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Training

The Interview Process

There are many different types of interviews designed to serve different purposes or situations. Regardless of the type of interview, most will incorporate the following stages: establishing rapport, exchanging information, and closing the interview. Pay attention to the job titles of the interviewer(s). This can help you decide how much technical detail to provide in your responses.

This is a very important part of the interview because while establishing rapport, first impressions are made, and the tone of the interview is set. Some people suggest that the decision to hire is greatly influenced by the first five minutes of the interview. A good interviewer will introduce him/herself, and take the lead. Follow his or her lead - if they are chatty, be chatty; if they are formal, be formal. Some employers use what seems to be casual conversation to get to know you on a more personal level - this may be crucial to a hiring decision!

Tips

• Smile and maintain eye contact. This is one way of communicating confidence, even if you don't feel it.
• If the interviewer offers his or her hand, shake it firmly. If they don't, it is appropriate to offer yours.
• Wait until the interviewer sits or offers you a seat before sitting down.
• If the interviewer is making small talk, participate. Keep your answers short and positive.

Exchange of Information

This is the bulk of the interview. It is your opportunity to let the interviewer know what you have to offer, and your chance to learn more about the organization.

Tips:

When you answer a question, look the interviewer in the eye.

Be aware of the interviewer's reactions.

If he or she looks confused, ask if you can clarify anything. Be aware of what your body is saying. Avoid closed postures. Sit upright, but not stiffly. Try to find a comfortable position as that will make you feel more relaxed.

Control your nervous habits. Don't swing your feet, talk with your hands (to an extreme), or fiddle with jewellery, buttons, pens, etc.

Show that you are interested in the job by asking questions. Try not to appear bored or anxious. Don't look at your watch.

Closing the Interview

When the interviewer is done gathering the information that is needed, he or she will ask if you have anything to add, or if you have any questions. This is your opportunity to mentally review your inventory of skills and make sure that you have communicated everything that you wanted to. If any of your questions have not been addressed during the course of the interview, now is the time to ask them.

Tips: Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration. Ask when you can expect to hear from him/her. If it is not known when a decision will be reached, ask if you can phone in a week's time to inquire about the progress. If the interviewer offers his/her hand, shake it firmly. Otherwise, it is fine to offer yours first. If not already discussed, you can offer to leave a sample of your work, or portfolio.

Common Interview Questions

Reviewing common interview questions can be an effective part of your preparation. Instead of trying to memorize 'the best' answers you can think of, we suggest putting yourself in the position of the employer, and imagining what type of a response would impress you. Because a particular question may be phrased in any number of ways, memorizing responses to specific questions may leave you unable to generalize your personal information to an unexpected question. Your best strategy is to review such questions, and become comfortable discussing yourself and your related skills.

• What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
• In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
• Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your ability in _______________?
• What have you learned from participation in extra-curricular activities?
• In what kind of a work environment are you most comfortable?
• Why are you seeking a position with this company?
• What do you know about this company?
• What are your strengths? How do you spend your spare time?
• What are your hobbies? In what type of position are you most interested?
• What jobs have you held?
• How were they obtained and why did you leave?
• What qualifications do you have that make you feel that you will be successful in your field?
• Do you prefer any specific geographic location? Why?
• What have you learned from some of the jobs you have held?
• What interests you about our product (or service)?
• Define co-operation.
• What jobs have you enjoyed the most? The least? Why?
• What are your own special abilities?
• What job in our company do you want to work toward?
• What have you done which shows initiative and willingness to work?
• Why should I hire you?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• Give me an example of a work situation in which you were not proud of your performance. What did you learn from this mistake?
• Tell me about a conflict with a co-worker, and how you resolved it.
  
  

Interview Questions

Types of Questions

Interviewers use five different types of questions - directive, non-directive, hypothetical, behaviour descriptive, and stress. Being aware of the different types can help you in the preparation stage as you build your skills inventory. It may also help you focus in on exactly what is being asked and what the employer is looking for in specific questions.

Directive Questions

The interviewer determines the focus of your answer. The information that the interviewer wants is very clear. If you have completed the research on yourself, this type of question should be easy to answer. Example: "What skills do you have that relate to this position?" "I have very good communication and interpersonal skills that I have refined through several summer and part-time jobs working with the public. In addition, I am fluent in both English and French."

Non-Directive Questions

You determine the focus of your answer. The interviewer asks a general question and does not ask for specific information. The most common non-directive question is "Tell me about yourself." When answering the question, keep in mind that the employer is interested in knowing how your background and personality qualify you for the job. In your answer, you should cover four areas: your education, related experience, skills and abilities, and personal attributes. As you talk about these areas, relate them to the job you are seeking. Decide what your response will be before starting to speak, this helps to keep responses concise. Example: "Tell me about yourself." "I have an NCTVET level 1 certificate in Masonry and I am computer literate. I did my work experience at Surrey Contractors and worked with a team of finishers and tilers on Manley Meadows Housing Scheme. I am a member of the Boys Brigade of the Providence Methodist Church and I sing on the youth choir. I am on a team of voluntary workers at my church and my duties are assisting with repair works for the senior citizens of the church. I like masonry and plan to continue studying for my level 2 certificate.

Hypothetical or Scenario Questions
When asking a hypothetical question, the interviewer describes a situation which you may encounter in the position and asks how you would react in a similar situation. This is a good way to test problem solving abilities. When answering this type of question, try applying a simple problem solving model to it - gather information, evaluate the information, prioritize the information, seek advice, weigh the alternatives, make a decision, communicate the decision, monitor the results and modify if necessary. Example: "Suppose you are working your first day on a construction site, and a fire breaks ou in one of the unfinished houses. What would you do?" "Before I start working on any site I would inquire of the fire and safety procedures. I would make sure that I can locate the emergency equipment, such fire extinquishers , fire blankets and alarms ,the telephone and emergency numbers. I would also review the safety protocols. So in this situation, I would be aware of these. As soon as I noticed the fire, I would pull the fire alarm, call the Fire Brigade and help to evacuate anyone in the unfinished house. In the case of a very small flame, I would use the fire extinquisher to put out the flame.

Behaviour Descriptive or Behavioural Questions

This type of question is becoming increasingly popular in interview situations. It asks what you did in a particular situation rather than what you would do. Situations chosen usually follow the job description fairly closely. Some employers feel that examples of past performance will help them to predict future performance in similar situations. There is no right or wrong answer to this type of question, but keep in mind that you should relate the answer to the position. If you are interviewing for a research position, talk about a research project you completed. Example: "Give me an example of a work situation in which you were proud of your performance." "While working on the housing scheme at Manley Meadows, the tiling work was completed but they were having a problem meeting the handing over deadline because they were short of painters. Because my course at Portmore was multi-skilled I was able to fit in and assisted the company in meeting the handing over deadline. When preparing for this type of questioning, it is crucial that you review the skills and qualities that the position would require and identify specific examples from your past which demonstrated those traits.

Stress Questions

Some questions will surprise you and possibly make you feel uncomfortable during an interview. For example, "Which do you prefer, fruits or vegetables?" There are many reasons why an interviewer might ask such questions. They may want to see how you react in difficult situations, or they may simply be trying to test your sense of humour. Such questions may directly challenge an opinion that you have just stated or say something negative about you or a reference. Sometimes they ask seemingly irrelevant questions such as, "If you were an animal, what type of animal would you be?" The best way to deal with this type of question is to recognize what is happening. The interviewer is trying to elicit a reaction from you. Stay calm, and do not become defensive. If humour comes naturally to you, you might try using it in your response, but it is important to respond to the question. What you say is not nearly as important as maintaining your composure. Example: "Which do you like better, Dogs or Cats?" "Oh, dogs definitely. They are so friendly and faithful. This is why my favourite show on TV is Lassie!"

Answering Interview Questions

Regardless of what type of question you are asked, you will find it easier to respond effectively if you keep in mind some basic question answering strategies: You can never predict every question that you will encounter, so approach the interview with an inventory of important points. Make a list of the points about yourself that you want the interviewer to know. For example, if you were to apply for a job as a Sales Representative, you might want to list the products you have sold before, types of customers (by industry, age, etc.), languages spoken, personal experience in that industry and related knowledge (perhaps from your academic program). Consider each question an opportunity to provide some of this information. Don't assume anything. You will be evaluated on your answers, not your resume. Therefore, ensure you incorporate the relevant information from your resume in your answers. Pause a couple of seconds before you respond to each question, even if you know exactly what you want to say. Take this time to quickly plan your answer, this helps to avoid misunderstandings and produces much more concise answers. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. This is expected and is preferable to providing an unsuitable answer. If you need time to collect your thoughts - take it. When people are nervous they tend either to "draw a blank" or to babble. It is better to think for a few moments and make sure that your answer is doing you justice and that there is a point to what you are saying. Always expand. Never answer a question with a "yes" or "no." The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to 'blow your own horn.' As long as you can back up what you are saying with examples which demonstrate that what you are saying is true, you are not bragging. Third party observations can also be mentioned. For example, "My work experience supervisor told me that I fitted in and work very well with the team." Be very positive. Don't complain about anything - from your former employer to the weather - and don't apologize for experience that you don't have. Just sell what you do have and let the employer decide if you have what he/she is looking for. Also, avoid negative words. For example, you would not say "I have a little experience...," you would say "I have experience......" Don't be afraid to repeat important points. In fact, it is a good idea to do this.