Estimator Interview Preparation Guide
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Estimator related Frequently Asked Questions by expert members with job experience as Estimator. These questions and answers will help you strengthen your technical skills, prepare for the new job interview and quickly revise your concepts

77 Estimator Questions and Answers:

2 :: Tell me what do you typically find the hardest cost to project?

Maybe weather conditions delays the time frame as well as increase the labour cost.

3 :: What do you know about our organization as Estimator?

A good organization with perfect management. I heard that in this organization i can gain knowledge and good atmosphere.

If its for a good renowned company then its better to go through the company website and know what’s the company profile and what’s their achievements/successes and branches & other details.

According to me this is one of the best company. It has a good Environment, We feel good working in companies, which has good growth in the IT Industries. This Organization has all the qualities like good growth, good Environment, maintaining a best level in the IT Industries, etc.

4 :: Why did you leave your last job as Estimator?

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

5 :: Tell me what are your weaknesses for Project estimator position?

Try not to be too critical when answering this question. Instead, pick one of your weaknesses and try to turn it into a positive.

For example, you could be a perfectionist, which means that you sometimes take longer on tasks, but you make sure that they are completed to a high quality. It is important to make a negative into a positive as it doesn’t make you appear overly critical and shows you can reflect on your own performance.

6 :: Tell me have you got any questions?

This is your final opportunity to persuade the interviewer that you are the right candidate for the job. Now is not the time to ask questions about holidays, pay or pensions – all these things can be asked later when you get an offer of employment. Now is the time to ask about any reservations that the interviewer may have about your suitability for the role. You will then give yourself one last chance to persuade the interviewer that you are the right candidate for the job.

Thank you. I think we have covered everything. Before we finish the interview I would like to take the opportunity to ask if you have any reservations about my suitability for this role?

7 :: Explain me why are manhole covers round?

This is a classic brainteaser, which was reportedly first asked by a Microsoft interviewer. Here's how to "solve" this brainteaser (remember to speak and reason out loud while solving this brainteaser): Why are manhole covers round? Could there be a structural reason? Why aren't manhole covers square? It would make it harder to fit with a cover. You'd have to rotate it exactly the right way. The pipes below are also round, so fitting them might be easier, as might be making them. So many manhole covers are round because they don't need to be rotated. There are no corners to deal with. Also, a round manhole cover won't fall into a hole because it was rotated the wrong way, so it's safer. Looking at this, it seems corners are a problem. You can't cut yourself on a round manhole cover. And because it's round, it can be more easily transported. One person can roll it.

8 :: What is contingency reserve?

This is a planned amount of money (or time) added to the project cost (or time) estimate to serve as a “project risk” buffer. Contingencies are responses to specific risks which has been pre-identified by the project.

9 :: What is project management software?

This is often used to graphically monitor the earned value management as well as forecasting a range of possible final outcomes of the project.

10 :: What is the project cost baseline?

The cost baseline is the information that deals with the amount of money the project is estimated to cost and what time during the project the money would be spent. The cost baseline is the estimate cost of the project plus the contingency reserve. The cost baseline is however constantly reviewed, as it is possible to have several intermediate baselines based on changes that occur during a project.