Interview Tips
Preparation
| 1. Knowledge of yourself; your values, skills, interests and experience |
| 2. Knowledge of the position, organization and industry to which you are applying |
| 3. Understanding of the dynamics of the interview. Think of yourself as a potential solution to an employer’s problem or need. The employer needs to fill a position and you have a certain set of skills and abilities that may be exactly what the employer is looking for. The trick is to sell yourself and convince the employer that you are the right person for the job |
Before The Interview
- Find out more about the company/organization
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- Review your resume and decide which aspects of your employment, volunteer experiences, activities and academic history you want to emphasize
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- Practice answering sample interview questions beforehand with a friend or family member or in a mock interview with Career Services Advisor
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- Bring extra copies of your resume and a separate piece of paper with your references on it. Also make sure you have a pad of paper and a pen to take notes if you need to. Finally, bring the name and contact number of the person who is interviewing you in case something happens (i.e. your car breaks down and you are going to be late)
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- Figure out ahead of time where your interview is being held. Give yourself plenty of time to get there! Try to arrive at least 10 minutes early for your interview to ensure that you will be on time and also have a chance to relax and focus
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Behaviour Based Interview Questions
What Are They?
The premise behind behavioral interviewing is that the most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance in similar situations. Employers use the behavioral interview technique to evaluate a candidate’s experiences and behaviors so they can determine the applicant’s potential for success.
Answering Behavioural Questions: It’s recommended that you use the S.T.A.R. principle.
S—Situation (briefly describe the situation)
T—Task (what had to be accomplished)
A—Action (what you did)
R—Result (what happened? What did you learn?)
The S.T.A.R method is a process to answer the questions by telling a brief story or situation. For example, if you were asked a question “Are you an organized worker?” Rather than just giving an answer of “Yes”, you would use the S.T.A.R. principle to give an example of when you used your organizational skills.
How Can I Prepare for A Behavioral Interview?
- Analyze the type of positions for which you’re applying. Try to get an actual job description. What skills are Required by employers?
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- Analyze your own background. What skills do you have that relate to your job objective?
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- Identify examples from your past experience where you demonstrated those skills. How can you "tell a story" about your use of particular skills or knowledge? Concentrate on developing complete S.T.A.R answers and remember that a good story has a beginning, middle and end
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- Wherever possible, quantify your results. Numbers illustrate your level of authority and responsibility
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- Be prepared to provide examples of when results didn’t turn out as you planned. What did you do then and what did you learn?
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Sample Behavioral Interview Questions
- Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way
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- Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills
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- Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem
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- Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it
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*Book an appointment with a Career Advisor for a Mock Interview session to help you practice before your interview (video-taping your interview is also available)*
