Multi-week-course, Jan 2106.

1. Volunteering in Canada
Week 4
Preparing for a job interview

2. Objectives
Get an idea of what typically
happens during an interview for a
volunteer position.
Feel less stressed about an
interview.
Practice answering common
questions.

3. Remember:
You decide if the environment
is right for you and if you are
willing to spend your time and
energy for this position.
The Volunteer Coordinator
(Employer) tries to determine if
you are an appropriate fit for the
position and their organization.
Interviewing is a
two-way street

4. Five steps to a successful
interview
Before it
begins
Tell about yourself
Behavioral
and skill
questions
Closing stage
Follow-up

5. When does the
interview start?
The interview
starts when
the volunteer
organisation
calls to set up
the interview!

6. What do you ask the employer
when they call?

7. Before it
really
starts….
Things to ask for:
•The name of the person you are
meeting with.
• Confirm time, date and the address of
the place where the interview is taking
place.
•The phone number of the office in case
you need to call them.

8. Language related
Ask simple questions in present tense. For
example.
• What’s the location of the interview?
• What time do I need to be there?
• Could you please, give me the name of the
person with whom I have to meet.

9. What do you think?
What is the most important
criterion for an employer
when hiring?
1. Work experience
2. Appearance and impression
3. Reliable and punctual
4. Education/training
Before it
really
starts….

10. What do you think?
What is the most important criter
for an employer
when hiring?
1. Work experience
2. Appearance and impressi
3. Reliable and punctual
4. Education/training
Before it
really
starts….

11. What Employers Look For
1. First impressions.
2. Personality traits like
being energetic and
positive or
dependability.
3. Skills, experience, and
training.
Before it
really
starts….

12. Remember: Interview phases
1. The warm up stage
2. The question and answer
stage
3. The closing stage
Before it
really
starts….

13. The Arrival- Checklist 1
Arrive to the interview no more then
10 minutes ahead of time.
Arrive alone.
Introduce yourself to the receptionist,
and mention your appointment.
Review your notes while waiting.
Before it
really
starts….

14. The Arrival- Checklist 2
Greet the interviewer and introduce
yourself.
Shake the interviewers hand with a
firm handshake.
Wait until you have been asked to be
seated or ask the interviewer to be
seated
Offer and provide copies of your
resume to the interviewer
Tell
about
yourself
!

15. The most common interview
question
What not to say?
•Age
•Marital status
•Children
•Health issues
Tell
about
yourself
!

16. The most common interview
question
Why is the question asked?
1. Are you confident?
2. Can you think clearly?
3. Do you understand the job
requirements?
Tell
about
yourself
!

17. The most common interview
question
Your brief introduction needs to show your:
1. Excitement!
2. Vision
3. Development
4. Compatibility
Tell
about
yourself
!

18. Describing your skills
Many people find it hard to
talk about their own skills.Skill
question
s

19. Describing your skills…
S - situation
T - task
A - action
R - result
Skill
question
s

20. Describing your skills…
S- Situation – What was your task?
T- Task – Describe your responsibilities
A-Action – What did you do to fulfill your
responsibilities?
R- Result – What was the outcome?
Skill
question
s

21. S T A R -Technique
Question: Tell me about a time when you
feel you made a significant contribution to
an organization.
S:
For two years between 2011 and 2013, I was a
member of the volunteer Board of Directors of
MADLAT, an organization which hosts an
annual educational conference in Winnipeg.
Skill
question
s

22. S T A R -Technique
Question: Tell me about a time when you
feel you made a significant contribution to
an organization.
T:
Based on my creative ideas for presentation
topics, I was asked to be in charge of the
program planning committee for two
consecutive years (2 conferences).
Skill
question
s

23. S T A R -Technique
A:
I first contacted MADLAT volunteers and
invited them to be part of the program
planning committee. Then I put together a
schedule of meetings and agenda. After each
meeting I updated the conference program
and coordinated communications between the
presenters and various conference
committees.
Skill
question
s

24. S T A R -Technique
Question: Tell me about a time when you
feel you made a significant contribution to
an organization.
R:
Thanks to a good selection of presenters, the
conference attracted a greater number of
registrations than in previous years. In the
conference evaluations, the program was
highly rated.
Skill
question
s

25. Language related
Use past tense when talking about
your experiences. For example,
• I contacted my supervisor for …….
• I spoke to the manager about ……
• I was asked to be the program co-
ordinator .

26. The worst interview question!
Skill
question
s
What are your
weaknesses?

27. What are your weaknesses?
Skill
question
s
Why do interviewers ask this
question?
1. They want to know in which area
you need to improve
2. What you are doing about it
3. They test how you handle a
stressful situation

28. What are your weaknesses?
Skill
question
s
Do NOT say you have “no weakness”
or you “work too hard”.
Tell the interviewers:
“I am working
on
improvement!”

29. What are your weaknesses?
Skill
question
s
Rescuer
I'm a problem solver so I tend to quickly jump
in to take on other people's problems. I have
learnt to step back and focus on what I can
control and wait for others to seek me out for
help.

30. What are your weaknesses?
Skill
question
s
I am a shy person.
I do not feel very comfortable when I have to
speak in front of people.What is
missing
?

31. What are your weaknesses?
Skill
question
s
I am a shy person.
I do not feel very comfortable when I have to
speak in front of people.
When I have to make a presentation I practice
it in front of my friend, which helps me feel
more confident.

32. What are your weaknesses?
Take a Deep Breath
My weakness is not expressing myself
properly. I know what I want to say but I
can't express myself properly, especially
when I am in a hurry.
What is
missing?

33. What are your weaknesses?
Skill
question
s
Take a Deep Breath
My weakness is not expressing my opinions
and feelings properly. I know what I want to
say but I can't express myself properly,
especially when I am in a hurry.
Recently I thought a lot about my way of
communication. I try to use expressions like “I
feel that…” to better convey my feelings and
opinions.

34. Language related
When you tell about your weaknesses, use simple
present and present continuous tense. For
example,
• I am a shy person but I am trying to overcome
it.
• I am a problem solver but I am realizing its
better not to jump into other’s problem.
• I find it difficult to express my opinions to others
but I am working to improve my communication
skills.

35. "Do you have any questions for us?”
Closing
Stage
What could you ask?

36. "Do you have any questions for us?”
Closing
Stage
Please describe a typical
volunteer session.
What training programs do
you have available for your
volunteers?

37. "Do you have any questions for us?”
Closing
Stage
What projects can I
contribute to right away?
Are you most interested in a
volunteer who works
independently or on a team?
Can you give me an
example?

38. THINC(K)!
Closing
Stage
T- THANK the interviewer.
H- Give a firm HANDSHAKE.
I- Reiterate your INTEREST in the
position.
N- Use the NAME of the interviewer.
C- Get and confirm the CONTACT
information of the interviewer and
how the follow up will be.

39. Congratulations – you survived!
1. Make sure you ask the interviewer
when they think a decision will be
made.
2. Send a Thank you card or email
to the employer within 24 hrs of
the interview – to all the
interviewers.
3. Follow up with a phone call after
the date that was given, if you
have not heard.
Follow
up

40. Thankyou.
Wish you all the
best!