Interview tips

• Tell me about a challenging time you worked with a group.
• Tell me what role you typically take in a group or team.
• What was the most successful experience you had working with a team? 

• Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a client or customer.
• Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a supervisor or professor.
• How do you handle conflict? 

Create an agenda for yourself to guide your answers to ensure you communicate key points about yourself. For example:

• Your relevant skills and experience.
• What differentiates you from other candidates? 
• Knowledge of the company/industry and how that fits with you and what you can offer.

Interviewers may also ask hypothetical questions (“What would you do…”), and usually pertain to their work environment. You can supplement your answer with concrete examples of how you have handled similar situations if applicable.  Examples include: 

• What would you do if your shift was ending and you were not finished a project that your manager was expecting before you leave? 
• How would you handle a customer that came in to complain about a product? 
• What would you do if you saw your co-worker stealing money? 

Interviewers commonly pose ‘stress’ questions to assess how candidates react when put under pressure.  More specifically, they allow the interviewer to gain further clarity about how you think and behave when facing uncertainty.  Questions you may face: 

• If you were a novel, what would the summary on the back of the book say? 
• What would be your instant reaction if you realized you had lost something important and could not get it back? 
• If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be? 
• Why is your GPA not higher? 
• Why were you not more involved in extra-curricular activities while at university? 

To prepare for these kinds of questions: 

• Be aware that these questions may come your way in the middle of a Q&A interview. 
• Remain professional, positive and focus on highlighting your skills.   
• Do not take the questions personally, make excuses or become defensive. 
• Often there may not be a correct answer … therefore, the logic and assumptions you present to support your response are very important. 
• “Stress” may come in the form of the interviewer’s manner rather than a specific question. If an interviewer comes across as unfriendly, maintain a professional and friendly demeanor yourself. 

Bring the following to your interview: 

• Several copies of your resume, a notepad and pen (ask permission to jot down a few notes while the interviewer provides details of the opportunity), a typed list of professional references 

• Find out if your interview will be on the phone, Skype, Zoom, or another virtual platform 
• Some companies may send you a link to record your interview  
• If it is a video interview, find out how many chances you have to answer each question and if it is a timed response. 
• Take down the contact information – this will come in handy should any technology glitches occur during your interview 
• Be yourself.  Remember to smile. This will project a positive tone in your voice. 
• Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Take a couple of seconds before you respond in case there is a lag in the technology 
• Be prepared for technology glitches and don’t panic.  

• Choose a quiet space where you will not be interrupted 
• Ensure your background is professional 
• Centre your head in the screen and practice the technology to ensure it works and that the volume and picture quality is good.

• Research the company and review the posting like you would for an in person interview 
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview – from top to bottom! 
• Have a copy of your resume and key organization/industry facts within reach for easy reference. 
• Have a pen and paper handy for note taking (e.g. recording next steps). Limit typing as this can be distracting for the interviewer 
• Practice talking into the camera, not to your screen and, ensure the camera is at eye level so you are not looking up or down 
• Check your lighting to ensure it is not too bright or too dark 
• Turn off your phone/tv and ensure you minimize all distractions. If you are on a computer, turn off notifications for email 

Do: 

• Practice how you will greet people, express thanks and say good-bye 
• Pace yourself  
• Include pitch variations in your answers 
• Choose words/phrases you are comfortable with 
• Be enthusiastic 

Avoid: 

• Use of slang  
• Use of fillers such as ‘like’, ‘you know’ and ‘umm’ 
• Repetitive words or phrases 

Do: 

• Make eye contact with your interviewer 
• Sit up tall and lean slightly forward to show interest 
• Smile 
• Dress professionally 
• Carry your belongings in your left hand so you do not have to shuffle to shake hands 
• Wait to be seated until directed to do so

Avoid: 

• Hunched posture 
• Chewing gum 
• Folding arms 
• Twiddling with paper/pens 

• Use visualization techniques to imagine a successful interview. Sit still, close your eyes, breathe, and create a picture in your mind of you conducting an interview in a way that makes you feel good.  
• Write positive affirmations on your interview notes to focus on your strengths and capabilities, and to evoke feelings of confidence and calm 
• Practice mindful breathing, counting in and out to focus on your body. Try the 4-7-8 method (Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat).

• Practice breathing techniques to help calm your heart rate and clear your mind.  
• Use imagery – visualize yourself in the position that you are interviewing. 
• Meditation can help clear your mind and help you focus. 
• Be aware of where you hold your stress (stomach, shoulders, jaw) and try to relax those areas.

• Don’t rush yourself through an answer or start answering before understanding the question 
• Ask for a moment to think about the question before answering 
• Jot down keywords from the question to help you process the question 
• Plant feet on the ground to stabilize yourself, and sit up straight to allow for proper breathing 
• Concentrate on your breathing and remember to smile! 

• Reflect on the interview with a growth mindset. Consider what you can learn from the experience.  
• Reflect on the process – what strategies helped? What aspects of the interview made you nervous? 
• Which strategies did you use to manage your stress and anxiety? Did they work? What could you do differently?   
• Try a new strategy for reducing stress if the one you attempted didn’t work for you. Sometimes it is trial and error. 
• Book an appointment to debrief with a career and employment professional. 
• Keep practicing your mindfulness strategies; like a muscle, it takes time to get stronger.