Interviews

1. COMM202THE FINAL TUTORIAL – Interviews!

2.  1. Employment Interview Assignment
 2. Interview Questions
 3. Closing
 4. Words of Wisdom
 5. Action Items
Agenda

3. The Assignment
When: April 4th, 5th, 7th
THE INTERVIEW:
• You will check-in with “reception” in Birmingham and your
interviewer will come to waiting area to get you when they are
ready.
• The interview will last 20 minutes with 1-2 Commerce 202 team
members and consist of behavioral questions.
• This assignment is worth 10%!

4. Things to Remember
• Be Early! – ideally about 10 minutes, if you are
not there when the interviewer comes out, you
will receive an automatic “0”
• Please bring the following in PADFOLIO:
• Pen
• Resume & Cover Letter
• Job Posting

5. Dress Code
Business
Formal
DRESS TO IMPRESS

6. Interview q&A

7. Common Questions
Tell me about YOURSELF!
#
1
What are your STRENGTHS?
#
2
What are your WEAKNESSES?
#
3
Tell me about A TIME WHEN…
#
4
*WILD CARD* Question!
#
5
Do YOU have any QUESTIONS?
#
6

8. Question 1
Tell me about yourself.
• Keep it 2 minutes or less
• Brand yourself – give them something to remember
you by.
• Sound natural, not like you’re reading off a script!
• Speak to your skills and accomplishments
• Show passion
• Provide a well-rounded picture
This is the MOST COMMON question—it can be asked in different ways!

9. = Introduction
The Spark
Your Future
The Beginning
Why you are
here
Growing
Interest
= Realization that this is the right career for
you
= Where you see yourself
= How this position ties into it all
= Your formula and how it has helped lead you to
this role

10. Question 1
THE GOAL:
Tell them a story that no one else can
replicate
and impress them in the first 2 minutes
? + ? ?+

11. Question 1
Marketing & BTM
student with interests
in brand development
and storytelling
+
Desire for impact
cultivated through
performing arts and
teaching
opportunities
E-marketing acumen
built through 2
internships and hands-
on experience in re-
branding organizations
+
=
I’m an upcoming graduate currently specializing in Marketing & Business
technology management at the Sauder School of Business at UBC. I’ve been a
performer all my life and this mindset has cultivated both my desire for impact
and my love for storytelling. I’ve had multiple experiences in the past to
showcase this passion and each have given me a unique perspective on
marketing concepts, social media, and brand strategy.

12. Q1 Grading Rubric
I would hire you
on the spot (2
points)
I would like to
interview you again
(1 point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
TELL ME
ABOUT
YOURSELF
Student provides a
relevant,
chronological “story”
highlighting their
beginning, spark,
growing interest,
goals and fit to the
organization in a
concise manner (2
minute max)
The student provides a
chronological “story”
highlighting most but not
all of the 5 aspects listed
in the first column in a
concise manner and/or
answer was longer than
2 minutes
Student provided
“story” that is
neither concise
(more than 2
minutes) nor
chronological/logica
l

13. Activity!
Grab a partner and share
“tell me about yourself”
storiesGivesomefeedback!

14. Question 2
What are your strengths?
• A way for the interviewer to tell if you know yourself and
that you know you have what it takes to do the job
• Can also be asked in different ways!
• There is no right answer – just good answers and bad
answers

15. Q2 Grading Rubric
I would hire you
on the spot (2
points)
I would like to
interview you again
(1 point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
STRENGTHS
Student is able to
choose strengths
relevant to the
position, give a
strong example
with proof of
execution and
links the
experience to the
job opportunity
Student is able to
choose strengths
relevant to the
position, gives a
strong example of
execution, but may
lack a link to the
position
Student’s
strength may be
irrelevant to the
position and/or
lacks proof of
execution or link
to job
opportunity

16. Question 3
What are your weaknesses?
Do not flip WEAKNESSES into STRENGTHS!!

17. Question 3
✘ “I’m such a perfectionist”
✘ “Too detail-oriented”
✘ “Over-achiever”
✘ “I work too hard sometimes”
 Weakness wouldn’t impair you from doing the job
 Show you have a plan to improve these weaknesses
 Show the “lesson learned”

18. Q3 Grading Rubric
I would hire you on the
spot (2 points)
I would like to interview you
again (1 point)
I would not hire you (0
points)
WEAKNESSE
S
Student is able to
choose a developmental
area not key to the
function of the position
and share how they
overcame the situation,
the lesson learned and
action plan moving
forward, while
demonstrating self
reflection and resilience
Student is able to choose a
developmental area not key
to the function of the position
and share how they
overcame the situation,
however is not able to
articulate the lesson learned
or action plan moving forward
and/or student choose cliché
answer ex. “My greatest
weakness is my greatest
strength”
Student either chose a
skill essential to the
position or was not able
to clearly convey the
lesson and/or action
plan moving forward;
student was unable to
provide a weakness

19. Question 4
Tell me about a time…
S T A R
Situation Task Action Result
What position and
where were you?
What was the
challenge you faced?
What did YOU do
and how did you do
it?
What was the
accomplishment &
impact?
+ LINK back to job and why the story is relevant

20. Question 4
The WILD CARD question

21. Question 4
• A way for the interviewer to gauge your interest and
knowledge of the position and industry
• Test your ability to communicate clearly
• Shows the interviewer how you think
• TESTS BUSINESS ACUMEN: news, trends, etc.
Industry/job specific or… A SURPRISE!
YOUR
GOAL
• Walk them through your thought process
• Stay calm and provide a clear answer

22. FINANCE
PITCH ME A STOCK
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS VS DOWNSIDES OF USING DEBT VS EQUITY FINANCING?
HOW WOULD VALUE A PERPETUAL ZERO COUPON BOND?
DO YOU THINK THE FINANCIAL MARKETS ARE EFFICIENT?
ACCOUNTING
WHY DO YOU WANT TO PURSUE A CPA?
WHY THIS FIRM?
WALK ME THROUGH THE MAJOR LINES OF A CASH FLOW STATEMENT?
MANAGEMENT
CONSULTING
HOW MANY WORDS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NY TIMES?
TELL ME YOUR 5 WEAKNESSES… AND ANOTHER… ANOTHER
DESCRIBE A PROJECT YOU HAVE WORKED ON THAT CHALLENGED YOU?
CASE-BASED QUESTIONS…
MARKETING
HOW WOULD YOU INCREASE SALES OF X PRODUCT BY X%?
SELL ME THIS PEN.
HOW DO YOU THINK OUR BLOG IS DOING? WHAT CAN BE DONE BETTER?
TLOG
HOW COULD YOU IMPROVE THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTIVITY?
HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT FACTORY WORKER?
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU IMPROVED SOMETHING WHERE YOU WORKED?
HR
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHERE YOU HAD TO MOTIVATE A TEAM
ASSUMING YOU ARE SELECTED, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST CHANGE YOU WOULD MAKE?
RANDOM
WHAT IS 3/16 IN DECIMAL?
TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE NEWS, HOW IT RELATES TO THIS JOB?
WHY ARE MANHOLES ROUND?
TEACH ME SOMETHING YOU LEARNED IN SCHOOL?
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

23. Q4 Rubric
I would hire
you on the spot
(2 points)
I would like to
interview you again
(1 point)
I would not hire
you (0 points)
CREATIVE
/STUMPER
QUESTION
S
Student “aces” every
opportunity to
differentiate themselves
during the interview:
e.g., they offer a
credible, logically-
organized, and concise
answer for every
question. If on the rare
occasion, they don’t
know the answer, they
then respond by asking
clarifying questions
and/or outlining the
problem-solving
approach they would
Student “handles” some
opportunities to differentiate
themselves during the
interview: e.g., they offer
credible and/or logically-
organized and/or concise
answers for many questions.
They sometimes respond by
asking clarifying questions
and/or outlining the problem-
solving approach they would
use
They “miss” too many
opportunities to
differentiate themselves
during interview: e.g.,
they offer widely varying
answers in terms of
credibility and/or logical
organization and/or
conciseness. If they
don’t know the answer,
they often don’t seem to
know how to respond by
asking clarifying
questions and/or
outlining a problem-
solving approach

24. Question 5
Do you have any questions?
• Always have at least 2 questions
• Avoid asking questions you could find the answer to on Google
• Never ask a question like, “What do you look for in candidates?” –
probably should have asked this before the interview
• Do not ask something that has already been addressed in the interview
• Always safe to get them talking about themselves – maybe ask
something directly related to their job/industry or some career advice.

25. End of Interview
CONFIRM FOLLOW-
UP
SOLID HANDSHAKETHANK THEM
CONTACT INFO
RE-ITERATE
INTEREST
REMEMBER NAME!
ASK QUESTIONS IF IT NEVER CAME UP IN THE
INTERVIEW!

26. Follow-Up
REFER TO
CONVERSATION
TAILOR TO
READER
EMAIL IN
24 HOURS
THANK THEM
RE-ITERATE
INTEREST
CHECK FOR TYPOS!
DO NOT WRITE AN ESSAY!!

27. Follow-Up
Hi Michael,
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for taking the time
to interview me. I really enjoyed our conversation, even
though you did not like my top two classic rock bands, at
least we could agree on Zeppelin. Good luck with your
future at Goldman, hopefully the transition continues to be
a smooth one for you.
Best Regards,
Curtis Kuznecov

28. General Tips
• Guide the conversation to where you are
comfortable
• Listen to the question!
• Answer the DARN QUESTION!
• Differentiate yourself
• Bring energy to the room!
• Use your Skills Matrix

29.  Lecture NEXT WEEK!
 Resume & Cover Letter DUE
March 8th @ 2:00PM (Turnitin +
COOL)
 Networking Event THURSDAY,
March 10 6-8PM
 Reflection due
MONDAY, March 14th 11:59PM on
Turnitin
- FINAL WEEK-
ACTION ITEMS