2. OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY
1. Employment
Interview
2. Interview Q&A
3. Action Items
4. Final Messages
3. THIS WEEK WEEK 13 WEEK 14
Final tutorial:
Interview questions
Optional Interview
Stream due Nov 26th
11:59PM
Final lecture:
*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
COURSE TIMELINE:
WHERE ARE WE AND WHAT’S COMING UP?
5. 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*
What to Expect?
20% of Grade
No print-outs of the
mandatory items
= Automatic 0
6. 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 fail automatically
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)
11. • 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
Question # 1
Tell me about yourself
12. Tell your own story
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
13. • 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
Grading Rubric
14. Activity Time!
1. Grab a partner and swap
TMAY stories
2. Allocate 2.5 minutes for
story-telling & 1 minute
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. • Look for a blend of quantitative and qualitative traits
(refer to your skills matrix and/or StrengthsFinder if you need to)
Grading Rubric
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”
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 Formation
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. 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!
Question # 5
Wild Card Questions
24. Last Part: “Do you have any questions for me?”
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 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!
28. ACTION ITEMS
1. Prep and show up for the
employment interview (optional
Interview Stream assignment)
2. Informational interview reflection
due Dec 15th by 11:59PM on
Turnitin
3. Next week: final lecture!
29. yalls were so great #crying #tears
#youcanaddmeonfbnow
#sorryifyoufailedresume&cl
Editor's Notes
Final stretch
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
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
Life formula
Give an example of how you would answer the question - keep it succinct
Regardless - need to have elements
*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
