COMM 2232
Communication for Career
Development
Week 6
Interviews
Before the Interview
Research the employer
Review job posting and your skills
Know how to get to the interview
Ask about interview structure - eg. length, #
of interviewers, tests
Practice answers to possible questions
Think of questions to ask interviewer
Know your resume
Print off your list of References
Look your best
Avoid perfume, cologne, excessive make-up
Arrive 10-15 minutes early
Make a good impression on receptionist
Arrange mock interview with career services
Research
Search website, news, databases
to learn as much as you can about the
employer
Products/services
Recent news stories
New projects
Parent company,
subsidiaries, locations
Mission statement
Annual sales/profits
Potential for growth
Industry position,
competitors
Organizational structure,
management style
Employee programs
During the Interview
Types of Interviews
Referral
Screening
Selection
Referral Interview
employer is looking at you for possible future
opportunities
may come through networking, referral from
contacts, or chance meeting at a professional
association meeting
Screening Interview
used by employer to narrow the field of
applicants
doesnt result in a job offer but a second
interview
Selection Interview
from a narrowed list of candidates employer
selects who will get the job
Forms of Interviews
Directed
Unstructured
Stress
Panel
Group
Telephone
Video
Directed
used in screening and selection interviews
highly organized, interviewer often working
from a checklist or script
answers are noted in writing and often scored
1-on-1, panel, telephone
Unstructured
open and relaxed feel
interviewer poses broad questions to
encourage you to talk and show your
personality
used in selection interviews
Stress
point of interview is to make you feel
uncomfortable to see how you react
dont react defensively, remain calm and
answer questions accurately and concisely
Panel
2-5 interviewers, all ask questions
start your answer looking at the person who
asked it
look at others while answering
return your attention to the person who asked
question before you finish your answer
Group
you interview with other applicants
everyone hears the interview questions and
responses from other applicants
may involve group problem solving activities
so employer can see your teamwork skills
Telephone
when you get the call to invite you to an
interview the caller may use the opportunity
to ask you questions or they may be
scheduled in advance
have a quiet place ready with your resume,
job applications, company research, and list
of questions to ask interviewer
Sit dont stand/pace; dont eat, drink, or
smoke
dress the way you would for in-person
interview
Video
Test technology beforehand; adjust room
lighting
Dress conservatively in solid colours
Look straight at the camera
control body movements
Types of Questions
Standard/Open-Ended
Behavioural
Situational
Stress
Standard/Open-Ended
Questions
used to determine how well you think on your
feet and how quickly you can focus on the
topic at hand
focus on your skills and how they will benefit the
employer
Behavioural
Questions
questions ask how you handled situations in
the past to see how you might handle them in
the future
Proof Stories
a short story about your past that proves you
have the skills you say you do
useful for all kinds of interview questions
Proof Stories
Story Structure
textbook calls it S.T.A.R
Situation - Task - Action - Result
Career Services calls it P.A.R
Problem - Action - Result
Proof Stories
Situation
What is the context of your story?
Where is the setting? Who are the
characters?
Proof Stories
Task
What were you doing? What goal were you
trying to accomplish? What problem were you
trying to solve?
Proof Stories
Action
What did you do to try to accomplish your
goal or solve your problem?
Proof Stories
Result
What were the results of your action? Was the
problem solved or goal achieved?
Proof Stories
Think of your stories as little movies
Situation/Task
like the first 20 minutes of the movie where
the setting, characters and goal of the
protagonist is introduced
Proof Stories
Think of your stories as little movies
Action
middle of the movie where the protagonist
works to achieve their goal
Proof Stories
Think of your stories as little movies
Results
if you leave this out of your story its like
the last 20 minutes of the movie gets cut
off and the viewers are left wondering what
happened
Situational Questions
used to assess your skills, knowledge and
judgement
similar to behavioural questions but instead of
asking about your past, questions pose
hypothetical situations and ask how you would act
in those situations
You can use Proof Stories to add concrete examples to
your answers
interviewers may ask you to role-play situation
Stress Questions
interviewer may try to unnerve you either
with their behaviour or their questions to see
how you react under pressure
If you could be a fruit, what fruit would you
be and why?
SAMPLE Q & A
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_data
base/
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_datab
ase/interview_questions.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_data
base/interview_questions_database.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_datab
ase/wild-card_interview_questions.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/interview_question_datab
Inappropriate
Questions
The Canadian Human Rights Act entitles all
individuals to equal employment opportunities
without regard to:
Race or colour
National or ethnic
origin
Family/marital status
Sex
Pardoned Conviction
Religion
Disability
Age
Sexual Orientation
Are you planning on starting a family in the near
future?
If hired, I will be committed to the position and
perform all the functions of the job.
Didnt answer the illegal question, but didnt
offend the interviewer by pointing out that they
asked an inappropriate question.
Questions to Ask
Interviewer
General Questions
asked to obtain information to help you
decide on whether to accept job offer
Will there be training?
How is an employee evaluated?
Describe a typical job assignment.
Defining Questions
clarify hiring criteria, give employer
opportunity to brag about the organization,
set up your proof stories
What would you like to see accomplished by
the person filling this position?
What are you looking for this department to
accomplish in the next year or so?
Controlling Questions
tricky because they seek answers to
questions difficult to ask; use selectively and
sparingly
can help you in deciding whether to accept
the position; can be used after an offer is
made
Why is this position currently open?
What is a typical career path for someone in
this position?
More Examples:
textbook p. 131-133
Career Services Booklet p. 11
After the Interview
Make notes about what went well and what
could be improved
Send a thank-you letter to interviewer
If you dont get the job, ask for feedback on
why you werent chosen
Thank-You Letter
stand-out with one last contact
send immediately after the interview
dont beg for the job
try to include something new
include any accomplishments you may have
forgot to mention in interview. Keep it brief.
Thank-You Letter
Use same header as resume & cover letter
Address letter to person who interviewed you
or to the leader if it was more than one
interviewer
Thank-You Letter
Paragraph 1
thank interviewer for opportunity to meet
with them
comment on your positive impressions of the
company/organization
Thank-You Letter
Paragraph 2
offer new information about why the
employer should be interested in you,
perhaps something you forgot while in the
interview
repeat the job title you are applying for and
show continued interest in it
Thank-You Letter
Paragraph 3
let employer know you look forward to
hearing from them
make it clear that you are willing to come in
and discuss the job further
Thank-You Letter
Resources for writing a thank-you letter
p. 12-13 Career Services Interview Booklet
p. 88 Textbook
