Work experience placement interview with Civil Eng company

breadmonkey

Hi there,

I have an interview with Roughan & O'Donovan this Friday. Just wondering can anyone tell me what kind of stuff they're likely to ask me or what they expect in general.

I'm going to read as much as I can about the company between now and then but I'd like to have some idea of what they're expecting.

Thanks

Firewalkwithme

Roughan & O'Donovan was my first job! Great company btw. You will likely be asked what experience you have and if you have any evidence to back it up bring it along with you. Get to know a bit about some of their major projects. If Joe O'Donovan is in the interview, he will be only too happy to hear that you appreciate the quality of work they have done on bridges. Seamus McGearailt does a lot of civil work and road work so be familiar with that too. If you are speaking to Garry Smyth he's a bit of an all rounder but I think he mainly does civil stuff and finally if it's John Harkin - know your structures! They're a good crowd as I said so best of luck.

breadmonkey

Thanks for that.

The thing is that I don't really have any experience (that's what I'm trying to get there right?!). They have my CV and everything I wrote on it is true so thanks fook I didn't lie.

What would you consider their major projects?

When you say "know your structures", do you mean the actual theory and sh1te or the structures they've built?!

Firewalkwithme

breadmonkey wrote:

Thanks for that.

The thing is that I don't really have any experience (that's what I'm trying to get there right?!). They have my CV and everything I wrote on it is true so thanks fook I didn't lie.

What would you consider their major projects?

When you say "know your structures", do you mean the actual theory and sh1te or the structures they've built?!

Have a look on their website for some of their projects but a few that spring to mind are The Boyne Cable bridge, The Luas bridge in Dundrum (and the Dundrum and Wyckham bypasses). There's a whole series of bridges on the N11 they did which are very high quality designs. On the Civil side they do a lot of road projects - again check the website and you might find something.

When I said "know your structures" I meant that he was the guy who runs the building structures dept in there (as far as I remember) so I guess it might be good to know a couple of their projects though I doubt they will start quizzing you on structural theory if you're only going for your first interview. They really want to see that you're not a chancer and that you have a good attitude and a good head on your shoulders. There's not a whole lot more they can do than that when interviewing someone just starting off. Once you get a job with them, then they can start testing you!

breadmonkey

OK, so I am being interviewed by a guy called Paul Mitchell. Know anything about him?!

Firewalkwithme

breadmonkey wrote:

OK, so I am being interviewed by a guy called Paul Mitchell. Know anything about him?!

I know the name but never met him, sorry. What job are you going for? Engineer or Technician, civil or structural?

breadmonkey

Cartoon_Head wrote:

I know the name but never met him, sorry. What job are you going for? Engineer or Technician, civil or structural?

I'm just finishing up my 3rd year of a Civil Eng degree and am working this summer as a work experience dealy.