100 Electrical Engineer Interview Questions and Answers
Q:
When and where did you get your electrical engineering degree(s), and in what classes did you excel?
A:
While not always the case, how a candidate performed while attaining a degree or a doctorate is generally a good indication of how they will perform on the job. A candidate’s response will also help you determine strengths and weaknesses. What to look for in an answer:
- Discussion of math classes
- Theory and method classes
- Upper-level classes
Example:
“While they were difficult courses, I excelled in signal processing and circuits. I also did well in linear algebra, and I am most proud of the grade I earned in convex optimization. I did equally well in the majority of my university’s electrical engineering computer software classes.”
Q:
What projects have you worked on, and what was your position? Were you the project lead or subject matter expert?
A:
The answer to this question will help you determine how complex a project the candidate can be trusted to lead or assist with. Also, younger candidates who’ve led projects and/or performed as the SME on a project can be assumed to have promise. What to look for in an answer:
- Spectrum of responsibilities
- People tasked to oversee
- Project components given responsibility for
Example:
“My most recent project, one in which I worked as the lead, dealt with the acquisition of substation parameters. My team was responsible for calculating voltage and current requirements, temperature variable factors, power requisites and remote GSM communication needs.”
Q:
What is your specialty within electrical engineering: industrial, residential, etc.?
A:
As much as any other question, this one will help you determine how well a candidate will fit into the structure of your company. What to look for in an answer:
- Nomenclature pertaining to specific electrical engineering
- Project specifics for individual disciplines
- Explanations of crossover work and projects that provided solutions for a variety of electrical engineering practices
Example:
“While I have worked in the capacity of an industrial engineer more often than in any other field, I have also gained a great deal of experience as a residential electrical engineer by working on complex, short-term projects. Though I do not have a great deal of experience as a microelectronics engineer, I have made a hobby of gaining an understanding of the theoretical concepts behind the field.”
Q:
What electrical engineering computer software are you familiar with?
A:
As almost all electrical engineering requires an understanding of at least one software platform. This question helps you determine how quickly a candidate can get up to speed with respect to the software your company typically uses. What to look for in an answer:
- Familiarity with more than one type of software
- Understanding of the basic tenants common to all electrical engineering software
- Depth of familiarity with software
Example:
“The majority of my experience, as with most electrical engineers, is with Calculatoredge. I also have experience with E3.series, Electrical Tools & Reference and Electronics Bundle.”
Q:
Can you explain the difference between direct and alternating current?
A:
While an understanding of electrical engineering software is essential, more important is an understanding of the concepts and theories behind electrical engineering practices. What to look for in an answer:
- Whether the candidate seems engaged in the idea of answering the question
- If the candidate gives thought to a purposeful answer
- Whether the candidate takes their time to give the question consideration
Example:
“Simply direct current has no return cable. Alternating current is a circuit. While alternating current is most common, because of the safety factor, direct current also has its advantages including longer travel distances, more power with less loss, and it is less expensive.”
Q:
What are the three most common types of cable for transmitting power?
A:
Another question that determines a candidates fundamental understanding of the concepts and theories of electrical engineering. While not a difficult question to understand, knowing the basics of voltage is critical. What to look for in an answer:
- An understanding of voltage capacities
- An understanding of cable sizes
- An understanding of the voltage volumes that differentiate high from low
Example:
“Cable types are typically categorized by either size or capacity. With respect to capacity, there are three types: low, high and super tension cables. Cable that carries less than 1,000 volts is low tension; between 1,000 and 23,000 volts is high tension; and anything between 66 kV to 132 kV is super tension.”
Q:
Can you explain Norton’s Theorem in a single sentence?
A:
The most famous electrical engineering theorem, Norton’s is not overly complex, but it requires a good understanding in order to be reduced to a single sentence. What to look for in an answer:
- Multiple versus solitary power sources
- Systems with one versus multiple cables
- The effects of multiple cable systems on voltage
Example:
“One power source and one resistor is equal of multiple power sources and resistors on a linear circuit.”
Q:
How would you approach a disagreement with other electrical engineers regarding the best approach for solving a problem?
A:
Electrical engineering is a collaborative field where multiple field experts have to work together to develop innovations. An electrical engineer may work on a project with other engineers, designers, scientists and manufacturers who all have their own ideas about the best way to turn a concept into reality. This question can reveal the candidate's approach to working as a team and their overall attitude when interacting with other industry professionals. A successful answer should include:
- Confidence in their work
- Ability to collaborate and share ideas
- Willingness to learn from others
Here is one example of an effective, thorough response to this question:
Example:
"When working as a team to develop an action plan, I like to know as much as possible about my colleague's backgrounds so that I can have a realistic understanding of everyone's area of expertise. Learning about another engineer's interests and education can help me be more empathetic to their perspective and consider ideas that I may not have come up with myself. I would encourage everyone to share their initial drafts and have a meaningful discussion about the pros and cons of each approach. When sharing my own ideas, I would explain how my past experiences impacted my plan and look for ways to combine our concepts."
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