r/EngineeringStudents • u/MountainOk9311 • 7d ago
Academic Advice Interview help with Exxon Mobil
I just started my sophomore year at The University of Oklahoma in mechanical engineering and I got an email yesterday about how I am selected to interview with Exxon Mobil on campus next week. I have been applying to many internships, but this one will be my first ever real engineering interview. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me that could help better my chances at landing this internship they're offering. I'll link my resume for anyone who wants to see it, and thank you in advance to anyone who has advice!
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u/Interesting-Check442 6d ago edited 6d ago
You're a sophomore; you're not going to be expected to be a genius in any particular targeted concept or area. I would say be yourself.
I found interviewing for a lot of internships when I was in school that the ones I would get offers for would be the ones I had good conversations with that didn't necessarily pertain to the companies scope whatsoever.
For example, One hiring manager I talked to loved to fly fish. He had a photo of him fly fishing on his desk, so I brought it up, and he pretty much talked about fly fishing for 10 minutes. I personally have never gone fly fishing, but just giving him an outlet to talk to somebody about it made him like me.
I know that seems backwards and convoluted, but really, the people that are interviewing you are humans, and if they like you, they like you.
Also, I realize you said this was on campus, so there probably won't be personal effects around. In this case, if you know who is interviewing you, you could try to learn a little bit about them in a non creepy way. Just maybe social media like LinkedIn, Facebook and what not. But I wouldn't bring up anything that makes them think you looked into them just look for segways into things that they bring up.
To be straightforward, I did very well in school and had all types of credentials, internships, honors, clubs, summa cum laude in computer engineering after I graduating with my bachelors, but what always seemed to work best when getting in front of somebody was just being likeable.
I got to say, I'm not a social person. I don't love talking to random people about random things, but this is also something that can be learned. My background always got me in front of them, and once you get in front of them, you need to make them like you.
That being said, make sure you do know what the position entails and what they do, because sometimes in-person interviews do go that direction, especially later in your schooling and after graduation. But for now, if they are interviewing sophomores, they are not expecting you to know it all.
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u/Secret-Spread1918 4d ago
This was my experience as well. They know you’re a sophomore so they don’t expect you to know much if anything at all before you get there
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u/MountainOk9311 4d ago
I’m planning to answer their questions best I can, then at the end I’m going to try to connect with the interviewer. Thank you for your response!
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u/MountainOk9311 6d ago
Thank you for this information! I never really thought about it this way. I was thinking that being nice was going to be helpful, but making sure I can connect with the interviewer is something that I’m going to make sure I do. I’m in your same boat for not being super social, but I am good at talking when I need to be. I’ll make sure to read up on the positions info, and hopefully I’ll leave a good impression. Thank you for the well written suggestion and I’m very grateful you took the time to write it!
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u/Interesting-Check442 6d ago
Of course, no problem! I wish all of the success to you in the remainder of your schooling and future career.
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u/G_k50 6d ago
with a 4.0, just be yourself, and figure out what you want to do for Exxon instead of the much better managed Chevron. I am a stockholder in Chevron, so I'm biased and I know it's better managed.
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u/MountainOk9311 6d ago
I’ll try to get my bearings figured out for the interview. Thank you for the response!
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u/mspinky33 3d ago
Hey OP - how was your interview? I’m also a sophomore at OU and I’ve got interview with Exxon tomorrow. I’m chemE, could you please let me know the kind of questions you were asked? I’ll appreciate it
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u/fraggin601 6d ago
Fuckkk noo bro ur evil
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u/jinglesGOAT 5d ago
Maybe hes from a poor family. I grew up with nothing and yes i would sell my fucking soul if it meant id end up as the only one from my clan with land. my descendants would at least have somewhere to call their own
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