10 steps to win at your upcoming interview
DESCRIPTION
15 Steps to develop a career preparation strategyTRANSCRIPT
INTERVIEWPREPARATION
INTERVIEW PREPARATION
Researchthecompany’sproducts,servicesandclientsbeforeyouapply. Beawareofdresscodesanddressaccordingly. Bringcopiesofyourresume,coverletter,referencesandapenandnotebookto
yourinterview. Avoidsmokinganddiscardchewinggumbeforeyourinterview. Arrive10‐15minutesearlyforyourinterviewanddon’tbringfriendsorfamily. Introduceyourselfandalwaysbepoliteandrespectfultoeveryoneyoumeet. Beconsciousofsigns,policiesandcompanyliteraturewhileinthewaitingroom. Staypositiveanddon’tbecriticalofpastemployersorsupervisors. Thanktheemployer.
INTERVIEW ATTIRE
GeneralRules
Checkoutthe“appearancecode”attheworkplaceanddressaccordingly. Clothesshouldbeneat,cleanandingoodshape. Hairshouldbeneat,groomedandconservativelystyled.
Men
Suitorshirt,tieanddresspants. Dressshoesandsocks. Freshlyshavedorneatbeard/moustache.
Women
Suit,skirtordresspants. Dressshoesorlowheels. Discretejewelry,make‐up,nailpolishandperfume.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Thefollowinganswersareprovidedassamplesonly.Itisimportanttoreworkthempersonallyandgenuinely,sincememorizedtextbookresponsesdonotappealtoemployers.
QUESTION: Tell me about yourself.
Purpose: Toputyouateaseandlearnsomethingaboutyourbackground.
Suggestions:Brieflytouchonthefollowingthreeareas
1. Yourqualificationsandexperiencerelatedtotheposition2. Yourattributes,includingyourabilitytogetalongwithothers3. Someappropriatepersonalinformationtoindicatestabilityandawell‐rounded
character,forexample,personalinterests,communityinvolvementandfitness
Bepreparedtoanswerfurtherquestionsfromtheinterviewerabouttheinterestingpointsyouhavemadewhenansweringthisquestion.
QUESTION: Tell me about your experience with this type of work.
Purpose: Tofindoutifyouhavetheexperiencetodothejob.
Suggestions:
1. Ifyouhaveexperience,educationortraining,statewhereyoureceiveditandgivespecificexamplesincludingspecialachievements.
2. Ifyouhaverelatedexperience,educationortraining,statewhereyoureceiveditandlistyourtransferableskills.
3. Ifyoudon’thaveexperience,educationortraining,stateyourworkrelatedskillsandattributesandindicateyourinterestinon‐the‐jobtraining.
QUESTION: Why do you want to work here?
Purpose: Tofindoutifyouaregenuinelyinterestedinthepositionandwhatyouknowandlikeabouttheorganization.Thisquestionalsogivestheemployeranideaifyouwouldbealongtermemployee.
Suggestions:Describewhatyouknowabouttheorganization.Ifyoucanhonestlycomplimentthecompanyonitsreputation,service,productsorgrowth,doso.
QUESTION: Howoftenwereyouabsentfromworkinyourlastjob?
Purpose: Tofindoutiftheycandependonyou
Suggestions: Ifyouhavehadanexcellentattendancerecord,sayso.Ifyouhadpoorattendanceanditwasduetosomethingthathasnowbeenresolved,brieflyexplainthistotheemployer.
QUESTION: Whydidyouleaveyourlastjob?
Purpose: Todiscoveranyproblemsyouhavehadthatwouldbeareasonnottohireyouandassessyourattitudetowardsemployers,supervisors,policiesetc.
Suggestions: Findsomethingpositivetosayaboutyourformercompany,itsproducts,servicesandpersonnel.Brieflyandmatter‐of‐factlystateyourreasonsforleaving.Ifyouleftongoodterms,orhavealetterofreferencefromyourlastjob,sayso.Ifyouleftonbadterms,keepinmindthatyourinterviewermaycheckreferences.Mentionwhattheemployersappreciatedaboutyou,someofyourworkachievementsandthegoodrelationshipsyoustillhavewithsomepersonnel.
QUESTION: Whatareyoursalaryexpectations?
Purpose: Tofindouthowcloseyoucometowhattheyarewillingtopayandifyouarerealisticaboutcurrentsalaryrangesandratesfortheoccupation.
Suggestions:
1. Politelysay,“I’mreallyinterestedinfindingoutwhichsalaryrangeyouareoffering.”Theywilloftensharethisinformation.
2. Expressyourinterestinworkingforthemandrequestmorespecificinformationaboutthejobdescriptionifyouneedit,statingthatyourresponsibilitieswillinfluencesalary.
3. Iftheemployerisobviouslyinterestedinhiringyou,orinsistsonananswer,statearangethatyouknowisrealistic.Askaboutbenefitplans,raisesandopportunitiesfortrainingandpromotions.
QUESTION: Whenareyouavailableforwork?
Purpose: Tofindouthowsoonyoucanstartandifyouhaveanyothercommitments.
Suggestions: Ifyouarefreetostartimmediatelyandyouarekeentoworkforthecompany,sayso.Ifyouareworkingandneedtogivenoticestatethelengthoftimeyouneed.
QUESTION: Whatareyourgreateststrengths?
Purpose: Todiscoverreasonsforhiringyouandtoseeifyoubelieveinyourselfandareconfidentthatyouaretherightpersonfortheposition.
Suggestions: Stateyourgreatestskills,education,trainingandexperiencethatyouwouldcontributetothepositionandthecompany.Ifpossible,andifthereistime,backtheseattributesupwithspecificexamples.
QUESTION: Whatareyourweaknesses?
Purpose: Todiscoverifyouarewrongforthejobduetoalackofexperienceortraining,poorattitude,lazinessoraninabilitytocopewithpressure.
Suggestions:Describeapositiveattributethatyouknowyouhave.Forexample,statethatitisimportanttoyoutomeetdeadlines;maintainhighstandards;satisfythecustomer;maintaintheequipment;orseethatallmessagesareanswered.Thencontinuewithastatementofreassurancesuchas,“IhavetoreallymakemyselfbepatientwhenIseethatthisisnothappening.”Bereadytodescribesuchasituationandhowyoueffectivelyhandledit.
Honestlystateanobviousweaknessorhandicap,andthendescribefactorsthatcompensateforit.Rememberthatonceyouhaveraisedadoubtyouhavetoexplainitimmediately.
QUESTION: Whatareyourlongrangegoals?
Purpose: Todiscoverwhetheryouwillstaywiththecompany,whatitisyoureallywantandtoidentifyyourcareergoals.
Suggestions:Keepyouranswerwork‐relatedandwiththiscompanyinmind,stateyourinterestinandcommitmenttostayingandgrowingwiththecompany.
QUESTION: Whattypesofofficeequipmenthaveyouworkedwith?
Purpose: Tofindoutifyoumeetpositionrequirementsandcanmakeaseamlesstransitiontothenewposition.
Suggestions:Namethejobrelatedequipmentyoucanoperategivingspecifictypes,brands,categories,sizesandwhereandhowyouusedit.Ifyouhavenotoperatedtheequipmenttheyhave,assurethemofexperienceonsimilartypesofequipmentandexpressawillingnesstolearn.
QUESTION: Whatisyourgreatestachievement?
Purpose: Todiscoverifyouareabletorecognizeandshareyourachievementsandtoprovideevenmorereasontohireyou.
Suggestions:Describeawork‐relatedachievementthatshowsyourknowledgeandexpertiseinthefieldorindealingwithpeopleorproblemsolving.Givespecificsanduseexamples.Ifyouarenewtotheworkforceorarere‐enteringit,takeanexamplefromschool,volunteerorpart‐timework.Showhowtheskillistransferabletothisjob.Itmightdemonstratequickthinking,flexibility,leadership,creativityordedication
QUESTION: Howlonghaveyoubeenoutofworkorchangedjobs?
Purpose: Tofindoutifyouhaveawork‐readyattitudeandwillbeareliableemployee.
Suggestions: Statethelengthoftimeithasbeensinceyouleftyourlastjob,then,ifit’strue,pointoutthatyouhavebeenworkingdiligentlyatafull‐timeprofessionaljobsearch,doingcareerplanning,interviewingpeopleinthefieldandstayingupto
datewithindustrytrends.Explainanygoodreasonyouhadforchangingjobsoften.Thesecouldincludemoving,arecession,cutbacks,ahealthorfamilyconcernorcontractwork.
QUESTIONS: Whatwouldyoudoin“thissituation”?
Purpose: Toassessyourabilitytohandleunexpectedquestions,reallifesituationsandyourknowledgeofcompanypoliciesandprocedures.
Strategy: Describeatimewhenyousuccessfullydealtwithasimilarsituationandmentionyourcommitmenttofollowcompanyguidelinesandyourwillingnesstoconsultyoursupervisorwhereappropriate.
SampleQuestions: Whatwouldyoudoif?
1. Youdiscoveranotheremployeewasstealingfromtheorganization,breakingimportantsafetyrules,breakingconfidentiality?
2. Yousawacustomerstealing?3. Twodifferentsupervisorsgaveyouconflictinginstructions?4. Fellowemployeeskeptinterruptingyourworktodiscusspersonal
problems?
QUESTION: Whatquestionsdoyouhave?
Purpose: Toindicatetheinterviewisalmostoverandfindoutwhatyouareinterestedinknowing.
Suggestions:Keepquestionsbriefandwatchfornon‐verbalsignsfromtheemployerthatitistimetoendtheinterview.Showthatyouhavelistenedtotheemployerandthatyouhavealreadyresearchedthecompany
SampleQuestions:
1. Whywasthispositioncreated?2. Isthisanewposition?Ifnot,perhapsaskwhytheotherpersonleft.3. Whatarethemaindutiesofthisposition?4. Whatcharacteristicsdoyoulookforinpeopledoingthisjob?5. Whatopportunitiesarethereforadvancement?6. Doesyourcompanyhavebrancheselsewhere?7. Doyouhaveanyplansforexpansion?8. Whatareasdoesyourmarketcover?9. Whenwillyoubemakingyourdecision?
BEHAVIOR BASED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Givemeanexampleofatimewhenyouusedgoodjudgmentandlogicinsolvingaproblem.
Describeaninstancewhenyouhadtothinkonyourfeet,togetyourselfoutofadifficultsituation.
Tellmeaboutatimewhenyouhadtogoaboveandbeyondthecallofdutyinordertogetajobdone.
Byprovidingexamples,convincemethatyoucanadapttoawidevarietyofpeople,situationsandenvironments.
Describeatimeinanyjobthatyouheld,inwhichyouwerefacedwithproblemsorstressesthattestedyourcopingskills.
Giveanexampleofatimeinwhichyouhadtouseyourwrittencommunicationskillsinordertogetanimportantpointacross.
Givemeanexampleofanimportantgoalthatyousetinthepastandtellmeaboutyoursuccessinreachingit.
Describethemostsignificantorcreativepresentationyouhavecompleted. Givemeanexampleofatimewhenyouwereabletosuccessfullycommunicatewith
anotherperson,evenwhenthatindividualmaynothavelikedyou,orviceversa. Describeasituationinwhichyouwereabletousepersuasiontosuccessfully
convincesomeonetoseethingsyourway. Givemeaspecificoccasioninwhichyouconformedtoapolicy,withwhichyoudid
notagree.
ILLEGAL QUESTIONS
Exceptwherethisisagenuineoccupationalrequirement,itisdiscriminatoryandcontrarytotheHumanRightsActforapersonoranemployertorefusetoemployortodismissaperson,ortodiscriminateagainstapersonwithrespecttoanytermorconditionofemploymentbecauseofthepersons:
Age Race Sex MaritalStatus PoliticalBelief Ancestry
Religion PlaceofOrigin PhysicalorMentalDisability ConvictionforaCriminalor
SummaryConvictionchargethatisunrelatedtotheemployment
ItisalsocontrarytotheHumanRightsActforanemployertopaylesstoonesexforworkthatissimilartoworkperformedbytheoppositesex.
Ifyouareaskedillegalquestionsitisimportantnotonlytoknowyourrightsbutalsobeabletorespondtothequestionswithdignityandassertiveness.Ifitisanemployeryouwanttoworkfor,indicateawillingnesstodemonstrateyoursuitabilityforthejobwithoutcompromisingyourrights.
Respondwithacounterquestion,forexample:
“Couldyoutellmehowmy<age,maritalstatus,disability,etc.>mighthaveanybearingonthejobIamapplyingfor?”
“That’saveryinterestingquestion.I’dbehappytoansweritifyoucouldtellmethereasonforaskingit.”
Iftheemployerdoesn’tmentionatopicbutyoufeelitcouldbeanunstatedconcern,youmaywanttotactfullybringthesubjectoutintotheopenandputthedoubtstorest.
ExamplesofAnswers(ifyouchoosetoanswerthem)
Thesequestionsarenottypicallyaskedinaformalinterview;however,ifthese“topics”ariseinconversation,herearesomeguidelinesonhowtoanswer.
How old are you?
a. Youth:mentionflexibility,prideinpunctuality,workperformance,eagernesstolearn,goodattendance,sportsoracademicachievementandreferencesfrompreviousemploymentorvolunteerwork.
b. Adults:mentionexperience,flexibility,maturity,stability,reputationandbusiness/clientcontacts.Theremaybeanobjectionthatyouareoverqualifiedormayexpectahighersalary.Mention(ifitistrue),thatatthispointinyourcareer,jobsatisfactionisahigherpriorityforyouthansalary.
Are you married? Do you have children?
a. Ifyouaremarriedandhavechildren,assuretheemployerthatyouhavereliablechildcarewithaback‐upforemergenciesandthatyoudonotusecompanytimetomakeprivatecallsorrunerrandsandthatyouprideyourselfonpunctuality.
b. Ifyouaremarried,butdonothavechildren,assuretheemployerthatyouare(ifitistrue)aloyalemployeelookingforlongtermemployment.
c. Ifyouarenotmarriedanddon’thavechildren,assuretheemployerofyourloyaltyandreliabilityandemphasizethatyouarefreetodoovertimeandtravelforthecompany(ifitistrue).
How long have you been in Canada? Where are you from?
a. IfyouareaCanadiancitizenorhavebeeninCanadaforawhile,telltheemployer.MentionyourCanadianworkexperienceortraining,ideallyinthesamecommunityorprovince.Ifitisfromanotherprovince,countryoroverseasorganizationwithNorthAmericanaffiliations,mentionitaswell.
b. Immigrants:RelateyourknowledgeofcurrentCanadianmarkettrendstotheemployer’simmediateneeds.i. TrytoattendaCanadianupgradingorrefreshercoursefromarecognized
traininginstitution.JoinaNorthAmericanAssociationforyouroccupationifthereisone.Mentionyourcurrentoccupationalandmarketknowledge.
Includeyourstudyofrelatedby‐laws,codes,actsandgovernmentregulationsaswellasproductandserviceknowledgeandtrends.
ii. Talkaboutyourtransferableskillswithconfidence.MentionyourabilitytolearnquicklyandworkchallengesthatyousuccessfullymetthatwouldlikelyoccurinCanada.
Do you have a criminal record?
a. Besuretoknowtheprocedureforreceivingapardonforacriminalrecord.b. Assuretheemployerofyourdeterminationtoproveyourself.Mentionthatyou
can’ttakeanychancesandthatyouwillprobablybemoreloyalandhonestthanmostotheremployees.
c. Mentionyourgoodpersonalandprofessionalreferences.
Have you ever had issues with alcohol or drugs?
a. Iftheemployerknowsthatyouhavehadanaddiction,pointoutthatyouhaverecoveredandyoudon’ttakealcoholordrugs(ifitistrue).Mentionifyouareinasupportprogramandpointoutyourgoodpersonalandprofessionalreferences.