COMM 202tutorial 7: employment interviews

agenda• employment interview• interview Q&A• my take • action items

where are we at?Week 12 Week 14

• tutorial: interview questions

• interview stream optional

• lecture: when you’ve got the job!

• interviews (April 3, 4, 6)

Week 13

• informational interview assignment(April 14th @ 11:59PM)

employment interview• when: April 3rd, 4th, 6th

• what to bring:o resumeo cover lettero job descriptiono padfolioo peno research notes 25%

employment interview• the interview:

o check in with “reception” in Birmingham

o BE EARLY! – ideally about 10 minutes, if you’re not there when the interviewer arrives, you will receive an automatic zero

o interview is approximately 20 minutes long with one COMM 202 team member/coach or external consultant (allot 30 minutes total).

o you can sign up for timeslots for interviews starting March 27th to 29th (March 30th if your submission on COOL was late). You can choose between a consultant or TA/coach

o interview will consist of behavioural questions

employment interview• dress to impress & dress for success

interview Q&A

Q1: tell me about yourself• most common question to be asked during an interview

• can be asked in different ways

• PRACTICE!

Q1: tell me about yourself• keep it under 2 minutes

• brand yourself – give them something to remember you by

• sound natural – not like you’re reading off a script!

• speak to your skills and accomplishments

• show passion

• provide a well-rounded picture

Q1: tell me about yourself• telling YOUR story

Find a common theme in your experiences

the goal: tell them a story that no one else can replicate and impress them in the first 2 minutes

The Beginning The Spark Growing

InterestYour

FutureWhy you

are here?

Q1: tell me about yourself• telling YOUR story

introduction

realization that this is the right career for you

your formula and how it has helped lead you to this role

where you see yourself

how this position ties into it all

growing interest

the spark

your future

the beginning

why you are here

Q1: tell me about yourself• my formula

+ +“Adaptability”

immigrating to Canada & watching my parents build a

new home

musical theatre and navigating work experiences in

university

who I choose to surround myself

with

Q1: tell me about yourself• rubric

Q1: tell me about yourself• activity: grab a partner and swap “tell me about yourself stories”

• 2.5 minutes story telling; 1 minute feedback

• goal: convey the elements of the story in a logical way and experiment with finding your formula

Q2: what are your strengths• way for the interviewer to tell if you know yourself and

that you know you have what it takes to do the job

• can also be asked in different ways! prepare multiple strengths

• there is no right answer – just good answers and bad answers

Q2: what are your strengths• rubric

Q3: what are your weaknesses

do not flip WEAKNESSES

intoSTRENGTHS!

Q3: what are your weaknesses

do not flip WEAKNESSES

intoSTRENGTHS!

Q3: what are your weaknesses• way for the interviewer to see if you are able to identify

weaknesses and have a plan in place to improve them

• talk about weaknesses that would not impair you from doing the job you are applying for well. again, prepare multiple!

Q3: what are your weaknesses

✘ “I’m such a perfectionist”✘ “Too detail-oriented”✘ “Over-achiever”✘ “I work too hard sometimes”

Q3: what are your weaknesses• rubric

Q4: tell me about a time when…

STARSITUATION ACTIONTASK RESULTwhat position

and where were you?

what was the challenge you

faced?

what did YOU do and how did

you do it?

what was the accomplishment and the impact?

+ LINK back to job and why the story is relevant

Q5: wild card questiono industry / job specific or… a surprise!

o way for the interviewer to gauge your interest and knowledge of the position and industry

o test your ability to communicate clearly

o shows the interviewer how you think

Q5: wild card question

Q5: wild card questions• rubric

Q5: wild card questionsFINANCE

WHAT ARE THE THREE WAYS TO VALUE A COMPANY?PITCH ME A STOCKSO MANY CURVEBALLS…

ACCOUNTINGWHY DO YOU WANT TO PURSUE YOUR CPA?WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR X FIRM?WALK ME THROUGH AN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CYCLE?

MANAGEMENT CONSULTINGHOW MANY WORDS ARE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES?WHAT ARE YOUR 5 WEAKNESSES? … TELL ME ANOTHER … AND ANOTHERCASES

MARKETING HOW WOULD YOU INCREASE SALES OF X PRODUCT BY X%?SELL ME THIS PEN

TLOG WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO INCREASE OUR PRODUCTIVITY?HOW MANY CHAIRS ARE IN SAUDER?

HUMAN RESOURCES HOW SHOULD WE CHANGE OUR HIRING PROCESS?HOW WOULD YOU FIRE ME IF YOU HAD TO DO IT RIGHT NOW?

RANDOM QUESTIONS OR SCENARIOS

WOULD YOU RATHER GO SKY DIVING OR SCUBA DIVING AND WHY?HOW WOULD YOU DIVIDE A CAKE INTO 8 EQUAL PIECES WITH ONLY 3 KNIFE CUTS? [ROLE PLAYING A DECISION MAKING SITUATION]TELL ME ABOUT SOME NEWS YOU HAVE READ RECENTLY AND HOW IT RELATES TO THIS JOB?

do you have any questions?• always have at least 2 questions!

o avoid asking questions you could find the answer to on Google

o do not ask something that has already been addressed in the interview

o always safe to get them talking about themselves – maybe ask something directly related to their job/industry

closing the interviewTHANK them

reiterate your INTEREST

end with a HANDSHAKE

ask for their BUSINESS CARD

Ask if you can CALL to follow-up

follow up• send an email or handwritten card

• reference the interview – something you want to emphasize or something unsaid that you want them to know

• reiterate your interest in the position

• thank them for the opportunity again

• reference an answer they gave you to one of your end of interview questions

• if you interviewed with multiple people make sure the follow-up is personalized to each person

tips

answer the questions

asked

listen to the

questions

& smile

tips• guide the conversation to where you are comfortable

• answer the darn question

• smile & nod

• differentiate yourself

• bring the energy into the room!

my thoughts

action items• interview stream is optional

• employment interviews are on Apr. 3rd, 4th, 6th

• informational interview is due on April 14th @ 11:59PM on turnitin

• next week is lecture

Puppy of the week!