3. Course Timeline
Final tutorial:
Interview questions
Employment
Interview:
Optional Interview
Stream due Nov 26th
11:59PM
Week 12 Week 13 Week 14
Final lecture:
“When you’ve got the
job!”
*Friday lecture is
cancelled, attend a
Monday or Wednesday
section*
Employment
Interviews (20%):
Mon, Nov 27th
Tues, Nov 28th
Thurs, Nov 30th
Informational
interview report
(15%):
due Fri, Dec 15th @
11:59PM on
Turnitin
5. What to expect
When: Nov 27th, 28th, 30th
Mandatory items to print:
Resume (PRINT)
Cover Letter (PRINT)
Job Posting (PRINT)
Optional items:
Padfolio (keep it simple)
Pen
Research notes
*We have a seating area to put your
bags, but do so at your own risk*
20% of Grade
No print-outs of the
mandatory items
= Automatic 0
6. What to expect
Be EARLY! – Ideally by about ~7 minutes. If
you’re not there by your scheduled interview time,
you will receive an automatic 0!
• Check in with the ”reception” in Birmingham (It is the student’s
responsibility to find the check-in desk. There will be signs everywhere
so it will be very obvious)
• Interview will be exactly 20 minutes with one BCC coach/external
consultant/COMM 202 TA
(15 minutes interview time + 5 minutes feedback)
• Make sure you have your PRINTED documents (resume, cover letter,
job posting)
7. • Inappropriate physical contact
• Inappropriate questions
• Late for interview
• Missing documents (resume, cover letter and job
posing)
Ways to automatically fail
10. Question #1:
Tell me about yourself
What’s the point?
• Most common question you’ll get asked during an interview
• Can be asked in several different ways
• “Tell me about yourself”
• “Who is ____?”
• “Walk me through your resume”
• PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! (with Interview Stream)
• Keep it between 90 - 120 sec
• Brand yourself – give them something to
remember you by
• Sound natural – don’t sound like you’re
reading off a script
• Skills & accomplishments – briefly
touch on these aspects
• Show your passion & authenticity
• Provide a well-rounded picture of who
you are as a person
11. Telling YOUR story
A common theme to try:
The
Beginning The Spark
Growing
Interest
The Future Why Are
You Here?
Introduction Realization
that this is the
right career
for you
Your formula
and how it
has helped
lead you to
this role
Where do you
see yourself
in the future
(in 5 years, in
10 years, etc.)
How this
position ties
into it all
GOAL: Tell them a story that no one else can replicate and
impress them in the first 2 minutes
12. Grading Rubric:
Tell me about yourself
• Remember to tailor your TMAY to the job
• This is one of my least favourite questions, and it will take you
time to come up with a TMAY that you’re happy with!
Keep working at it
13. Activity
Time!
1. Grab a partner and
swap TMAY stories
2. Allocate 2.5 minutes
for story-telling & 1
min feedback
3. Goal is to convey the
story’s elements in a
logical way and
experiment with
finding your formula
14. Question #2:
What are your strengths?
What’s the point?
• A way to see if you really know yourself
• May also be asked in different ways (listen carefully)
• “What can you bring to the table?”
• ”Why should I pick you over other candidates?”
• “What would your colleagues/friends say about you?”
• Around 90 sec
• Mention 2-3
(but prep 4-5 in case)
• Provide a bit of proof but don’t
go too much into detail
• Tactfully relevant to the job
you’re applying for
(look at the job description!)
15. Grading Rubric:
What are your strengths?
• Look for a blend of quantitative and qualitative traits
(refer to your skills matrix and/or StrengthsFinder if you need to)
16. Question #3:
What are your weaknesses?
What’s the point?
• A way for the interviewer to see if you are able to identify
weaknesses and have a plan in place to improve them
• Assess self-awareness and spot red flags
• Around 90 sec – 120 sec
• Mention 1 (but prep 2-3 in case)
• Best to give an example
• Talk about weaknesses that would
not hugely impair you from doing
the job you are applying for
17. PSA
Avoid clichés
“I work too much”
“I’m such a perfectionist”
Flipping strengths
into weaknesses
“I’m TOO detail-oriented”
19. Question #4:
“Tell me about a time when…”
What’s the point?
• To test if you have the necessary skills/experience for the job
• To look for your thought process in given situations
• Around 2 mins
• Demonstrates the skill with the
right answer
• Doesn’t re-use the same
experience too many times
• Clear & concise
Review Skills Matrix
Examine job posting
20. Use the STARL format!
S
T
A
R
L
What position and where were you?
What was the challenge you faced?
What did YOU do and HOW did you solve
the problem?
What was the accomplishment and the impact?
Link back to the job and why the story is relevant!
Another PSA: BE SUCCINCT.
Some interviewers will cut you off.
21. Question #5:
Wild card questions
What’s the point?
• Could be industry/job specific… or a surprise!
• Random questions that you cannot prepare for
• To test how you react under pressure & deal with uncertainty
• To see how you think your way through a problem
• Tell them what you’re going to do,
do it, then tell them what you just
did
• If it’s a joke question, take it easy
and be personable
• Stay professional
• Don’t panic!
24. Last part:
“Do you have any questions?”
Always prepare at least 2 questions!
• Avoid asking questions that can easily be found on Google
• Do not asking something that has already been addressed in the
interview – unless it’s a specific follow-up questions
• Always safe to get them talking about themselves – maybe ask
something directly related to their job/industry
• Example: “What specific traits and qualities do you look for in a
successful candidate?”
• Another example: “What do you think about the xyz trends in the
industry? Do you think they’re just a fad?”
*Expected in the employment interviews
next week!
25. Closing
the
interview
• Thank them for their time
• Reiterate your interest
• End with a FIRM
handshake
(NO FLOPPY FISH!)
• Ask how you can best
follow up
• Use their name
26. 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
• Reference an answer or insight
they gave you during the question
period
• If you interviewed with multiple
people, make sure the follow-up is
personalized to each person
* Remember the 24 hour rule!
****On the day of the mock interviews:
We will give you ‘fake’ thank-you
cards AFTER your interview. DO NOT
expect this in real life!
DO NOT send a real email to your mock
interviewer
27. General Tips
• Listen to what they’re asking
Stay alert, don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify
• Take your time if you need to
“That’s a good question – may I have a quick minute to collect my thoughts?”
• Smile & keep up the energy – they’re human too
They want you to do well, so show your personality!
• Use a spreadsheet to write down your answers, practice with your
friends, utilize Interview Stream
• Power pose!
28. Action
Items
1. Sign up for the employment
interview on COOL before Nov
22nd
2. Prep and show up for the
employment interview (optional
Interview Stream assignment)
3. Informational interview reflection
due Dec 15th by 11:59PM on
Turnitin
4. Next week: final lecture!
Employment interview *SIGN UP*: - Sign up BY Nov 22nd instead of the dates to sign up
- Come to Monday or Wednesday lecture (NOT either of the Fridays)
if you have bags, we have a seating area for you to put your bags there. If you want to put your bags there it's at your own risk -
As long as it's not Hello Kitty
When you walk into Birmingham, it's REALLY obvious!!!! 2 tables in an L shape with signs saying "Reception" and there will be signs going to breakout rooms 20 MINUTES EXACTLY - 15 MINS INTERVIEW TIME, 5 MINS FEEDBACK SESSION
SCIENCESPO - NO KISSY KISSY
Sometimes you might interview companies that are casual, but err on the formal side
Mention not to have fancy trainers on (black sneakers) are not allowed
Iron their clothes Wear a tie Guide that we had for the networking session
No club wear
How to practice - Interview Stream
Tell students to keep their mouth shut after 2 minutes (90 secs)
Some interviewers tell you to stop talking
90 seconds
*Assess
Give an example of how you would answer the question - keep it succinct
Regardless - need to have elements
* Ask whatever you want during the interviews
*They don't need to bring their own cards, we will provide you some *Don't send us an email for this (this is a general slide for the future)
* How this translates into your mock interview: they get a card AFTER interview with a table for paper and pens - don't actually do this in real life
Interview Stream
- Mock interview ends when you send in your thank you card - until interviewer says thanks
