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.