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Interview Questions

Loon4ever
Hey all!
So as one of the two guys in my shop that knows PC-DMIS and have ran a CMM, not to mention the other guy has no interest in the CMM, our Forman has asked me to conduct the interview of a prospective CMM Programmer/Operator/Inspector. To give some back ground we are an Aero shop and the boss likes his LEAN manufacturing. So of course there's never enough time, or enough people so you're always getting asked to check a part while you're barley half way through the one you're already working on.
My question to you guys is, if you were hiring a CMM Programmer who is expected to also operate the CMM and preform Non CMM Inspections what would you go about asking them? What skills do you find to be the most valuable for a CMM Programmer/Operator to have? Anything I should look for as a red flag? Also any advice of things to look for or for conducting the interview would be greatly appreciated. I will not be alone with the prospective employee since this will be my first interview but I'll be the only one there with CMM experience.
Thanks in advance for any tips or tricks you guys can shoot my way!

-Loon

  • I'm surprised no one mentioned anything about certifications that might help boost your candidacy as the next programmer for a company you're interviewing with. With how important understanding GD&T is in our community, I expected to see people chime in with GDTP certs being a prerequisite prior to applying. I've not seen this requirement in any job postings recently as well. Just surprising to say the least.

    While we're on this topic - are there ANY certifications beyond the ones offered by the ASME that might help you jump to front of the field when interviewing for work?
  • I'm surprised no one mentioned anything about certifications that might help boost your candidacy as the next programmer for a company you're interviewing with. With how important understanding GD&T is in our community, I expected to see people chime in with GDTP certs being a prerequisite prior to applying. I've not seen this requirement in any job postings recently as well. Just surprising to say the least.

    While we're on this topic - are there ANY certifications beyond the ones offered by the ASME that might help you jump to front of the field when interviewing for work?

    The ASQ has several certifications that tend to be well recognized in the US and the countries that manufacture most of our stuff like China and Mexico. I have as CSSGB (Certified Six Sigma Green Belt) cert that is a more general cert for all sorts of things related to Quality Assurance. That normally seems to get some attention when I go for interviews. I used to have a CQE (Certified Quality Engineer) cert, but I stopped renewing that when I found that I didn't like the type of attention it was getting. Employers would see that and realize I could do all sorts of boring QMS stuff for them - no thank you!

    One of the ASQ certs that may be most applicable to CMM work is CQI (Certified Quality Inspector). That covers Math, Gauges, Specialized Equipment, Blueprint reading, GD&T, Sampling plans, etc.


  • The ASQ has several certifications that tend to be well recognized in the US and the countries that manufacture most of our stuff like China and Mexico. I have as CSSGB (Certified Six Sigma Green Belt) cert that is a more general cert for all sorts of things related to Quality Assurance. That normally seems to get some attention when I go for interviews. I used to have a CQE (Certified Quality Engineer) cert, but I stopped renewing that when I found that I didn't like the type of attention it was getting. Employers would see that and realize I could do all sorts of boring QMS stuff for them - no thank you!

    One of the ASQ certs that may be most applicable to CMM work is CQI (Certified Quality Inspector). That covers Math, Gauges, Specialized Equipment, Blueprint reading, GD&T, Sampling plans, etc.

    I'm actually familiar with the ASQ - I looked into that and became a Certified Quality Technician (CQT) when I used to work as a Quality Inspector (with my MET background, I was on my way to becoming a QE). That is, until I was unexpectedly recruited on LinkedIn for a job as a Metrologist. But after looking at the CQI, it looks much more applicable to me and would help fill in some blanks (never received a super formal training as an Inspector, so this would benefit me).

    Looks like I'll be going after two certs: the GDTP (technologist level) and the CQI. I appreciate the response Cris. Thanks.


  • I'm actually familiar with the ASQ - I looked into that and became a Certified Quality Technician (CQT) when I used to work as a Quality Inspector (with my MET background, I was on my way to becoming a QE). That is, until I was unexpectedly recruited on LinkedIn for a job as a Metrologist. But after looking at the CQI, it looks much more applicable to me and would help fill in some blanks (never received a super formal training as an Inspector, so this would benefit me).

    Looks like I'll be going after two certs: the GDTP (technologist level) and the CQI. I appreciate the response Cris. Thanks.

    Sounds cool. I think about getting formal training on some of this stuff too. So far I have just been stumbling along and learning as I go. Somehow I still know a ton more about GD&T than most of the designers/engineers that draw up the prints I have to work with Stuck out tongue closed eyes
  • I had so many interviews where the candidate blatantly lied, or exaggerated on their resumes.

    Walk them to the CMM. Tell them they have 20 mins to program a part to measure a couple dims in DCC.
    --if they can do it. their resume & claims can be trusted.

    Walk them to the surface plate (with all necessary implements at the ready to do the job), then ask them to verify the dims they just measured on the cmm, accurate to 0.001".
    --If they can do it, their manual capabilities can also be trusted. hire them. lol.

    Actions speak way more than words in this line of work.
  • I had so many interviews where the candidate blatantly lied, or exaggerated on their resumes.

    Walk them to the CMM. Tell them they have 20 mins to program a part to measure a couple dims in DCC.
    --if they can do it. their resume & claims can be trusted.

    Walk them to the surface plate (with all necessary implements at the ready to do the job), then ask them to verify the dims they just measured on the cmm, accurate to 0.001".
    --If they can do it, their manual capabilities can also be trusted. hire them. lol.

    Actions speak way more than words in this line of work.

    Honestly, this is way I like to be interviewed. It is much easier to show you know what you are doing than to try and convince somebody of it.

    Something very nice about that type of interview is that the interviewee gets a chance to check out the work environment and equipment to see what they are getting themselves in for. For better or worse.
  • I got asked possibly the strangest question during my previous jobs interview.

    The question. "Lets say you have a truck load of ping pong balls and an empty room. You know the dimensions of the room. How would you figure out how many ping pong balls you would need to fill said room?"

    apparently there is not right or wrong answer. It was used to test problem solving. Come to find out the guy asking the question was an idiot.

  • apparently there is not right or wrong answer. It was used to test problem solving. Come to find out the guy asking the question was an idiot.

    LOL, yeah, I guess a problem solving assessment question only works if the interviewer is any good at problem solving. I’d kinda like to see the Michael Scott character from The Office as that question.
  • in reply to cheesiechanman
    I hear in the news a few years ago that Google was asking that very same question in their interview process. I bet the person who interviewed you heard that and though it was a great idea Neutral face
  • in reply to cheesiechanman
    Probably so. That makes a lot more sense as to why he asked. I would imagine Google had some kind of general direction they wanted the question to be answered. This guy did not. He claimed that any answer gave him a deeper understanding to how the interviewee's mind works. He also offered to create a resume for me because he knows exactly what employers want out of their people and claimed mine just didn't quite cut it..... Mine was reviewed and refined by an expert who specialized in getting veterans jobs after they separate from the military. I could go on and on about this guy.
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