Interview

1. 1
COMM 202
Career Fundamentals
T23 & T30
Lyndan Lam
Name tags up!
INTERVIEWS

2. 2
Today’s Agenda
1. Mock Interview Details
2. Interview Questions
3. Reflection & Life Chat
4. Action Items

3. 3
It’s Our Last Tutorial Together!!

4. 4
Where We are Today
Week 12 Week 15Week 13
• Last tutorial: Employment interview
questions
• Due (optional for bonus mark):
Interview stream by Apr 2nd @
11:59pm
• Lecture: Offer negotiations (Friday
lectures will be cancelled so please
attend the Tuesday or Wednesday
lecture)
• What’s due:
• Mock interviews!!
• No more classes
• What’s Due: Informational Interview
Assignment due April 20th at 11:59 on
Turnitin

5. 5
1. Mock Interview Details

6. 6
What to Expect
When: April 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*
No print-outs of the
mandatory items
= Automatic 0
20% of your
grade!

7. 7
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)

8. 8
Ways to Automatically Fail
• Inappropriate physical contact
• Inappropriate questions
• Late for interview
• Not checking in at reception
• Missing documents (resume, cover letter and
job posing)

9. 9
What’s the Dress Code?
*We’ve seen students wear fancy sneakers - this is
NOT acceptable
Dress Code:
Business Formal

10. 10
2. Interview Questions

11. 11
Q1: 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

12. 12
Telling Your 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. 13
Another Tell Me About Yourself Structure
GOAL: Tell them a story that no one else can replicate and impress them in the first
2 minutes
P
A
W
S
ERSONAL
CADEMICS
ORK EXPERIENCE
KILLS

14. 14
My Formula
I’ve tried a bit of
everything
Not-for-profit, startup, CPG
(2 different functions), retail
– all able to make impact
either socially or by driving
results for large scope
projects
Community
Involvement
Children, women
empowerment, educated
related initiatives
Junior Achievement
volunteer
Taking it to the next level
Personal growth
Cross-functional
Business owner – own
global brands

15. 15
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

16. 16
Your Turn to Try!
Tell me a bit about yourself

17. 17
Q2: 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. 18
Grading Rubric - Strengths
• Look for a blend of quantitative and qualitative traits
(refer to your skills matrix and/or StrengthsFinder if you need to)

19. 19
Q3: 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

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

21. 21
Grading Rubric - Weaknesses

22. 22
Q 4 & 5: 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

23. 23
Use the STARL Format for Behavioural Questions
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?
Another PSA: BE SUCCINCT.
Some interviewers will cut you off.
Link back to the job and why the story is relevant!

24. 24
Grading Rubric: Behavioural Questions
Use your Skills Matrix as a practice tool!

25. 25
Q6: Wild Card Question
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. 26
Questions We’ve Been Asked

27. 27
Grading Rubric: Wild Card

28. 28
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!

29. 29
Closing the Interview
• Thank them for their time
• Reiterate your interest
• End with a FIRM handshake
• Ask how you can best follow up
• Use their name

30. 30
Closing the Interview
No floppy fish handshakes
• Thank them for their time
• Reiterate your interest
• End with a FIRM handshake
• Ask how you can best follow up
• Use their name

31. 31
Following 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

32. 32
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- (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!

33. 33
Pop Quiz!

34. 34
What are the 5 ways you can
automatically fail the mock
interview?

35. 35
Don’t Do this or You Will Fail!
If you don’t bring your printed documents (resume, cover letter, job posting)
If you are late (try to arrive 10 minutes early)
If you don’t check in at reception (before your interview!)
Inappropriate behaviour
Inappropriate questions

36. 36
3. Reflection & Life Chat

37. 37
Remember this Activity?
1. What is a career path that you have always wanted to pursue, but feel intimidated or discouraged from
actually pursuing it?
In other words – if money wasn’t an issue, what would you be doing?
2. What does success mean to you?
3. I want you to visualize a typical work day that is 5 years from now. Describe your surroundings, who
you’re talking to, and what kind of state are you in? Do not write your job title or the company name.

38. 38
Remember this Activity?
1. What is a career path that you have always wanted to pursue, but feel intimidated or discouraged from
actually pursuing it?
In other words – if money wasn’t an issue, what would you be doing?
2. What does success mean to you?
3. I want you to visualize a typical work day that is 5 years from now. Describe your surroundings, who
you’re talking to, and what kind of state are you in? Do not write your job title or the company name.
Life and career question time 

39. 39
4. Action Items

40. 40
Action Items
1. Prep and show up for the Employment
Interview (optional Interview Stream
assignment)
2. Informational Interview reflection due
April 20th by 11:59PM on Turnitin
3. Student Experience Survey: due April
2nd. Go to: https://bit.ly/2GGzZAC
4. Next week: final lecture!

41. 41
Opportunities to Check Out!
Executive Team Hiring
• CUS Sustainability
• UBC Imprint
• National Investment Banking Competition
• Ascend Leadership
• CUS Visual Media
• UBC Mars Colony
• POITS
• HRMC
• Accounting Club
• UBC Finance Association
Events/Conferences
• BizTech Appreciation Night
and many more!

42. 42
yalls were so great #crying #tears
#youcanaddmeonfbnow

43. 43
Questions? Here’s How You Can Get in Touch with Me
Email: comm202.6@sauder.ubc.ca
Tutorials: feel free to approach me before or after
Office hours: available throughout the term as
assignments come up
Call me
maybe?

44. 44
Thanks &
see you next week
(at lecture, but no longer at tutorial)