ExxonMobil Materials / Chemical Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 140 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at ExxonMobil.
ExxonMobil
Chemical Engineer
Mid Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Group
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Case Presentation
There were three parts to the interview. First, I had to introduce myself and talk about my past experiences. Then, I was asked some technical questions about distillation columns, heat exchangers, and catalysts. Finally, there was a case study where they presented a problem and I had to come up with a solution.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you explain how distillation works and list its parts?
ExxonMobil
Chemical Engineer
Entry Difficult Positive experience Decline offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Take home Technical screen Group
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Group
So first, there's a test you have to do. If you pass that, you get selected for a video interview. This video interview lasts about an hour and is super technical. It starts with a few competence questions, then dives into technical stuff. The last stage is an assessment centre. It's more about games and teamwork, no real interview or technical bits there.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Could you tell us why you're interested in Exxon?
- What unique skills or contributions do you think you can bring to our company?
- Please share some details about your past experiences.
ExxonMobil
Chemical Engineer
Entry Average Neutral experience No offer 7 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Phone screen Onsite Panel Group Presentation
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Group Presentation
I applied online and got sent a numerical reasoning and personality test. After about a week, I had a Skype interview with someone from Exxon. They asked the same questions you can find on Glassdoor, like interpreting data and talking about problem-solving. A couple of weeks later, I went for a face-to-face interview in Southampton. The interviewer was nice and really encouraged me to give my best answers, so it's super important to know your scenarios really well. The questions were pretty standard, and if you have lots of different situations to talk about, you should be fine. The assessment centre involved a written task, a panel interview, a group task, and a presentation. All these activities were focused on one project, either updating an existing line or building a new one. There weren't really right or wrong answers; they were looking at your approach and how well you'd fit their company values. The panel interview had two senior Exxon employees who asked about general competencies and a bit of technical stuff. The technical part could cover anything from fluid mechanics, controlling unit operations, or refinery process economics. Make sure you use the STAR method for your answers in the panel interview, clearly stating the situation, task, action, and result, because otherwise, they won't note anything down, as I found out the hard way. Good luck!
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you draw and explain how to control a distillation column?
ExxonMobil Materials / Chemical Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from ExxonMobil interview reports.
“Regarding the technical question: Imagine using a campfire lighter to heat a pot of water. What distinctions would you observe between performing this task in the summer versus the winter? Elaborate with sufficient detail.”
Read reports →“How would you deal with a situation in a group project where some members are not doing their fair share of the work?”
Read reports →“Using the Zoom whiteboard, could you sketch a piece of equipment or a process and explain how it works?”
Read reports →“How would you persuade a team to adopt a course of action that differs from their current strategy?”
Read reports →“Tell me about a time you evaluated pros and cons, and chose not to act even though there was pressure to do so.”
Read report →“Given a case study that the interviewers will present, how would you determine the measurements needed to resolve the problem?”
Read report →“Can you share an instance where your positivity was challenged, and describe how you managed to restore it?”
Read report →“Describe a situation where you had to work with a group member who was unmotivated or difficult, and explain how you addressed it.”
Read report →“Describe a situation where you were promised a resource but didn't receive it, and explain how you managed to continue the project without it.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 140 ExxonMobil interview reports.