Employment Interview

1. COMM 202:
Career Fundamentals
T24 & T25 with Samyta Rai

2. Today’s Agenda:
1. Employment Interview
2. Interview Q&A
3. Final Messages
4. Action Items

3. Course Timeline
Week 12 (today) Week 13 Week 14
• Final Tutorial: Interview
Questions
• What’s due (optional for
bonus marks): Interview
Stream by Apr 2nd@
11:59PM
• Final Lecture: Offer
Negotiations
*Friday lecture is
cancelled, attend a
Tuesday or Wednesday
section*
• Employment Interviews:
Tues, Apr 3rd or Wed,
Apr 4th or Thurs, Apr
5th
• What’s due:
Informational Interview
Report by Apr 20th@
11:59PM on Turnitin

4. Employment Interviews
2

5. Sign up for
a timeslot
on COOL
Ø You should have access to the timeslots on COOL
by now
Ø If you need to change your interview time, do it
within COOL
Failure to book a time before Nov 22nd at 11:59PM
will be automatically assigned a time, and get 25%
deducted from interview mark.

6. What to
expect
20% of Grade
When: Apr 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 printouts of the
mandatory items =
Automatic 0

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. Ways to Automatically Fail
Ø Inappropriate physical contact
Ø Inappropriate questions
Ø Late for interview
Ø Missing documents (resume, cover letter and
job posing)

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

10. Interview Q & A
3

11. 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)
Question 1:
Tell me about yourself?
• 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. Telling YOUR Story
A common theme to try:
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. Samyta’s Story
Worked at
McDonald’s as a
Manager throughout
high school and was
more curious about
the business world
Lead me to apply
to the Sauder
School of
Business
Discovered I have
a passion for
numbers and
working with
others
Lead me to want to
pursue Accounting
and HR where I
plan on getting my
CPA
Hoping to add my
passion, expertise
and knowledge to
this firm through
this position
Teaching
COMM 202
India Fundraiser
Life formula (values)
Leadership
YWiB UBC
Leading with
Confidence
HR classes
Growth
Moving cities
Internships
UBC

14. 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

15. Activity
Time! 1. Grab a partner and swap TMAY
stories
2. Allocate 2.5 minutes for story-telling
& 1 min feedback
3. Goal is to convey the story’s
elements in a logical way and
experiment with finding your
formula

16. What’s the point?
• A way to see if you really know yourself
• Can be asked in several 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?”
Question 2:
What are your strengths?
• Keep it around 90 sec
• Mention 2 – 3 (but prep 4 – 5 just 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!)

17. Grading Rubric:
What are your strengths?
• Look for a blend of qualitative and quantitative traits (refer
to your skills matrix and/or StrengthsFinder if you need to)

18. 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
Question 3:
What are your weaknesses?
• Keep it between 90 - 120 sec
• Mention 1 (but prep 2 - 3 just in case)
• Best to give an example
• Talk about your weaknesses that would not
hugely impair you from doing the job you are
applying for

19. PSA!!!!!
Avoid clichés
“I work too much”
“I’m such a perfectionist”
Flipping strengths into
weaknesses
“I’m TOO detail-oriented”

20. Grading Rubric:
What are your weaknesses?

21. What’s the point?
• To test if you have the necessary skills/experiences for the job
• To look for your thought process in given situations
Question 3:
“Tell me about a time when…”
• Keep it around 2 mins
• Demonstrates the skill with the right answer
• Doesn’t re-use the same experience too many
times
• Clear and concise
Review Skills Matrix
Examine Job Posting

22. What’s the point?
• To test if you have the necessary skills/experiences for the job
• To look for your thought process in given situations
Question 3:
“Tell me about a time when…”
• Keep it around 2 mins
• Demonstrates the skill with the right answer
• Doesn’t re-use the same experience too many
times
• Clear and concise
Review Skills Matrix
Examine Job Posting

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

24. 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
Question 5:
Wild Card Questions
• Tell them what you are going to do, do it, and
then tell them what you just did
• If it’s a joke question, take it easy and be
personable
• Stay professional
• Don’t panic!

25. Questions that we’ve been asked!

26. Grading Rubric:
Wild Card Questions

27. Last part:
“Do you have any questions?”
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!

28. Closing the
Interview Ø Thank them for
their time
Ø Reiterate your
interest
Ø End with a FIRM
handshake (No
Floppy Fish!)
Ø Ask how you can
best follow up
Ø Use their name

29. Closing the
Interview
Ø Send an email or handwritten card
Ø Reference the interview – something you want to emphasize or
something unsaid that you want them to know
Ø Reiterate your interest in the position
Ø Thank them for the opportunity
Ø Reference an answer or insight they gave you during the question
period
Ø 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

30. 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 J
They want you to do well, so show your personality!
• Use a spreadsheet to write down your answers, 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!

31. Final Messages
4

33. Action items for next week:
1. Prep and show up for the employment interview
2. Interview Stream (optional): due Apr 2nd @
11:59pm
3. Informational Interview: due Apr 20th @ 11:59PM
on Turnitin
4. Student Experience Survery: due Apr 2nd
https://bit.ly/2GGzZAC
5. Next Week: Final Lecture! **Friday lecture is
cancelled, please attend Tuesday or Wednesday

34. 1. Email: comm202.7@sauder.ubc.ca
2. Tutorials: Approach me before or after tutorial
3. Office hours: Sign up on COOL
How to get in touch with me:

35. Thanks!
Any questions?
Have a great day!