What are two qualities that are a must for a qualified candidate? One personal trait, and one technical trait.

What is the dynamic of the team? The structure and who Ill be interacting with.

If I were to enter into this role

  • What does an exceptional mechanical engineer do that makes them highly valued.
  • What are some things that I can learn in the near future to make me better prepared? 

How does a new employee, become situated within the first few weeks? For example, what types of readings, or trainings are there so I can get caught up with what has been designed for the past 2 years?

Is there anything you can share that you are working on? New products? Current challenges? -> what could I possibly be working on within the first month?

Is there anything I didn’t cover from my intake form, or portfolio, that I can clear up better?

Closing remark – I know hiring an employee is a big investment – I truly am confident that I can contribute to the companies mission and if you take a chance on me I can prove that it would be a good decision. 

HR

Top priority

1. From your calibrations with the hiring manager, what are the top evaluation criteria the team will weigh most for the ideal candidate? Could you share at least one example on the technical side and one on personality/working style?

2. Could you outline the interview stages, who I’ll meet, and the target timeline to decision?

3.What opportunities are there to pursue learning beyond day-to-day projects—like company-supported courses, certifications, or even a part-time master’s program? 

4. What does onboarding look like for new engineers here—are there formal training programs?

Low Priority 

1. How would you describe the culture at the Ottawa site—what keeps people engaged long-term?

2. How often are performance reviews, and what does progression look like within this job family?

3. Are there common pitfalls you’ve seen candidates hit for this role, so I can address them proactively?

Ending Remark

Is there anything in my background you’d like me to clarify now to make the next steps smoother?