Interview Questions
 

Hi,

Was curious to know what sort of questions people have been asked at job interviews in Canada, whether it be face to face or over the phone. We have been applying for jobs and whilst we have had no interviews yet, we were just wondering what sort of interview questions people were being asked and what if any suggestions you would give for interviews in general.

Hope you can help

Cheers

Re: Interview Questions
 

Know as much as you can about the business, but don't sound like a know all in the interview.

What questions, depends how good the interviewer is. Some are trained, some wing it and have no idea. A good interviewer will as open question that you have to respond with more than yes or no. Take time to think about your answer before blurting something out. Have the letter, job description and your resume with you at the interview for reference.

When asked if you have any question, prepare ahead as much as you can, don't be afraid to ask, but if you have nothing intelligent to say, say nothing. Don't speak for the sake of speaking.

The business is in interested in what you can offer them as well as what you are looking to get out of it.

When writing a letter, don't mention 'I' more than 3 times in the whole letter. Carefully structure a letter and your resume.

Re: Interview Questions
 

I agree with most of that. When I've had interviews (surprisingly infrequently), I've always adopted the attitude of interviewing the interviewer. As you say, this needs a bit of prior research but you should do that anyway.

Re: Interview Questions
 

I agree with this completely. You are selling benefits, not features. An employer does not care if you can do tax returns twice as fast as the other candidates. He does care that he can bill two clients!

A good interviewer should not ask you hypothetical questions but you can often be asked to describe a problem you experienced at work and what you did to overcome it. So think of several examples and practice describing the nature of the problem, how you analyzed the the situation and devised alternative solutions, how you evaluated the solutions and how you implemented the best one. If possible quantify the problem and the solution. I would have six or seven prepared and look for opportunities to use them, even if not directly asked.

This is a powerful way to demonstrate to the employer that you are a benefit and not an expense.

Research, research and research again the industry, company and general working environment. Remember you are competing against candidates with that important Canadian experience so you need to comfort the interviewer that you are not too high a risk.

If you are going for a management job and they ask you to describe a problem with WCB* in the workplace and how you overcame it you will be dead in the water if you reply, "WCB....er...what's that?"



*The Worker's Compensation Board enforce heath and safety regulations in the workplace and administer medical and wage loss benefits for workers injured on the job.

Re: Interview Questions
 

I don't think they ask questions too much different from other countries, though they may ask in addition, "What brings you to Canada". Make sure they know you're here for the long haul (whether you are or not).

Re: Interview Questions
 

HR seems to like the

"imagine a time when blah de blah happened and how would you respond?"

"remember an occasion when dah de dah occurred and what did you do?"

"we have a situation with plink de plonk and wish to acheive zonk de zink, how would you do this"

question format.

They expect monologues in response of 10-15 minutes to each question. In my interviews there was very little conversation or debate. Spooky and unsettling.

Re: Interview Questions
 

Quite right. I've been on a binge of interviewing lately, for a client organisation, and most of the questions (not mine) are along the lines of:

- why does company X attract you?

- what can you bring to company X?

- what was the primary benefit you brought to your current employer?

- what situation at your current employer did you find difficult, how did you handle it?

- what was you proudest moment at your current company?

Facing those, I'd shit myself!

Re: Interview Questions
 

I went to an interview workshop earlier this week, and they recommended that we send them "thank you" cards after an interview!!!

Re: Interview Questions
 

One of the agencies we use around here suggested that. I told them it seemed like brown nosing and would lower the candidates chances not enhance it as far as we were concerned as employers. You need to stand out, but not, suck up. This might work for some and not others.

Re: Interview Questions
 

Just a had exactly the same questions above. They start off with, there is no right or wrong answers...

I have to work to earn money so i can buy red wine, nice food and other things that stop me jumping off the Lions Gate.

Re: Interview Questions
 

"Thank you" emails are huge here after the interview and if you go through an agency send it to them to forward on.

If you are asked situational questions, try to provide a specifc example it's a red flag to employers when a candidate starts waffling and giving a vague response.

Re: Interview Questions
 

Thanks for all the pointers guys, much appreciated. Very informative

Cheers!!

Re: Interview Questions
 

The question they'll be most interested in is, "Do you know Cam or Gordy?"

Re: Interview Questions
 

"How did you prepare for this interview?" is one I've heard has recently been used.

Re: Interview Questions
 

Be prepared for no reply if you dont get the job. I find this incredibly rude.