Glassdoor is your free inside look at Caterpillar interview questions and advice. All 155 interview reviews are posted anonymously by Caterpillar employees and interview candidates.
Caterpillar Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 155 Interviews
Interview Experience 140 Ratings
Senior Software Engineer at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in May 2011 – Reviewed Apr 04, 2013
Interview Details 3 technical and 5 manager rounds
Negotiation Details – Not negotiated.They have given good salary
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Associate Engineer at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed on Chennai Dec 2011 – Reviewed Jan 01, 2013
Interview Details
The first shortlist was purely on the basis of CGPA followed by a technical+aptitude test. The technical part consisted of question from design, IC-Engine, Fluid control, Manufacturing and production engg.
The aptitude part consisted of English and Quants. English was of good standard. Synonyms were asked. Quant was fairly simple.
This level was followed by a Group Discussion round. Around 7-8 students were selected for each group. The topics were related to current affairs and some were from psychological background.
After this round, there was personal interview. The panel asked questions on Finite Element, Stresses, vibration and Fracture Mechanics.
Thank you
Interview Question – Nothing as such Answer Question
Negotiation Details – As I am a fresher, no negotiations were there.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Associate Manufacturing Professional at Caterpillar
No Offer – Interviewed in Chennai Aug 2012 – Reviewed Aug 14, 2012
Interview Details
written test- gd- interview(technical +hr)
written test -ic engines,fluids,som,manufacturing----quant-----english
Interview Question – why the transmission shaft is hollow in cars Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Staff Accountant I at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Chennai – Reviewed Jul 20, 2012
Interview Details I got a call from the consultant. I took a telephonic followed by a 1 to 1 interview with General Manager Finance. I was informed about the selection but the entire formalities took place for over a month to receive offer letter. The Recruiting HR team is always been slow and requires a push from the operations.
Interview Question – Based on experience and professional qualification - AS 28, 30 & 31 Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No Negotiation at this level happened
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Mechanical Engineer at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed on Chennai Nov 2010 – Reviewed Dec 01, 2011
Interview Details
I was called for an interview. Consisted of a panel of 3 - one hiring manager, his equivalent heading a different team, and their boss who manages the division.
Interview was sprinkling of STAR type questions combined with previous experience questions.
Took about 1 hr. Some questions were pretty unrelated to the job - 'Describe a situation where you managed a balance between your work and personal life'. I also had to give a 15 minute presentation about some of the work I did in my previous job role. Since it was a research role, my interviewers kinda blanked out :-)
Interview Questions
- Describe a situation in which you took a leadership role and saw it through. View Answer
- What subjects are your strength and weakness in mechanical engineering and why (don't remember if they asked to describe a situation) View Answer
Negotiation Details –
I was not able to negotiate. BIG MISTAKE, because once I got in I realized that its hard to go up the scale, and people who are less qualified are in a better situation. Its a dirty secret that Caterpillar, India generally cons prospective employees into taking a pay grade at least one step lower than they can negotiate.
Advice : Talk to someone inside the company, boldly negotiate. You dont lose anything.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Senior Associate Engineer at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed on Chennai Jul 2010 – Reviewed Aug 01, 2010
Interview Details
One technical round over telephone;
One technical round face to face;
Three Manager Rounds (Behavioural, Design, Attitude);
No HR round;
Offer received in two days after interviews;
Interview Question – Tell me one situation where you did not have enough technical knowledge for required task and how did you manage it? Answer Question
Negotiation Details – Offer itself was reasonable... But no negotiation was applicable.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Engineering Internship at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Mossville, IL (US) Mar 2009 – Reviewed May 12, 2013 New
Interview Details All I had was a phone interview with HR as mandatory part of the process. I had regular HR questions.
Negotiation Details – They sent an offer with a undergraduate pay scale. I asked if that reflected the pay for a Masters student and they mentioned the pay rates for undergraduates, first year Masters and second year Masters. They corrected my offer based on my educational level.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Engineering Intern at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed on Wamego, KS (US) Jan 2010 – Reviewed May 01, 2013
Interview Details This was some time ago, but I believe it was largely a behavioral based interview in which they asked fairly typical questions (e.g. describe a time when you failed, when you suceeded, why you'd be good for this position, etc.)
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Software Engineer at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed on Aurora, IL (US) Jul 2011 – Reviewed Apr 20, 2013
Interview Details Nice people. Interviewed by HR, Super, 2 Team leads. 1 hour on Software fundamentals ... know your stuff. This was for a contract-to-hire position.
Interview Question – Nothing unexpected or too difficult. Just long and inclusive of several software areas related to the position. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – Accepted contract. Never offered a permanent position. Left after 1 year.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Engineer at Caterpillar
Accepted Offer – Interviewed on Mossville, IL (US) Sep 2009 – Reviewed Apr 19, 2013
Interview Details Caterpillar's process is more of selecting candidates by their ability to thrive in a work environment. If faced with tough situations, how do you handle it. You need to provide actual examples from your past experiences. Describe your actual situation, what you specifically did. As an Engineer they know we are technically capable, but to get things done, you need soft skills which Engineers are not so good at.
Interview Question – Can you describe a situation in which you had to resolve a conflict. What was the situation, what did you do about it and what was the result? Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
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