1. Visit the Career Education department in Old Main (1712). They offer:

• One-on-one assistance with career exploration, research & planning
• Assistance with work search planning and resume, cover letter & career portfolio development
• Help with interview preparation
• Campus-wide workshops on career related topics (labour market information, job search strategies, networking tips etc.)
• Employer connections through job postings, job fairs & employer information sessions
• Access to computers, fax machine, photocopier, career resource library and telephones for local and long distance employment related calls.
  Visit their site.

2. Prepare

Find out everything you can about the specific position. The better you understand the position and the employer’s needs the more successfully you will show that you will be an asset to their organization.

Practice responses to interview questions – but don’t try to memorize them. Being natural and fluent is vital to interview success. When you’ve thought about how you will benefit a specific employer in advance, you will be able to easily add these thoughts in your answers during your interview. Employers want to know why they should hire you. To find out, they ask a variety of questions to help them find out who you are and what you can do. To be prepared, review your experiences at work, at school and in volunteer activities. 

One of the final questions you’ll be asked in an interview is: “Is there anything you would like to know about the organization or the job?” “No” is the wrong answer! It indicates that you’re not really interested in the position, don’t know what’s important to you in an employee/employer relationship, or do not have the confidence and assertiveness to ask! Here are some questions you can ask: 

• What is the size of the department/branch/section?
• Do you have a training program? Could you please describe it?
• What are my opportunities for advancement?
• What is the salary range for this position?
• Who would I report to directly?
• How long has he/she been with the company?

3. At the interview

Listening, confidence, and quality of presentation are the keys to successful interviewing. Employers want to see enthusiasm, a little knowledge about the company, confidence, and an ability to work well in their environment. The interview is also your opportunity to assess the company. Do you want to work there? Can you contribute, get new skills, and have a chance to advance, or will this position open doors for you?

The decision to hire is often made in the first thirty seconds. Make a good first impression: A smile, a firm handshake, confident demeanour, good eye contact, and a friendly enthusiastic manner will go a long way to making that important first impression.

Answering Questions

Take your time — a concise logical answer covering relevant factors is more effective than one that rambles. Be certain you’ve heard and understood the question. Asking for clarification is necessary. Keep focused on how you could add value to the organization.

Sample of Interview Questions:

• What were your responsibilities in a previous position?
• What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?
• What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
• Which was most / least rewarding?
• Why are you leaving your job?
• What have you been doing since your last job?
• Why were you fired?
• What is your greatest weakness?  
• What is your greatest strength?
• Describe a typical work week.
• How would you describe the pace at which you work?
• How do you handle stress and pressure?
• What motivates you?
• What are your salary expectations?
• Tell me about yourself.
• If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say?
• Give some examples of teamwork.
• Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.
• What interests you about this job?
• Why do you want this job?
• What applicable attributes / experience do you have?
• What can you do for this company?
• Why should we hire you?
• Why are you the best person for the job?
• What can you contribute to this company?
• What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?
• What are your goals for the next five years / ten years?
• Questions about your career goals.

4. Ending the interview

Ask questions, don’t linger, and say thank you. Restate your interest in working for the employer and leave, acknowledging reception on the way out.

At the end of the interview ask when the employer expects to make the hiring decision.

Follow-up is a strategic part of the job search process; it will give you an edge. Following up shows your enthusiasm and desire for the position.

In follow-ups be sure to use correct titles and names of all the interviewers. Make sure not to have any errors. Write individual thank you letters; each letter can be essentially the same, but try to vary each a bit in case recipients compare notes. These can be done within two business days. Don’t ever fail to send a thank you — even if you are sure the job is not for you. You can use many mediums including fax, telephone, notes, letters or email, just make sure it is the right and most appropriate one depending on the position and employer.