20 Exponent Interview Questions and Answers

As a leading scientific and engineering consulting firm, Exponent is always looking for the best and the brightest to join its ranks. If you’re lucky enough to land an interview with the company, you can expect to be asked some tough questions specific to Exponent’s business.

In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to answer Exponent interview questions so you can make a great impression and land the job.

Exponent Interview Process

The interview process at Exponent can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone screening interview and one in-person interview. For some positions, you may be asked to give a presentation as part of the interview process. Overall, the interview process is thorough and designed to assess your skills and experience.

1. Give an example of a time when you had to communicate technical information to someone with little experience in the field.

This question is a great way to show your communication skills and how you can break down complex information. When answering this question, it’s important to remember that the person interviewing you may not have experience in your field of expertise.

Example: “When I was working as an engineer for a large company, my team had to explain our work to upper management who didn’t understand the technical jargon we used on a daily basis. We met with them once a week to discuss our progress and what we were doing to solve problems. This helped us build relationships with our managers and gave them confidence in our abilities.”

2. How would you describe your communication style?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you are aware of how you communicate with others and can adapt your style when necessary.

Example: “I am a very direct communicator, which has helped me in my previous roles where I was the only engineer on staff. However, I also understand that not everyone prefers this type of communication, so I try to be mindful of other people’s preferences and adjust my approach accordingly. For example, if someone asks for more details about something I have already explained, I will provide them with additional information without being annoyed or frustrated by their request.”

3. What do you think are some important qualities for success at Exponent?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have researched Exponent and understand what it takes to be successful there. When answering this question, consider highlighting qualities that are important for success in your field of study or career.

Example: “I think some important qualities for success at Exponent include creativity, problem-solving skills and communication skills. I believe these three qualities are essential for any scientist or engineer because they allow us to create new solutions to problems we encounter and communicate our findings with others.”

4. Describe how you go about completing projects that have multiple moving parts and complicated timelines.

This question is a great way to show your ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects at once. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you take when starting a new project or how you prioritize tasks in order to complete them on time.

Example: “I start by creating a timeline for each of my projects that includes all deadlines and important dates. Then I create a list of all tasks that need to be completed and assign them to team members based on their skill sets. Finally, I check in with my team regularly to make sure they are staying on track and meeting their deadlines.”

5. Tell me about a time where you gave a presentation on a topic. How did it go?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential future colleagues and how they interact with others. It’s also an opportunity for you to show off some of your presentation skills, which are important in this role.

Example: “I was asked to give a presentation on the topic of quantum computing at my university. I had never given a presentation before, so I was nervous but excited. I spent several weeks researching quantum computing and learning as much as I could about it. When the day came, I felt prepared and confident. My presentation went well, and I received positive feedback from both the professor who requested the talk and other students in the class.”

6. If hired, what is one thing you could bring to the company?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and how they view their role in an organization. It also gives you insight into what they value most in their work environment. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of something that aligns with the company’s mission or values.

Example: “I would bring my passion for problem-solving and commitment to excellence to the team. I am always looking for ways to improve processes and find solutions to complex problems. I believe these skills are essential to success in any industry, but especially engineering.”

7. Can you tell me about a time when you worked diligently on a project but things didn’t work out as expected?

This question is a great way to learn more about how you respond to challenges and setbacks. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a time when you learned something new or developed a skill that helped you in the future.

Example: “I once worked on a project where I was tasked with creating an algorithm for a client’s website. The goal of the algorithm was to increase sales by 10% within six months. However, after two months, we had only seen a 2% increase in sales. I decided to take a step back and analyze what could have caused such a low number. After looking at our analytics, I realized that many customers were using ad blockers. This meant they weren’t seeing any ads, which would affect our sales. We then created a pop-up window that appeared before the checkout page. This increased our sales by 15%.”

8. Do you prefer working independently or on a team?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you would be a good fit for their company culture. If they ask this, it’s likely that they value collaboration and teamwork in their organization.

Example: “I prefer working on a team because I find that my ideas are more effective when I work with others to develop them. However, I also enjoy working independently as well. In college, I worked both individually and collaboratively on projects. For example, I was part of a group project where we had to create an app that solved a problem. My team and I decided to make an app that helped people who were trying to lose weight by tracking their food intake. We each took different roles within the project, which allowed us to learn from one another.”

9. Have you ever dealt with conflict on a team before? How did you handle it?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential colleague’s interpersonal skills. It can be important for employers to know that their employees are able to work well with others and resolve conflict in a productive manner.

Example: “I have had the opportunity to work on several teams throughout my career, and I find it very important to maintain open communication with my colleagues. If there was ever an issue or concern among team members, I would make sure to address it as soon as possible so we could come up with a solution together. In my previous position, I worked with a coworker who often disagreed with me on certain projects. We talked through our disagreements and found ways to compromise so we could both feel comfortable moving forward with our tasks.”

10. Which areas of science/engineering interest you the most?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you have an in-depth understanding of the company’s services and how they relate to your own career goals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific projects or clients that you find interesting.

Example: “I am most interested in environmental science and engineering because I feel like there are so many ways we can improve our planet for future generations. In my last position, I worked on several different types of waste management solutions, including recycling programs and composting facilities. I would love to continue working with companies who want to make their operations more environmentally friendly.”

11. Are you comfortable dealing with difficult clients?

This question is a good way to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with clients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you had to deal with a difficult client and how you handled the situation.

Example: “I have worked with many different types of clients in my previous positions, so I am used to working with people who are sometimes challenging. In one instance, I was working on a project for a large company that wanted us to complete the project as quickly as possible. However, they also wanted us to use only certain materials and equipment. This made it more difficult to meet their deadline but I explained our process and why we needed to take extra time to ensure quality results. They understood and were happy with the final product.”

12. Do you like working in a fast-paced environment?

This question is a great way to determine if the company you’re interviewing with has a fast-paced environment. If they do, it can be an indicator of how much work you will have and how quickly you may need to complete projects.

Example: “I love working in a fast-paced environment because I am someone who thrives under pressure. In my last position, we had several deadlines that needed to be met each week, which made for a very busy schedule. However, I was able to meet all deadlines while still maintaining quality work.”

13. What do you think our engineers can learn from another industry? Why?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can help it grow. When answering this question, think about what skills or ideas you could bring from another industry that would be beneficial for Exponent’s engineers.

Example: “I think there are many things that our engineers can learn from other industries. For example, I believe that we can learn a lot from the hospitality industry when it comes to customer service. In my last position as an engineer at a software development firm, I noticed that some of my colleagues were not very friendly with their clients. I think if they had more training in hospitality, they would have been able to provide better customer service.”

14. When was a time that you had to make a difficult decision based on limited information? How did it turn out?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions and whether or not you have experience making tough choices. Use your answer to highlight your critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities and ability to work under pressure.

Example: “When I was working as a chemist for a pharmaceutical company, my team had to decide which compounds to test in order to find the best possible drug compound. We were given a limited budget and time frame, so we had to prioritize our testing based on what would be most likely to produce results. In the end, we found a promising compound that led to further research and development of a new drug.”

15. What type of engineering interests you the most?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have an understanding of the different types of engineering and what each one entails. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention a specific type of engineering and explain why you find it interesting.

Example: “I am most interested in civil engineering because I enjoy working with large-scale projects. In my last role as a structural engineer, I was able to work on several bridges and buildings, which I found very rewarding.”

16. What is a quality you believe every engineer should possess?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you possess the qualities of an engineer. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what skills and traits helped you succeed in your previous engineering roles.

Example: “I believe every engineer should have a passion for problem-solving. In my last role as an electrical engineer, I was tasked with finding solutions to some complex problems. My passion for solving these issues led me to find creative ways to solve them. This ultimately resulted in saving my company time and money.”

17. Would you consider yourself more of a leader or a follower?

This question is designed to determine your leadership style and how you would fit into the company culture. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a time when you were in charge of a project or initiative.

Example: “I consider myself more of a leader than a follower. I have always been someone who takes initiative and steps up to take on new challenges. In my last position as an engineer at a software development firm, I was tasked with creating a new program that could help streamline the process for one of our clients. I took this opportunity to lead a team of five other engineers and we created a program that met all of the client’s needs.”

18. Sometimes we require employees to travel up to 50% of their time, would this be something that concerns you?

Traveling is a common part of working in the engineering and scientific fields. Employers ask this question to make sure you are prepared for the travel that may be required as an employee at their company. In your answer, explain how you would handle traveling if it was necessary.

Example: “I am used to long hours on the road. I have driven across the country several times while working at my previous job. I enjoy getting out and seeing new places, so I don’t mind the travel too much. However, I do understand that sometimes there are no other options but to drive long distances. If this were something that needed to happen often, I would try to find ways to reduce the amount of time I spent on the road. For example, I could use technology to help me work remotely from the road or take advantage of overnight stays when possible.”

19. What do you think is the most challenging aspect of being an engineer?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the challenges of working in a technical field. You can use this question as an opportunity to discuss how you overcome challenges and what makes engineering rewarding for you.

Example: “The most challenging aspect of being an engineer is finding solutions to problems that don’t have any clear-cut answers. I enjoy problem solving, so this challenge excites me because it gives me the chance to be creative and find innovative ways to solve complex issues. In my last role, I was tasked with creating a new design for a bridge. The client wanted a unique look but also needed the bridge to withstand high winds and heavy traffic. After some research, I decided to create a suspension bridge with a modern twist. It turned out beautifully and the client was very pleased.”

20. What do you think are the most important skills required to be successful at Exponent?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you have done your research on Exponent and are familiar with what it takes to be successful there. When answering this question, make sure to highlight skills that you possess or can learn quickly.

Example: “I think the most important skill for success at Exponent is communication. As an engineering firm, I know that communication is key to solving problems and creating innovative solutions. In my previous role as a software engineer, I was responsible for communicating with other engineers, clients and stakeholders about technical issues and how we were going to solve them.”