I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at KPFF (Los Angeles, CA) in Feb 2016
Interview
Applied online, got an email from HR for an interview at the Los Angeles office. Got interviewed by 3 associates (separately), each lasting more than hour (the first one was 1 hr 40mins). Overall, very positive environment, I thought the interviews went great. The guys were friendly too.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
how do you deal with a mistake by the contractor (specific example given). My background was mostly in wood structures, so they asked a lot of questions about wood, finding loadpaths, uplifts, overturning moments (simple stuff). The last interviewer asked some question about concrete reinforcement and retaining walls. I was also handed a booklet of about 10 questions, which included drawing bending moment and shear diagrams for a beam, stress-strain relationships, stifness questions, column buckling etc.
Behavioral:
How do you prioritize work?
how do you deal with something that makes you struggle or challenges you?
They made me meet them in a cafe downtown. I didn't go into the office. They were underprepared. If you're going to make me come downtown, at least let me see the office. They were off-putting from the start.
The process was simple and very personable, I felt very comfortable from the start. The technical questions were smartly positioned to engage in conversation. They are a friendly, courteous and professional group. The interviewer was very knowledgeable about the local construction industry.
The interview questions were easy but the interviewer seemed a bit rude and overall bored with the process. The office also seemed empty and had a very lonely atmosphere. Overall, didn't seem like a nice or healthy place work.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
the engineering questions were right out of the book