The Engineering Companies with the Toughest Interviews

The engineering market is expected to grow to $3.5 trillion in 2025 and grow to $5.8 trillion by 2034. With the need for skilled engineers growing, opportunities for jobseekers within the engineering field are set to follow – but which companies are the hardest to land a job with?

To find out, precision components supplier Accu collated data from Glassdoor analysing over 100 engineering companies globally and their interview difficulty, as well as positive and negative experiences. Expert insight has also been provided by Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer at Accu.

Key Findings:

• ASM International, Netherlands, has the most negative interview experiences.
• Four out of the ten most negative interview experiences are from companies in the U.S.
• Engineers India has the most difficult interview process of all companies analysed.
• Sandvik (Sweden) and Exponent (U.S) are the only companies to feature in the top ten for both interview difficulty and negative interview experiences.
• India has the most engineering companies featuring in the top ten most difficult interviews.

Engineering companies with the hardest interview process

*Note: Difficulty rating 0-5: The higher the number, the more difficult the interview.

Engineers India is the engineering company with the hardest interview of all those analysed, rated 3.4 out of five. Some people described this as a ‘tough’ and ‘technical’ interview experience, with typical interview questions interrogating the candidate’s knowledge. Despite this difficulty, almost nine in ten (89%) of interviewees had a positive experience, and some candidates cited stated that the difficulty made it more ‘engaging’ and ‘insightful’.

Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer at Accu provides expert insight into how to prepare for a technical interview in engineering: “When preparing for a technical interview it is always crucial to brush up on your problem solving and communication skills. The interviewer will not only be looking at your technical knowledge, but also how you think through and resolve problems. Communicate your approach clearly, and don’t be afraid to ask any questions you may have. Companies look for candidates who can collaborate under pressure. And of course, ensure you are familiar with core company fundamentals and have good foundational knowledge.”

UK company Babcock International Group is second, with a difficulty rating of 3.1 out of five. They are a major company in the UK and internationally, particularly in the defense, aerospace, and nuclear sectors. Despite the difficulty of interviews being above average, just 17% of people had a negative experience.

Larsen & Toubro, India, is third, with a difficulty rating of 3 out of five. Despite the difficulty of interviews being above average, over three quarters (76%) of those who interviewed for the company cited their experience as positive, whilst just eight percent found the experience negative.

Engineering companies with the worst interview experiences

*The full data set including all companies analysed is available to view here.

ASM International, Netherlands, has the most negative interview experiences of all companies analysed, with almost a third (32%) of candidates reporting a bad experience. Complaints mentioned by candidates include multiple interviews being ‘repetitive’ and management not engaged in the process. Interviews are said to be above average difficulty, rated 2.9 out of five.

Neste, Finland, follows closely behind, with more than a quarter (27%) of interview experiences being negative. The company is one of the world’s leading producers of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, but some candidates didn’t feel their leading qualities in their interviews. Some cited a long process with very slow feedback, with others mentioning no response received at all. With an average interview difficulty rating of 2.9 out of five, Neste is above average difficulty.

The Weir Group, UK are third with over one in five (22%) of interviewees having negative experiences. The company is a global provider of engineering solutions with a strong global presence, employing more than 14,000 people across more than 70 countries, and has its headquarters based in Glasgow, UK. However, multiple candidates stated that they received no responses or feedback after their interviews, making it a negative experience. Interviews at this company are just above average difficulty, rated 2.7 out of five.

Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer at precision components supplier Accu provides expert insight on job hunting in the engineering sector, and tips for boosting your chances of success:

“Today’s interviews in the engineering sector are arguably more competitive and testing than ever, as the sector continues to grow. Most interviews will test candidates on more than just their common knowledge and skillset. Companies will want to assess your adaptability and ability to problem solve effectively, and that’s just naming a few.

“I would advise those going through the job application process in engineering to practice effective communication and be sure to demonstrate to your potential employer how well you can work as part of a team. Making sure that you tailor your applications and responses to the specific company’s culture and niche will also help you stand out, as this shows you have knowledge of their industry and ethics. This almost always bodes well when applying and interviewing for major companies, who often pride themselves on these aspects of their business.”