This document provides an agenda and details for the final tutorial of the COMM 202 career fundamentals course. It includes details on upcoming mock interviews, interview preparation resources, and reflection. Key points include: - Mock interviews will take place on November 26th, 27th, and 29th and students must bring printed copies of their resume, cover letter, and job posting. Proper business formal dress is required. - The document reviews what to expect in a mock interview and provides tips for answering common interview questions like telling your story, strengths, weaknesses, behavioral questions, and dealing with wild card questions. - Students are reminded of upcoming assignments and opportunities for additional interview preparation help. The document concludes with announcements,

1. COMM 202: Career Fundamentals: Last Tutorial!
Theo Guevara
T08 & T15

8. 1. Mock Interview Details
2. Interview Prep
3. Interview Prep Resources
Agenda
4. Reflection + Life Chat

9. THE FINAL TUTORIAL
How do you feel?

10. THE FINAL TUTORIAL
Like this?
How do you feel?

11. THE FINAL TUTORIAL
Or like this?
How do you feel?

12. WHO AM I?
On the surface
Below the surface
Course Timeline
Tutorial:
• Employment Interview
Questions
What’s Due:
• Networking Reflection
and Informational
Interview – due Fri.
Apr. 5 11:59 pm on
Canvas
Week 12
Lecture:
• Offer Negotiations
What’s Due:
• Mock Interviews –
Apr. 1, 2, and 4
Week 13 Exam Period

13. Mock Interview
Details
The run-down on the last scary
COMM 202 hurdle.

14. What to expect from the mock interview?
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
20% of your grade
*NO PRINT-OUTS OF MANDATORY
ITEMS = AUTOMATIC 0
*We have a seating area to put your bags, but do so at your own risk*

15. What to expect from the mock interview?
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 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

16. 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 posing)

17. How about dress code? Business formal.
Note: We’ve seen students wear fancy
sneakers – this is NOT acceptable
Dress Code:
Business Formal

18. Interview Questions
Toolbelt for nailing the interview

19. What to cover? Five categories of
questions.
1. Tell me about yourself
2. Strengths
3. Weaknesses
4. Tell me about a time…
5. Wild cards

20. What’s first? 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

21. How do you best tell your story? Structure
it!
The
Beginning
The Spark Growing
Interest
The Future Why Are You
Here?
Introduction
– Who you
are, your
values
An event or
experience
sparked your
interest
How you
became
more
interested in
this field
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

22. How do you best tell your story? Structure
it!
P
A
W
S
ERSONAL
CADEMICS
ORK EXPERIENCE
KILLS

23. What’s Theo’s story?
1. Business is a force for
good!
• Grew up in the city with the
highest rate of
homelessness in the world
• Coming to Sauder made
me realize businesses’ role
in society
• Experiences like COMM 101
grew my interest in
innovation and global
impact
2. Growing Interest
• Academic: Innovation
Jam, Impact Investing
Fund
• Professional: Working
with Startups +
Accounting Firm
• Integration: Finance and
accounting are
necessary for social
enterprises
3. Scaling impact
further
• Professional:
globally-focused,
thought-leader in the
business world
• Personal: Working on
the issues I care
about
Hook
…
Experiences Long-term goals

24. What’s Theo’s story?
LINK: Through my experiences, I’ve learned the importance of
finance and accounting in managing large organizations, and I
believe I can get this professional and technical experience as a
financial analyst for TELUS.
HOOK EXPERIENCES LONG-TERM GOALS

25. What’s your special TMAY? Grading
criteria.
• Remember to tailor your TMAY to the job
• This particular question will always be changing and it will
take you time to come up with a TMAY that you’re happy
with!
Keep working at it!

26. Your turn! Tell me about yourself.
Your turn to try! Pair up with a buddy.
Tell me about yourself.

27. What are your strengths? You’re good at __!
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!)

28. What are your strengths? Grading criteria.
• Look for a blend of quantitative and qualitative traits
(refer to your Skills Matrix and/or Strengths Quest if you need
to)

29. What are your weaknesses? You’re not as__!
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

30. 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”

31. What are your weaknesses? Grading
criteria.

32. Behaviourals? 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

33. What’s the structure? Apply STARL!
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!

34. Acing behavioural questions? Grading
criteria.
Use your Skills Matrix as a practice tool!

35. Interview Sample Answers (requested by you!)
Why do you want to be part of this organization?
How do you manage your time?
How did you resolve a conflict?
What did you learn when working in a group?

36. What else to expect? 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!

37. Wild cards? Questions we’ve been asked.

38. WILD CARD QUESTION I’VE BEEN ASKED
”The overnight rate of China goes up
by 95% (a lot). How does this affect the
prices of Copper in Venezuela?”
If you don’t know the answer, make
sure to make your train of logic clear
and easy to follow, still showing that
you have a good understanding of the
concepts, even if you get it wrong.

39. WILD CARD QUESTION I’VE BEEN ASKED
”The overnight rate of China goes up
by 95% (a lot). How does this affect the
prices of Copper in Venezuela?”
If you don’t know the answer, make
sure to make your train of logic clear
and easy to follow, still showing that
you have a good understanding of the
concepts, even if you get it wrong.
I GOT THIS ONE WRONG

40. ”The overnight rate of China goes up by
95% (a lot). How does this affect the
prices of Copper in Venezuela?”
If you don’t know the answer, make sure
to make your train of logic clear and
easy to follow, still showing that you
have a good understanding of the
concepts, even if you get it wrong.
WILD CARD QUESTIONS I’VE ASKED:
• Here’s a pen and paper. Draw out a supply
chain for Pepsi (OpLog)
• Tell me about a company you’re following,
what do you think will happen to its stock price
and why? (Finance)
• What’s something happening in the world
right now and how will that affect our practice?
(Mostly Accounting)
• How can the Sauder Café increase its profits?
Walk me through your thought process
(Consulting)
I GOT THIS ONE WRONG
WILD CARD QUESTION I’VE BEEN ASKED

41. MY WILD CARD QUESTION:
”The overnight rate of China goes up
by 95% (a lot). How does this affect the
prices of Copper in Venezuela?”
If you don’t know the answer, make
sure to make your train of logic clear
and easy to follow, still showing that
you have a good understanding of the
concepts, even if you get it wrong.
WILD CARD QUESTIONS I’VE ASKED:
• Here’s a pen and paper. Draw out a supply
chain for Pepsi (OpLog)
• Tell me about a company you’re following,
what do you think will happen to its stock
price and why? (Finance)
• What’s something happening in the world
right now and how will that affect our
practice? (Mostly Accounting)
• How can the Sauder Café increase its profits?
Walk me through your thought process
(Consulting)
READ THE NEWS
BE CALM AND COLLECTED
TAKE YOUR TIME TO THINK

42. Dealing with wild cards? Grading criteria.

43. Closing: 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 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 the employment interviews next
week!

44. 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

45. Then what? 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
*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
* Remember the 24 hour

46. How to crush the interview? General tips.
• 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!

47. Your turn! Tell me about yourself.
Pop quiz: what are the five ways to
automatically fail the mock interview?

48. Ways to FAIL the interview
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

49. 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

50. What are some interview prep tips? PRACTICE!
• 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

51. Let’s Chat
#realtalk

52. Anything else you want to ask? ☺
Career? School? Life?
I’m all ears!

53. Announcements: what’s on the
radar?
1. Employment Interview on Apr. 1, 2, 4 – prep and show up!
2. Informational Interview and Networking Reflection due
Friday, Apr. 5 11:59 pm on Canvas.
See you in lecture next week!

54. How to reach out or stay in touch? Many
ways!
1. Email:
comm202.10@sauder.ubc.ca
2. LinkedIn: for all things good
and professional
3. Facebook: Gonna get to
those friend requests real
soon!
Call me
maybe?

55. “It’s not the days in your life, but
the life in your days that counts.”
(Brian White)