Skills Connect for Immigrants Program

INTERVIEWING SKILLS WORKSHOP

1. What to Wear

Men:

▪ Wear a conservative suit or a matching sport coat and pants.

▪ Your socks should match your pants.

▪ Wear black dress shoes. No athletic shoes.

▪ For jobs that are not as formal, it is okay to wear business casual clothing (collared
sports shirt, dress or khaki pants, and no jeans.

▪ Neatly trimmed hair (including moustache, beard and sideburns) and a clean shave.

▪ Many workplaces have a no fragrance policy, so do not wear cologne or aftershave.

▪ Not-for-profit organizations such as Working Gear® provide work related clothing and
footwear free of charge to men re-entering the workforce. Go to www.workinggear.ca for
further information.

Women:

▪ Skirts and suits (pantsuits) are usually best.

▪ Shoes with low to medium heels.

▪ Simple clothes in conservative colours are recommended.

▪ Avoid too much or too flashy jewellery.

▪ If you carry a purse it should be conservative and in good shape.

▪ Suitable grooming includes a neat, attractive hairstyle, well-applied, light makeup and
fingernail polish (avoid unusual colours or extremely long nails).

▪ Charities such as Dress for Success® help low income women to transition into the
workforce by providing professional business attire. Go to
www.dressforsuccess.org/vancouver/ for further information.

For both men and women:

▪ Ensure that you shower or bathe, apply deodorant and brush your teeth on the day of
the interview.

▪ Ensure that your clothing is clean and odour free.

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▪ Many workplaces have a fragrance-free policy so it is best if you do not wear perfume or
cologne.

2. What to Take with You:

Carry a folder containing the following:

▪ Extra copies of your updated resume relevant to the job.

▪ A list of your references.

▪ Copies of your recommendation letters.

▪ A pen and note pad.

▪ A breath mint to use before, not during the interview.

▪ Portfolio of your work (if applicable).

▪ Money for a taxi in case of an emergency or problem with transit.

3. Preparing for Interviews

▪ Obtain the name and title of the person(s) who will interview you.

▪ Review your research on the position that you have applied for and the company the day
before, so that it is fresh on your mind.

▪ Match your past transferable skills and experience to the position.

▪ Know the products and services offered and how you will be involved with them.

▪ Review your salary expectations based on your research.

▪ Practice your interview questions.

▪ Prepare your clothing and supplies the day before so that you are not rushed.

▪ Practice travelling to the interview location (be familiar with the route and how long it will
take to get there).

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Interview Questions and Answers

An interviewer needs to quickly assess your knowledge, skills and abilities. From company to
company, the questions asked are often similar. The following questions are typically asked
with examples provided for each one. Adjust these answers to suit your personality, skills and
experience.

1. Tell me about yourself.

Purpose:

▪ To put you at ease and start the conversation.

▪ To test your ability to communicate and organize your thoughts.

▪ To understand how your skills match the job.

▪ To obtain a sense of your personality and attitude.

Suggested Formula:

Use the WASP Work, Academic, Skills, Personal formula.

▪ Work Experience: discuss your relevant experience for the job.

▪ Academic: describe your education, training, professional development and

qualifications.

▪ Skills: provide your technical skills relevant to the position.

▪ Personal: talk about your personal qualities, interests and values that match the
position.

In addition, mention your strong interest in and enjoyment of your career.

Example Response #1: Accountant

“I have over 10 years of full-cycle accounting experience working for a variety of

companies in the financial services and technology industries. I possess a proven track
record in financial statement preparation, cost accounting, tax remittances and IFRS. I
have earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Degree in Finance and I am a Chartered Cost
Accountant. On a personal note, I am positive, friendly and able to adapt to working with
different cultural groups. I have enjoyed working hard to grow my accounting career.

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Example Response #2: Heavy Duty Mechanic

“For seven years I have worked for a transportation company trouble-shooting and
repairing a wide variety of industrial-grade trucks, tractors, and cranes used in the
construction and mining industries. I completed a heavy duty mechanic apprenticeship
program in my home country and will write the ITA challenge exam this August, which I
expect to successfully pass, to earn my Inter-Provincial Red Seal Endorsement. On a
personal note, I enjoy playing soccer, swimming, and building things.

Write your response here:

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2. Tell me about your experience with this job?

Purpose:

▪ To discover whether or not you have the relevant skills and experience to do the
job.

Suggestions:

▪ Tell the hiring manager where you did the job and provide examples of your
relevant achievements.

▪ Make sure that the achievements and duties that you communicate are at the
appropriate level for the position.

Example Response (IT Technical Support Specialist)

“In my last position I provided help desk support for 300 plus end users in eight locations
across Brazil for WAN, LAN, and other remote systems. I was promoted to this position
from a Junior Technical Support position as a result of my success in coordinating a test
programming project and development of a sales application software database.”

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If you have no specific experience:

▪ Provide examples of related work, training, and transferable skills. State your
interest in the position and your ability to learn quickly.

▪ If you have volunteered in this area and developed skills, mention this to the
interviewer.

Write your response in the space below:

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3. Why do you want to work here?

Purpose:

▪ To see how committed you are to the job and company (or did you just apply for
this job, until you find a better one?).

▪ To see if your values fit with the company’s.

▪ To measure your interest in contributing to the company compared to what you

expect in return (salary, benefits, and other perks).

Suggestions:

▪ Research the company’s products, services, and values and match these with
you own. Mention these to the interviewer.

▪ Mention how your matching skills and experience will benefit the company.

▪ Focus on how you can help the company, versus how the company can help you.

Example Response: (Receptionist)

“From my research, I understand that Acme Express Delivery has won many local
consumer awards for providing fast and friendly service and for giving back to the

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community. In my previous job as a receptionist, for an insurance company, I was

responsible for handling a high volume of incoming telephone calls in a prompt and
courteous manner. In addition, I helped coordinate our Company’s annual fundraising
event for a local orphanage.”

Write your response in the space below:

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4. What are your greatest strengths?

Purpose:

▪ To find out if you are confident about your skills and abilities.

▪ To find out how well your skills and abilities will fit the job, and if you skills and
abilities stand out from the other job applicants.

Suggestions:

▪ Mention your technical skills and soft skills that match the job requirements and
organization’s needs.

▪ Focus on providing your strongest achievement most relevant to the position.

▪ Focus on relating how your skills, personal qualities and achievements will
benefit the employer.

Example: for a position as Event Planner

“One of my greatest strengths is that I am strong at multitasking. In my last job as an

Event Planner I was responsible for organizing between 10-25 annual workshops for a
Medical Centre, developing and maintaining a 5,000 person database, as well as
promoting and implementing membership and retention programs for our organization.

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Write your response below:

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5. What are your weaknesses? or What is one area that you could improve upon?

Purpose:

▪ To find out if you lack the technical skills, experience, training, soft skills, attitude,
and motivation to be successful in the job.

▪ To find out if and how you attempt to address and work on improving your
weaknesses.

Suggestions:

▪ Try to describe a weakness that is not directly relevant to the job.

▪ Use the Sandwich Method to minimize the weakness and focus on what you are
doing to improve the weakness:

o Start with a positive.

o Sandwich the weakness.

o End with a positive.

Example 1: for a position as a Warehouse Worker

“I believe processing paperwork in a fast and efficient manner is very important. A

weakness that I can share with you is that my typing speed is not at the level that I would
like it to be. However, I am extremely detail-oriented and organized in processing
paperwork. I am continually practising at home using online typing programs to improve
my typing speed.”

In the above example, the candidate is listing a weakness that is not an essential skill
that is used all the time to work as a Warehouse Worker.

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Example 2:

“I believe language skills are important. English is my second language and my abilities
are not at the level that I would like them to be. However, I am an excellent
communicator and I am effectively able to communicate with my co-workers. I am
confident as I continue to take English courses in pronunciation that I will continue to
improve.

Write your response in the space below:

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6. Do you have any Canadian experience? How long have you been in Canada?

Purpose:

▪ To address any potential concerns that they may have in your ability to adapt to
the Canadian work environment.

Suggestions:

▪ Do not just say “no”, as this will quickly end the dialogue between you and the
interviewer.

▪ Mention any Canadian work or volunteer experience, or experience in another

English-speaking country or company.

▪ Discuss any training from a Canadian educational institution or knowledge

obtained from your membership in a professional association.

▪ Speak confidently about your transferable skills and ability to learn quickly.

▪ Discuss similarities between your previous work experience and the job being
interviewed for.

▪ Relate your answer to your knowledge of Canadian market / industry trends and
the employer’s needs.
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Example #1:

“Although I haven’t had the opportunity to work in Canada before, I’ve done a lot of
research and I know there are many similarities between the work I’ve done and the
work I’ll do here in Canada. At my previous job, we worked with clients from North
American companies, so I believe that I can do the job well. I am also taking skills
upgrading courses at a local college, and I am learning how to apply my technical skills
in a Canadian work environment.”

Example #2:

“I have been in Canada for 8 months. At first I took some time to get to know the city
and help my family get settled. I am currently volunteering as an Architect for a not-for-
profit organization, helping design and plan their new office space. In addition, I
registered with the Architectural Institute of BC to have my qualifications recognized, and
I am taking courses at BCIT in BC Building Codes and AutoCAD 3D software to upgrade
my skills for the local market. I strongly believe that I have the skills that you require.”

Write your response below:

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7. What are your long-range goals? or Where do you see yourself in five years? or
How long are you thinking of staying in this position?

Purpose:

▪ To find out if you plan on staying long term in the position and with the company.

▪ To see if this is just an entry-level/survival job for you until you find the job that
you really want (the company may be concerned that you are overqualified and
that the lower level of compensation may not be enough to keep you in the job).

▪ To find out what you really want in a job.

▪ To identify your career plans and see if your goals fit with those of the company.

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Suggestions:

▪ Keep you answer work-related, and focus on how you are interested in and
committed to staying and growing in this field of work and with the company.

Example #1: For a job that is related to your area of expertise

“I really enjoy this type of work and I believe that you will find that my skills and
experience will benefit the company. In five years I hope that I will still be working with
your company.”

Example #2: For a job that truly is a survival job for you and at a very entry level

“While my long term goal is to eventually return to the career that I trained for, I really
enjoy this type of work and I believe that you will find that my skills and experience will
immediately benefit the company. Prior to arriving in Canada, I realized that I would
have to take a job at a lower level, while my professional qualifications are being
assessed, and to gain Canadian experience. I have made the necessary living
adjustments to adapt to a lower level of compensation.”

Write your response here:

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8. What are your salary expectations for this job?

Purpose:

▪ To see if your expectations are within the company’s budget.

▪ To test your confidence in your ability to do the job.

▪ To test your negotiating skills (this especially applies to certain professions such
as sales).

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Suggestions:

▪ Make sure that you do your research on the local salary ranges for the type of
position before you go for the interview. Check BC Work Futures, other job
postings, salary reports published by various job websites such as Workopolis
and Monster, data gathered from informational interviews, and other industry
salary reports that can be located online.

▪ You are in the best bargaining position after you have been offered the job. If you
are asked this question beforehand you could say:

“I’m open to negotiation on salary, but it would be easier to discuss once I know more
about the position.”

Or, if you are pressed to answer you could say.

“Based on my research, positions such as these, compensate in the range of $xx, xxx to
$xx, xxx per year. However, I am open to negotiation on the salary, and it would be
easier to discuss once I know more about the position.”

Once you have provided your salary expectations, it is very difficult to change your
response.

▪ If the salary you mention is too high:

“I’m really interested in the position, so I am flexible. The type of work and the company
that I am working for is more important to me than the salary.”

▪ Ask the interviewer how much the company pays:

“I’ve done some research and I’ve found that the salary varies from company to
company. May I ask how you much your company compensates for this type of
position?”

▪ If the wage is low and you are willing to risk losing the job:

“I’m really interested in this position and I know I have the skills and experience to do an
excellent job. Would a salary review be possible in the next few months, if you are
happy with my work?”

Write your response below:

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9. When are you available to start working?

Purpose:

▪ To find out how soon you can start so that they can make plans to fill the position.

▪ To find out if you have any other commitments that may get in the way of the
company’s desired start date.

Suggestions:

▪ If you are available to start immediately, say so.

▪ If you are working and need to give notice, state how long you need (generally
two weeks is sufficient).

▪ If you are waiting to hear about another position (one that you want more), find
out when the employer needs you to start. Try to delay for one or two weeks, by
providing the reason that you need some time to handle some personal
business. Call the other company and explain that you have an offer but would
rather work at their company. Request a decision or a second interview with
them before you decide on the first job. Note: only do this if you are willing to
risk losing the first job.

Examples:

▪ “I am available to start immediately.”

▪ “I’ll be available to start after I clear up some personal business.”

▪ “I’ll be available to start after I’ve given my current employer notice that I will be
leaving.”

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