No matter where you are in your career, interviews can be intimidating. To help our Grade 11s prepare for their future job applications, the University Counsellors put together Mock Interviews. With the help of parent volunteers from a variety of industries and staff, students go on speed-dating style interviews, practicing pitching themselves and communicating their strengths.
We asked a handful of our visiting experts to share their go-to interview advice so that all students can benefit from their insights.
Authenticity Matters
Preparation is very important, but authenticity matters most. Interviewers are not only evaluating your accomplishments, they are also looking for curiosity, integrity, enthusiasm and whether you would be a good fit for their team or community. — Dr. Brad Quon, Respirologist at St. Paul’s Hospital, Medical Director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, and Professor of Medicine at UBC.
Let your personality shine through. You want to get your point across but do so without sounding generic or rehearsed. — Bonnie Vu, former Manager of Customer Service at a bank.
Be your authentic self. An interview is also an opportunity for you to get a feel for the company you’re interviewing for, not just whether you’re a fit for the company. Yes, have a few examples up your sleeve, but don’t learn passages off by heart or you risk coming off as insincere. Let your personality shine through. — Hazel Chee, Senior School Principal.
No One is Trying to Trick You
Remember that an interview is a conversation, not an interrogation. Most employers are not looking for someone who has all the answers. They are looking for someone they would actually enjoy working with and who demonstrates a willingness to learn. Confidence comes from preparation, but authenticity is what people remember. — Andrew Brown, Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor, Pacific Mergers & Acquisitions Inc.
It is a conversation, not a test. Be cooperative with sincerity and genuineness. Add details to your answers, because details add credibility. Focus on sharing how you think and how you make judgment calls and decisions. — Christina Ren, Principal of an investment and management company.
A strong candidate is one who has really read through the job profile and compared their experience to the key responsibilities of the role. They are the ones who can more strongly relate their answers to past experience and then show how they can bring that experience to the organization. Someone with one year experience may be better suited than someone with five years, depending on how transferable those skills are, so focus on the responsibilities of the role, not necessarily the experience requirements. — Kam Kulewski, Human Resources Generalist
Preparation Builds Confidence
Understand and research the business or activities of the organization you are interviewing with. Come prepared with questions, examples that show your skills and curiosity, and be yourself — Bryan Yu, Chief Economist, Central 1.
Frame your answers as stories, not a memorized essay. Don’t be afraid to let your enthusiasm shine through, it leaves a lasting impression. Most importantly, prioritize the basics. Get a good night’s sleep before and walk into the room confidently with a smile. — Judy Weng, former Brand Solutions Expert at Google.
Master your “tell me about yourself” story. It’s the first impression you can control, and you’ll use it in every school and job interview. Practice it out loud, in front of a mirror, on video, with a friend or family member; whatever helps you hear how you actually sound, until it feels natural, clear and confident. — Yendi Pang, business owner.
Know how the role fits into your goals. Interviewers appreciate an applicant who is forward thinking because it shows you have thought about the position beyond the next few months of your life. Bonus points if you can identify gaps that you can fill in that industry with your own skillset. If you don’t let the interviewers know what you are great at, they won’t know. —Tiffany Wong MD, FRCPC, Faculty of Medicine Faculty Advisor; Clinical Associate Professor, UBC; Clinical Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Thank you so much to our incredible parent and staff volunteers for providing their valuable time and advice to our students. For the full list of volunteers, take a look at our Volunteer Wall.
