Collins Aerospace Senior Associate Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Be confident and Answer what you know

Round: Test
Experience: Based on questions from solid mechanics, structural analysis, continuum mechanics and finite element analysis. The question paper is mixed with objective and subjective questions with more than one options correct. I would emphasise on the fact that the questions are HIGHLY conceptual which means that the questions are not very demanding numerically nor are they lengthy. The questions primarily target the conceptual understanding of the student. The questions are not about solving problem. For e.g they’ll give a formula and give 4 situations, and ask in which situation will the formula be applicable. The questions are mainly on the assumptions and the domain of applicability of the various theories that we very frequently use in our respective subjects. The structural division had negative marking for incorrect answers. Simple questions on geometry, area volume, work time, unitary method etc . If one has good speed and accuracy, one can easily sail through it.
Tips: Also, it goes without saying Do not even try to use unfair means. Do not cram up big formulas for the exam either. No one is interested in testing the limits of your memory. The paper is analytical. If you have a basic knowledge of your field there should not be a problem.
Duration: 60 minutes

Round: Test
Experience: Simple class 10th level questions on geometry , unitary method, work and time problems.
Tips: Don’t get stuck on one problem. Leave it if you can’t solve and move on to the next. Keep track of time.
Duration: 30 minutes

Round: Interview
Experience: Single interview. One must clear this to move on to the technical interview. General questions.Simple interview. They’ll ask some basic questions. Be confident and sensible. Must have good communication skills.
Tips: Please respect the fact that the person interviewing you is much more experienced than you. Do not try to outsmart him (trust me you can’t), that will only hurt your chances of selection. Do not give answers that you cannot defend, and please do not give stupid answers that you find on the internet. The interviewer is intelligent enough to make out .

Round: Interview
Experience: Tough questions. Basically picked up from your CV and the courses that you mention on your CV. They also grill you about the MTP and BTP. Only the textbook knowledge of the subject will not suffice.Try to have a knowledge of the practical applications of you area of study in MTP and BTP. You must also be capable of expressing your answer in a clear and a technical fashion.
Tips: Again, don’t try to outsmart them. Don’t waste time in answering a question that you have no clue about.Although the questions may be tough, they can be answered if you know the fundamentals. Work hard in your MTP and BTP. Make sure you know each and every detail about it. Also no point in making guesses if you don’t know the true answer. Even if you guess right , they will keep questioning you until you find yourself in a dead-end.

General Tips: The only material for preparation are your syllabus textbooks. People generally think that academics capabilities are not required for future success, and they tend to believe that if they are smart enough they can “crack” interviews. Well, Airbus is not one of those companies. You have to be academically sound no matter how “uncool” that sounds. Rest just work on your communication skills. Study well during you entire course of study and you will be confident and all set to go. All the best to all the future aspirants.
Skill Tips: Airbus is a core engineering firm. Academics are MOST important here. At the same time, only a high C.G.P.A does not ensure your selection. A good C.G.P.A is a must to get short-listed in the first place but you MUST have a good grasp of the fundamentals. This time the company short-listed students above 7.5. Once you get short listed, your C.G.P.A is not a criterion from that point onwards. Also, it is not the on paper intelligence that one carries on their grade sheets that will help. One’s performance in the written exams and the interviews conducted by the company will matter the most. For this particular company I don’t think extra curricular activities play an important role. I did not have any extra academic activities mentioned in my resume apart of some very basic ones like NCC, NSS etc. I was not at all questioned about them in my interviews. I stress again that being a G.Sec or an Inter IIT participation is of no help in this particular case. I think almost all of the students here at IIT have the minimum math or quantitative ability required for the selection procedure for this company. The aptitude test is easy and most of the students can do well. it is just Class X mathematics that is asked. So that should not be a problem. As far as the knowledge of software is concerned,there was no such requirement but basic programming skills are always desirable on a resume and I think most of the students here have it. I was questioned a lot about by M tech project as well as my B tech Project. So make sure one knows every small detail about their BTPs and MTPs.No questions were asked regarding the interns.
College Name: IIT KHARAGPUR

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: Most probably, there is no shortlisting on the basis of CV. Everybody can appear for next round. However, many questions based on CV are asked in later phases. Emphasis on technical skills and details of projects completed. For the EE/IE/EC/MA technical test: NOT MCQ type. Mostly control system based elementary questions. Besides this there were some puzzles, some MATLAB based problems and 2 programming questions. There were also some questions on the fundamentals of aerodynamics. Mental ability test was a set of around 40 short numericals (MCQ type).

Round: Test
Experience: Two written tests: First, a technical test (separate for different departments) followed by a common mental ability test. Fundamental knowledge of control systems is required. Most probably not many in the group could solve the ‘’aero’’ questions. So, maybe being able to solve those would have been a plus.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Based on performance in written test, shortlisted students are called for technical interviews. Asked in detail about all projects done, and told about job profile. Also asked about interest in the aviation industry.
Tips: Try to bring out your contribution to the projects you have taken part in.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Selected students were sent for the HR interview. Most students who made it to this round were offered a job.
Tips: Be calm and confident. It was quite like a really long chat about my background and other non-academic aspects of my CV. Be cool. Don’t be taken aback or over-apologetic if you don’’t know something, or if you make a mistake.

Skill Tips: Not important to have a high CG, but technical knowledge should be good, both for written test and interview. A bit of involvement in extra-curricular activities helps. Gives things to talk about in the HR interview! Any technical skill is a bonus. As for programming, C, C++, MATLAB knowledge is sufficient, but it is good to have additional knowledge. Projects and internships are very important from the point of view of Airbus. Technical interview is based solely on questions about projects and internships.
Skills: Programming, Communication
College Name: IIT KHARAGPUR