Interviewing With Confidence
An interview is a formal conversation between you (as the applicant) and a representative of the opportunity. The goal of the meeting is to determine if you are likely to succeed in the role or opportunity by assessing your alignment of skills, experiences and personality. Often, the meeting allows you to:
Strategically present your skills, experiences, knowledge, and ambitions with evidence to highlight why you’re a strong candidate.- Ask questions about the opportunity, the organization, and the workplace environment.
This chapter will guide you on what to expect in an interview, how to pre pare for an interview, and what to do after an interview.
Interview Formats
Interviews may take different forms and a hiring team may utilize more than one to help them find the best candidate. Some common interview formats include:
- One-on-One: Common interview style with one interviewer and one candidate.
- Panel: More than one interviewer with one candidate.
- Telephone: Used as a pre-screening tool or when distance is a factor.
- Group: Several candidates interviewed at the same time, in the same location.
- Audition: Candidate required to perform a task to demonstrate their knowledge and competencies.
- Dinner or Lunch: Candidate demonstrates their ability to function in a social setting.
- Virtual Interview: This has become very common. One candidate and one or more interviewers, over a platform like Zoom.
- Sequential: Candidate rotates to different interviewers, often time limits are imposed.
What To Expect During An Interview?
Depending on the format of the interview, your experience may vary. Generally, you may expect:
- Greetings and Introductions: The interviewer(s) and interviewee greet each other. Depending on how formal the interview is, there may be some small talk.
- Overview of the role and interview: The interviewer(s) may provide an overview of the opportunity you are applying to and outline what kind of questions to expect for the interview.
- Questions from interviewer(s): The interviewer(s) will ask you a set of interview questions or activities to complete.
- Questions for the interviewer(s): Typically, you will have an opportunity to ask the interviewer(s) 2-3 questions at the end of the interview. Make sure to come prepared with questions to ask!
- Wrap-up: Typically the interviewer(s) will conclude the interview and may include details on expected next steps in the recruitment process. At this time, you can express your gratitude again to the hiring team before exiting the interview.
How Do I Prepare For An Interview?
Preparing for the interview will help ease anxiety, make you appear more confident and professional, as well as show your initiative. These guidelines will assist you in preparing for your upcoming interview.
Types Of Interview Questions And Examples
Watch: How To Strategically Answer Interview Questions
- ‘Tell me about yourself.’
- ‘What are your strengths and weaknesses?’
- ‘Tell me about a time when….’ (behavioural interview questions)
Illegal Interview Questions: The Canadian Human Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating against any person based on sex, age, race, national or ethnic origin, religion, colour, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offense for which a pardon has been granted. Some examples of illegal interview questions include: What is your age? Are you married? What is your religion?
If you’re asked an illegal question at a job interview, keep in mind that the employer may not be aware the question is illegal. One strategy is to try to discover the concerns behind the question and then address them.
Preparing Accomplishment Stories With STAR
To ensure your answers include an appropriate amount of context and relevant details, use the STAR method to help you share stories of your experiences. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result and Relevance.
Below is an example of how you can use the STAR method to answer: Tell us about a time you had a conflict with a supervisor and how you resolved it?”
|
STAR |
Question |
Example of an accomplishment story broken down |
|
Situation |
What was the context? |
While working at a tutoring centre, I believed the work a student was doing was too easy for her and she should be placed in a higher level whereas my supervisor felt that the student should stay at her current level. |
|
Task |
What was the goal? |
In order to resolve the conflict, both my supervisor and I shared our points of view. I carefully listened to my supervisor as she explained to me that the parents had concerns about moving their child to the next level. I then shared with my supervisor the students work to show her that the student had achieved perfect on everything. |
|
Action |
What did you do? |
With consultation with the parents, both my supervisor and I decided that we would regularly give the student enrichment questions from the level above while keeping the student in the same level. |
|
Result and Relevance |
What was the result? How does this relate to the job? |
This compromise was an effective way to resolve the problem as it satisfied all parties involved. It also benefited the student as it provided her with challenges that enhanced her learning. |
What To Do After An Interview?
1. Send a thank you note to the interviewer(s) within 24 hours.
It is important to take the time to thank the interviewer for the time they have taken to meet with you. Today it is a part of interview etiquette. Thank you letters are commonly sent over email and should be a brief, personalized message. In your letter, you may consider:
- Expressing your appreciation for the opportunity to interview
- Articulate your continued interest and enthusiasm for the position
- Recap your strengths
- Mention something interesting from interaction with the interviewer’s from your interview
Example of a thank you email
Dear Mr. Markson,
I wish to express sincere thanks for taking the time to meet with me yesterday at your office to discuss my suitability as your new Research Associate. After meeting with you and learning more about the organization and the position, I feel even more confident that I can make a positive addition to the Analytical team at ABC Pharma Research.
I was impressed with the innovation of the products and methods used in your area, and the total market concept your organization employs to promote them. I was particularly pleased to learn of how closely your organizational goals, and the goals of the Analytical team specifically, relate to my professional goals. I enjoyed the tour of the laboratory facilities and the opportunity to speak with your head research scientist, Dr. Taylor.
Thank you again for considering me for the Research Associate position at ABC Pharma Research. I will look forward to hearing from you concerning your hiring decision.
Yours sincerely,
Taylor Park
2. Reflect on the interview.
Make personal notes in a journal or document after the interview about your experience. Take the time to reflect on what you did well and what you may want to do differently for your next interview.
3. Respond to requests from the hiring team in a timely manner.
Check your email inbox frequently or keep your notification’s on so you can respond to any requests or inquiries from the hiring team in a timely manner. Inquiries may include invites to a second interview, requests for your references, additional activities such a competency or personality quiz, or a response to an offer letter.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Additional resource: Use Big Interview to practice with mock interviews tailored to your specific major or area of interest. Log-in using your McMaster email.
Quick Chapter Recap
- Interviewers are often assessing your skills-match for the role so it’s important you clearly address and provide evidence of your abilities.
- You are also interviewing the employer during the interview. Its an opportunity to learn more about the role, organization and its people, and assess if you want to work there!
Need more support with building your application materials?
Meet with a Science Career Advisor
Book a 30-minute appointment with the Science Careers & Experience Centre (BSB 127) in advance through OSCARplus.
Build your Science Career Toolkit with SCIENCE 2C00
Enrol in SCIENCE 2C00: Skills for Career Success in Science — for guidance on developing essential career skills and become eligible for co-op and experiential education opportunities.
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