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Before the Interview

• Research the organization. Identify their clients/customers, partners, goals, philosophy and mission statement. Understand the opportunities and challenges they face. Check recent news or projects they've been involved in.
• Prepare thoughtful questions. Use the job posting and your research to craft insightful questions to demonstrate your engagement and interest.
• Anticipate questions and prepare examples. Analyze the job description to predict potential questions. Think of specific situations or problems you've solved that demonstrate relevant experience. Use the STARS method detailed below to structure answers.

Prepare your Materials

• Bring copies of your resume and references as well as a notebook and a pen for taking notes or jotting down key talking points.
• Choose professional attire. Select an outfit appropriate for the company culture and the role. When unsure, it's better to be slightly overdressed.
• Aim to arrive early. Travel to the location ahead of time to figure out parking, building access and public transport options.
• Visualize success and manage nerves. Envision a positive outcome and practice deep breathing to calm pre-interview jitters.

• Be courteous and respectful. Treat everyone you encounter with kindness and respect, from arrival to departure.
• Make a strong first impression. Greet the interviewer(s) with a confident handshake (if culturally appropriate) and maintain eye contact.
• Maintain positive body language. Once seated, maintain eye contact and an open posture to convey engagement and confidence.
• Listen actively and respond thoughtfully. Pay close attention to questions to ensure full understanding before responding. Take a moment to compose your answer if needed.
• Demonstrate future potential through past actions. Interviewers use descriptions of past actions as predictors for future behaviour. Focus on your previous learnings and achievements.
• Be tactful about past experiences. When discussing previous employers, colleagues or challenging experiences, maintain a professional and constructive tone. Highlight solutions and personal growth, not negativity.
• Don't be afraid to ask for time. If you need a moment to think about a question, simply ask, "Could I have a moment to consider that?"
• Maintain professionalism. Keep communication professional and use appropriate language throughout.
• Inquire about next steps. Towards the end, politely ask about the timeline for a decision and the next steps in the hiring process.

• Express gratitude. Thank the company/organization for the interview opportunity.
• Request contact information (or use LinkedIn). Instead of business cards, politely ask for the interviewer's email or if they are comfortable connecting on LinkedIn.
• Send a timely thank-you note/email. Send a personalized thank you note or email to each interviewer within 24 hours. Reiterate your interest in the position and briefly mention something specific you discussed to help them remember you.

These questions explore your background, experience and career aspirations. They can appear at any point in the interview, often early on.

What They Assess

• Your education, experience and credentials
• Your reasons for applying for the job
• Your interest in the position and how it aligns with your career goals
• Your commitment to continuous learning and professional growth

Examples

• "Tell me about your educational background in relation to this position."
• "Tell me about your most recent relevant experience and how it prepares you for this position."
• "Tell me about your experience in this industry."
• "How does this position fit with your career goals?"
• "What professional development activities have you participated in recently and why did you decide to pursue these activities?"
• "Tell us what you do to remain up-to-date on research in this field."

How to Prepare

• Explain how the position fits within your overall career goals.
• Highlight relevant training or certifications.

BDIs aim to predict future behaviour based on past actions. They focus on real-life experiences from your history that are similar to situations you might encounter in the job. The core principle is that past behaviour indicates future behaviour.

Examples

• "Using a previous job as an example, tell us about a time when you did more than was required or expected."
• "Tell me about the last presentation you gave. What was the topic? How did the audience respond?"
• "Tell me about a time you had to work with someone who was frustrated by their illness/injury."
• "Describe how you have prepared to teach a lesson/seminar in the past."
• "Describe a situation where you had to face both limited financial resources and high expectations."

How to Prepare

• Focus on what you learned from the experience, as this impacts your future behaviour.
• If you haven't been in the exact situation, answer hypothetically (e.g. "If I were in that situation, I would...").
• Use the STARS formula:
  
  • S - Situation: Describe the context in detail (people involved, task, challenges, your role).
  • T - Transferable Skills: Identify the skills you used, especially those required by the employer.
  • A - Action: Explain how you handled the situation, the sequence of actions and how you used your skills.
  • R - Results: Explain the outcome of your actions.
  • S - Self-assessment: Discuss what you learned, how well you handled it, what you'd repeat or do differently. Demonstrate self-awareness and a willingness to improve.

These questions ask about how you would handle a scenario, typically starting with phrases like, "What would you do if...?"

Unlike BDIs, which ask about past actions, hypotheticals ask about potential future actions.

Examples

• "Let’s pretend it’s almost the first day of school. How would you prepare your classroom?" (Education)
• "What would you do if a client refused to pay for a design?" (Graphic Design/Illustration)
• "What would you do if a black bear wandered into the site?" (Fieldwork)
• "What would you do if you discovered an error in your supervisor’s work?" (Research)

How to Prepare

• Use conditional or future tense (e.g. "I would," "I could" or "I may/might").
• If you have experienced a similar situation or have specific training, you can refer to that experience even for a hypothetical question. Sometimes an interviewer might use a conditional tense but actually be looking for a past example.

Technical questions assess your specialized skills related to the job and your ability to perform specific tasks.

Examples

• Using Excel
• Changing an oil filter
• Applying a tourniquet
• Using a stereo microscope

How to Prepare

• Refer to the job posting to identify required or essential technical skills.
• Be ready for simulations: You might be asked to demonstrate a skill (e.g. writing a press release, giving a presentation, solving a programming problem on a whiteboard).

These questions delve into skills acquired through education and experience specific to a particular profession. They assess practical application of professional knowledge.

What They Assess

• Your ability to apply professional knowledge and adapt to industry practices
• They may also refer to parts of a professional code of conduct, practice or ethics

Examples

• "Tell me about a time when you had to onboard a new employee." (Human Resources)
• "Describe how you inspect a property. What are your main points of focus and what do you ask the owner?" (Realtor)
• "Describe a client’s criteria when selecting a policy." (Insurance agent)
• "A member of the public demands that a free publication for 2SLGBTQIA+ persons be removed from the library because minors can also take the publication. How would you respond to this request?" (Librarian)