Openreach Civil / Structural Engineer Interview Questions
& Process

It started with a initial interview that was a bit strange because there was nobody to talk to. After passing that, I went straight to an assessment day. The day kicked off with a 45-minute presentation about Openreach, which you should know if you've researched them. Then came the capabilities and suitability interview. Honestly, these interviews were different from any I've done before - very relaxed. They just asked some basic questions about my previous jobs and roles, and why I think Openreach is the right fit for me. My main advice is to really connect your answers to health and safety. Also, make sure you know what needs to be done before starting work on site, like getting a permit to dig, checking for underground services, and considering the risks to the public. I felt pretty confident about getting the job as I connected well with the two people I interviewed with. I had the interview on a Tuesday and got the job offer via email on Friday. Now I'm just waiting to start.

I had three interviews on Skype this morning. The first was a presentation, but the presenter was really blunt and didn't make the role sound exciting, it felt like a very rigid environment. The second interview started well, but then the interviewer asked questions about the job that were impossible to prepare for, like what safety information a manager would give you before a job. It was so open-ended, expecting prior knowledge of their specific procedures even though their website suggests they hire from diverse backgrounds, which was confusing. The third interview, a regional one, went well, and I can't fault it. I didn't get the role because of those unanswerable open-ended questions. I did mention I'm dyslexic, which maybe I shouldn't have.

They sent me an email and asked me to answer some questions on a video interview website after I sent them my CV. The next day, they invited me to a Skype interview because of the ongoing covid situation, which I felt was a bit of a shortcut instead of a real interview. I had a 45-minute presentation at 8:30 AM, followed by two one-on-one Skype interviews. The first was a 'Suitability' interview where the interviewer was nice and asked about my work experience and skills. The second 'Capability' interview was different; the interviewer was rude, didn't introduce himself, and asked difficult questions from a paper, making me feel like the decision was already made. I struggled to come up with examples of difficult situations on the spot, and I dislike how they based my ability on a few trivial questions, especially for a low-paying job with potential travel.