IEM PI C100

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA

Guidance Notes for Professional Interview Candidates
April 2015

1. Introduction
1.1.

The IEM is required to conduct Professional Interview (PI) for all Candidates who
are applying to become a Corporate Member of IEM (MIEM). Becoming a MIEM
is a route to getting registered with BEM as a Professional Engineer (PE).

1.2.

The Professional Interview will be conducted by two (2) experienced IEM

Corporate Members who are trained for this purpose.

1.3.

The IEM Secretariat will normally help in arranging for the interview by
coordinating with both the Interviewers and the Candidate on arranging the date,
time and location for the interview. Alternatively, the Interviewers have an option
to do this by themselves.

1.4.

Once the date for Professional Interview has been agreed and fixed, the Candidate
shall have to abide by it.

1.5.

Candidate may request for postponement of the interview if he can provide valid
reasons that are acceptable to the Interviewers. However, postponement can only
be considered if it will not prevent the interview from being conducted within two
(2) months with reference to the original interview date. Postponement of more
than two (2) months shall render the interview null and void; and the Candidate
shall have to make a new application.

2. Conflict of Interest
2.1.

The Candidate should not be interviewed by the following:

2.1.1.

The Supporters for his application.

2.1.2.

The MIEM or PE who have verified Candidates application form.

2.1.3.

A person employed in the same or related organization as the Candidate.

2.1.4.

A person who has close family relationship with the Candidate.

2.1.5.

A person who is a close friend of the Candidate.

2.1.6.

A person who has commercial relation with the Candidate.

2.1.7.

Any person who may have a conflict of interest, either for or against the
Candidate.

2.2.

It is your ethical duty to request for a change of Interviewer(s) before the

Interview if one or more of the above-mentioned conditions exist.

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IEM PI C100

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA

Guidance Notes for Professional Interview Candidates
April 2015

3. Format of the Interview

3.1.

3.2.

The Professional Interview will consist of two parts, namely:

3.1.1.

The Oral Interview

3.1.2.

The Written Examination

The Candidate must complete the two parts in order to satisfy the Professional
Interviews requirements.

3.3.

The Candidate should have chosen to sit for the Professional Interview in either
English or Bahasa Malaysia in the Application Form. Upon making the choice,
the Professional Interview shall be conducted in the selected language, including
Oral Interview and the Written Essays.

4. Oral Interview
4.1.

The Oral Interview will normally be allocated about one (1) hour and forty five
(45) minutes for each Candidate.

4.2.

You should arrive at the interview location at least 15 minutes before the start of
the interview to allow time to settle down and get ready.

4.3.

While there is a need to be flexible in the interview, the format is typically

arranged as follows:

4.4.

4.3.1.

Introduction

4.3.2.

15 Minute Presentation by Candidate

4.3.3.

60-90 Minutes Q&A Session

4.3.4.

Opportunity for Final Evidence

4.3.5.

Conclusion

The interview will be conducted in the language, currently either English or

Bahasa Malaysia, as chosen by you.

4.5.

You will be asked to show some form of photo identification at the Interview.
This is to ensure that the right Candidate is interviewed.

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IEM PI C100

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA

Guidance Notes for Professional Interview Candidates
April 2015

5. Presentation
5.1.

The presentation at the start of Oral Interview will be allocated 15 minutes. You
are advised to take no more than 15 minutes so that the Oral Interview can finish
on time.

5.2.

The purpose of the presentation is to provide you with the opportunity to

introduce yourself, give an indication of the work you are involved in, highlight
the areas of your work deemed important, and give some appropriate examples.

5.3.

The content of the presentation should be based on a piece of work or project

from your portfolio of evidence that best demonstrates Competency Categories A
and B. This should be concise, enough to give key points of your personal
technical contribution to the work or project presented.

5.4.

The presentation will normally be delivered to the Interviewers around the

interview table. You should discuss with the Interviewers whether you wish to
receive questions during the presentation.

5.5.

The presentation format is your choice. This may involve one or more of the
following:

5.6.

5.5.1.

A computer-based presentation such as PowerPoint presentation

5.5.2.

A paper based presentation

5.5.3.

A verbal presentation without any other aids.

It is important that you discuss with the PI Secretariat to help arrange the use of
visual aids. IEM may not be able to guarantee facilities to support all audio, visual
or IT requirements.

5.7.

If you choose to give PowerPoint presentation, you will be asked to limit your
presentation to five slides, allowing about three minutes per slide.

5.8.

You are required to bring three paper copies of their presentation materials
(maximum A3 size) to the interview, one of which will be retained by IEM and
the other two will be passed to the Interviewers. Please ensure that animation
created by the computer-based presentation will not hinder eligibility when the
hard copies are printed out.

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IEM PI C100

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA

Guidance Notes for Professional Interview Candidates
April 2015

6. Question & Answer

6.1.

Interviewers will generally use the career history of your application form as an
agenda for the interview. They will encourage you to talk about your experience
in chronological order to draw out evidence of competence during the discussion.

6.2.

You should be prepared to explain the technical content of your work as the
Interviewers will probe specific competence areas.

6.3.

You should also be prepared to expand other aspects of your work including
leadership & management, communication & interpersonal skills, professional
commitment, etc.

6.4.

Matters related to commercial sensitivity or governed by the Official Secrets Act

are unlikely to be an essential part of the interview. You will not be expected to
divulge them.

6.5.

Interviewers will normally cover the full range of competencies by the end of the
Oral Interview. They will ask questions in a clear and concise manner. You will
have to make sure that you understand the questions first before attempting to
give your answer.

6.6.

You should bring a copy of your Development Action Plan (DAP) to be presented
on a separate form towards the end of the Oral Interview. This plan is a
demonstration of your commitment to maintaining professional competence, often
referred to as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This does not have to
be linked to an organization. It can be self-managed. This is a plan for future with
the short and long term goals, and how you are going to achieve them.

7. Opportunity for Final Evidence

7.1.

At the end of the Oral Interview, you will be given the opportunity to:
7.1.1.

Raise any points which you feel have not been covered during the
discussion.

7.1.2.

Give any evidence which you feel may help the assessment of your case.

7.1.3.

Ask any questions you may have.

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IEM PI C100

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA

Guidance Notes for Professional Interview Candidates
April 2015

8. End of Oral Interview

8.1.

You will NOT be allowed to change the engineering discipline on which you have
been interviewed, to the one thought to be more appropriate.

8.2.

Similarly, the Interviewers are not allowed to do so.

9. Written Examination
9.1.

At the end of the Oral Interview, you will be asked to proceed to the second part
of the Professional Interview, namely the Written Examination which consists of
two sections.
9.1.1.

Section A is the Technical Essay.

9.1.2.

Section B is the Ethical Essay.

Each essay will be allocated one and a half (1.5) hours to complete.
9.2.

In section A, Interviewers will normally set two questions, of which you choose
one to answer. The set questions are typically related to the technical aspects of
your work in which you have gained substantial experience.

9.3.

In section B, Interviewers will choose two questions from the official list of
printed questions related to the IEM Regulations on Professional Conduct, of
which you choose one to answer. It is generally intended to test how you think
about the role of the engineer in society vis--vis the Regulations of Professional
Conduct.

9.4.

You are required to answer the questions in both sections in writing by hand. You
are not allowed to bring in any form of reference materials, or use electronic
devices with content accessibility such as note book, portable computer or mobile
phone, etc. during essay writing.

9.5.

You are not allowed to spend the total of three (3) hours for written examination
flexibly by using more than one and a half (1.5) hours for one paper at the
expense of the other paper.

10. Preparing for Professional Interview

10.1.

The best way to prepare for the professional interview is to review your
Application Form, the Portfolio of Evidence Form, and the Technical Report.

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IEM PI C100

THE INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, MALAYSIA

Guidance Notes for Professional Interview Candidates
April 2015

10.2.

Identify and determine which of your experiences best demonstrate the required
range of competencies. Highlight your personal contribution.

10.3.

You are required to bring the following to the interview; please check to ensure
you have the following:
10.3.1. A copy of your completed PI Application Form.
10.3.2. A copy of your completed Portfolio of Evidence Form.
10.3.3. Three paper copies of your presentation materials.
10.3.4. A copy of your Development Action Plan.
10.3.5. Photo identification, such as NRIC, driving license with photo, passport
or other valid documents.

10.4.

In rare cases where the Candidate has physical writing impairment, he should
communicate with the IEM Secretariat to check if special arrangement could be
made. IEM may not be able to give any guarantee.

11. Post Interview

11.1.

The Interviewers will NOT indicate to you the result of the interview on the day
of your interview.

11.2.

At the end of the interview, the Interviewers will make a report to the Professional
Interview Board. You will be informed of the outcome when a decision is made
by relevant Committees in IEM.

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