Thornton Tomasetti Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Topics to prepare for Thornton Tomasetti Structural Engineer interview:

• Seismic Design
• RCC

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Just be thorough with your basics. Don’t prepare for any high level questions.

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - The interview will be almost on your resume.

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Prepare standard frames Bmd , sfd models
Clear is codal provisions

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Prepare the Courses Strength of Materials, Structure Analysis, Concrete and Steel Design, Operation Research, Optimization, Finite Element Analysis and Structure Dynamics Course in a well defined manner as they asked mostly the questions from these courses as well as they asked me about Projects which I did in College + Extracurricular Activities + Publication + Future Plans + Why Company is so special to me etc.

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: For Thornton Tomasetti, extra-academics does not seem to be a selection criteria. But to be on the safer side, any minor extra-academic involvement is enough, just to show that you’re not a loner whose best friends are just books. Here’s what I had, make what you would of it: 
1) Management: Megalith Organising Team Member. 
2) SocCult: a) Drummer: Gold in inter-hall. b) Choreo: Silver in inter-hall. c) Member of ETDS.

Thornton Tomasetti shortlisted 4 people based on their resume. Good CG, core internship(s) and projects.
Tips: What Thornton Tomasetti wants: 
1) A CGPA greater than 8.0 
What’s important for core civil engineering jobs: 
1) CGPA Matters. Period. For CE, 8.0 and above is bare minimum to get placed in core in the December phase of placements. Other phases, 7 (preferably 7.5) and above should do 
2) If you are a B.Tech student with a respectable CGPA, then taking at least 2-3 additional M.Tech courses in your give you an advantage over everyone else who hasn’t done that. It shows your commitment to the department and indirectly, your sincere interest in the job and the company. Plus, saying “I’ll have completed almost all M.Tech courses by the time I finish my B.Tech” gives an amazingly strong impression.

Make your resume look good. There are so many people who make their resume look like a complete mess - improper organization, horrible fonts, arbitrary line-spacing, disrespecting margins and page borders, spelling mistakes and what not. Be professional. Your resume is your first impression (if you’re shortlisted because of it like in Thornton Tomasetti) - and if that’s shabby, then you’re out. Plenty of websites give advice on making resumes, use them.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: There was an online video conference which decided who got the job. Chronologically, these questions were asked: 1) Tell us about yourself - where you’re from, family, why civil engineering, why our company. 
2) Questions on internship - what exactly did you do, what did you learn etc. 
3) Questions on projects - give us a gist of this project that you did, A few more details were asked just to ensure that you have actually worked on the project and haven’t just faked everything. 
4) Where do you see yourself 5-10 years from now? My Answer: I see myself as a structural designer/engineer, backed by the fact that I had already done an internship as a designer knew the excitement and challenges of the work. 
5) Have you applied for MS? What about plans for future studies? My Answer: No plans because I will have already completed my M.Tech courses by the time I finish B.Tech So I will only go if not having a degree hampers my growth in the company. Otherwise, as far as knowledge goes, I am already at the M.Tech level. They try to convince you that post-graduation is important and you should think about it. 
6) Technical questions to check your core knowledge and thinking process. I wasn’t asked these, but I landed the job, whereas other students were asked technical questions, and they were all rejected. So I have no idea what they want. No comments on this. 
7) Did you check our company website? Would you like to know anything about us that’s not given there?
1) Wear a tie.
2) Definitely check the company website.
3) Definitely ask a couple of questions to the company to show your interest in the company and eagerness to join it. 4) Stay calm and composed during the interview. Smile at the right times. Learn to politely say “Pardon” instead of blurting out “What?!!!” when you don’t hear what they’re saying properly. Refine the small things which show that you are a man/woman of fine character.

General Tips: What Thornton wants: 
1) Internship in core civil engineering - preferably structural design firms or a site job. 
2) Your projects, especially BTP/MTP - they will ask you questions on all the projects. What’s important for core civil engineering 
Jobs: 
1) Internship definitely matters. The brand name of the company does not matter, instead, the quality of your work there matters. Having a core internship is an advantage over those with an arbitrary non-core internship, no matter how big the brand name behind it. 
2) Needless to say, your projects matter. If you have a profile that seems to be inclined towards research because of your projects, then be prepared to answer “Would you like to go for M.Tech/PhD later?” - Answering ‘yes’ means you’re not accepted, answering ‘no’ can show you’re not interested in core. Choose grey areas according to your profile and tread carefully.
Your own personality, command over english, the way you talk etc. They want people who they can have a good working relationship with - not someone who can’t even open his mouth without stuttering. Thornton’s an MNC, so they require some bare minimum standards.
Skill Tips: Any structural design firm in India like Thornton needs you to know STAAD Pro, which is taught in your 7th semester anyway. AutoCAD isn’t taught, but you need to know AutoCAD. Softwares like Revit or Tekla Structures would be an advantage, though they’re not necessary at all.
College Name: IIT KHARAGPUR