Name 3 tips for preparing for an in- person interview
Schedule a time when it works for you
Listen carefully and write down all the details
Research & Rehearse
Review your resume and job description
Have reference list, resume copies ready
Know how to get to the interview location
Don’t try to wing it!
Don’t be negative
Get the name of the person you are interviewing with. Preferred titles/ prefix
Practice interview questions
Have a plan b
Turn off cell phone
Ensure accessibility
Have outfits ready
Tend to biological needs.
Eat before
Research company
Tell me about a time you had to collaborate with a coworker who was difficult to work with.
(Problem) I had to work with another programmer who complained a lot about our projects.
(Solution) I took the time to learn about his personal life. It turned out he was going through a tough divorce. Once I got to know him, he was actually a great coworker.
(Benefit to employer) We worked so well together after that we were the most efficient programming pair in the company.
Answer the question:
Tell me about yourself
Example: "I'm a recent graduate from the University of Toronto where I specialized in journalism. While I was getting my degree, I interned for the Toronto Star for two years. They even published some of my articles, which my manager said isn't common for interns."
That does the acronym WAP stand for
Work 80 % , Ability/ Aptitude 10 %, Personal 10 %
Name 2 tips to prepare for a telephone interview.
Rehearse & Research
Have materials ready
Dress up
Get interviewer’s name
Check time zone
Set up voicemail!
Find quiet place
eat a light meal
Describe a situation where you weren’t satisfied with your job. What could have made it better?
Our online ordering page let clients order incompatible components, causing heavy complaints. I asked if we could put a product check in place. The software engineer added warnings when two products weren’t compatible. Complaints went down by 35%.
Give an example:
Why should we hire you over other candidates?
Example: "You should hire me for this role as I have a proven ability to increase sales. In my previous role, I increased our annual sales by 15% in my first year and 30% after three years. I came up with sales plans and goals that the company had never thought of before. I would love to help you and your team do the same here."
What does the acronym SOLAR stand for ?
Smile, open body language, lean in to the speaker, articulate your skills (quantify & qualify) relax
Describe an appropriate interview out fit for a corporate work place.
Female: below knee pencil skirt , low heels, colored dress shirt , blazer less than 7 pieces of jewelry , no scented body products.
Male: dark brown/ black shoes, belt and dress slacks. button up collared shirt, blazer & matching tie.
Tell me about a time you reached a big goal at work. How did you reach it?
The company wanted to double our rafting guests for the summer. I put together a 3-part plan with a full-color calendar, social media campaign, and found-media outreach. We not only hit our goal, we got a 50% budget increase for the following year.
Give an example:
What's your greatest achievement
Example: "In my previous role, my greatest achievement was being named employee of the year. My managers all came together and selected me for the award as I consistently impressed them. They said I was one of the best employees they've had as I'm reliable, help my team members, get all of my tasks done on time, and contribute new ideas to help our team succeed."
What does the acronym for SAR
Situation, Action, Resolution/ resolve
What 2 things should you do right after the interview
1- send a thank you note- restate your interest
2- write notes, what did you like, what could you change, what do you need clarification on
3- potentially follow up ...
How many loonies would fit into this room?
Example: "Let's assume a loonie is approximately 2.5 centimetres by 2 millimetres thick. This room is approximately 2.5 metres in width, 3 metres in length, and 2.5 metres high. So the room itself, if empty, is 18.75 cubic metres. I would then convert the cubic metres of the room into cubic centimetres and divide it by the cubic centimeters of a loonie to determine how many loonies would fit into this room."
answer the question:
How do you handle stress?
Example: "I handle stress by talking about it. Communication is very important to me in my professional and personal life, so I find talking through stressful situations helps me come up with a solution. I try to talk to my colleagues if I have a problem I think they might be able to offer insight on. Or I talk to my manager if I'm feeling overwhelmed."
Why do employers ask behavioral questions ?
Most employers ask behavioral questions because they're considered the most effective way to get to know the person behind the resume. The idea is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior, and therefore future success.
Name 3 questions to ask your interviewer
QUESTION #1: What do the day-to-day responsibilities of the role look like?
QUESTION #2: What are the company’s values? What characteristics do you look for in employees in order to represent those values?
QUESTION #3: What’s your favorite part about working at the company?
QUESTION #4: What does success look like in this position, and how do you measure it?
QUESTION #5: Are there opportunities for professional development? If so, what do those look like?
QUESTION #6: Who will I be working most closely with?
QUESTION #7: What do you see as the most challenging aspect of this job?
QUESTION #8: Is there anything about my background or resume that makes you question whether I am a good fit for this role?
Question #9: what do hope your new hire to accomplish in the first 30 days or 3 months of employment
If you could have a dinner party with anyone alive or dead who would it be and why ?
Freddy Mercury- Freddie Mercury was a gifted songwriter, a breathtakingly original performer, and frontman of one of the greatest bands of all time, Queen.
Why I would have loved to attend a concert, I feel he was the voice of my generation
Answer the question:
How do you handle conflict with a colleague?
Example: "I rarely have conflicts with my colleagues as I prefer to create strong working relationships by openly communicating with everyone. When it does happen, however, I ask to meet with my colleague in private to discuss our conflict. Having other people around makes the situation more stressful and can lead to added confusion. When we're alone, I suggest that we each take the opportunity to discuss the issue, how it made us feel, and our views on it. Together, we come up with a solution to the problem with mutual respect."
What is Q+ A+ 1 mean ?
When do you use this formula ?
provide an example
Question, answer , plus 1
Used to answer a common