Career Education
and Management
Module 3: Interviews
Overview:
.The Interview Module will help you to understand how best to prepare and respond to behavioural interviews. Behavioral interviewing is
based on the premise that the best way to predict
future behaviour is to determine past behaviour,
by asking leading questions in the interview.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this module the student will:
• Be able to effectively use the Interview tool in
Optimal Resume and to continue to practise
your interview skills with commonly asked
questions in preparation for the real thing.
• Have the knowledge on how to record yourself in an interview situation speaking into
the camera, record yourself, listen to ‘correct
versions of an appropriate answer and then
watch yourself answering the interview question, paying particular attention to your body
language, what you are doing with your hands,
where your eye contact is, the actual response
and example you gave within your interview
response and the tone and speed of your voice.
• Understand what a behavioral-based interview
is all about; why it is used; what information
the Interviewer is trying to get from you and
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the importance of using the STAR format and
structure in answering the questions you are
being asked during your interview.
• Be prepared to ask 1 or 2 smart questions of
your own at the end of your interview.
• Understand the importance of doing research
on the company you are interviewing with
BEFORE the interview and how important it is
to weave company knowledge with your own
expertise and skill set.
Content Exploration
Mock Interview:
Behavioural-based interviews typically test for
three types of knowledge:
1) Skills which are work-specific, such as computer programming, accounting, or welding.
2) Functional or transferable skills, such as organizing, managing, developing, leading, communicating and problem-solving.
Interviewing is a skill that takes practice and gets easier the more often you do it.
The key to success is knowing your product
- YOU!
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
3) Adaptive or self-management skills, which
include personal characteristics and qualities such
as being dependable, team-oriented, self-directed
or punctual.
Every hiring decision is critical. Behavioral interviewing is designed to minimize personal impressions that can affect the hiring decision. By
focusing on the applicant’s actions and behaviours,
rather than subjective impressions that can sometimes be misleading, interviewers are able to now
make more accurate hiring decisions. Instead of
asking how you would behave in a particular situation, the interviewer will ask you to describe how
you actually did behave.
Expect the interviewer to question and probe
(think of it like peeling the layers on an onion).
The interviewer will ask you to provide details and
will not allow you to merely theorize or generalize
about several events – the interviewer will insist
on concrete, tangible facts and details to listen for
organization of your STAR’s.
STARS...
Situation as it existed; Tasks; Actions
that you specifically took, and Results for bottom line results of by you
taking these actions)
They will be looking for details on what this mean
for the project, the team, the issue, the problem,
the department, the company. The interviewer
is listening closely for the value you brought to a
former project and overall your former position.
Everything in your interview should be geared
towards your ABS: accomplishments-based statements.
The interview will be a very structured process
that will concentrate on areas very important to
the interviewer, rather than allowing you, the
interviewee, to focus on areas that you may feel are
important.
Most interviewers will be taking copious notes
throughout the interview, so do not be taken aback
by that. They will want to refresh their memories
when they review candidates.
The behavioural interviewer has been trained to
objectively collect and evaluate information and
works from a profile of desired behaviors that are
required for success on the job. Because the behaviors a candidate has demonstrated in previous
similar positions are likely to be repeated, you will
be asked to share situations in which you may or
may not have exhibited these behaviors. Your answers will be tested for accuracy and consistency.
If you are an entry-level candidate with no previous related experience, the interviewer will look
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
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for behaviours in situations similar to those of the
target position.
Preparing your STARS
(Situation as it existed; Tasks; Actions that you
specifically took, and Results for bottom line results of by you taking these actions)
When preparing for your STAR answers in anticipation of your interview, please consider the
following as areas in your life, from which to draw
accomplishments, successes, and where you have
added value:
•
From high school, in for example, you have
come to College shortly after graduating from high
school. Were you actively involved in your Student Union/Student Council, did you win/receive
any awards, accolades, honorariums, scholarships?
Were you Team captain in sports? Did you teach/
coach/mentor/train anyone? Were you camp
counsellor one summer?
•
Consider your program here at Sheridan
College – group work, being involved in team
work – were there conflicts you helped to solve
within the team, did you demonstrate leadership
qualities, presentation skills, time management
skills, prioritization skills
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•
Paid employment – think of situations/times
when you added significant value and went over
and above expectations. Were you ever awarded
employee of the week, given acknowledgement /
praise by a supervisor?
•
Volunteer and community involvement
– employers love to see volunteer involvement
on your resume – again, when did you go over
and above the call of duty – think back to your
achievements and your accomplishments.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
There are hundreds of possible interview questions
from which interviewers can draw from. Specific
questions are asked to gather certain information.
The following are typical questions that you may
come across and suggestions for
Tell me about yourself
•
Time yourself – your answer should be no
longer than 90 seconds. Zero in on the key bullet
points
•
Who you are?
•
What do you want career-wise
•
Your education relevant to the position you
are going for
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
•
Experience – only what is relevant to the
position you are interviewing for
•
One thing you like and are good at
•
How you will make a solid contribution to
the company.
TIP - Answers should focus on work
experience, accomplishments and
skills upgrades that fit the job wherever possible. In the case of young
graduates the focus will be more educational background (knowledge)
and transferable skills.
Why do you want to work for our company?
•
A combination of the opportunity to contribute appropriate skills combined with a valuing of the company is the ideal answer. Answers
should project sincerity. The idea is for interviewees to communicate that they have researched
the company and demonstrate the ability to link
themselves to the company.
How would you describe your strengths?
•
Strengths should focus on skills (technical
and adaptive) as related to the position.
•
Describe a professional achievement of
which you are especially proud.
Other interview questions to give
some thought to:
•
If you were the successful candidate for this
position what changes, improvements would you
make?
•
Tell me about a time when you were particularly influential or persuasive in communicating
an idea or proposal to an individual or group.
•
Give me an example of when you lead others in implementing a plan or solving a problem.
•
Tell me about one of the toughest team in
which you had to work. What was your role? Why
was it tough?
•
Being successful takes more than luck.
Hard work is necessary in order to achieve. Tell me
about a time when you had to work very hard to
reach your goals and please be specific about what
you achieved.
•
Describe a high pressure situation you had
to handle at work. Tell me what happened, who
was involved, and what you did in terms of problem solving.
•
Tell me about a time when you were willing
to disagree with another person in order to build a
positive outcome.
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
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•
From your experience identify some examples of specific projects that demonstrated your
technical expertise.
•
When we get emotionally involved in a
problem situation, it is often very difficult to be
objective. Tell me about a time when you were
proud of your ability to be objective.
•
What kind of feedback have you been given
in your past performance reviews and what actions Have you taken towards this feedback?
Sample Behavioral-Based Interview
Questions:
•
Describe a situation in which you were able
to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way.
•
Describe a time when you were faced with
a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping
skills.
•
Give me a specific example of a time when
you used good judgment and logic in solving a
problem.
•
Give me an example of a time when you set
a goal and were able to meet or achieve it.
•
Tell me about a time when you had to use
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your presentation skills to influence someone’s
opinion.
•
Give me a specific example of a time when
you had to conform to a policy with which you did
not agree.
•
Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.
•
Tell me about a time when you had to go
above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a
job done.
•
Tell me about a time when you had too
many things to do and you were required to prioritize your tasks.
•
Give me an example of a time when you
had to make a split second decision.
•
What is your typical way of dealing with
conflict? Give me an example.
•
Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that
individual may not have personally liked you (or
vice versa).
•
Tell me about a difficult decision you’ve
made in the last year.
•
Give me an example of a time when you attemplted to accomplish something and failed.
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
•
Give me an example of when you showed
initiative and took the lead.
•
Tell me about a recent situation in which
you had to deal with a very upset customer or coworker.
•
Give me an example of a time when you
motivated others.
•
Tell me about a time when you delegated a
project effectively.
•
Give me an example of a time when you
used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.
•
Tell me about a time when you missed an
obvious solution to a problem.
•
Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.
•
Tell me about a time when you were forced
to make an unpopular decision.
•
Please tell me about a time you had to fire a
friend.
•
Describe a time when you set your sights
too high (or too low).
SELF ASSESSMENT
Let’s begin with you telling me about yourself
TIP - Follow the PAGEE acronym –
something about your personality,
state one or two achievements, goal –
for example to complete a university
degree after your Sheridan Diploma;
to join an Association in your field
and Education – your current program at Sheridan College
What are your strengths?
Answer tip: Use the STAR, provide a real life work
or school example of your strength and make it
connect with a strength required for the position
which you are now interviewing for.
What is your weakness?
Answer tip: Respond with One of the challenges I
experienced in the past was _____ _ do not use the
word “weakness”, show the steps and action you
took in order to overcome the challenge and what
this has resulted in today.
What do you know about our company?
Answer tip: Link the research you have conducted
online on the company website to the skills you
have and to the actual job description – you must
make the linkage and the connection for the employer. Do not expect the employer to make the
connection.
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
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Tell me about a time when you had to overcome
obstacles to get your job done.
Answer tip: We are looking for a specific example
at work, school, and volunteer involvement.
“What did you do?”
“What did you say?”
“What were you thinking?”
“How did you feel?”
Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement
or confrontation with a boss or co-worker
What was your role?”
Answer tip: Again, we are looking for a specific
example from school, your paid or unpaid volunteer work
ON-LINE ACTIVITIES
Be prepared to answer a technical question regarding your profession.
Using Sheridan College’s Optimal Resume, please
go to Interview Module
Answer tip: Look at the job description and pick
one main skill required and answer a question like,
tell me a time when you have used this skills with
a short deadline, or when have you had many tasks
due at the same time, or when have you used this
skills working with a team?
INTERVIEW GUIDE
Describe a major problem you have faced and how
you dealt with it.
1.
Log onto Optimal Resume using your login
e-mail and password. This will log you into the
‘Document Centre’
What class did you like the most? What did you
like about it?
“What was the result?”
The Interview tool in Optimal Resume allows you
to practise your interview skills with commonly
asked questions in preparation for the real thing.
It has a feature where you can record yourself, and
watch it again later to improve your skills.
Follow-up questions will test for consistency and
determine if you exhibited the desired behaviour
in that situation:
2.
From the document centre, choose ‘Create
New Interview’. Name your interview, perhaps using the name of the company that you are practising for interviewing with. Click ‘Start Interview’.
“Can you give me an example?”
3.
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The program will ask you to select an
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
interview type (note: we encourage you to practice answering behavioral interview questions
because one or two are commonly asked in an
interview). Then, you are required to choose an
interview length and format (suggestion: choose
8-10 questions). You are given a choice as to how
to record the interview. ‘Spoken and Video Recorded” will require a webcam and microphone on
your computer, “Spoken Only” records you voice
with a microphone, “Written” allows you to type
your answers to the questions, and “No Recording” allows you to practice answering questions,
but won’t allow you to review it. Finally, you are
asked to select an interview. Each interviewer may
look and speak differently, but they ask the same
questions. After you have finished choosing your
options, click ‘Continue Interview’ at the bottom
of the screen.
4.
If you are using your webcam, then this
window will open, asking you to allow the program to access your webcam. Choose ‘allow’.
5.
The program will then test your microphone levels. Follow the directions and then
choose ‘Continue Interview’.
6.
Three split screens will appear. The main
one will be the interviewer asking the questions,
and on the right hand side will be your response,
along with a screen shot of your interview coach.
Press play under the coach to hear some tips about
how to answer the question. Press play under the
interviewer to hear the question, and after it has
finished, press record to record your answer. You
only have 2 minutes to answer the question! You
can then save the answer to watch later, redo the
answer, or watch the answer right away. The answer will be saved when you move onto the next
question, and you can access it from the document
centre at any time.
SUMMARY
Upon completion of this module, you will:
•
Have a solid understanding that an interview is to share information regarding your skills,
experience, personality and interests and to gain
further information about the actual position and
your potential fit within the organization.
•
Be able to effectively use the Interview tool
in Optimal Resume and to continue to practise
your interview skills with commonly asked questions in preparation for the real thing.
•
Have the knowledge to record yourself in
an interview situation speaking into the camera,
record yourself, listen to ‘correct versions of an
appropriate answer and then watch yourself answering the interview question, paying particular
attention to your body language, what you are do-
Career Education and Management: Module 3: Interviews
9
ing with your hands, where your eye contact is, the You will understand common job interview misactual response and example you gave within your takes.
interview response and the tone and speed of your
You will have knowledge of the importance of
voice.
making a positive first impression and of writing a
courteous and professional thank-you letter after
•
Understand the importance of asking one
or two SMART questions at the end of your inter- your interview sent within 24 hours of your interview.
view.
•
Understand how important interview
preparation is and you will be able to zone in on
the importance of researching yourself – Know
yourself, in terms of knowing your abilities, interests, skills, experience and personality, as well
as your strengths and weaknesses in each of these
areas, know the Job you’re applying for, and know
the organization, through research.
•
Understand the importance of structuring
your answers in the STAR structure, taking into
account your accomplishments, achievements
and value-added from work, school, placements,
and volunteer/community involvement, as well as
sports and student union/student council.
Using the STAR format will be able to demonstrate
to an employer how you have handled difficult
situations in the past, which is an excellent indicator of how you will deal with similar situations in
the future – past behavior is an excellent indicator
or predictor of future behavior.
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