Electronics engineers have varied roles, from developing, installing, testing, and maintaining electronic components and systems used for computer systems, communication systems, and other industrial applications. As an electronics engineer, you may have to face an interview with a hiring manager at some point in your career. Whether you seek employment in a new firm or take up a new role in your current company, the interview process is your chance to prove your proficiency in your profession.
In the same way that your resume creates a positive first impression of you as an engineering professional, the interview process should also reinforce your overall value to the interviewer, allowing them to envision you as a productive member of the team.
Sure, the pressure to answer interview questions correctly can cause anxiety. But if you know the process and apply some tips, you can nail the interview and bag the job you want. Here are some tips for electronics engineer job interviews.
1. Show Typical Engineer Values
Engineers have specific values and skills that make them different from other professionals. During the interview, you must demonstrate that you possess these values and skills, making you the perfect fit for the role.
Electronics engineers should have investigative skills. They prefer to perform tasks that require them to think and are fond of searching facts and figuring out solutions to problems. Just like with the other engineers, electronics engineers have realistic interests. They prefer to work on activities that require practical and hands-on solutions.
During the interview, demonstrate that you have the values they are looking for. Do not suppress your excitement and enthusiasm about the role. Employers want to hire someone genuinely interested in the role and passionate about what they do. Give all your best to the interview, and do not give the impression that you are ambivalent about working for the company.
2. Bring into the Interview of being Creative and Innovative
An electronics engineer’s creativity is different to what we usually think of as artistic creativity. Instead of focusing on a feeling or message, creative engineers would solve problems in the most practical way possible, such as making specific electronic components work efficiently. They should look at the bigger picture and develop a range of solutions before narrowing down the possibilities through experimentation and testing.
Engineering solutions should be applicable in the real world, where complex variables compete. Electronics engineers should also possess critical thinking skills, which they can develop through training and experience. They can rely on these skills in solving open-ended problems that do not have a single solution. In short, engineers must have a creative mind to meet the advancing goal of their profession, which is to design new electronic products or systems and improve the existing ones for the benefit of humans.
Engineers play a crucial role in satisfying the demands of humankind, and innovation is sometimes the only way to solve problems. Therefore, engineers must demonstrate during the interview that they are innovative. They should prove that they can use innovative solutions in solving some of the most complex electronics problems.
3. Read Up on Electronics
While waiting for your turn for the interview, use the time to read textbooks. It might sound boring, but this will give you a refresher on your profession. You do not need to read the entire book from cover to cover. All you need is to acquire sound knowledge about the basic concepts in electronics engineering that might be helpful during the interview.
Read up on the essential electronic topics which electronic companies are mostly concerned with, such as digital electronics, control systems, embedded systems (microcontrollers), communication networks, and VLSI. Reading before attending interviews for professional electronic engineer jobs will prepare you to craft professional sounding answers that could demonstrate your proficiency in your profession.
4. Think About Your Career Goals
One of the most common questions that recruiters ask during interviews is your career goals. Therefore, get a detailed overview of your goals, roles, and experiences before showing up for the interview. Interviewers will be impressed if you can answer them in detail about your career goals. Make sure that your goals are in sync with the job profile you are applying for. Set up an accurate and detailed description of your experiences and roles relevant to the position you are applying for.
Career goals refer to a specific statement that illustrates the profession you want to pursue through your career as an electronics engineer. With proper preparation and setting realistic goals, you will be able to convince the interviewer that you are a perfect fit for the position.
To set a career goal, start by thinking about where you see yourself in the short-term or long term. Think about your career interests, the level of compensation that is suitable to your skills, which aspects of your profession you are good at, and which projects are most appealing to you. Set some time to develop your career goals and write them down, so it will be easy for you to remember during the interview.
5. Think about Your Weaknesses and Be Honest about Them
It’s common for recruiters to ask candidates about their weaknesses, especially when discussing talents, skills, and capabilities. Sure, it’s not easy to frame your weaknesses positively, but if you combine self-awareness with an action plan, you’re able to stand out from the rest of the applicants. The key is to identify your weaknesses that still demonstrate strength. This will prove to the interviewer that you are reflective enough to acknowledge your areas of improvement.
For instance, if you tend to focus too much on details, you can say that being detail-oriented is one of your weaknesses. Although it’s typically a good thing, especially for electronics engineers who spend too much time on the specifics of a project, this trait can also become a weakness. By letting the interviewer know that you focus a lot on details, you are demonstrating that you are capable of helping the organisation avoid even the most minor mistakes.