This document provides an overview and timeline for a career fundamentals course. It outlines the key assignments and assessments, including mandatory mock employment interviews to be held from April 3rd-5th. Students must bring printed copies of their resume, cover letter, and job posting to the interviews. Common interview questions are reviewed along with tips for how to structure responses. Example questions covered include telling your story, strengths, weaknesses, and past experiences. The document emphasizes being prepared, practicing answers, maintaining a professional demeanor, and following up after interviews.

1. COMM 202:
Career Fundamentals
T22 & T26 with Trixie Hernandez

2. our agenda for today
1. employment interview
2. interview Q & A
3. action items + messages

3. Course Timeline
Final tutorial:
Interview questions
Employment
Interview:
Sign up by April 2nd
11:59PM
Optional Interview
Stream due Nov 26th
11:59PM
Week 12 Week 13 Week 14
Final lecture:
“When you’ve got the
job!”
Employment
Interviews (20%):
Tues, April 3rd
Wed, April 4th
Thurs, April 5th
Informational
interview report
(15%):
due April 20th @
11:59PM on
Turnitin

4. Employment Interviews

5. What to expect
When: Apr 3rd, 4th, 5th
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 10 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

8. Dress Code:
Business
Formal
*We’ve seen students wear
fancy sneakers - this is
NOT acceptable

9. Interview Q&A

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. Trixie’s Journey
“Your passion and
work ethic is evident
in the results you are
able to produce”
Passionate about
being able to use my
skills to make big
impact
Discovered brand
management,
marketing, and
bridging strategy and
creativity
Succeeded in case
competitions, got
internships, and
learned from
personal projects
Desire to win in
marketplaces, drive,
and ambition
Life formula (values)
Initiative
Founding my own
nonprofit, personal
projects in internships
and Sauder clubs
Strategic Thinking
Case competitions:
QMAC, JDC West,
Canada’s Next Top
Ad Exec, BOTA
Marketing Excellence
Internship in
Confectionery team at
Nestlé
Authenticity +
Independence
Exchange in Spain,
The Foundation
Foundation,
willingness to relocate

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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!)

16. 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)

17. 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

18. PSA!!!!!!
Avoid clichés
“I work too much”
“I’m such a perfectionist”
Flipping strengths
into weaknesses
“I’m TOO detail-oriented”

19. Grading Rubric:
What are your weaknesses?

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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!

23. Questions that we’ve been asked!

24. Grading Rubric:
Wildcard questions

25. 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!

26. 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

27. 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

28. General Tips
• Listen to they’re asking
Stay alert, don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify
• Answer the question
Do not beat around the bush
• 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
• Interview ends when the interviewer says “thank you” and wraps it up. Mock
interview ends when you send in your thank-you card!

32. action items for next week
1. Prep and show up for the
employment interview (optional
Interview Stream assignment)
2. Informational interview reflection
due Apr 20th by 11:59PM on
Turnitin
3. Next week: final lecture!

33. Questions?

34. be stubborn about
your goals and
flexible about how
you get there

35. your career does
not define you

36. welcome failure
and trust the
process

37. ok bye!