KPFF Interview Questions
& Process

The interview took about 3 hours and included a presentation on the company, some behavior questions, technical questions that were mostly conceptual and fast to answer, an office tour, and time for you to ask questions.

This interview was 3 hours long. The first hour was a 1-on-1 chat about the company, including their values, the type of projects they do, and benefits. Then, there was a 1 to 1.5 hour technical exam. This exam was about 10 pages and required explaining each question as it was completed. The exam covered structural basics and was detailed, so studying and memorizing formulas is important. The last 30 minutes involved a tour of the office. The technical exam was a bit of a surprise, covering specific and conceptual topics like concrete and steel design formulas, RC interaction diagrams, RC stress blocks, K values for column supports, column and frame deflection, and moment/shear diagrams for multi-span beams. It's recommended to spend a day reviewing concepts and notes. Doing the exam with the interviewers present and explaining each step was intimidating. Despite learning about the company and seeing the office, an offer wasn't extended. They didn't focus much on the resume or portfolio or design experience, so the exam seemed to be the main deciding factor.

So I went through two rounds of interviews. The first was just a quick HR call, like under 30 mins. Then the second was a much longer panel interview, about 2.5 hours, with three managers and one engineer. In that second one, they had me do a structural engineering test to check my skills. After that, I had to present my answers to them. The managers also did a presentation about the company culture, how the team is set up, and the company's hierarchy. I really liked everyone I met and got a good feeling about the company. I would have taken the job, but I got another offer. It's funny, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if I should have accepted. I'd be interested in working at KPFF later if my current role doesn't work out.

It was a pretty standard small talk interview, where I met the principals and got a quick look around the office. The office itself seemed unremarkable, and the employees I saw didn't appear particularly cheerful during the tour. After the interview and tour, they surprised me with a quiz. I completed their test, and the receptionist took it and then showed me out. The whole procedure felt a bit odd. I received an offer that was less than $50k annually, so I decided not to move forward.