The document provides details about upcoming mock interviews for a career fundamentals course. It outlines the interview schedule, required materials, dress code, and what to expect during interviews. Common interview questions are categorized and examples are provided, along with tips for formulating responses. Students are encouraged to practice their interviewing skills using provided resources from the university's career center. The reflection section prompts students to consider what success means to them personally.

1. COMM 202: Career
Fundamentals
Amanda Bamford
Tutorial 7
T02 & T16

2. Our Agenda for Today
1. Mock Interview Details
2. Interview Questions
3. Interview Prep Resources
4. Reflection

3. Course Timeline
Week 12
Nov. 19 - 23
Week 11
Nov. 26 - 30
Week 15
Dec. 10 - 14
Tutorial (LAST ONE):
Employment Interview
Questions
What’s Due:
Networking Reflection –
due Thurs. Nov. 22nd
11:59 pm on Turnitin
Interview Stream – Nov.
26th for bonus 1%
Lecture:
Offer Negotiations
What’s Due:
Mock Interviews –
Nov. 26th, Nov. 27th,
and Nov 29th
Exam Season:
Good luck!
What’s Due:
Informational
Interview Assignment
– Friday, Dec. 14th
11:59 pm on Turnitin

4. Mock Interview
Details

5. When: November 26th, 27th, and 29th (as per your time slot)
Mandatory items to print:
• Resume (PRINT)
• Cover Letter (PRINT)
• Job Posting (PRINT)
Optional items:
• Padfolio (keep it simple)
• Pen
• Research notes
*We will have a seating area for your bags,
but do so at your own risk
What to Expect From the Mock Interview?
Worth 20% of your grade!
No print-outs of mandatory
items = automatic 0 on
interview!

6. What to Expect From the Mock Interview?
• 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 or external
consultant or COMM 202 TA = 15 minutes interview time + 5 minutes
feedback
• Make sure you have your PRINTED documents (resume, cover letter, job
posting)
Be EARLY! – Ideally by about 10 minutes. If you’re not there by your
scheduled interview time, you will receive an automatic 0!

7. What Not to Do? Ways to Automatically Fail
• Inappropriate physical contact
• Inappropriate questions
• Late for interview
• Not checking in at reception
• Missing documents (resume, cover letter,
and job posting)

8. What About Dress Code?
Dress Code =
Business Formal
Note: We’ve seen students wear fancy
sneakers – this is NOT acceptable

9. Interview Questions

10. Five Categories of Questions for Mock Interview
1. Tell me about yourself
2. Strengths
3. Weaknesses
4. Tell me about a time…
5. Wild cards

11. Tell Me About Yourself
• Most common question you’ll get asked during an interview
• Can be asked in several different ways
“Tell me about yourself”
“What’s your story?”
“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

12. How to Best Tell Your Story? Structure It!
Goal = Tell them a story that no one else can replicate and
impress them in the first 2 minutes
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

13. How to Best Tell Your Story? Structure It!
P ersonal
A cademic
W ork Experience
S kills

14. How Do I Do My TMAY?
My Core Values Experience Highlights
Learnings and Future
Aspirations
1. Courage
2. Empathy
3. Curiosity
1. Nintendo (National
Account Intern)
2. COMM 101 TA
3. ecobee (Brand
Marketing Co-op)
Core values are what
make me interesting
and successful
I want to work at
[company name here]
because of the values
alignment
Hook... ...Line ...Sinker!

15. Grading Criteria
• Remember to tailor your TMAY to the job
• This question will always be changing, and it will
take time to create a TMAY you’re happy with!
Keep working
at it!

16. Your turn! Pair up and practice.
Tell me about yourself!

17. 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!)

18. Grading Criteria
• Look for a blend of quantitative and qualitative traits
(refer to your Skills Matrix and/or Strengths Quest if you need to)

19. 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
E.g. not the strongest quant – for
investment banking

20. What Won’t Work As Good Weaknesses?
PSA: Avoid clichés!!
“I work too much”
“I’m such a perfectionist”
Flipping strengths into weaknesses
“I’m TOO detail-oriented”

21. Grading Criteria

22. Behavioural – 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
Tips:
Review Skills Matrix
Examine job posting

23. Apply the STARL Structure!
BE SUCCINCT
Some interviewers will cut you off
S What position and where were you?
T What was the challenge you faced?
A What did YOU do and HOW did you solve the problem?
R What was the accomplishment and the impact?
L Link back to the job and why the story is relevant!

24. Grading Criteria
Use your Skills Matrix as a practice tool!

25. 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!

26. Sample Wild Card Questions

27. Grading Criteria

28. Closing: 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 question
• Always safe to get them talking about themselves –
e.g. 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 employment interviews next week!

29. Closing: How Do You Wrap Up the Conversation
• Thank them for their time
• Reiterate your interest
• End with a FIRM handshake
• Ask how you can best follow up
• Use their name
PSA: No floppy fish handshakes

30. Following Up With Your Interviewer
• 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

31. General Tips for Crushing the Interview
• Listen to what 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 – “Great 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 – (don’t take these to the actual
interview), 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. Pop quiz: What are the five ways to
automatically fail the mock interview?

33. Pop Quiz Answers
1. If you don’t bring your printed documents (resume, cover letter,
job posting)
2. If you are late (try to arrive 10 minutes early)
3. If you don’t check in at reception (before your interview!)
4. Inappropriate behaviour
5. Inappropriate questions

34. Interview Prep
Resources

35. Where Can I Get Extra Interview Help From?
• DLam Library – company
profiles, reports, SWOTs, etc.
• Company annual report
Glassdoor
Interviews: can find tips or interview experiences of past candidates
Company review: get a better sense of workplace culture
Your network
Look on LinkedIn to see if any UBC alumni work there or have
worked there (potential 2nd degree connection) or anyone else
you know who you can reach out to for an informational interview

36. What Are Some Interview Prep Tips?
• Practice, practice, practice, practice!
Do mock interviews with a friend, a BCC
coach, etc.
Get their feedback and keep working on it!
• BCC: Interview Stream, Interview Toolkit, Coaching
• Leverage your Skills Matrix
• Practice in front of a mirror or film yourself to
watch for any distracting body language
• Prepare multiple stories for each skill that the job
description is looking for
Always good to have a variety of experiences
+ stories to pull from as it is possible for
interviewers to ask questions about the same
skill multiple times

37. Any Other Questions?

38. Reflection

40. What does success mean to you?

41. Action Items for Next Week
1. Employment Interview on Nov. 26th,
27th, 29th – prep and show up!
2. Informational Interview due Friday, Dec.
14th 11:59 pm on Turnitin
3. BCC Coaching Appointment by Dec.
14th
4. Optional Bonus Marks – Interview
Stream by Nov. 26th; SEAT by Dec. 14th
5. See you in lecture next week!

42. Thank You for Being An
Incredible Class!