{"showCoverPage":true,"bookCover":{"coverDescription":"","coverMedium":{"library":"H5P.Image 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Image","license":"CC BY-SA","title":"Two women sitting beside table and talking","authors":[{"name":"Christina@wocintechchat.com","role":"Author"}],"source":"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/LQ1t-8Ms5PY?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink","licenseVersion":"4.0","yearFrom":2019},"params":{"contentName":"Image","decorative":false,"alt":"Two women sitting across a table and talking, with paper and pens between them.","file":{"path":"images\/coverImage-609ce9e7bc4f1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","width":5760,"height":3840}},"subContentId":"8b9790c9-a861-4664-96ab-4106fecaa94a"}},"chapters":[{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"panels":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"

Some interviewers will call you to ask you a few questions before deciding whether to invite you to meet for a face-to-face interview. These usually last 15 minutes or less. <\/p>\n\n

If you have a phone interview, try to reduce distractions, speak clearly and be aware of the speed of your answers. The lack of body language cues can be a challenge, so listen carefully to the questions and ask for clarification, if necessary. <\/p>\n\n

Have a clear, professional voice-mail message for the times you are not home. You will also want to prepare other family members to answer the phone in an appropriate manner. This also means having paper and a pen handy beside the phone at all times. If you have given your cell phone number, you may not want to answer a call from an employer if you are in a public place.<\/p>\n\n

Additional Resource: https:\/\/www.monster.com\/career-advice\/article\/mastering-the-phone-interview<\/a><\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"411b37b7-22c5-4f49-aae5-a184084dd950","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Phone\/Screening Interviews"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

It will be rare that you will be interviewed by one person, but it can happen, especially if it is the first of several interviews. It is more common to be interviewed by two people. For example, you may be interviewed by a supervisor and someone from the human resources area. <\/p>\n\n

These interviews average 30-60 minutes in length but may go longer if it is a second or third interview.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"186c9722-c849-431a-83d2-693bc1a5634d","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Face-to-Face Interviews"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

In a panel interview, you will be interviewed by a team of people. When a panel member asks you a question, focus on them when you are providing your answer. <\/p>\n\n

You may find that the panel includes a co-worker and\/or a board member. These interviews average 30-60 minutes as well.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"54516b29-5681-4f36-adec-b876731d0fed","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Panel Interviews"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

You may be asked to complete a test that will confirm that you have the technical skills necessary for the position. In some cases, you may be asked to complete an assessment such as a personality assessment.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"4b909ba9-5f0c-44ff-8747-32e452b59363","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Testing and Assessments"}],"hTag":"h2"},"library":"H5P.Accordion 1.0","metadata":{"contentType":"Accordion","license":"U","title":"Options"},"subContentId":"340c8cc6-1765-4066-8c5a-87b7f79fb1d2"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.16","subContentId":"c2093da5-e522-4e23-87cc-fb5c7e3536e7","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Interview Types"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"visuals":{"fit":true,"controls":true},"playback":{"autoplay":false,"loop":false},"l10n":{"name":"Video","loading":"Video player loading...","noPlayers":"Found no video players that supports the given video format.","noSources":"Video is missing sources.","aborted":"Media playback has been aborted.","networkFailure":"Network failure.","cannotDecode":"Unable to decode media.","formatNotSupported":"Video format not supported.","mediaEncrypted":"Media encrypted.","unknownError":"Unknown error.","invalidYtId":"Invalid YouTube ID.","unknownYtId":"Unable to find video with the given YouTube ID.","restrictedYt":"The owner of this video does not allow it to be embedded."},"sources":[{"path":"videos\/sources-609c332d91729.mp4","mime":"video\/mp4","copyright":{"license":"U"}}]},"library":"H5P.Video 1.6","metadata":{"contentType":"Video","license":"CC BY-NC-SA","title":"Interviews - Be Prepared","authors":[{"name":"DNaylor","role":"Author"}],"licenseVersion":"4.0","yearFrom":2019,"yearTo":2050},"subContentId":"a7d0593a-b305-458d-a5e7-8d552df31be8"},"useSeparator":"auto"},{"content":{"params":{"panels":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"

Basic questions can be divided into open or closed questions.<\/p>\n\n

Open-Ended Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

An open-ended question is one that can\u2019t be answered with a simple yes or no. <\/p>\n\n

Many of the more traditional interview questions are open-ended questions. The interviewer is looking for an answer that is concise, but that has enough detail for him\/her to understand something about you.<\/p>\n\n

Here are some examples of very common open-ended questions:<\/p>\n\n

\n\t
Tell me about yourself.<\/li>\n\t
Why do you want to work here?<\/li>\n\t
What knowledge and skills can you bring to this position?<\/li>\n\t
What are your strengths and weaknesses? <\/li>\n\t
What are your greatest accomplishments?<\/li>\n\t

Tell me about your computer skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Notice that many of these questions require the present tense<\/em> for your answers.<\/p>\n\n
Closed-Ended Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
Closed-ended questions are ones that can be answered with \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019 but you should always find a way to expand on your answer. <\/p>\n\n
For example: Have you ever worked in a financial office?<\/p>\n\n
\n\t
If you have this experience, you could answer \u2018yes\u2019 and then give some brief details of where or when you did this.<\/li>\n\t
If you don\u2019t have this experience, you could answer \u2018no\u2019 and talk about any experience you have that may be similar, or perhaps give a brief overview of what you know about working in that type of environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"c892b34e-076d-408b-889b-f45c83de6f80","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Basic Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
Behavioural questions are designed based on the belief that past behaviour predicts future behaviour. These are the best style of interview questions because it gives you a chance to choose examples from your past that clearly highlight your skills and abilities in the best way.
\n
\nBehavioural questions create an opportunity for you to tell a story that will help to create a picture in the mind of the interviewer. Employers will want to know about the outcome, so remember to share your successes. Your answers are not limited to work situations, you can also draw on your education and personal life experiences if they are appropriate.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"8e8d8ff3-9fa8-40f0-8338-f22989eaeec3","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Behavioural Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
You may be asked a question about a specific skill. In most cases, this type of question will focus on your hard skills.
\n
\nFor example:<\/p>\n\n
\n\t
Tell me about the most challenging technical problem you solved.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about your experience preparing for an audit.<\/li>\n\t
What steps would you take if your department implemented new software?<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about your experience using \u2026 (software).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"9aab3164-4996-46f9-af1e-861bfd5f738e","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Skills Based Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
You may also be asked self-management or values-based questions. These are the more common type of behavioural question.
\n
\nFor example:<\/p>\n\n
\n\t
Describe a time you took responsibility for a problem.<\/li>\n\t
What steps do you take when you need to share bad news?<\/li>\n\t
Tell us about an experience you had handling a stressful situation.<\/li>\n\t
Tell us about a disappointment and describe how you coped.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Notice that these questions require the past tense<\/em> for your answers.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"e869e7bc-46a4-415a-b6af-9c6271cf190b","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Self-Management Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
A situational or scenario question is one employers use when they want to see how you would handle a specific situation - something that is likely to happen on the job. Some examples are below, but keep in mind that many situational questions will be employer or job-specific. The key is to figure out what kind of information the employer is looking for. Do they want to find out how organized you are or how calm you would be in a crisis? Perhaps they are assessing your honesty, or your willingness to ask for help if you really need it. You must always listen very carefully to situational questions.<\/p>\n\n
Here are some examples:<\/p>\n\n
\n\t
You are feeling disrespected by another team member. How do you handle this situation?<\/li>\n\t
You were asked to do something that is beyond your job description, but you did it to help out. You are now expected to do this new task on an ongoing basis. What would you do?<\/li>\n\t
You have a client who yells at you. What would you do?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
These examples are simple scenarios; in an actual interview they may be more elaborate or job-specific. To prepare, think about real situations that you might experience in your field or occupation.<\/p>\n\n
Notice that these questions usually require the future tense<\/em> for your answers.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"19a597fb-e8e8-49fe-accc-f28f8454dacb","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Situational Questions"}],"hTag":"h2"},"library":"H5P.Accordion 1.0","metadata":{"contentType":"Accordion","license":"U","title":"Options"},"subContentId":"1f3dfde7-f8c1-4a43-8191-2196f2564b19"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.16","subContentId":"61b6bf8d-4896-42c5-b7be-16392b99091e","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Question Types"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"library":"H5P.Accordion 1.0","params":{"panels":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"
\n\t
Tell me about yourself.<\/li>\n\t
What are your strengths?<\/li>\n\t
What are your weaknesses?<\/li>\n\t
Why do you want this job?<\/li>\n\t
Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?<\/li>\n\t
What's your ideal company?<\/li>\n\t
What attracted you to this company?<\/li>\n\t
Why should we hire you?<\/li>\n\t
What did you like least about your last job?<\/li>\n\t
When were you most satisfied with in your job?<\/li>\n\t
What can you do for us that other candidates can't?<\/li>\n\t
What were the responsibilities of your last position?<\/li>\n\t
Why are you leaving your present job?<\/li>\n\t
What do you know about this industry?<\/li>\n\t
What do you know about our company?<\/li>\n\t
Are you willing to relocate?<\/li>\n\t
Why did you choose to work in this profession?<\/li>\n\t
What key personal traits prepare you to work successfully in this field?<\/li>\n\t
What is your goal in this field; what impact do you want to make?<\/li>\n\t
How has your education prepared you for work in this field?<\/li>\n\t
How would your team members describe you?<\/li>\n\t
How would your managers describe you?<\/li>\n\t
How would your clients describe you?<\/li>\n\t
Do you have any questions for me?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"537bdd03-70aa-45f2-b385-2bce17e0752a"},"title":"Basic Interview Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
\n\t
What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?<\/li>\n\t
Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.<\/li>\n\t
Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?<\/li>\n\t
Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?<\/li>\n\t
What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?<\/li>\n\t
What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?<\/li>\n\t
If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?<\/li>\n\t
What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?<\/li>\n\t
Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.<\/li>\n\t
If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?<\/li>\n\t
What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?<\/li>\n\t
What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision?<\/li>\n\t
Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.<\/li>\n\t
Describe how you saved time or money in your last position.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you had to adapt to a change in the way your company did business.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you had to deal with an upset client.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you had to change the way you did something or adapt to a new method or technique.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time your confidence helped you through a crisis situation at work.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about your most stressful work-related situation and how you handled it.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about your experience working in a diverse workplace.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you were asked by a supervisor or superior to do something you knew was wrong.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about the steps you have taken to ensure you delivered the best service.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you did something that went beyond your job description.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you worked with a team to improve the service offered by your organization.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about your most challenging team experience, your role, and how you handled it.<\/li>\n\t
Give me an example of a time you had to deal with a difficult situation.<\/li>\n\t
Give me an example of a time you had to meet a tight deadline.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about your strategy for staying up-to-date on rules and regulations, policies and procedures.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time your ethics were challenged.<\/li>\n\t
Describe your most creative idea for making improvements to your work-flow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"1fedc949-408f-4cd8-a691-fca0e0803461"},"title":"Behavioural Interview Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
1. Tell me about a time you had to handle multiple responsibilities. How did you organize the work you needed to do?<\/span><\/p>\n\n
While attending college, I also worked at a bank. I was successful because I practiced good time-management skills and I made a to-do list every day. As I completed each task, I checked it off the list. It is funny how something so simple can keep you so organized. As a result of my to-do lists, I was able to visualize my daily progress. <\/p>\n\n
2. Give an example of a time in which you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision. <\/span><\/p>\n\n
One recent example was when we had our computer system die. It died at the worst possible time, on a Friday and I needed to get it back up and running quickly. My boss usually handles these things but she was away, so I called tech support to get us back up and running. That rectified the problem and got the system up thirty minutes later. <\/p>\n\n
3. Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
My previous employer had asked for bids on a phone system for our company. Two companies came in very close with their bids, and most of my department wanted to go with a vendor that we have used in the past. After I looked over the proposals, I fetl that this was the wrong decision. So, I talked individually with each member of our staff and was able to change their minds and get the best product that would save money and provide the highest quality.<\/p>\n\n
4. Sometimes it's easy to get in \"over your head.\" Describe a situation where you had to request help or assistance on a project or assignment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
It's impossible to know everything in this sector due to ongoing regulation changes. So recently we were having trouble with our Corporate Tax rebate. I had to call my counterpart in Beijing to help me out. The nice thing about asking for help is that when you get the assistance, you can learn from what you are told and apply it to future situations.<\/p>\n\n
5.Describe a situation that required a number of things to be done at the same time. How did you handle it? What was the result?<\/span><\/p>\n\n
In my previous job, I had to handle multiple responsibilities in developing new projects, maintaining existing ones, and maintaining good client relations. I allocated a certain amount of time for each area daily. Clients could see very clearly that projects were progressing, and I had more satisfaction in accomplishing multiple tasks under pressure.<\/p>\n\n
6. Tell of a time when your active listening skills really paid off for you, maybe a time when other people missed the key idea being expressed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
When I presented my senior research in university, I was questioned by the members of my major department as a \"panel.\" My grade was determined largely on my ability to answer the questions effectively and smoothly, which depended very much on my ability to listen carefully to what was being asked. I had seen other students slip up when they misunderstood what the panel was asking because they didn't listen well enough. I succeeded in listening well and did well on my presentation.<\/p>\n\n
7. Give me a specific example of a time when a co-worker criticized your work in front of others. How did you respond? How has that event shaped the way you communicate with others?<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Another manager became upset with me since some projects were not being completed. Without discussing the situation with me first, she criticized me in front of one of the employees I directly supervised. I was upset that she made me look bad in front of my workers, but I remained calm and asked her to step into the office so that we could talk about it in more detail. We discussed the problem, and she learned that the non-completion of the tasks was not my fault. Another manager did not receive his instructions telling him the tasks he needed to complete. After that I learned not to jump to conclusions when dealing with others with whom I work and that sometimes a miscommunication can lead to a much larger problem. I've learned to get the complete facts.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"184d4a03-1653-40e7-92a8-d4d9ea25f08d"},"title":"Behavioural Interview Questions - Example Answers"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
You may be asked to consider ethical dilemmas that you have dealt with or may be presented with in a workplace. Imagine being asked the following interview questions:<\/p>\n\n
\n\t
Tell me about an ethically challenging situation you experienced at work. How did you respond?<\/li>\n\t
Describe how you would respond to a co-worker who was acting against your profession's Code of Ethics.<\/li>\n\t
What would you do if your client or supervisor wanted you to do something you thought was unethical?<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you experienced a situation when confidentiality was an issue.<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about an ethical dilemma you faced. Are you satisfied with the way you handled it?<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about a time you had to make an ethical decision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Think about examples you could use to answer these questions or 'stories' you could share with an employer.<\/p>\n\n
This article<\/a> from Indeed.com gives you more tips for answering ethics-based interview questions.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","subContentId":"d9aefa6b-d083-478d-a12e-7d6e792e4234","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"}},"title":"Ethics Based Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
\n\t
What salary are you seeking?<\/li>\n\t
What's your salary history?<\/li>\n\t
If I were to give you the salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"01b0f100-fb4b-486a-bf2a-d2c53ad03aaa"},"title":"Salary Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
\n\t
What are you looking for in terms of career development?<\/li>\n\t
How do you want to improve yourself in the next year?<\/li>\n\t
What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?<\/li>\n\t
If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would they suggest?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"a95c6c6f-db93-4cec-826c-ec68faf2ed47"},"title":"Career Development Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
\n\t
How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?<\/li>\n\t
How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?<\/li>\n\t
What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?<\/li>\n\t
If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"40ce52bc-bf83-4e85-8141-2aa28f0d012b"},"title":"Getting Started Questions"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"
\n\t
How would you describe your work style?<\/li>\n\t
What would be your ideal working environment?<\/li>\n\t
What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial?<\/li>\n\t
Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.<\/li>\n\t
What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?<\/li>\n\t
If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?<\/li>\n\t
Tell me about your proudest achievement.<\/li>\n\t
Who was your favourite manager and why?<\/li>\n\t
What do you think of your previous boss?<\/li>\n\t
Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?<\/li>\n\t
What kind of personality do you work best with and why?<\/li>\n\t
What are you most proud of?<\/li>\n\t
What do you like to do?<\/li>\n\t
What are your lifelong dreams?<\/li>\n\t
What do you ultimately want to become?<\/li>\n\t
What is your personal mission statement?<\/li>\n\t
What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?<\/li>\n\t
What negative thing would your last boss say about you?<\/li>\n\t
What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?<\/li>\n\t
What are three positive character traits you don't have?<\/li>\n\t
If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?<\/li>\n\t
List five words that describe your character.<\/li>\n\t
Who has impacted you most in your career and how?<\/li>\n\t
What is your greatest fear?<\/li>\n\t
What is your biggest regret and why?<\/li>\n\t
What's the most important thing you learned in school?<\/li>\n\t
Why did you choose your major?<\/li>\n\t
What will you miss about your present\/last job?<\/li>\n\t
What is your greatest achievement outside of work?<\/li>\n\t
What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?<\/li>\n\t
Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?<\/li>\n\t
How do you feel about taking no for an answer?<\/li>\n\t
How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?<\/li>\n\t
Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.<\/li>\n\t
There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?<\/li>\n\t
What's the last book you read?<\/li>\n\t
What magazines do you subscribe to?<\/li>\n\t
What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?<\/li>\n\t
What would you do if you won the lottery?<\/li>\n\t
Who are your heroes?<\/li>\n\t
What do you like to do for fun?<\/li>\n\t
What do you do in your spare time?<\/li>\n\t
What is your favorite memory from childhood?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"c0a2fbec-8099-4fcd-aa7d-6320e3efda8a"},"title":"More About You"}],"hTag":"h2"},"metadata":{"title":"Common Interview Questions","license":"U","contentType":"Accordion"},"subContentId":"8e073ecc-590e-437c-b289-abd9bdb87452"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.16","subContentId":"fef8d78d-1e62-4386-8c9b-fdd71cd2329e","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Common Questions"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"
How much detail do you provide?
\n
\nIf your answers are short the employer won't have enough information to determine that you are the right fit for the position. If your answers are too long, the employer may get lost or lose interest. Practice until you find the right balance.<\/p>\n\n
An answer is usually up to 1 minute in length, with a 2-minute maximum. Time yourself, you will be surprised how much you can say in a minute. You can also ask the interviewer if they need you to expand.<\/p>\n\n
Not Giving Enough Detail <\/p>\n\n
Replying in generalities instead of responding with a specific situation is the most typical mistake. When interviewers ask, \"Tell me about a time when?\" they are looking for a short but complete story describing a situation, what happened, and the outcome. Give the interviewer a concrete example, and don't make them work to get details. Many people offer a one-word or one-sentence response, failing to elaborate.<\/p>\n\n
Too Rehearsed or Polished<\/p>\n\n
At the other extreme, some candidates are so well-rehearsed that they sound like they have memorized all the answers. While it's a good idea to be prepared, an interviewer may become suspicious if your answers sound too polished and rehearsed. It is important to be natural and sincere, relaxed and spontaneous in the interview. Sincerity helps the interviewer get to know the real you.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"5ae7d45e-2cc2-49f7-beac-126f3129a714"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.16","subContentId":"2d55d5ee-16ef-4491-96a9-fd3c782a0094","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Preparing Answers"}},{"params":{"content":[{"useSeparator":"auto","content":{"params":{"text":"
Before the interview, take some time to review the job posting or job description. Review your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and cover letter as well. Create a list of questions you think you may be asked and then practice your answers.<\/p>\n\n
You will also want to research the organization and learn anything else you can about the position. This information will help you target your answers. It will also help you prepare to answer the following interview questions: <\/p>\n\n
\n\t
What do you know about our organization?<\/li>\n\t
What is it about this position that interests you?<\/li>\n\t
How are you suitable for this position?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
The organization's website is the best way to learn, but you can also use Google to find more information. If you have the interviewer's name, you can search them as well. If you have a LinkedIn profile, consider connecting with or following the organization.
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\nBe sure to find out exactly where your interview will take place so you can make travel arrangements and ensure you have enough time to get there without rushing. Add in extra time for any unforeseen travel problems like road closures or accidents.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"e867463e-f09b-4631-9178-42b82d19d23d"}}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.16","subContentId":"8f4f2b9d-2452-418a-a212-647a150638e3","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Research Before You Go"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"text":"
People are influenced by appearance. This means the image you project in a job interview is very important. You will want to dress in a way that tells the employer you fit the position. You may learn this from researching the company (look for pictures of people working in the office), or you could consider calling the company to ask about their dress code.
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\nIf you are unsure about what to wear, a conservative suit is a safe bet. Men should wear a shirt and tie with a suit, or with dress pants and a sports jacket.<\/p>\n\n
Women\u2019s styles are less traditional, but a suit of jacket and dress pants or jacket and skirt, paired with a blouse is always safe. Depending on the style, a dress, or a skirt or dress pants paired with a \u2018dressy\u2019 blouse or sweater could also be worn.<\/p>\n\n
Navy or grey are ideal colours and a white shirt\/blouse is always acceptable. If you want to avoid spending a lot of money on an interview outfit, thrift stores are great places to look.<\/p>\n\n
Being neat and tidy and well-groomed is critical, keeping jewelry to a minimum. Avoid using perfume and aftershave as many people have allergies to these.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"fc7c44e3-0861-4e68-ad61-48f8ed46ff51"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.16","subContentId":"9bb24b0e-75c5-4d46-a868-95a3fb5dc9ba","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"What to Wear"}},{"params":{"content":[{"content":{"params":{"taskDescription":"
Drag the words into the correct boxes to find the extra tips.<\/p>\n","overallFeedback":[{"from":0,"to":100}],"checkAnswer":"Check","tryAgain":"Retry","showSolution":"Show solution","dropZoneIndex":"Drop Zone @index.","empty":"Drop Zone @index is empty.","contains":"Drop Zone @index contains draggable @draggable.","ariaDraggableIndex":"@index of @count draggables.","tipLabel":"Show tip","correctText":"Correct!","incorrectText":"Incorrect!","resetDropTitle":"Reset drop","resetDropDescription":"Are you sure you want to reset this drop zone?","grabbed":"Draggable is grabbed.","cancelledDragging":"Cancelled dragging.","correctAnswer":"Correct answer:","feedbackHeader":"Feedback","behaviour":{"enableRetry":true,"enableSolutionsButton":true,"enableCheckButton":true,"instantFeedback":false},"scoreBarLabel":"You got :num out of :total points","a11yCheck":"Check the answers. The responses will be marked as correct, incorrect, or unanswered.","a11yShowSolution":"Show the solution. The task will be marked with its correct solution.","a11yRetry":"Retry the task. Reset all responses and start the task over again.","textField":"1. Create a list of *questions* you think you may be asked and practice answering them.\n2. Think about your past *experiences* that have had positive outcomes.\n3. Think about personal like experiences and the *skills* you demonstrated.\n4. Remember to answer behavioural and situational questions using the *STAR* method.\n5. Answer questions out loud - it is *important* to hear your voice.\n6. Have a *friend* help you practice.\n7. *Record* your answers, then listen to them.\n8. *Time* your answers so that you keep your responses to 1-2 minutes long.\n9. If it helps, write out your *answers* or use bullet points for ideas.\n10. Get familiar with your key points, don't *memorize* your answers."},"library":"H5P.DragText 1.10","metadata":{"contentType":"Drag Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Drag Text"},"subContentId":"e43f93e8-8312-4d79-ba13-b78d6a24d02b"},"useSeparator":"auto"}]},"library":"H5P.Column 1.16","subContentId":"b044ff5e-86fa-4e4f-96b0-9be39b033095","metadata":{"contentType":"Column","license":"U","title":"Final Tips"}}],"behaviour":{"defaultTableOfContents":true,"progressIndicators":true,"progressAuto":true,"displaySummary":true},"read":"Read","displayTOC":"Display 'Table of contents'","hideTOC":"Hide 'Table of contents'","nextPage":"Next page","previousPage":"Previous page","chapterCompleted":"Page completed!","partCompleted":"@pages of @total completed","incompleteChapter":"Incomplete page","navigateToTop":"Navigate to the top","markAsFinished":"I have finished this page","fullscreen":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreen":"Exit fullscreen","bookProgressSubtext":"@count of @total pages","interactionsProgressSubtext":"@count of @total interactions","submitReport":"Submit Report","restartLabel":"Restart","summaryHeader":"Summary","allInteractions":"All interactions","unansweredInteractions":"Unanswered interactions","scoreText":"@score \/ @maxscore","leftOutOfTotalCompleted":"@left of @max interactions completed","noInteractions":"No interactions","score":"Score","summaryAndSubmit":"Summary & submit","noChapterInteractionBoldText":"You have not interacted with any pages.","noChapterInteractionText":"You have to interact with at least one page before you can see the summary.","yourAnswersAreSubmittedForReview":"Your answers are submitted for review!","bookProgress":"Book progress","interactionsProgress":"Interactions progress","totalScoreLabel":"Total score","a11y":{"progress":"Page @page of @total.","menu":"Toggle navigation menu"}}

Interviews: Types, Topics and Tips

Donna Naylor