Sidney Pankratz's Slides

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COMM 202:
Tutorial 7
T04 & T10 with Sidney Pankratz

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1. Mock Interview Details
2. Interview Questions
3. Interview Prep Resources
Today’s Agenda

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Course Timeline
TUTORIAL:
Employment Interview
Questions
WHAT’S DUE:
Networking Reflection due
Thurs. Nov. 22 11:59 pm
on Turnitin
WHAT’S DUE:
Informational Interview
Assignment
Friday, Dec. 14 11:59 pm
on Turnitin
week 15week 13week 12
LECTURE:
Offer Negotiations
WHAT’S DUE:
Mock Interviews taking place
on Nov. 26, Nov. 27, and
Nov. 29 in Birmingham
Interview Stream due Nov.
26 for bonus 1%

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Mock Interview Details

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What to expect from the mock interview?
When: November 26
th, 27
th, and 29
th (as per your time slot)
Mandatory items to print:
•Resume (PRINT)
•Cover Letter (PRINT)
•Job Posting (PRINT)
Optional items:
•Padfolio (keep it simple)
•Pen
•Research notes
1

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What to expect from the mock interview?
● 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 or external consultant or COMM
202 TA = 15 minutes interview time + 5 minutes feedback
● Make sure you have your PRINTED documents (resume, cover letter, job posting)

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What not to do?
1. Inappropriate physical contact
2. Inappropriate questions
3. Late for interview
4. Not checking in at reception
5. Missing documents (resume,
cover letter and job posing)

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Dress Code

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Interview Questions

10. 1. Tell me about yourself
2. Strengths
3. Weaknesses
4. Tell me about a time…
5. Wild cards
Five
Categories of
Questions

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Tell Me About Yourself
● Most common question you’ll get
asked during an interview
● Can be asked in several different
ways
○ “Tell me about yourself”
○ “What’s your story?”
○ “Walk me through your resume”
● PRACTICE, PRACTICE,
PRACTICE! (with Interview
Stream)

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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
PRO
TIPS

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Structure your Story

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Structure your Story: Sample Structures
PERSONAL
ACADEMICS
WORK EXPERIENCE
SKILLS

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Structure your Story: Sample Structures

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Structure your Story: TMAY Grading Criteria

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Your turn to try!
Pair up with a buddy.
Tell me about yourself.

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What are your Strengths?

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What are your Strengths: Grading Criteria

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What are your Weaknesses?

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What are your Weaknesses: What not to Do!

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What are your Weaknesses: Grading Criteria

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Behaviourals

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Behaviourals: Structure
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!
BE SUCCINCT. Some interviewers may cut you off.

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Behaviourals: Structure

26. Examples?
Wild
Card
Questions

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Wild Cards Questions
Example
Questions

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Wild Card Questions
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
Handle it like a pro:
Tell them what you are going to tell them.
TELL THEM.
Tell them what you told them.

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Wild Cards Questions: Grading Criteria

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The Closing

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When they Ask you if you have any Questions...

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Wrapping up the Conversation

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Follow Up

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Following Up

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General Tips

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Fives Ways to Automatically Fail

37. ● DLam Library – company profiles, reports, SWOTs,
etc.
● Company annual report
● Glassdoor
○ Interviews: can find tips or interview experiences
of past candidates
○ Company review: get a better sense of
workplace culture
● Your network
● Look on LinkedIn to see if any UBC alumni work
there or have worked there (potential 2nd degree
connection) or anyone else you know who you can
reach out to for an informational interview
Interview
Resources

38. ● Practice, practice, practice, practice!
● Do mock interviews with a friend, a BCC coach, etc
● Get their feedback and keep working on it!
● BCC: Interview Stream, Interview Toolkit, Coaching
● Leverage your Skills Matrix
● Practice in front of a mirror or film yourself to watch
for any distracting body language
● Prepare multiple stories for each skill that the job
description is looking for
● Always good to have a variety of experiences +
stories to pull from as it is possible for interviewers to
ask questions about the same skill multiple times
Practise!

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Action Items
1. Employment Interview on Nov. 26th, 27th, 29th –
prep and show up!
2. Informational Interview due Friday, Dec. 14th
11:59 pm on Turnitin.
3. BCC Coaching Appointment by Dec. 14th
4. Optional Bonus Marks – Interview Stream by
Nov. 26th; SEAT by Dec. 14th
Last Lecture Next Week!