Tough Careers Questions

The job I am applying for: Mechanical Engineer in Auto Company (Ford Motors)
The job I had previously: Mechanical Engineer in Toy Making (for Hasbro)


1) Do you enjoy the differences in people or merely tolerate them?
A: In my opinion, I think it is necessary for different people to have different ideas, characteristics, personalities and perspectives. Hence, I really enjoy working with different types of people. This is because working with different types of people can pull in different ideas and solutions, leading to more innovation. In my opinion, if everyone in one team are going to be the same, it is like having many copies of the same person, so why even work together to begin with if you have nothing to learn from each other? I love working with various types of people because at the end of the day, we all learn something from each other which can help us overcome our flaws in life. Also, I enjoy working with different types of people because that is what the real world is all about. If one does not enjoy working with different people, success will be something hard to achieve.


2) Are grades a good measure of ability?
A: No. Although I believe that grades somewhat show how hardworking, intelligent a person can be, grades definitely do not display how capable the person really is. This is because grades only deal with the core material of school, such as tests, work in class, projects, assignments and etc. When these are the only things being evaluated to show a person`s ability, grades are very biased. There is much more to a person`s ability and knowledge than grades. For example, although a person may have bad grades in Mathematics, this does not necessarily mean that the person will be bad at engineering or other math-related careers. This person could also be the person who, by participating at robotics or other engineering clubs, won multiple awards and gained prestige, meaning that at jobs such as working in car companies, he can do a lot better than that one student who got a 100 in Mathematics. Thus, in my opinion, these awards and activities give a much more clear image of how capable a person really is than just one mark in Mathematics.


3) Why did you leave your last job?
A: Although many people leave their jobs because they do not like their salary, their employers do not guarantee insurance or etc., I left my previous job because I was not satisfied with I had to do in the job. Although I was being paid really well, I did not think that the job was well worth of my time because the job was not interesting nor amusing to me. Also, the job felt very common as if anyone could do it. I had a feeling that the job was not allowing me to put all my skills to use, that my employer underestimated my abilities. To me, toy making was very simplistic and amateur. I needed something more professional, challenging and realistic. So, I left it in search of a job that would be thrilling, where I would be able to put all my skills to use, where I would feel that I am successful. And that is exactly why I want to be an engineer at Ford where I will be able to make extended use of all my physics knowledge and I will be able to put forward my amazing engineering ideas. 


4) What does impossible mean to you?
A: People generally tend to perceive impossible as something that cannot be done, achieved or completed. However, in my opinion, impossible is rather something that has yet to be discovered, yet to be accomplished and yet to be known as something possible. To me, something impossible is simply just a challenge which can be surpassed if people work at their very hardest. And I believe that with me, this company can achieve the impossible.


5) How do you behave when you have a problem with a coworker/classmate?
A: As human nature, it is very normal for people to either be very aggressive or passive when it comes to having conflicts. One person dominates and the other remains submissive. In my opinion, that is very one-sided and only one person gets what they want. Hence, happiness is not achieved, leading to failure in cooperation. This is why I tend to handle things very assertively. This is because I believe that if one wants one`s peer to agree with one, one must neither force one`s peer nor give up to one`s peer. One must gently and calmly persuade one`s peer to agree, hence allowing both sides to be happy while also maintaining a healthy relation in teamwork. Thus, being assertive in such conditions is a key to success.