Interview preparation roadmap · Engineering
Thermodynamics, strength of materials, fluids, machine design and manufacturing, plus CAD, your projects and plant awareness.
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- 01Interview foundations
- 02Core subjects
- 03Tools & practice
- 04Aptitude & tests
- 05Practice
- 06Behavioral & HR
- 07Company & final prep
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01Interview foundations
What every interviewer sees first.
01.1Resume
A one-page resume you can defend line by line.
What this covers
- One-page format — Reverse-chronological, clean fonts, no photos or tables that confuse parsers.
- Project bullets — Action + what you built + a number (users, speed, accuracy).
- Skills section — Only skills you can answer questions on for two minutes.
- ATS readability — Export a text-based PDF and check it with a parser.
- Working links — GitHub, LinkedIn and a live project link that open.
- Tailoring — Reorder bullets to match the job description.
What to practise
- Run your PDF through a parser test
- Rewrite each bullet as action + result
- Remove any skill you can't explain for 2 minutes
Common questions
- Walk me through your resume.
- Which project here are you most proud of, and why?
- Why is this skill on your resume?
Free resources
- OpenResume — Free ATS-friendly resume builder and parser test (Free)
- Jake's Resume (Overleaf) — The LaTeX resume template most SDE freshers use (Free)
- Resume Worded — Resume and LinkedIn scoring (Free plan)
- Jobscan — Match your resume against a job description (Free plan)
Free courses
- Professional Resume Writing — Alison (Free course)
- Resume, Networking, and Interview Skills — Fullbridge (Free to audit)
01.2Tell me about yourself
A 60–90 second answer: present, past, why this role.
What this covers
- Present — Who you are now: degree, year, focus.
- Past — One or two proof points: a project, internship or result.
- Future — Why this role and this company next.
- Length — 60–90 seconds; stop before you list everything.
- Delivery — Calm pace and eye contact, not a memorised script.
What to practise
- Write it, then say it out loud 5 times
- Record yourself and cut anything over 90 seconds
Common questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why should we hire you?
- Where do you see yourself in a few years?
Free resources
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- BBC Learning English — Structured free English lessons and podcasts (Free)
Free courses
- English@Work: Basic Job Interview Skills — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Free to audit)
- Job Interview Preparation For Tech Professionals — University of Cape Town (Free to audit)
01.3Projects & internships
Explaining your project or internship like an engineer.
What this covers
- Problem & objective — What you set out to solve.
- Method — Design, calculations, experiments.
- Your contribution — Exactly what you did.
- Results & limits — Numbers and honest limitations.
- What next — How you would improve it.
What to practise
- Prepare a 3-minute project explanation with one diagram
- List five questions an examiner could ask
Common questions
- Explain your final-year project.
- What would you change if you did it again?
Free resources
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
- NPTEL — IIT/IISc course videos across engineering (Free)
02Core subjects
The technical heart of the interview.
02.1Mechanical core subjects
The fundamentals mechanical interviews and tests commonly draw on.
What this covers
- Thermodynamics — Laws, cycles, efficiency.
- Strength of materials — Stress, strain, bending, torsion.
- Fluid mechanics — Bernoulli, flow, pumps.
- Theory of machines & design — Gears, bearings, fatigue, failure theories.
- Manufacturing — Casting, machining, welding, tolerances.
- Heat transfer — Conduction, convection, radiation.
What to practise
- Make a one-page formula sheet per subject
- Solve ten numericals per subject
Common questions
- Explain the Otto cycle.
- What is the difference between stress and strain?
- How does a centrifugal pump work?
Free resources
- NPTEL — IIT/IISc course videos across engineering (Free)
- MIT OpenCourseWare — Real MIT course material, free (Free)
- Khan Academy — Maths and science from scratch (Free)
Free courses
- Engineering Fracture Mechanics — IIT Madras (Free course)
- Engineering Mechanics — IIT Madras (Free course)
- Basics of Mechanical Engineering - 3 — IIT Kanpur (Free course)
02.2MATLAB & simulation
Simulation tools engineers use for analysis.
What this covers
- MATLAB basics — Arrays, scripts, plots.
- Simulink — Modelling dynamic systems.
- Numerical methods — Solving equations numerically.
- FEA/CFD awareness — What these tools do.
- Interpreting results — Sanity checks.
What to practise
- Complete the free MATLAB and Simulink onramps
- Simulate one system from your coursework
Common questions
- How would you verify a simulation result?
Free resources
- MATLAB Onramp — Free self-paced MATLAB and Simulink basics (Free)
- NPTEL — IIT/IISc course videos across engineering (Free)
Free courses
- MIT 18.S997 Introduction to MATLAB Programming Fall 2011 — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Free video)
- MATLAB Programming for Numerical Computation — IIT Madras (Free course)
- Applied Production Analysis using MATLAB — IISER Bhopal (Free course)
03Tools & practice
How the work is actually done.
03.1CAD & engineering drawing
Drawings and 3D models engineers are asked about.
What this covers
- Engineering drawing — Projections, sections, dimensions.
- GD&T basics — Tolerances and fits.
- 2D CAD — AutoCAD-style drafting.
- 3D modelling — Parts, assemblies, drawings.
- Simulation basics — A first look at FEA.
What to practise
- Model and draw one real part
- Explain a drawing's tolerances
Common questions
- What is GD&T?
- Difference between first-angle and third-angle projection?
Free resources
- Onshape Learning Center — Free CAD courses in the browser (Free)
- NPTEL — IIT/IISc course videos across engineering (Free)
Free courses
- Basics of AutoCAD, SolidWorks and T-Flex — Alison (Free course)
03.2Site & plant awareness
Safety, procedures and how real sites and plants run.
What this covers
- Safety — PPE, permits, near-miss reporting.
- SOPs — Following procedures and why.
- Shifts & teams — How work is organised.
- Maintenance — Preventive vs breakdown.
- Documentation — Logs, reports, checklists.
What to practise
- Write a safety checklist for a task you know
- Describe one industrial visit in detail
Common questions
- What would you do if you saw an unsafe act?
- Why is preventive maintenance important?
Free resources
- Lean Enterprise Institute — Free articles on lean thinking and practice (Free plan)
- NPTEL — IIT/IISc course videos across engineering (Free)
Free courses
- Industrial Safety Engineering — IIT Kharagpur (Free course)
- Safety Practices in Chemical and Nuclear Industries — IIT Madras (Free course)
- Occupational Workplace Health and Safety for the Mining Industry — Alison (Free course)
03.3Quality & Six Sigma tools
Quality tools manufacturing and production roles use.
What this covers
- 7 QC tools — Pareto, fishbone, control charts and more.
- Six Sigma basics — DMAIC.
- FMEA — Failure modes and risk priority.
- SPC — Process capability basics.
- Root cause analysis — 5 Whys.
What to practise
- Do a fishbone analysis on a real problem
- Calculate Cp and Cpk for sample data
Common questions
- What is DMAIC?
- How do you find a root cause?
Free resources
- Lean Enterprise Institute — Free articles on lean thinking and practice (Free plan)
- NPTEL — IIT/IISc course videos across engineering (Free)
- Khan Academy: Statistics and probability — Free statistics course with practice (Free)
Free courses
- Basics of Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt — Alison (Free course)
- Lean Six Sigma: White Belt — Alison (Free course)
- Modern Project Management - Quality, Risk, Procurement and Project Closeout — Alison (Free course)
04Aptitude & tests
Common in campus and PSU-style selection.
04.1Quantitative aptitude
Arithmetic and data questions in many campus online tests.
What this covers
- Percentages & profit-loss — Fast mental conversions and successive changes.
- Ratios, averages, mixtures — Common shortcuts and when they break.
- Time, speed, distance & work — Relative speed, pipes and cisterns, work rates.
- Number system — Divisibility, remainders, HCF and LCM.
- Permutations & probability — Counting basics and simple probability.
- Data interpretation — Tables, bar and pie charts under time pressure.
What to practise
- One timed set of 20 questions daily
- Keep an error log with the shortcut you missed
Common questions
- A shopkeeper marks up 25% and gives 10% off. What is the profit?
- Two pipes fill a tank in 6 and 8 hours. How long together?
Free resources
- IndiaBix — Aptitude, reasoning and verbal practice questions (Free)
- PrepInsta — Campus placement aptitude and company-wise practice (Free plan)
- Khan Academy — Maths and science from scratch (Free)
Free courses
- Quantitative Aptitude Basics — Great Learning (Free course)
04.2Logical reasoning
Puzzles and reasoning sections common in placement tests.
What this covers
- Series & patterns — Number, letter and figure series.
- Arrangements — Seating, scheduling and ordering puzzles.
- Blood relations & directions — Draw it before you solve it.
- Syllogisms — Venn diagrams for "some", "all" and "none".
- Coding-decoding — Letter shifts and substitution patterns.
- Data sufficiency — Decide what is enough without solving fully.
What to practise
- Solve two arrangement puzzles a day with a timer
- Practise syllogisms with Venn diagrams
Common questions
- If A is B's brother and C is A's mother, how is B related to C?
Free resources
05Practice
Rehearse it out loud.
05.1Mock interviews
At least two full practice interviews before the real one.
What this covers
- Realistic setting — Same format, time limit and dress as the real round.
- Common questions first — Introduction, motivation, experience, weaknesses.
- Feedback — Ask what was unclear or too long.
- Recording — Watch yourself once; fix fillers and pace.
- Role questions — Add 3–5 questions specific to your field.
What to practise
- Do two mock interviews with a friend or senior
- Use a spoken practice tool and read the transcript
Common questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why this role?
Free resources
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- Pramp / Exponent peer mocks — Free peer-to-peer mock interviews (Free plan)
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
Free courses
- Software Engineering Job Interview – Full Mock Interview — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
06Behavioral & HR
How you work with people.
06.1Behavioral & STAR
Stories about teamwork, conflict and failure, told with STAR.
What this covers
- STAR structure — Situation, task, action, result. Spend most of the time on action.
- Story bank — 6–8 real stories you can reuse across questions.
- Teamwork & conflict — Disagreeing respectfully and what you changed.
- Failure & weakness — A real one, what you learned, what you do now.
- Ownership — Times you took initiative without being asked.
- Common HR questions — Why us, why you, strengths, relocation.
What to practise
- Write 6 stories in STAR form
- Map each story to 2–3 common questions
- Practise one story with a friend
Common questions
- Tell me about a time you failed.
- Describe a conflict in a team and what you did.
- What is your biggest weakness?
Free resources
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- Pramp / Exponent peer mocks — Free peer-to-peer mock interviews (Free plan)
Free courses
- Master Behavioral Interviews (for Software Engineers) — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
- Behavioral Interview Practice for Computer Science Students — CodeSignal (Free to audit)
- Soft Skills For Tech Professionals — University of Cape Town (Free to audit)
06.2Strengths & weaknesses
Honest strengths with proof, and a real weakness you are working on.
What this covers
- Strengths with proof — Pick 2–3 and back each with one short example.
- A real weakness — Not a disguised strength; something you are actively improving.
- What you are doing about it — The habit, course or system that shows progress.
- Fit to the role — Strengths that matter for this job, not any job.
What to practise
- Write three strengths with one example each
- Practise the weakness answer until it sounds calm, not rehearsed
Common questions
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- How would your friends or teammates describe you?
Free resources
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- Indeed career guide: interviewing — Articles on common interview questions and answers (Free)
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
Free courses
- Software Engineering Job Interview – Full Mock Interview — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
- A Complete Job Interview Skills Guide — Alison (Free course)
- English@Work: Advanced Job Interview Skills — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Free to audit)
06.3Common HR questions
The questions almost every HR round asks, answered honestly and briefly.
What this covers
- Why this company — Specific reasons from your research, not praise.
- Why should we hire you — Match two needs of the role to your proof.
- Gaps and changes — Explain gaps, backlogs or a branch change without excuses.
- Relocation, shifts, bonds — Know your real answer before the interview.
- Career goals — A realistic next step, connected to this role.
- Notice period and joining — Facts you should have ready.
What to practise
- Write short answers to ten common HR questions
- Say them aloud to a friend and cut anything over a minute
Common questions
- Why do you want to join us?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Are you open to relocation?
- Why did you choose your branch or degree?
Free resources
- Indeed career guide: interviewing — Articles on common interview questions and answers (Free)
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- AmbitionBox interviews — Interview experiences and company reviews from Indian candidates (Free)
Free courses
- Software Engineering Job Interview – Full Mock Interview — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
- A Complete Job Interview Skills Guide — Alison (Free course)
- Interview Preparation Skills for Accountants — Alison (Free course)
07Company & final prep
The last 48 hours.
07.1Company research
The product, the role, the job description and recent news.
What this covers
- The business — What it sells and to whom.
- The role — What the job description really asks for.
- Recent news — Launches, results, announcements.
- Interview format — The rounds, if the company shares them.
- Your fit — Three reasons, matched to the job description.
What to practise
- Write 3 reasons you want this role
- Match 3 JD lines to your experience
Common questions
- Why do you want to work here?
- What do you know about our product?
Free resources
- GeeksforGeeks — Company-wise questions and theory (Free plan)
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
07.2Questions to ask
Two or three good questions for the end of the interview.
What this covers
- About the team — How work is planned and reviewed.
- About growth — Mentoring, learning, the first 90 days.
- About the product — What is hard right now.
- What to avoid — Questions a quick search answers.
What to practise
- Write 5 questions, keep the best 3
- Prepare one question about the team's own product
Common questions
- Do you have any questions for us?
Free resources
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
07.3Salary & offer basics
How to read an offer, answer salary questions and compare offers.
What this covers
- CTC vs in-hand — CTC includes PF, bonuses and benefits; in-hand is what you receive monthly.
- Fixed vs variable — Variable pay and joining bonuses may have conditions.
- Bonds and clawbacks — Read the service agreement before you sign.
- Answering "expected salary" — Give a researched range or ask for theirs first.
- Comparing offers — Role, learning, location and in-hand pay, not only CTC.
What to practise
- Look up salary ranges for the role and city
- Calculate in-hand pay for one sample offer
Common questions
- What are your salary expectations?
- Do you have any other offers?
Free resources
- Levels.fyi — Salary data shared by employees, mostly tech roles (Free)
- AmbitionBox interviews — Interview experiences and company reviews from Indian candidates (Free)
- Glassdoor interview questions — Interview questions and reviews shared by candidates (Free plan)
07.4Final checklist
Logistics, documents, setup and a calm night before.
What this covers
- Logistics — Time, timezone, link or address.
- Documents — Resume copies, ID, certificates if asked.
- Tech check — Camera, mic, internet, charger.
- Night before — Sleep, light revision, no new topics.
What to practise
- Do a 5-minute tech check the day before
- Lay out documents and clothes the night before
Free resources
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
07.5Job & interview safety
Spot fake offers, payment requests and fake interview links.
What this covers
- Payment requests — Real employers don't charge for jobs or training.
- Email domains — Check it matches the company's own site.
- OTPs & logins — Never share them with anyone.
- Fake interview links — Care with unknown chat apps and downloads.
- Reporting — The 1930 helpline and cybercrime.gov.in.
What to practise
- Check one recent offer against these rules
- Confirm the opening is listed on the company's own careers page
Free resources
- National Cyber Crime Portal — Report online fraud and job scams (Free)
- Have I Been Pwned — Check if your email appears in a data breach (Free)