Karen McClughan
myCareer Centre
A218 – 15
519 542 7751 Ext. 3386
[email protected]
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Lambton College
INTERVIEWING
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•Advance Preparation
•Interview Attire
•Day of the interview
•Behavioural Based Interviews
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Objectives
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Advanced Preparation
is the
Key
to Interview Success!
3
• Company Research
• Questions employer could ask
• Mock interview
• Practice interview questions – out loud
• Appearance
• Questions you will ask
• Location
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Advanced Preparation
4
•More effective in an interview
•Employers have an expectation
that you are aware of their
services, products, locations,
current events etc
•Assists you in making informed
employment decisions
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Why Research a Company?
5
•COMPANY RESEARCH
•Interviews are a two way street!
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Interview Preparation
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Preparing for Interview
• Prepare practice questions
• Tell me about yourself
• Why should we hire you
• What are your strengths/weaknesses
• Wrap up at end – FINAL SELL
• Practice out loud
• Optimal Resume interview prep
• Arrange mock interview
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• Training?
• Typical work assignments?
• Daily work?
• Required travel?
• Opportunities for growth?
• Professional Development?
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Prepare Questions YOU Could Ask
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• Dress conservatively in business attire
• Shoes in good repair
• Good hygiene
• No visible body piercing/tattoos
• Hair neatly styled
• Basic jewelry
• No perfume/cologne
• Men – shave
• Women – modest make up
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What to Wear….Appearance
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Interview Attire is
NOT Club/Bar Attire
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WOMEN
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MEN
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•
Arrive at
least 10 – 15
minutes
early
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Lambton College
The Day Of The Interview
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The Day Of The Interview
• You have researched the company!
• You’ve done a mock interview!
• You’re properly dressed!
• You’re early for your interview!
• YOU ARE CONFIDENT & PREPARED!
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What To Bring?
• Resume
• Transcript
• Reference Letters
• Notepaper/pen
• Portfolio
• Samples of Work
• If you do not have a
portfolio bring materials
in a folder
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Stages Of An Interview
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reception/Lobby
Introduction (Greeting)
Small Talk (brief)
Discussion of the Company
Q&A
Opportunity to Ask Questions of Company
Final “Sell”!!!
Thank You!
• In person & by letter
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During the Interview - handshake
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During the Interview – eye contact
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During The Interview - posture
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One of the most common
reasons that interviews
fail is the candidate does
NOT answer the question
that was asked
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During the Interview
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• Do not discuss family in the
interview
• Not asking any or the wrong
questions
• Weak answers
• Play on sympathy of interviewer
• Too long/short answers
• Not being prepared
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Interview Pitfalls
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Typical Interview Question
• “What would you do if…?”
Behavioural Based Interview Question
• “Tell me about a time when…?”
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Behavioural Based Interviewing
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The best predictor of
FUTURE behaviour is
PAST behaviour in a
similar situation !
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PHILOSOPHY
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•Sifts out candidates who haven’t
had the experience they are
looking for
•The candidate must offer solid
back-up to what was outlined on
the cover letter and resume
•Standard marking scheme allows
for equitable candidate ranking
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Why Do Employers Like It?
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• Allows the candidate to relate the
question to their real life
experiences
• There is no one “right” answer
• Allows the candidate to draw on
ANY past experiences and highlight
transferable skills
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How Does It Benefit You?
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• In a written test, if you don’t write
down the answers, you don’t get a
mark.
• The same is true for an interview…if
it doesn’t come out of your mouth,
you don’t get the points!
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INTERVIEW TIP!
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How Does It Work?
• You must create proof stories that provide
“proof” to support the claims that you have
made on your resume.
• Proof stories demonstrate specific skills that
you possess by providing factual examples
from your own life experiences.
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PROOF STORIES
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• Adaptability
• Communication
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Getting along with
difficult people
• Conflict
• Initiative
• Problem Solving
• Safety Awareness
• Teamwork
• Computer Proficiency
• Work Standards
• Organization
• Perseverance
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Skills Proof Story Examples
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Creating A Proof Story
= Situation/
= Task
= Action
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•S
•T
•A
•R
= Result
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REMEMBER:
STORIES ARE 3 PARTS
•BEGINNING (Situation/Task)
•MIDDLE (Action)
•END (Result)
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DETAILS
ARE
IMPORTANT!
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Enhancing your Proof Story
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Details tell the story
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LOOK FOR
THE QUESTION
BEHIND
THE QUESTION!
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ANOTHER TIP:
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Behavioural Based Interviewing
• Problem Solving
“Give me an example of a time when you stayed
focused on a goal even though you were faced with
setbacks and others had given up?”
• Perseverance
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“Give me an example that you feel best demonstrates
your ability to solve problems”
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Behavioural Based Interviewing
“Tell me about a time when you had a conflict
with someone and how you resolved it .”
“Describe a situation in which you did more that
was required to achieve the goal. Tell us why
you put out the extra effort and what the result
was.”
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• Problem solving, communication
• Initiative
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“Tell me about a time
that you had to use your
judgment and make a
decision in your previous
job .”
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QUESTION
36
Situation/Task
was responsible for
ordering office supplies
for the company.”
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“I
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“The company always ordered a month's
supply at a time to keep inventory costs
low. I had to decide whether to keep
doing this or buy six month's supply and
get a discount for ordering a much larger
volume and escape possible future price
increases. I did some research and
worked out we could reduce our costs by
buying for six months, especially since
the amount we used remained
practically unchanged month to month.”
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Action
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Result
up quite a bit during those
six months. I saved the
company 15% and my boss
was impressed with the
decision that I made.”
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“I was right, the prices went
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“Describe a time when you
were faced with a stressful
situation that
demonstrated your coping
skills”
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QUESTION
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“I worked for a manager
who used to yell at me
when he was under
pressure to meet
deadlines”
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Situation/Task
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“I got upset the first couple of times and
then I decided to talk to him about it. I
empathized with the stress he was under
and suggested that he communicate his
expectations clearly to me on a daily basis
so that I knew exactly when he needed
something and I could also give him
feedback on progress. We arranged an early
morning feedback meeting every day.”
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Action
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“My boss thanked me for
bringing this to his attention and
during our daily meetings we
were able to sort out issues
immediately and anticipate likely
problems."
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Result
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Pre Employment Testing
TYPES OF TESTS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Aptitude
Personality
Technical
Drug/Alcohol
Physical
Security Clearances
Criminal Background
Driver’s Abstract
45
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Thank You!
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QUESTIONS?
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