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the interview

interview do's and don'ts:

do

Do make sure you are familiar with the job description, including all of the skills and qualifications required. Keep a job search binder with copies of all of the job postings you have applied to.
Do keep your answers brief and to the point.
Do take a moment to gather your thoughts before answering a question.
Do arrive a few minutes earlier for your appointment.
Do allow yourself extra travel time to get to the interview.
Do dress appropriately. Click here for tips
Do send a thank you letter or e-mail after the interview.
Be polite and professional to the receptionist and other staff.
Do your homework before the interview - research the company.

There are a variety of ways to research the company, including: the Internet (most companies have a website), Public library (books, periodicals, magazines, trade journals, etc.), Literature from company's public relations department, Annual reports.

don't

Don't be late for your interview! Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview. Plan your route and if you are unfamiliar with the area try making a practice trip to the interview location.
Don't talk negatively about former employers and co-workers.
Don't try to "wing it" - prepare for your interview in advance - practice interview questions with a friend (or tape recorder), research the company and prepare your interview clothes.

sample interview questions

Tell me about yourself.
Why are you interested in this position?
What is one of your greatest strengths?
What is one of your weaknesses?
What would your past employers say about you?
What kind of books do you have on your bookshelf at home?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Why did you leave your last position?
What are your long term goals?
What do you know about our company?
Can you give me an example of how you adapt to new situations?

behavioural questions

Behavioural interview questions focus on actual past experiences you have had in relation to a situation. The theory behind behavioural interviewing is that the best predictor of future perfomance is past performance in similar circumstances. Based on this theory, the purpose of interviewing is to predict performance and the best "fit".

sample questions include

Describe a time when you had to work as part of a team to meet a tight deadline.
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult client or customer. How did you handle the situation.
Describe a time when you adapted a policy or procedures in order to accomplish a task.
Tell me about a time when you took it upon yourself to correct a customer service problem.
Describe a time when you persuaded another person to take or change a course of action.
Describe a stress situation that you have been in recently and how you handled it.

When responding to behavioural interview questions, use the P.A.R. formula:

Problem - describe a specific problem or situation
Action - how did you solve the problem or react to the situation
Result - what was the outcome

for example:

(Problem) I had a customer who was very angry because her order was mixed up.
(Action) I spent several minutes on the phone with her to get all of the details and I was finally able to resolve her problem.
(Result) The customer was very happy and wrote me a thank you letter.

To prepare for your interview try to anticipate what kinds of questions will be asked based on the job description. Write out a list of sample questions and try to think of some specific examples of how you used these skills. For example, if the position requires extensive customer service skills try to think of some specific situations where you used these skills.

telephone interviews

Employers will often do the initial pre-screening of candidates over the phone. This is a time saver for employers and recruiters but it can be a challenge for job seekers.

If you don't feel prepared to conduct a telephone interview on the spot (ie. you are out shopping and the call comes on your cellphone, you are in the middle of changing your son's diapers), politely ask the the recruiter if you can call them back in a few minutes.
Turn off the T.V. or radio!
Keep a your job search binder (a binder with all of the copies of job postings) and a copy of your résumé by the phone.
Talk with some enthusiasm in your voice.

Don't assume that a recruiter or HR Assistant who is making the call is not important enough to impress. Remember even if this person is not responsible for making the final hiring decision, it is their job to make sure that the best candidates are brought in for an interview.

job fairs

Be prepared to give a "5 second introduction".

For example: Hi, my name is Pam I have 5 years experience working for CIBC and I am looking for a position as an Accounting Clerk.
- OR -
Hi my name is Andrew, I just graduated from the Business Administration program at Seneca College and I am looking for an entry level management trainee position. I am also flexible to consider other entry level office positions.

Please don't say you are looking for ANY job.

If you truly are flexible about what kind of position you are willing to take, you can say something like; "My first choice would be to obtain a ____________ position but right now I am also open to considering other part-time or full-time temporary positions or entry level positions in my field."

Bring plenty of copies of your résumé.
Dress professionally.
Collect business cards from the recruiters and follow up with them a few days after the job fair.

Write a short note on the back of the card to remind you if your conversation with the recruiter. (ie. recruiting customer service positions, asked me to follow up next week).