Project estimator Interview Questions
project estimator interview questions shared by candidates
Top Interview Questions
1. How would you prepare a feasibility estimate? 2. Why do you want to leave your current company? 1. Benchmark against previous, similar projects, exclude peculiarities [cost of land, remediation of land, special foundations, etc], state assumptions and most importantly state it as a range, say $150-250/SF rather than give a single figure the client will latch onto throughout the design process. 2. Need to get back into prime contracting and get involved in actual construction, as I used to, instead of consulting, where engagement is limited and also so I can have bragging rights when driving my dad, who was a Town Planner and builder, and a merciless tease, around town and pointing out projects I'd project managed (interviewers mockingly laughed at this). Of course I was being facetious but who wouldn't be after how they approached the whole interview process, not to mention that it's always been one of the dumbest interview questions? Why should anyone have a "noble reason" for leaving one company or the other in a free country, especially an "at-will" employment State anyway? The interviewers also laughed at the notion of establishing an independent estimate to compare returned subcontractor bids against and claimed they found RS Means was inaccurate. I wondered whether they receive detailed estimates to back up the fixed lump sum bids from subcontractors and how they handled change orders, price adjustment, etc, post contract. These people are afraid to hire senior people skilled in the industry. Another job scared company. |
tell me about yourself |
Why am I the best candidate for the postion? |
When can you start? |
What types of piping materials do you have experience with? |
Are you familiar with on screen take offs? |
If a sales rep. asked you to complete a cost estimation on a job in 3 days but you knew now matter what you did you would not be able to accomplish it in less than 5 days what would you do? |
Asked if I knew how to estimate and could use Timberline/Sage. Concerned about if I would be traveling everyday or would move to Columbus. |
Nothing was out of the ordinay for this interview except that I felt I had to answer very few questions. The standard questions about where I see myself in 5 years, why I chose the major I did, questions about my university, senior project, previous internships etc. Nothing challenging or surprising. It seemed that the interviewers were trying to sell me on the company. |
How far are you willing to travel? |
See Interview Questions for Similar Jobs
- Estimator
- Project Engineer
- Project Manager
- Chief Estimator
- Construction Estimator
- Cost Estimator
- Senior Project Manager
- Assistant Project Manager
- Manager
- Field Engineer
- Construction Project Manager
- Construction
- Vice President
- Mechanical Engineer
- Project Estimator
- Superintendent
- Director
- Senior Cost Estimator
- Operations Manager