MSE Undergrad Blog: Um Uh

Quick. Tell me three things about you without pausing or saying “um” or “uh.” Can’t do it – then you had better practice between now and next week. You need to be ready to respond to the open ended statement, “So tell me about yourself” at Expo.

Before an interview or job fair it is best to practice responding to that inquiry as well as the questions listed below. When I say practice – I'm serious. Go to your room, turn on the radio (loud if you want) and answer, out loud the following questions. Do it over and over again until the answers are second nature. The key here is to say these responses out loud to yourself so that when you say them to someone else you are not surprised by your answer.

Tell me about the most challenging engineering project that you have been involved with during past year.
What do you enjoy most/least about engineering?
Describe a time when you confronted a problem that really tested your engineering know-how.
I expect the engineer that I hire for this position to be precise – detailed oriented in everything he or she does. What checks and balances do you use to make sure that you don’t make mistakes?
What single technical skill or ability is your best asset?

Additional typical engineering interview questions can be found here: http://www.thinkenergygroup.com/think.nsf/InfoNFR/SampleInterviewQuestions

Second, the day before the big interview, do a dry run with a dress rehearsal. Telling the interviewer that you made dean’s list while in your best suite vs your PJs will take on a whole new life.

Finally, a prep game. How many times do we say “um” or “uh” in a day? Too many; and they are killers in an interview. When we get nervous we tend to speak faster but the brain slows down so we fill the space with “um” and “uh.” Play the “um uh game” to help slow yourself down.

To play the game I want to you describe a Snickers candy bar to me as using as many words as you can in 1 minute. Go.

Didn’t do so good.

The trick is to breathe when you are about to say “um” or “uh.” It slows you down giving your mind time to catch up with your mouth. Now do it again, breathing this time …. Describe a shoelace.

It doesn’t matter how fast you spout out words about yourself if they are cluttered with “um and uhs” because the message gets lost. Slow yourself down to get your message across.

Important Dates

Tuesday, 9/16 – Thursday, 9/18 – Engineering Expo

Friday, 10/3 – Last day to Drop

Friday, 10/10 – Fall Break

Senior Check List