Honda Japan

Role: Research Engineer/Associate

College: IIT Delhi, Mechanical Department

Interview Date: May 2017

Interview Type: Campus Placement, Full-Time

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Hard (Written test was "really hard")

Rounds: Written Test, HR Round, Technical Round

Topics Asked: Mechanical Engineering fundamentals (Thermodynamics, Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics), Projects (Formula Student, engine tuning), Internship experience, Psychometric questions, Debate, Design questions.

Experience:

This experience details the campus placement process for a Research Engineer role at Honda R&D in Tochigi, Japan.

1. Written Test: The initial written test was described as "really hard" and primarily subjective, requiring detailed steps and diagrams for answers.

2. HR Round: Unusually, the HR round preceded the technical interview. This round involved psychometric questions and a "bit of a debate" with the invigilators.

3. Technical Round: Conducted by a panel of four, including one interviewer who spoke only Japanese. The questions spanned various Mechanical Engineering subjects, from thermodynamics to solid mechanics. Major questions were centered on projects undertaken by the candidate, such as work in a Formula Student team (AXLR8R Formula Racing) and engine tuning, to assess technical knowledge and practical experience. Internship experience (at Daikin Industries, Japan) was also a focus. Specific questions included:

• "What is Nusselt number and where is it used?"
• A problem involving pressure on an upright and an inverted triangle in water.
• A hypothetical scenario about extinguishing a fire in a closed box filled with air in space.
• Explanation of boundary layer flow in an engine inlet manifold.
• Designing a bike with proper specifications on the spot.

The interview aimed to test not only knowledge but also the experience of doing technical work and the candidate's ability to adjust to a foreign culture and language.