What is the best way to answer a question regarding a specific skill that you have learned in university but have forgotten since you dont have any real world practice since then?

In my case, I was asked to about my CAD skills. I learned it during my 1st two years in university and I have not had much application of it later in my studies. After I finished my studies I had to work in jobs that is not related to my education. Now a year later after graduation I am still applying for engineering jobs and when asked about specific CAD question, I fumbled to answer it.

It's not that I dont know, it's just I havent had the practice and forgotten most of it. I can relearn it very quickly if given the chance. So what is the best way to explain it to interviewer?

My answer was I studied this in university but since I had no further real world application and I had forgotten most of it but if I would quickly learn it again if given the time/training.

Was that a good answer of is there anyway I could have done better?

This post has been edited by sam_dol: Aug 8 2010, 09:28 PM

Couldn't you do your revision before your interview? At least it would be more convincing if you could answer something, even if it's not entirely complete or right, just to show that you're putting in the effort to learn again.

Yes that is way of doing it but what if the interviewer decided to test other knowledge? I don't think I can revise every subject that I have learnt in university for the interview.

This post has been edited by sam_dol: Aug 8 2010, 10:13 PM

Try to understand the job scope and see which info you need to know. If the job scope is pretty specific on certain skills, maybe you can read up on the important topics. But yeah, sorry as I don't know anything about engineering so I won't know your real problem dealing with these knowledge questions. But I'm sure there's basic stuff that you should know? I mean, even in Marketing or HR, there are some basic knowledge that one should know no matter what if they have studied the subjects before. Just the general idea of certain topics would be good.

Still I think it's okay to be honest like how you answered the interviewer, no one can remember every single shit they studied and I think they will understand too. Just focus more on your strengths and how you can contribute to the company to impress them. Another option would be to divert their attention to other information that you know instead. Like, 'I have forgotten about ___ as I haven't had the practice, but I'm reading up again now I hadn't gone thru that topic but I know others ___". Just one or two things that you think are within job scope of course. It gives a better impression.

interview is actually to see how to handle situation in stress environment or how u handle difficulties like things that u duno or forget...

treat is as a conversation with frens.. but find way to twist and turn the answer to look impressive.

Be honest. It is not difficult to say, "I have not done CAD for some time. It would take me a short time to be up to speed with it again."

As for your first question - best answer is your most honest answer. Not direct and totally frank that perhaps may be offensive to the interviewer but you can reply honestly saying that this particular skill, you've learned during your studies in the university however currently, you're perhaps abit rusty on it due to lack of practice.

Here's a quick question for you - when you are applying for an engineering job, do you prepare yourself whereby you know you are going to be asked these sorta skill / technical question? If your answer is no - then the responsibility falls on you instead.

*It's always best to be prepared before going into an interview once you know your application has gone through.

No interviewer expects you to be perfect or an absolute genius ... at least touch the basics whereby it can give you that edge thinking that at least you've got solid grounds ... just needs some touch up perhaps ...

I agree to a certain degree but bear in mind that when you go for an interview, you're not only being interviewed but YOU have to 'interview' the company as well. Don't sit there and answer questions only. ASK questions as well ... find out more if the application for that job suits you



This post has been edited by jethrel: Aug 10 2010, 10:10 AM

I totally agree, I recently had a phone interview where the manager asked me about some skills I am not very familiar with (I am in IT field) and I honestly replied that "to be honest this is not my strongest skillset so I might need to self study a bit to be up to level but I can definitely find out the answers"

The boss was fine with it since it was consistent with my resume and what I explained about my previous experiences (which didnt really include the skills he was asking about)

I also had to interview people in my previous jobs and I would really really prefer such an honest answer to someone trying to BS his way out while it's obvious he has no idea what he is talking about.

This post has been edited by Gormaz: Aug 11 2010, 11:38 AM

This remind me of all the good laugh I had watching candidates make a fool out of themselves. Programming reminds me of the fun I used to have in the early 90s. Back then computer literacy was bad. I would ask if they know BASIC language. Most people will not know I refer to Beginer All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, and start to entertain me by show their empty vessal. I would had been more impress if there is someone who can tell me, "I could open a file, save it, edit and print it". (It was a rare skill during the text base computer era).

what does this question mean?"4. Have you signed a promissory note or an acknowledgement of indebtedness for which the amount pledged has not already been fully repaid?"

is car loan included?

What that means is have you been a gurantor for a loan. Any kind of loan is included.

I am surprise the had this question in your job application form. I have not seen it for a while that the clause is a "dinosaur" today.

gurantor for loan??

i sign for the car loan.. so i am the person taking the loan... so is it a yes?????

The answer is yes. Sorry, I left out either guarantor or taking a loan yourself.

"we produce 400,000 pcs of wafer in 1 day. Tell me how much we need to make in 1 second"


I got asked that question. And i got the job

Answer: 400000/8hours/60seconds.

What is your point? You got the job.

This post has been edited by faceless: Aug 13 2010, 10:05 AM

guy, need some tips here...
wat kind of MCQ will be ask during interview for C#...looks like scary lah @_@

Please look at the first page for MCQ.

BTW - What is C#?

This post has been edited by faceless: Aug 17 2010, 10:52 AM

Depends of the job really, if you go for some kind of C# developer job or anything related to programming, they are not going to ask you about the weather outside the window, they are going to ask about technical question.
What kind of "tips" you want exactly?

C# is a computer programming language

This post has been edited by Gormaz: Aug 17 2010, 11:04 AM

how deep the question will go and its more on syntax base or logical base @_@"
neven gone for a interview test before. hope i can make it well.


i'm looking for all kind of question for C#

This post has been edited by LOOOOOOL: Aug 17 2010, 11:09 AM

All depends on what kind of job it is, is it a full time programmer job? Support? Architect?

What kind of experience in C# they expect you to have?
If you come as a freshie they won't be asking you impossible question but if you come as an "senior" programmer and can't answer anything they will know you were BSing.

Coding isnt something exactly easy to judge during an interview really but they might ask you questions about some class of objects and what you can do with them.

Another kind of question I have seen asked was "You want to do a program that do X and Z, what kind of object class would you use? And why?"
Or "You have the choice between Y and Z classes to do this, which one you choose, and why?"

Then they might also ask you more generic question about OOP concepts (classes, dependence, inheritance, private/public objects etc.).
I am a more a Java person myself so it was also questions about concepts like J2EE, sockets, web services etc.

If there is a white board in the room, I would personally use it to write up some stuff about my answer, much easier to make your code idea show if you scribble few stuff on the board.

Also shows you can be ok at doing presentation, which managers love usually