Arup Interview Questions and Application Process

Arup is an organisation that specialises in the delivery of comprehensive business services; it employs engineers, planners, designers, consultants and technical experts.

As such, there are numerous employment opportunities, including graduate programmes in engineering and design.

The application process at Arup is perhaps one of the most straightforward, as there are only two phases of recruitment: the completion of the online application and an interview.

The Arup Application Form

Current vacancies are listed on the Arup website and graduates are encouraged to apply. You can select graduate programmes in accordance with your degree discipline.

Arup job applications are completed online through the company website. The application is a standard form that asks for details of your experience and qualifications, along with your motivations for applying.

Candidates are only permitted to submit one application for each recruitment cycle and all applications will be reviewed in detail by the graduate recruitment team.

If you approach the application properly and fill it out as fully as possible, you stand a good chance of being invited to attend an assessment day, which will comprise of a technical activity and an interview.

The shortlisting process at Arup is particularly thorough and the recruitment team will assess each application form in detail.

They will carefully review the answers provided and look in particular for:

• Evidence that candidates are really thinking about the role they have applied for and that they convey a genuine interest and enthusiasm for the company.
• How applicants have related their skills, knowledge and experiences to the values and selection criteria specified by Arup.
• Well written answers, thought out logically, and relevant examples taken from academic study, voluntary placements or work experience.
• Unique and structured answers to each question. Some candidates have a habit of cutting and pasting the same generic answer into each question. This certainly won’t do you any favours.

Take the time to prepare your application thoroughly and proofread carefully for any spelling or grammatical errors.

The Millennium Bridge on Newcastle Quayside, an Arup project.

The Arup Interview

The interview process at Arup will often depend on the area you've applied for.

As an example, if you're pursuing a design-based role, you'll be provided with a technical problem to solve, often accompanied by a set of complex questions which are asked during your face-to-face interview.

These technical questions will be combined with a number of more routine interview questions.

Conducting thorough research is certainly recommended before attending the Arup interview, as you'll need to demonstrate a full understanding of the company.

Furthermore, if you are not used to interview situations, it is advised that you undertake some preparation, as the assessors will be looking to see how well you communicate with the panel.

Arup differs from many recruiters in not requiring candidates to take online psychometric tests, telephone interviews or attendance at assessment centres.

Subsequently, you have fewer opportunities to make an impression, so you need to ensure that you create a positive and lasting impression during the interview.

Interview candidates are expected to convey their motivation for applying, interest in their degree subject and have an idea of how they would like to progress in their career.

Candidates will not be successful at interview if they cannot explain their reasons for studying their chosen discipline or outline how they hope to use their qualification.

Arup Office Tour

The interview questions and process will vary depending on the area you have applied to; typically when you arrive, you'll be provided with a tour of the offices by a graduate employee.

This tour usually lasts about 30 minutes. During the tour you have the opportunity to speak to the graduate employee and ask them questions about working for the company.

It is important to remain professional, as the graduate employee will be asked to provide feedback on their impression of you.

The tour is then followed by a case study exercise which will be dependent on the area in which you work. For example, if you are applying for an engineering role, you will be provided with a technical problem and may be asked to formulate a design proposal.

This case study activity will last 30 minutes before the final stage of the process which is an hour’s interview, usually led by a panel of two staff from Arup recruitment, or the department manager.

Arup Interview Questions

Interview questions will usually include:

• Competency or situational questions. These will assess your key competencies such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Situational questions, on the other hand, will present a scenario and you will be asked to comment on how you would approach the scenario or the action you would take.

• Questions which will ask you to elaborate on your CV or application document. This may be a specific question that asks you to discuss a period of employment, or it could be a general question about your skills or knowledge.

• Your reasons for applying to Arup, the role and the division. This is why it is so important to understand the types of projects undertaken by the company and the kind of work you will be expected to complete. If you are asked this question, it is your opportunity to demonstrate that you have taken the time to thoroughly research the company. If you are unsure how to research or where to look, Arup has a wealth of information on its website and there are plenty of additional details on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. All of these sources should be consulted in detail as part of preparing for the interview.

• Questions which will assess your understanding of the industry and how they could impact on Arup operations.

During the interview, you may also be asked exam-style questions such as:

• How could you justify the economic requirement for constructing a new railway to connect a residential and commercial area?
• Provide an example of an occasion when you led a project.
• Explain an occasion when you worked in a group and the activity did not go the way you hoped. What did you do?
• How do you approach new situations? Provide an example.

Read your CV and ensure that you know it inside and out, including the length and dates of employment, your main skills and key experiences that you can relate to the questions.

Although the recruitment process for Arup is significantly shorter than many other companies, that doesn’t mean to say that you don’t need to undertake as much preparation.

As with any recruitment process you need to answer application questions fully, complete in-depth company research and carry out adequate preparation for the interview.