Ace Your BIM Interview and Standout
Embarking on a career in BIM is an exciting journey, filled with opportunities to shape the future of construction and design. Whether you're eyeing the role of a BIM Manager, BIM Coordinator, BIM Modeller, or maybe your new role will require more intimate knowledge of BIM, the interview process is a crucial step. As the demand for BIM professionals continues to rise, it becomes imperative to not only showcase your technical prowess but also demonstrate a deep understanding of the collaborative and innovative nature of BIM projects.
In this blog post, we'll share key strategies and insights essential for acing your interview for roles in BIM management and modeling. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a graduate eager to make your mark, our guide provides valuable tips, industry insights, and practical advice to help you interview with confidence.
The Three BIM Interview Essentials
Prepare to showcase your in-depth knowledge of current BIM tools, technology, and process.
Ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the specific BIM software and tools relevant to the job role.
Determine before the interview the company’s preference of software. Is it Autodesk using Revit, Navisworks, and Construction Cloud? Perhaps they use Archicad instead. It may even require knowledge of Tekla or other specialist software like Solibri and Revizto. Either way, make sure to carefully read requirements of which software is used in the job description.
Familiarize yourself with the latest versions and updates after you have identified the company preferred software solutions.
Be ready to discuss your experience in using BIM tools for modeling, coordination, and collaboration.
Highlight any certifications or training you've undertaken. Autodesk offers a series of software certifications. There are also several online courses to earn a certification which focus on BIM such as Operam Academy and the British Standard Institute. Lastly, don’t forget to check out your local industry business chapters for additional offerings in your city or region.
For example, in Hong Kong, we have a great group of supporting organizations for BIM such as; Construction Industry Council, Autodesk Industry Advisory Board, and the Hong Kong Institute of Building Information Management.
Standards and Process are critical BIM components. Be able to discuss the importance of ISO-19650, Level-of-Detail (LOD), Level-of-Information Needed (LOI), Open BIM standards and IFC.
2. Your ability to share project experience and case studies will be important.
Prepare in advance material to demonstrate your role and value added to the team and project. Include key figures to quantify and illustrate the benefits you provided. For example, highlight a % reduction or improvement, Include the size of the project, how many floors, money saved or earned, people or teams managed. Actual numbers help quantify the value of your skills and abilities may contribute in an organization.
Showcase your practical experience by discussing past BIM projects you've worked on. Provide specific examples of how you utilized BIM to enhance project efficiency, reduce errors, and improve collaboration.
Prepare case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in overcoming challenges during BIM implementation. Discuss any innovative approaches you took to achieve project goals.
For Example;
“In a previous BIM project [Name of Project], I spearheaded the coordination of MEP systems in a large [Approximate Size] commercial development using BIM tools [Specific Tool/Process] to detect 700 [Number] clashes between trades and implement automate model QA/QC procedures before submissions to streamline the process of model reviews. This work helped reduce the amount of project change orders by 15% [Include Figure] and ensured a healthy model during pre-construction activity workshops.
3. Tell them about your Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Communication Skills.
Emphasize your ability to collaborate with professionals from various disciplines, such as architects, engineers, contractors, and clients. BIM is inherently collaborative, so showcasing effective teamwork is crucial.
Highlight your communication skills, both verbal and written. Discuss instances where you successfully communicated complex BIM-related concepts to non-technical stakeholders, fostering a better understanding of the project.
Understand the different discipline stakholders roles in a BIM project. The Client, Architect, Engineers, Contractor’s, Sub-contractors, and Operators will each have different degrees of involvement and utilization of the model. Some will have more responsibility
For Example;
"I demonstrated strong communication skills when working on a project with a client whose project manager lacked familiarity with BIM, but did understand BIM’s value-add to the project. Recognizing this, I took additional measures to tailor content and workshops, simplifying complex BIM concepts to ensure clarity and comprehension for the PM, this ended up creating a more collaborative relationship which increased the amount of BIM requests throughout the project, enabling a better coordinated project between disciplines.”
Our Comprehensive List of Items to be Prepared for in the Interview
Understand the role of a Common Data Environment and it’s importance for collaboration.
Be prepared to take a software knowledge test. This is often required for the Technician, Modelling, and Drafting roles.
Learn the BIM project lifecycle and how it applies to different stages of a project from concept design to as-built and operation.
Prepare questions about the company’s BIM utilization, standards, and processes and always ask questions during an interview!
RESEARCH the company you are interviewing with and visit their website.
Understand the purpose of Dynamo and Grasshopper for Revit and Rhino and why they are a valuable skill to learn.
Be knowledgeable about what a BIM Execuition Plan (BEP) is and it’s role in the project.
Consider how the impact of a project’s contract type will affect the BIM requirements. A Design-Bid-Build project is different from a Design-Build contract and even more unique in a Design-Build-Operate contract.
Ask how the company supports on-going training for BIM teams. It is a dynamic field and staying relevant with new processes and software are important for your ongoing success and team contribution.
Be able to explain a coordination process that fits your area of expertise. How do you raise an issue, coordinate with an engineer and designer, or prioritize a complex issue?
Know the requirements and process of submitting a model to an authority like Singapore or Dubai if required in your market.
Prepare facts and figures about the project and team you worked. Know the project area, how many levels, who the BIM project stakeholders were, how many people were on your team, how long the project duration is and how long you were a part of it. Simple numbers provider the interviewer a sense of project scale and your involvement and understanding of the project.
What to Prepare in Advance of your Interview and Bring with you
Prepare a printed or digital portfolio of BIM related projects with images and video that support your involvement and role in the project. Focus on disciplines or areas of the project you have completed and coordinated.
Include drawings in the porfolio, they should be created natively in the BIM software so it shows how well utilized and construction accurate the model is built.
Live demonstrate a BIM model you have produced by yourself or with a team. Navisworks Freedom is a free viewer to use.
Provide examples of analysis conducted with the BIM model, such as Clash Detection, 4D Simulations, and Quantity Take-offs.
Extract a sample of a BEP, Standard, or Workflow you have written to share your comprehensive understanding of BIM and how to organize a complex BIM project’s exchange of information.
Screenshot parts of email and coordination activities to demonstrate your ability to collaborate. Make sure to censor any sensitive information such as names, email addresses, photos, or project details you should not be sharing.
Summarize any certifications you have attained. These are appreciated, especially if you have less practical experience.
We hope you enjoyed reading.
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