20 Wood Group Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And when you’re interviewing for a position with a specific company, it’s important to do your research and be prepared to answer questions about the company itself.

If you’re interviewing for a position with John Wood Group PLC, a multinational energy services company, you can expect to be asked questions about the company, its history, and its business. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers about John Wood Group PLC.

Wood Group Interview Process

The interview process at Wood Group is generally pretty quick and straightforward. However, it can vary depending on the position you’re applying for. For some positions, like graduate or entry-level roles, you may only have one or two interviews. For more senior positions, you may have several rounds of interviews, both over the phone and in person. Overall, the interview process is fairly relaxed and informal, and the company seems to be more interested in getting to know you as a person than in grill you with difficult questions.

1. What do you know about our company?

This question is a great way to show your research skills and knowledge of the company. It’s also an opportunity for you to express how excited you are about this role. When preparing for this question, make sure you read through the job description and familiarize yourself with the company’s mission statement, values and goals.

Example: “I know that John Wood Group PLC is one of the largest energy services companies in the world. I’ve always been interested in renewable energy, so I was thrilled when I saw this position open. I’m very impressed by the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and would love to be a part of it.”

2. Why are you interested in working at Wood Group?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the company and its values. When preparing for this interview, read about Wood Group’s mission statement and values so you can reference them in your answer. You may also want to research what makes the company unique or interesting.

Example: “I am interested in working at Wood Group because of the innovative nature of the company. I have heard that Wood Group has a reputation for being one of the most forward-thinking energy companies, which is something I would love to be a part of. I think my background as a mechanical engineer would be a great fit for Wood Group because it seems like the company values employees who are problem solvers.”

3. How would your friends describe you?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and values. It can also help you determine if they would fit in with your team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of someone who knows you well and what they would say about you.

Example: “My best friend would probably describe me as hardworking, ambitious and friendly. She says I’m always willing to lend her money when she needs it, but that I’m not too pushy or demanding. She thinks I’m a good listener and that I make people feel comfortable.”

4. When have you had to work with a difficult team member and what did you learn from the experience?

This question can help interviewers learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you handle conflict. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation or person that was difficult to work with and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “In my last position as an operations manager, I had a team member who would often come in late to work without notice. This made it challenging for me to plan our daily tasks because I didn’t know if they were going to show up. After talking with them multiple times about their behavior, they still continued to come in late. Eventually, we agreed on a compromise where they could take extra time off during the week to make up for any days they came in late.”

5. Describe a time where you were given a task that was not clearly defined, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work in ambiguous situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to define the task and complete it successfully.

Example: “In my previous role as an operations manager, I was tasked with finding ways to increase production while reducing costs. At first, I thought that meant we needed to hire more employees to increase production but realized hiring new employees would actually increase our costs. Instead, I looked for other ways to increase production without adding additional labor. After some research, I found that by changing our equipment, we could increase production without increasing labor.”

6. Are you familiar with any of the software packages we use here at Wood Group?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any experience with the software they use at Wood Group. If you are not familiar with their specific software, it’s important to show that you can learn new programs quickly and efficiently.

Example: “I am familiar with SAP, which is a program used for accounting purposes. I worked in an office where we used SAP as our primary accounting system, so I learned how to navigate through the program quite well. I also know some of the basic functions of Microsoft Office Suite, such as Excel and Word.”

7. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

This question is a common one in interviews. It’s an opportunity for you to show your ambition and desire to grow with the company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what you want from your career and how this job will help you achieve those goals.

Example: “I see myself as a manager of my own team within five years. I would like to have more experience managing people by then so that I’m ready to take on that role when the opportunity presents itself. In ten years, I hope to be working at a senior level in management or even as a director.”

8. Give an example of when you had to provide excellent customer service to a client or co-worker.

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you had to interact with someone who was upset or frustrated.

Example: “In my previous position as a customer service representative for a large telecommunications company, I often interacted with customers who were unhappy about their bill or the quality of our services. In these situations, I always tried to remain calm and empathetic while also explaining why we couldn’t offer them what they wanted. By remaining calm and friendly, I found that most customers would eventually understand my reasoning and agree to disagree.”

9. Describe one of your most recent projects and some challenges you faced during that project.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you overcame challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you took to overcome those challenges and what you learned from that experience.

Example: “In my last position as an engineer for a construction company, I was tasked with overseeing the installation of new equipment at one of our facilities. The facility had been experiencing some issues with their current equipment, so we decided to replace all of the equipment in the facility. We hired additional engineers to help us install the new equipment, but there were still many challenges during the project. One challenge was finding enough space to store the old equipment while we installed the new equipment. Another challenge was ensuring the safety of everyone involved in the project.”

10. Tell me about a time when you struggled to meet a deadline.

This question can help interviewers learn more about your ability to work under pressure. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a time when you were able to overcome the challenge and complete the task successfully.

Example: “In my last position as an engineer, I was tasked with creating a new design for a drilling rig. The client wanted to see the final product within two weeks, but I knew that would be challenging due to the complexity of the project. I worked late nights and weekends to ensure I met the deadline. In the end, I delivered the final product on time.”

11. What is your greatest strength and weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews. Employers ask it to learn more about your personality and how you view yourself. They also want to know if you are aware of any weaknesses that could affect your job performance. When answering this question, be honest but try to focus on your strengths.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always willing to help others succeed and make sure everyone feels included. My weakness is that sometimes I get so focused on the task at hand that I forget to take breaks. This can lead to me feeling overwhelmed or stressed.”

12. Have you ever worked on a large project with multiple departments involved? If so, how did you manage communication between all parties?

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to work with a variety of people and manage projects that require collaboration. Use examples from previous experience to show how you can communicate effectively, collaborate with others and complete large-scale projects on time.

Example: “In my current role as an operations manager, I oversee the production of multiple departments within our organization. This means I have to ensure all teams are communicating clearly about their goals and objectives so we can meet company deadlines. To do this, I hold weekly meetings where I discuss upcoming projects and share updates on our progress. I also encourage open communication between employees so they feel comfortable asking questions or sharing concerns.”

13. Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you might fit into their company culture. Wood Group is a large organization, so it’s likely that you’ll work with others on projects and teams. Your answer should show that you’re comfortable working in a team setting.

Example: “I prefer to work as part of a team because I find that collaborating with others helps me come up with more creative solutions to problems. However, I also enjoy working alone when I need time to think through a problem or complete a task without distraction. In my last position, I was often asked to work both independently and as part of a team.”

14. Provide an example of when you used critical thinking skills to solve a problem.

This question can help interviewers assess your problem-solving skills and how you apply them to your work. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you used critical thinking to solve a problem or challenge.

Example: “In my previous role as an operations manager for a construction company, I had to manage several projects at once. One day, one of the project managers came to me with concerns about some of his team members’ performance. He was worried that they weren’t working hard enough on their assigned tasks. After talking with him, I realized he didn’t have any concrete evidence to support his claims. We decided to meet again after he reviewed each employee’s daily activity logs. Sure enough, we found that all three employees were performing well above average.”

15. In which area of engineering are you most interested in?

This question is a great way to determine what type of work you would be doing if hired. It also helps the interviewer understand your interests and how they align with the company’s goals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an area that you have experience in or one that you are passionate about.

Example: “I am most interested in mechanical engineering because I love working with machines and figuring out ways to make them more efficient. In my last position, I was able to create a new system for monitoring oil pipelines that saved the company thousands of dollars each year.”

16. What has been your biggest professional achievement?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new colleague. It’s also an opportunity for you to show the interviewer what you’re capable of and how you can contribute to their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of something that shows your passion for your work or highlights your skills.

Example: “My biggest professional achievement was when I helped my team complete a project ahead of schedule. We were working on a large construction job site where we had to meet many different deadlines. The client was very demanding, but I worked with my team to find ways to get everything done quickly while still maintaining quality. In the end, we finished the project two weeks early.”

17. How comfortable are you working with new technology?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you’re willing to learn new technology and adapt to the company’s systems. Use your answer to show that you’re open to learning new things, but also highlight any experience you have with similar technologies.

Example: “I’m always excited to try out new technology. I’ve been working in my field for five years now, so I’ve had plenty of time to get used to most of the common software we use. However, I do enjoy learning about new programs and how they can help me complete projects more efficiently. In fact, I recently learned a new program that helped me streamline my workflow and save time on one of my last projects.”

18. Name three qualities that will make you successful here at Wood group.

Employers ask this question to see if you have the qualities they’re looking for in a new hire. They want someone who is hardworking, innovative and passionate about their work. When answering this question, make sure that your answer shows these three qualities.

Example: “I am extremely hardworking, which I know will help me succeed here at Wood Group. I also love learning new things, so I’m excited to be working somewhere where there are always opportunities to learn more. Finally, I am very passionate about my work, and I think that passion will help me excel as an employee.”

19. What interests you the most about mechanical engineering?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and understand what motivates you. It also helps them determine if your interests align with their company’s mission. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific about mechanical engineering that excites you.

Example: “I love how mechanical engineers are problem solvers. I find it fascinating to see how they use math and science to solve complex problems. For example, when I was in school, my professor had us design a bridge using only cardboard and tape. We were given different weights of cars and trucks to place on the bridge and then we measured how much weight the bridge could hold before it collapsed. This exercise helped me realize that mechanical engineering is more than just designing machines.”

20. What are your hobbies outside of work?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and interests. They want to know if you have any hobbies that might be a good fit for their company culture. When answering, think of something that shows your creativity or problem-solving skills.

Example: “I love woodworking, so I started making furniture as a hobby. I’ve sold some pieces at craft fairs, but my favorite part is just the creative process. It’s relaxing to me to work with my hands and see something come together. I also enjoy reading, which helps me relax after a long day.”