electrical testing on hardware, lead electrical installation projects, strictly adhere to industry requirements and standards, collaborate with mechanical and manufacturing engineers, and edit schematics using CAD software.
Highlighting your strongest job-specific skills during a job interview can help you showcase your top professional qualities.
One of the best ways to prepare for an electrical engineer job interview, and set yourself up for success, is by rehearsing answers to the questions most typically asked by hiring managers and prospective employers. Doing a mock interview can help you ace the interview process and land a rewarding career in electrical engineering.
Thoroughly preparing for a job interview is one of the best things you can do when searching for employment as an electrical engineer. Interviewing can be rough, but by using the interview strategies and reviewing the mock interview questions and answers included in this article, you’ll be well on your way to landing your dream role as an electrical engineer.