Language selection

Search

Tips on preparing for a job interview

While you might not be provided with interview questions in advance, there are some ways that you can prepare yourself for your upcoming interview. Interviewers often ask behaviour-based questions to assess your competencies. Behaviour-based interviewing focuses on discovering how the interviewee acted in specific employment-related situations. The logic is that how you behaved in the past will predict how you will behave in the future, i.e., past performance predicts future performance. It is a good idea to think of examples in your past where you demonstrated the required competencies for the job you are interviewing for. The examples of past experiences you present should be specific, substantial, and as detailed as possible. Also important is that your examples indicate what you did in the situation. It is a common tendency to describe our actions in terms of "we" or "the team" however you should focus on your individual role in the situation, as much as possible. When preparing your examples, use the STAR approach:

 

  1. S
    Situation

    Describe the
    situation
  2. T
    Task
    Give Details
    on what you
    had to do
  3. A
    Action
    Give Details
    on actions you
    have taken
  4. R
    Result
    Describe the
    result of the
    situation

You may also be asked situational interview questions.  For these types of questions, candidates are asked to assess a situation and to provide solutions on how he or she would handle it.  While you may not know the questions that will be asked of you, you can prepare by thinking of hypothetical situations that would address the competencies for the job you are interviewing for.  It is also a good idea to think of past situations where you demonstrated this competency as the situation presented may be very similar to a situation you have already faced in the past.

Interviewers may also ask questions about you to gain insight into your personality and to determine fit for the job and organization.  Some examples you may wish to prepare in advance are the following:

Day of the interview tips:

Best of luck on your interview with our organization!

Date modified: