Generic Questions

1.       Tell me about yourself? (EASY method: Education, Achievements, Strength, Your Value)

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to be interviewed and to introduce myself. I am sergi Nikolai m. Predicala, a graduate of the University of Camarines Norte with a degree in mechanical engineering, for which I received an award for best thesis and also for academic distinction.

I am a mechanical engineer, registered master plumber, and a Safety Officer 2 for both BOSH and COSH. I was also a former finance secretary for the University’s College of Engineering student government, where I created monthly financial reports, collected payments and fees from the engineering students, and planned and managed events.

During our thesis, I led the design and AutoCAD modelling of a coconut fiber pot molding machine, which reduced the cycle time of the machine by 50% compared to a previous model.

During my internship at Del Monte Motor Works inc, I assisted in maintaining the quality and reliability of more than 10 buses. In which I performed water and heat leak tests, disassembly and reassembly of bus parts and panels, and logged inventories and material receiving reports using Microsoft Excel.

I am now looking for the opportunity to apply and further enhance my engineering skills.

1.       How do you prioritize your work?

If I am given multiple tasks at once, I would prioritize them by the closest deadline first to ensure they are completed safely and accurately. Next, I would create a schedule for the tasks I was given and break them down into micro-tasks. During my internship, I learned that it is important to have a strict checklist to ensure the quality and reliability of buses. As a former finance secretary, I balanced student government work and my studies by creating a workload plan for the week and coordinating and delegating with my colleagues while providing them updates on my specific tasks.

Overall, effective communication, time management, and planning are important to keeping tasks on time and of high quality.

1.       What motivates you?

What motivates me is applying my engineering skills to solve real-world problems. I enjoy seeing my ideas transformed into solutions that provide efficiency.

One situation is when I was designing our pot molding machine. One of my favorite skills is designing machines in AutoCAD, and seeing a machine that I designed become efficient compared to the previous models and successfully demonstrating it to the Basud Community was very rewarding, as it helped them provide an additional income.

Furthermore, I am motivated by taking on skills and challenges that I have yet to learn, and providing benefits for other people through my work.

1.       What are your salary expectations?

Since I am just starting my career, I want to first enhance my skills with your company, so I am flexible towards any offer.

1.       Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you handled it. (sportsfest)

During a sports event, I was responsible for collecting groceries for engineering student-athletes from a local store. Upon arrival, I was informed by the manager that some items were out of stock but expected to arrive before the athletes’ lunch. After waiting for the delivery, which did not arrive on time, I consulted with the manager and decided to purchase the available items, ensuring the total matched what had already been paid. My colleagues agreed with this plan, and I successfully delivered the food to the chef on time.

1.       Do you have any questions for us?

I have a few questions;

•  What specifically are my job responsibilities?

• What is the location of the job?

•  Are there any accommodations available?

• Are there any reasons or concerns that are preventing me from being part of your company?

• Are there any areas in my interviewing skills that I need to improve?

1.       Why should we hire you?

I believe that you should hire me because I can bring my engineering skills, safety awareness, and eagerness to learn new skills. I am a mechanical engineer, registered master plumber, and Safety Officer 2 for BOSH and COSH certifications.

I have leadership experience from when I planned and managed the UCN-COENG SG events, while preparing monthly financial reports, ensuring accuracy and transparency. This helped me develop my communication, coordination, and financial management skills.

I have technical skills from my internship in Del Monte Motor Works Inc. Such as disassembly and reassembly of bus panels, water and heat leak tests, and air conditioning evaluation of more than 10 buses.

Although I am just starting my career, I am willing to learn, adopt, and accept guidance.

1.       Tell me about the time you managed multiple priorities. CAD drawing

As a member of the student government, my main responsibilities include planning and managing events. One event I organized took place just before exams. While it was all set, it required a student council representative for attendance and documentation. I recognized that my exam preparation was a priority, so I asked a colleague to oversee the event. This way, it ran smoothly while I focused on studying and successfully passed my exams.

1.       What is your strength and weakness?

A few of my strengths are time management, a willingness to learn and adopt new skills, and a readiness for challenges. Before I became a finance secretary, I was not familiar with creating proper financial reports for the student government, but with time and guidance, I was able to draft them monthly and accurately until the end of my term. I was able to practice time management to effectively complete my responsibilities as a finance officer and as a student. During my internship, I was tasked with diverse responsibilities that helped me to adapt and learn quickly to new tasks.

One aspect that I am continuing to improve is my public speaking skills, although I can speak with smaller groups, I feel less confident when it comes to larger audiences.

I am addressing this by making efforts to be in opportunities where I can practice speaking in front. One situation is when I was part of a demonstration of our pot molding machine in front of more than 15 individuals from the Basud Community. Before the event began, I prepared a checklist and organized my thoughts clearly. I am still continuing to improve this skill by practicing so I can communicate more confidently in a professional setting.

1.       If you fail this interview, what do you think is the reason?

It might be because of my nervousness; sometimes it affects how I can communicate myself under pressure. I would work on practicing mock interviews to manage my stress and anxiety, ensuring I stay calm in interviews.

1.       Why did you choose mechanical engineering?

When I was a child, I used to watch a lot of TV shows, including Mythbusters and Top Gear UK. In Mythbusters, there are two people who tests tales from either fiction, other shows, or history and see if they are real or fiction. I was always intrigue on how they created machines or plans on how they would solve a specific problem. Furthermore, in Top Gear, there are episodes where the three hosts would each drive different cheap cars; they would always break down on the road, but I am amazed at how they can fix it. So for me, it inspired me to become a Mechanical Engineer because I want to create plans or ideas that would solve real-world problems.

1.       What was the most technically challenging task you performed during your internship?

One of the most technically challenging tasks I performed during my internship was working in the warehouse, where I was responsible for preparing and issuing materials such as nuts and bolts. At first, I had difficulty because the warehouse used a weighing scale instead of counting each piece individually. I occasionally issued the wrong quantity since I was still learning how to estimate the correct weight for different fasteners.

I also found it challenging to remember the storage locations of the different materials, especially since there were many items organized in different sections of the warehouse.

To overcome these challenges, I became more familiar with the inventory layout by taking time to study where materials were stored and by asking for guidance from the warehouse personnel whenever I was unsure. I also paid closer attention when using the weighing scale and double-checked the required quantities before releasing materials. As I gained more experience, I became more accurate and efficient in locating materials and preparing the correct quantities.

This experience taught me the importance of attention to detail, following established procedures, and continuously learning from mistakes. It also showed me that accuracy is essential, even in tasks that may seem simple, because issuing incorrect materials can affect maintenance work and project schedules.

What makes you standout or different from other applicants?

I believe what makes me stand out is my combination of professional qualifications, hands-on experience, and willingness to learn. As a newly licensed Mechanical Engineer and Registered Master Plumber, I have a strong technical foundation that I’ve already applied through my internship and engineering projects.

During my internship at Del Monte Motor Works, I gained practical experience in inspections, diagnostics, component reassembly, inventory management, and technical documentation. My thesis also allowed me to lead the AutoCAD design of a hydraulic press that improved production efficiency by 50%, giving me experience in solving real engineering problems.

Beyond technical skills, I’ve also developed leadership and accountability through serving as Finance Secretary in our College of Engineering Student Government. I’m someone who accepts feedback, learns quickly from mistakes, and always strives to deliver accurate, quality work. I believe those qualities make me a strong candidate and someone who can continue growing within the organization.