interview - Paper Answers

MOCK INTERVIEW PRACTICE SHEET

Situation/Task:

Action:

Result:

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.

· Keep it relevant and professional

· Talk about your relevant skills, knowledge, education and/or experience

· Questions to consider in your answer:

· What is your current educational program? What have you learned that’s relevant to this position? Do you have any relevant experience? What? Length? What are your relevant skills/interests?

WHAT INTERESTS YOU IN THIS POSITION?

· Learn about the company

· Questions to consider in your answer:

· What do you like about the position? Do you like the job duties? Do you have the skills required to perform the job duties? Have you done these duties in previous positions?

· What do you like about the company? What are their products/services? what are their values or goals?

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST STRENGTH? TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU USED THIS STRENGTH IN A PREVIOUS POSITION.

· Identify a relevant strength that shows your abilities to perform the job duties/requirements

· Provide an example of how you have used this strength in the past to back it up using the STAR method

· Questions to consider in your answer:

· What is your most relevant strength? When have you used this skill before? What was the situation/task at hand? What action did you take? What did you do? Be specific and detailed. What was the outcome?

Strength:

Situation/Task:

Action:

Result:

DESCRIBE A TIME WHEN YOU HAD TO HANDLE SEVERAL PRIORITIES AT ONCE. WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE? HOW DID YOU STAY ORGANIZED?

· Provide an example of how you have used your organization, multitasking, prioritization and adaptability skills in the past

· Questions to consider in your answer:

· When have you had to be extremely organized? What was the situation/task at hand? What were the conflicting priorities? How did you deal with it? What did you do? What tools did you use to help you stay organized? Be specific and detailed. What was the outcome?

ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?

· Yes! You want to have at least 3 questions you want to ask them – one about the position, the company and the hiring process (next steps)

· Do not ask questions about company perks like benefits or pay

· Revisit the job posting and do some company research – you want your questions to show that you are interested in the position

· Questions to consider:

· Do you have any questions about your possible responsibilities? The projects you’d be working on? The team you’d be working with?

· Do you have any questions about the organization you’ll be working for? What it’s like to work there?

· Do you have any questions about next steps? Do you have all their contact information?

Question about the position:

Question about the company:

Question about the hiring process/next steps:

AYA YOUNUS

Mississauga, ON • Younusay@sheridancollege.ca

February 1st, 2022

Your Talent Consultancy

RE: Human Resource Services Assistant – Payroll

Dear Hiring Committee,

In my pursuit of new creative endeavors, I was excited to find the HR internship opportunity in your
organization. As an enthusiastic HR practitioner, I believe that an opportunity to intern in your
organization will help me build more skills in HR and have experience that will be useful in my HR

career.

Collection of new information and posting it on databases seems quite interesting to me and am up for
the challenge. I have not been in a position that required me to maintain a payroll data and I believe

that this opportunity is a good opportunity to help me grow my HR career. Identifying innovative
approaches and improved solutions to business challenges both motivate and drive me. Observation,
inspiration, and determination are my foundation for success. My philosophy is that introducing fresh

perspectives and new techniques allow businesses to evolve and grow. Similar to Simcoe County
District School Board, my goal is to remain on the cutting-edge of advancements.

Formerly in my Personal Banker role, my successes have stemmed from essential skills, including

written and verbal and problem solving. I have enhanced my decision-making abilities and cultivated a
reputation as a major contributor through communication and critical thinking. I am a collaborative
team player who is always searching for opportunities to impart valuable insights. With these qualities,

I am able to facilitate positive change and impacting outcomes.

For a greater presentation of my background and qualifications, please review my attached resume. I
am eager to speak with you and greatly appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely, Aya Younus

AYA YOUNUS

Mississauga, CanadaL5A 2H5 ♦ Younusay@sheridancollege.ca

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
• Motivated human resources student available with intermediate knowledge of Human Resources

principles, payroll, and management.
• Experience supporting managers in coordinating interviews
• Assist with collecting and updating data base.

SKILLS
• Excellent interpersonal & communication

skills both verbal and written
• Intermediate skill level in Microsoft and Excel

• Administration experience with a good
understanding of general administrative skills

• Ability to work in a busy environment and
with very minimal supervision.

WORK HISTORY
Personal Banking Associate April 2021- Present
TD Canada Trust
• Managed portfolio of accounts and monitored for issues in need of attention.
• Developed tailored solutions to meet individual banking needs.
• Provided advice on different bank products and financial options.
• Understood and applied selling techniques to open, develop and close sales and created product interest

by actively cross-selling products and services to pursue customers.

Customer Service Associate March 2020 – April 2021
TD Canada Trust
• Improved operational efficiencies while managing customers’ requests, store inventory, transactions,

new purchase orders and pricing needs.
• Developed and actualized customer service initiatives to decrease wait times.
• Maintained customer satisfaction with forward-thinking strategies focused on addressing customer needs

and resolving concerns.

Key Holder Supervisor July 2017 – Feb 2020
Palmyra Mediterranean House
• Used weekly financial data to analyze company growth and optimize operational strategies.
• Submitted reports to senior management to aid in business decision-making and planning.

Sales Associate June 2016 – July 2017
Bombay & Co
• Engaged with customers to effectively build rapport and lasting relationships.
• Solved customer challenges by offering relevant products and services.
• Trained and developed new hires in company processes, product knowledge, customer service and

selling techniques.
• Provided positive first impressions to welcome existing, new and potential customers.

EDUCATION
BBA: Bachelor of Business Human Resources April 2023
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning – Mississauga, ON
Relevant Coursework Completed:
• Talent Acquisition
• Learning and Development
• HR strategic competencies
• Occupational Health and Safety

Cover letter 3
Aya Younus resume 4

Preparing for your Co-op Interviews

quiz

What is a job interview?

Job interviews are conversations where job
seekers and employers assess whether the
job opportunity is advantageous for both
parties

As an applicant, you are often assessing,
questioning and gathering information about
the employer at the same time as they are
assessing, questioning and gathering
information about you.

What are employers
looking for/assessing?

What are employers looking for?

Employers want to see if you will fit in and add
value (fit & competence)!

They are expecting you to sell yourself

Confident behaviour is preferred – BUT NOT COCKY!

Their perception of your personality is critical

Apparently, employers care most about your:
◦ Attitude (40%)
◦ Appearance (25%)

◦ Communication skills (25%)
◦ Related skills/experiences (10%)

What are the different
types of interviews?

What are the different
types/formats of interviews?

Undirected

Video

TelephoneDirected

Group Panel

How do you prepare?

How do you prepare?
Buy an outfit

Plan your commute

Research the company

Reread the job description

Have your “elevator pitch” ready

Create STAR stories demonstrating key skills

Practice responses to commonly asked questions

Prepare a list of interesting questions you can ask them

Print 3 copies of your resume, transcripts and references

What do you wear?

Know the company and the industry

Colours such as navy, grey, brown or black

Good fit – not too tight, not too baggy

Make sure your clothes are clean & pressed

Shower, smell good but no perfume/cologne

What do you bring?

1. Copies of resume

2. References

3. Prewritten questions

4. Pen and paper

5. Folder AND agenda

6. Purse or briefcase

7. Recommendations

8. Awards & certificates

9. Your talking points

10. Samples of work

When do you arrive?

10-15 minutes before it starts

AT LEAST 5 minutes before it starts

20 minutes early is TOO early

What if they’re late?

Remember, stuff happens

Be professional and polite

Patience and positivity is impressive

Reschedule the interview if you must

What if you’re nervous?

Being nervous before an interview is very normal
Smile 
Talk to a friend
Go for a walk/exercise
Listen to music
Dress like a star
Take deep breaths
Repeat positive affirmations
Meditate
Power pose!

What if you don’t have
any relevant experience?

What if you don’t have any
relevant experience?

They asked you to come in for an interview based
on what you wrote on your resume – expand on that

Make use of all the other stuff you’ve done
(coursework, volunteer and/or part-time work)

Talk about your transferable skills and your
understanding of how things could be done

Remember: they want to like you! And they already
do! PLUS, they’re just regular people too.

What are some illegal/
inappropriate questions?

What are some illegal/inappropriate
interview questions?

Any question about your:
◦ Country/place of origin and citizenship status
◦ Religion, faith or creed
◦ Age
◦ Gender or sexual orientation
◦ Race or ethnicity
◦ Family structure, children or marital status
◦ Mental or physical health and disability
◦ Appearance, height and weight
◦ Pardoned offences

What if they ask an illegal
/inappropriate question?

What if they ask an
illegal/inappropriate question?

Be polite & professional!
a) Answer, if you don’t mind
b) Say that while you don’t mind answering, you’d like

to know how that information is relevant
c) Say that you feel the question is inappropriate for a

job interview and that you’re not going to answer it

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

How can you guess what questions you
might be asked during a job interview?

Financial/Tax Analyst at XMC

We know the Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing™ business. The foundation of our business was built from practical, hands on experience over the
last two+ decades. Our team has nurtured XMC’s culture—from the people we seek to attract and fiercely retain, to the sponsorship, Experiential
Marketing™ and field marketing methodology and processes we’ve trademarked and employ. We’re goal oriented problem solvers, creative, forward
thinkers—entrepreneurial, small and nimble… Simply put, we bring media worthy and digitally-engaging sponsorship and experiential programs to life!

The Opportunity:

We are currently searching a Financial/Tax Analyst Summer Student to join our team of Accountants. The successful candidate will assist with a wide
variety of tasks which will allow for the development and enhancement of the individual’s financial and analytical skills. They will have the opportunity to
assist with full-cycle income tax filing, learn about accounting/tax software such as Oracle, SAP and Tax Prep, and support tax strategy planning.

About You:

– Post-secondary student majoring in accounting or finance.
– Strong knowledge of accounting principles and processes.
– Willingness and strong interest to learn income tax principles.
– Strong interpersonal communication and teamwork skills
– ability to work effectively with others in a dynamic environment.
– Ability to assimilate information from multiple sources.
– Self-starter, able to work effectively with minimal supervision.
– Ability to produce accurate and timely work with an attention to detail.
– Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
– Possess the ability to prioritize and meet tight deadlines.

Job Posting
Analysis

COMPANY PROFILE

•Sponsorship, experiential and analytics marketing agency
•Help other companies “bring media worthy and digitally-

engaging sponsorship and experiential programs to life”
•Problem solvers, creative, forward thinker and entrepreneurial

JOB DUTIES

•Work closely with accounting team
•Help with various tasks (assume accounting & administrative)
•Full-cycle income tax filing
•Tax strategy planning
•Use accounting/tax software; Oracle, SAP and Tax Prep

QUALIFICATIONS

•Education – Accounting or Finance
•Experience – Tax filing & strategy (nice-to-have – not specified)
•Hard Skills – Accounting processes, income tax principles &

software – Oracle, SAP and Tax Prep
•Soft Skills – Communication, teamwork, leadership, work ethic,

prioritization, attention to detail, problem solving, organization

The 3 things employers want to know:

1. WILL YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF WORK?
Self-Awareness & Attitude Check– Assessing You

2. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB WELL?
Skill Verification & Demonstration– Assessing Your Abilities

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

3. WILL WE ENJOY HAVING YOU AROUND?
Cultural/Organizational Fit – Assessing Your Suitability

Will you like this type of work?
Self-Awareness & Attitude Check – Assessing You

These types of questions are asked to help the employer get
a better sense of who you are as a person and as a
professional. They want to know who you are, what you like,
what you don’t like, why you feel this way, what you’re good
at what you’re not good at, etc. They also will try to gauge
your level of knowledge and interest in the job duties,
company and/or industry.

Sample
Questions

◦

Tell me about yourself.

◦ How would your friends describe you?
◦ Why did you apply for this position?
◦ What’s your understanding of this role?
◦ What sets us apart from our competitors?
◦ What are some emerging trends in the industry?
◦ Why did you choose your program/field?
◦ What do you like about your program/field?
◦ What do you not like about your program/field?
◦ What is your greatest accomplishment? Failure?

Tips & Tricks

Know yourself! Do some serious self reflection

Think about your educational/career trajectory and
what led you to apply to the positions you’re applying to

Think about all you’ve experienced, the skills you’ve
developed, the mistakes you’ve made and lessons
you’ve learned

Think of yourself as a product or politician – you have
talking points/a personal brand/key points you want to
be known by

Tell me about yourself.

It might sound like it, but they’re not asking about your hobbies or what you do in your free time!
Describe your related education, experience, technical skills and/or personal attributes that are
needed for the position. This answer should be strong enough to start the interview on a positive
note and make the employer want to hear more about your experience. You do not want to give

your professional history – you want to explain what led you to apply for this position and why you
think you’d be a good fit.

Tell me about yourself.

I’m a youth worker turned career coach who has always been
passionate about helping people reach their goals. Most of my

experience involves working with students and in my quest to help them
reach their goals, I developed a passion for career education. I’ve spent
the past 5 years working with others to help them secure employment.
Now I’m looking for an opportunity to take what I’ve learned about job

searching and share it with Sheridan students so that they can
successfully launch careers of their own!

What’s your biggest weakness?

You do want to give an actual weakness that is honest, you do not want to make the interviewer
question your ability to do the job. Sometimes your weakness is obvious and it’s a great time to

tackle something you were insecure about. Example: they want someone with experience in
construction, but you don’t have any… tell them that you have an interest in it, you’re a quick

learner or that you have familiarity with it through academic projects – or something.

What NOT to say:
I work too hard
I work too much
I care too much
I am a perfectionist
My communication (or other key skill)
I’m not good at public speaking/presenting

What’s your biggest weakness?

Better ways to approach the question:
◦ I work too hard  hard time saying no, take on too many tasks, struggle with delegation
◦ I work too much  struggle to maintain a positive work-life balance
◦ I care too much  take the stress of the job home with me
◦ I’m a perfectionist  spend a lot of time on small details
◦ Communication  don’t ask enough questions (context that isn’t damaging)
◦ Leadership  giving constructive feedback/second guess myself a lot (context that isn’t damaging)
◦ Public speaking/presenting  sharing my ideas in group settings

What’s your biggest weakness?

I can sometimes spend a lot of time focusing on smaller details. For
example, I could literally spend days editing an existing handout or

PowerPoint presentation – which probably isn’t the best use of time. So,
whenever I notice myself spending too much time on a task, I ask myself
– “Out of everything you need accomplish today, how much time does it
make sense to spend on this task?” And this helps me put things into

perspective and ensures my priorities are in order.

Will you be able to do the job well?
Skill Verification/Demonstration – Assessing Your Abilities

These types of questions are asked so the employer can
assess whether you have the skills and abilities needed to
do the job well. If the employer wants to assess your
hard/professional skills, they might present a case study,
give you a practical assessment. If they want to assess your
soft skills, they might ask you to share an example of a time
you demonstrated a specific skill in the past or they might
ask you what you would do in a certain situation or scenario.

Sample
Questions

◦ Rate your proficiency with the MS Office suite
◦ What digital marketing platforms and software can you use?
◦ In your own words, what is the supply chain, and why is it important?
◦ How are Pivot tables used to filter data?
◦ Can you name the tools that are helpful for data analysis?
◦ How would you know if a marketing campaign was successful?
◦ Which business analytics tools or systems have you worked with?
◦ What is meant by Benchmarking?
◦ What does risk analysis mean?
◦ How do you define an ideal project?
◦ How would you build a Business Process Model?
◦ What factors do you believe have driven the consolidation in the

pharmaceutical industry over the last decade?
◦ How would you redesign our mobile app to make it more user-friendly?
◦ A company that produces various flavours of soda has found that it is

operating at a loss despite its revenues being high. What are the possible
reasons for this situation?

◦ What is your understanding of GAAP?

Tips & Tricks

Relax – most co-op job interviews will not ask these
types of questions. But they MIGHT. Your biggest clue,
as usual, will be the job posting. If the job posting says
you must have knowledge of accounting principles –
you can guess that you will be asked a question to test
that knowledge.

These questions are the questions you might get asked
on a quiz or exam. Look back at the most relevant
course(s) you took – review your notes, projects,
assignments, tests, quizzes, the course outline, etc., as
a refresher of what you learned.

Describe your proficiency with
[Computer Software]?

Do not undersell yourself here. Explain how you’ve used Excel in the past (you can talk about your
academic projects). If you took a computer application course, feel free to tell them your mark (if it
was high). If they ask you about something you’re not familiar with, explain your ability to quickly
learn new technologies (if that’s true). But ideally, you’ve already done all the industry research

and know what skills are needed for this job so you should at least be familiar with the software.

Describe your proficiency with
Desire2Learn (SLATE)

I used it as a student, so I’m not a stranger to the
platform. While I haven’t used it in a professional

capacity yet, I currently use BlackBoard, a very similar
software, so I know how to post content,

accouchements, mark assignments, etc. Plus, I like to
think I have relatively strong computer skills as I can
generally pick up new technologies relatively quickly.

Behavioural Questions

The most common type of skill verification question is the behavioural question (“tell me about a time…”). Employers
will usually ask these questions to make candidates demonstrate their soft skills. Soft skills are intangible, hard to
measure and hard to prove. Behavioural questions are good for assessing soft skills because they are designed to
make candidates share a concrete example of when they used a specific skill. To answer these questions correctly,
you’ll need to use the STAR storytelling method.

Situational questions (“what would you do if…”) describe a common workplace scenario a candidate might
encounter on the job then asks the candidate what they might do in that situation – allowing the employer to
determine whether they think the candidate knows how to effectively handle a common workplace challenge.

Employers can and do just simply ask candidates to explain their knowledge or understanding of a specific skill,
software, system, task, etc. to assess their skills/abilities (e.g., describe your proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, what is
the purpose of the VLOOK up function, explain your project management process, etc.). Try to use the STAR
storytelling method for these when you can.

Sample
Questions

◦ Tell me about a time you demonstrated creativity.
◦ Describe a time you’ve made an error. How did you handle it?
◦ Tell me about a time when you had to manage multiple responsibilities.
◦ Tell me about a time delivered exceptional customer service.
◦ Sometimes we have an all-hands-on-deck situation that may require

everyone to work extra hours. How would you handle that?
◦ How would handle working with people who have a different perspective than

you on an important matter?
◦ Tell me about a time you went above and beyond to complete a task or

project.
◦ Describe your approach to problem solving.
◦ Tell me about a time you had unclear responsibilities. How did you manage

that? What was the outcome?

Tips & Tricks
The majority of interview questions you will be asked are
likely to be behavioural or situational questions.

While you cannot anticipate every question you might get
asked – you can guess based on the types of skills they are
likely looking to assess. The best way to prepare is to read
the job description – specifically the “qualifications
section” and create a STAR story for every skill listed in the
job posting.

It might sound like a lot of work – but there is a limited
number of soft skills employers are looking to assess, and
a lot of them overlap (i.e., you likely have to create 5-10
STAR Stories in total), you can use them in any interview
you might go to and most importantly – it’s better to think
of an example in the comfort of your home where you can
get feedback as opposed to blurting out whatever comes to
your mind first in a high-stakes interview.

The STAR Story Telling Method

SITUATION & TASK ACTION RESULTS

Set the scene
Who, what, where, when & why?

Explain yourself
How?

Boast a little bit
So What?

Think of a situation or task (project or problem)
that required you to use one of your skills that

are listed in the job posting. What was
happening? What needed to be done? Why?
Provide some context so the person gets a
sense of the scope of the task/your work.

What specific actions did you take in this situation?
How did you tackle this task? What did you do? How
did you do it? Why did you do it? What skills did you
use to get this done? What skills did you develop?
Tell them about your thinking process, any tools

/software you used, strategies you referenced, etc.

What was the result of you taking those
actions? What was the final outcome of your
actions? What impact did you have? What did
you learn? What were the reactions of others

around you? Use facts/numbers that prove the
impact of your work!

Tip: Keep this part brief. You’re only setting up
the story to help give your “action” context.

Tip: Be very detailed and specific- make sure you
focus on what YOU did!! This is the part of the story

where they get to see your skills in action!

Tip: Try to use objective results – quantify if you
can but qualitative facts are okay too (like

praise from a boss)

Tell me about a time you
used your organization skills
to keep your team on track.

Situation/Task

In my current job, I report to 2 managers and support a team of 15 so I have to handle
multiple responsibilities and competing priorities on a regular basis.

Keep it simple, positive and give broader context if you can

Action

To keep track of everything – I like using Google Calendar. I like to fill out big projects on the
monthly view, then at the start of every week I like to plan what needs to be done. At the end of
every day, I see what I accomplished and add any new tasks that popped up during the day.
Because I review what I need to do at the end of every day, I’m able to re-prioritize quickly if I’m
given a new urgent task during the day.

When I’m working on a tight deadline, I start my day by making a list of priorities. Then I approach
the most challenging work first, then move onto other tasks that don’t require the same level of
concentration. This helps me work more efficiently throughout the rest of the day. I also make a
point to silence my phone and turn off email notifications during deep work to help me avoid
distractions.

Most important part of the story!

Be very specific – focus on what YOU did

Working on a tight deadline could be the obstacle here. You should be prepared to go into detail
regarding a specific situation where things were not going as planned. Maybe you almost didn’t meet
the deadline or you made some sort of mistake when trying to keep everything together. You never
know what they might ask you about your organization skills.

Result

This process allows me to remain organized on the job while efficiently supporting my
department.

Boast about how your hard work paid off 

Even if the question they ask is completely negative. Example: Tell me about a time when things went
completely horrible when you were in charge of keeping it organized. What did you do wrong in this
situation? You want to end on a positive note. Either you turned the situation around because you’re so
good at what you do, OR you learned something very valuable and you will never make that mistake again.

GOOD LUCK!

Tell me about a time you
experienced difficulties working in

a group.

Situation/Task

“This is a problem often encountered in school, so to ensure that we were ahead of this
issue, our team agreed to weekly check-ins before we started the project. During our second
check-in, it was blatantly obvious that one group members hadn’t completed their part of
the assignment and this naturally made the other group members very upset because we
collectively wanted to get a good grade for the assignment.”

keep it simple, positive and give broader context if you can

Action

“I decided to speak to the group member privately so I could get a better sense of the issue
and resolve it quickly. Instead of accusing him of not doing his part, I genuinely asked if
everything was okay, if he was okay with completing his tasks and if he wanted any help
getting it done. He explained that he was having a hard time managing his time with school
and work but that he intended to complete his portion of the assignment, as soon as he had
the time. I empathized with him and offered to at least help him finalize his part of the
PowerPoint.”

Be very specific – focus on what YOU did

Result

“This ended up working for both of us because I lessened his load and was also able to do a
quality check without making him uncomfortable. He ended up completing what he needed
to complete and we ended up placing second out of 22 in the project management
competition.”

Boast about how your hard work paid off 

Will we like having you around?
Cultural/Organizational Fit Questions – Assessing your suitability

These types of questions are asked to assess your ability to
mesh with their existing team and fit in with the overall
organization (personal attributes, work preferences, values,
interests, hobbies, goals).

Sample
Questions

◦ Describe your ideal work environment.
◦ What role do you usually take in a team?
◦ What will you need from us to succeed in this position?
◦ Tell me about your favourite manager.
◦ Tell me something that’s not on your resume.
◦ What do you hope to achieve in your time here?
◦ Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
◦ What are your long-term goals?

Tips & Tricks

Try to visualize the workplace culture before your
interview – you can get hints from Google, Glassdoor,
their social media pages, LinkedIn, informational
interviews, observation, common sense, the job posting
(company profile – and any keywords throughout like
“dynamic environment”, “innovative space”, “work with
little to no supervision”). etc..

It’s important you are honest, positive but also realistic
when answering these questions – like any answer to
an interview question, you don’t want to say anything
that will disqualify you for a position

What type of management style do
you work best under?

Be careful. You don’t want to speak negatively about anyone or any style of management – unless
of course certain styles are a hard no for you. But you always must be professional and polite in

your interview.

What type of management style do
you work best under?

I’m a very easy-going person and I tend to get along
with different personality-types and so I can adapt to
any management style. I have had some employers

who encourage lots of independent work, and others
who prefer to give clear, specific instructions. I was

able to create strong relationships with those
managers and ultimately thrive in both environments.

Questions YOU can ask!

At the end of the interview, they will ask you if you have anything you’d like to ask them. You should
have AT LEAST THREE questions prepared AND at least one of which should be “interesting.” An
interesting question is a unique question that shows the employer that you’ve really thought about the
intricacies of the role and are interested in the company/industry.

Stay away from boring questions like “what does a typical day on the job look like?” Why? Because you
should’ve thought about his already when you did your job posting analysis or when you were preparing
for the interview – you should already have an idea of what a typical day on the job might look like. Dig a
little deeper. Ask a question that gets into the specific of the job like “a part of what really interested me
in this position is the work you are doing with the water crisis, any chance that’s one of the projects I
might be working on this summer?”

The purpose of asking questions at the end of the interview is not to solely gain insight into the position
or company, but to demonstrate your sincere interest and curiosity when it comes to the role.

Tips & Tricks

After reading the job posting and asking yourself the job
posting analysis questions, think about what else you’d like
to know about the position or company.

Have AT LEAST THREE questions prepared (written down).
Have at least ONE question from each of the following
categories:
◦ Questions about the position
◦ Questions about the company
◦ Questions about the hiring process

Sample
Questions

1. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSITION:
◦ What are the most challenging aspect of this job?

◦ Can you tell me about the team I would be supporting? What are their strengths
and the biggest challenges?

2. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPANY:
◦ What do you enjoy about working here?

◦ What gets you excited about the company’s future?

3. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS:
◦ When do you hope to have this role filled?

◦ Can I have a business card so I can follow up?

Do you have questions for us?

POSITION
1. I’m used to working with business students, but not
project or process management students – is there anything
that differentiates them?

COMPANY
2. Do you think Sheridan will still become a university?
3. Other than being creative, what do you think makes
Sheridan different than other colleges?

NEXT STEPS
4. Ideally, when do you want the new coop advisor to start?
5. Can I get your business card?

Things to do after the interview

TAKE NOTES
◦ How’d it go? Did any questions catch you off guard? Write

them down! After a few interviews you mind find a pattern
that you need to address

SEND A THANK YOUR LETTER (PHYSICAL VS ELECTRONIC)
◦ Within 24 hours! Thank them, remind them how you’re

valuable and say anything you wish you would have said

FOLLOW UP (PHONE VS EMAIL)
◦ Check-in with them if it’s been 2-3 days longer than you

expected to hear back from them… Don’t be annoying. People
are busy and sometimes hiring a new intern takes a backseat
if the office is busy

Sample Thank-You Note!

Hello Cory,

I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for interviewing me yesterday. It was
great meeting with you and the hiring committee.

After our conversations, I got the impression that you’re on a mission to make
Sheridan’s Cooperative Education Program even bigger and better than it already is.
This is very exciting to me because I know how competitive PSE is about to become
now that universities are ramping up their WIL programs as well. I believe I have the
drive and ability to help Sheridan remain competitive by ensuring our employer
roster is diverse on our students are job search ready.

My passion for helping students is evident and that stems from the fact that I am a
relationship-oriented person who enjoys working with people. I’m interested in
building strong relationships with not only your students but with the coop/career
team, faculty and, of course, employer partners!

I hope that you agree that I am a great fit for the role and I hope to be working with
you soon!

Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Kayla Vatcher

What are employers looking for/assessing?

What are employers looking for?

What are the different types of interviews?
What are the different types/formats of interviews?

How do you prepare?
How do you prepare?
What do you wear?
What do you wear?
What do you bring?
What do you bring?
When do you arrive?
When do you arrive?
What if they’re late?
What if they’re late?
What if you’re nervous?
What if you’re nervous?

What if you don’t have any relevant experience?

What if you don’t have any relevant experience?

What are some illegal/ inappropriate questions?
What are some illegal/inappropriate interview questions?
What if they ask an illegal /inappropriate question?
What if they ask an illegal/inappropriate question?

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

How can you guess what questions you might be asked during a job interview?
Slide Number 29
Job Posting Analysis

The 3 things employers want to know:

Will you like this type of work?�Self-Awareness & Attitude Check – Assessing You
Sample Questions

Tips & Tricks
Tell me about yourself.
Tell me about yourself.
What’s your biggest weakness?

Slide Number 38

What’s your biggest weakness?
What’s your biggest weakness?

Will you be able to do the job well?�Skill Verification/Demonstration – Assessing Your Abilities

Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks

Describe your proficiency with [Computer Software]?
Describe your proficiency with Desire2Learn (SLATE)

Behavioural Questions
Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks
The STAR Story Telling Method

Slide Number 50

Situation/Task
Action
Result

Slide Number 54
Tell me about a time you experienced difficulties working in a group.

Situation/Task
Action
Result

Will we like having you around?�Cultural/Organizational Fit Questions – Assessing your suitability

Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks

What type of management style do you work best under?

What type of management style do you work best under?
Questions YOU can ask!
Tips & Tricks
Sample Questions
Do you have questions for us?
Things to do after the interview
Sample Thank-You Note!

Preparing for your Co-op Interviews

quiz

What is a job interview?

Job interviews are conversations where job
seekers and employers assess whether the
job opportunity is advantageous for both
parties

As an applicant, you are often assessing,
questioning and gathering information about
the employer at the same time as they are
assessing, questioning and gathering
information about you.

What are employers
looking for/assessing?

What are employers looking for?

Employers want to see if you will fit in and add
value (fit & competence)!

They are expecting you to sell yourself

Confident behaviour is preferred – BUT NOT COCKY!

Their perception of your personality is critical

Apparently, employers care most about your:
◦ Attitude (40%)
◦ Appearance (25%)

◦ Communication skills (25%)
◦ Related skills/experiences (10%)

What are the different
types of interviews?

What are the different
types/formats of interviews?

Undirected

Video

TelephoneDirected

Group Panel

How do you prepare?

How do you prepare?
Buy an outfit

Plan your commute

Research the company

Reread the job description

Have your “elevator pitch” ready

Create STAR stories demonstrating key skills

Practice responses to commonly asked questions

Prepare a list of interesting questions you can ask them

Print 3 copies of your resume, transcripts and references

What do you wear?

Know the company and the industry

Colours such as navy, grey, brown or black

Good fit – not too tight, not too baggy

Make sure your clothes are clean & pressed

Shower, smell good but no perfume/cologne

What do you bring?

1. Copies of resume

2. References

3. Prewritten questions

4. Pen and paper

5. Folder AND agenda

6. Purse or briefcase

7. Recommendations

8. Awards & certificates

9. Your talking points

10. Samples of work

When do you arrive?

10-15 minutes before it starts

AT LEAST 5 minutes before it starts

20 minutes early is TOO early

What if they’re late?

Remember, stuff happens

Be professional and polite

Patience and positivity is impressive

Reschedule the interview if you must

What if you’re nervous?

What if you don’t have
any relevant experience?

What if you don’t have any
relevant experience?

They asked you to come in for an interview based
on what you wrote on your resume – expand on that

Make use of all the other stuff you’ve done
(coursework, volunteer and/or part-time work)

Talk about your transferable skills and your
understanding of how things could be done

Remember: they want to like you! And they already
do! PLUS, they’re just regular people too.

What are some illegal/
inappropriate questions?

What are some illegal/inappropriate
interview questions?

What if they ask an illegal
/inappropriate question?

What if they ask an
illegal/inappropriate question?

Be polite & professional!
a) Answer, if you don’t mind
b) Say that while you don’t mind answering, you’d like

to know how that information is relevant
c) Say that you feel the question is inappropriate for a

job interview and that you’re not going to answer it

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

How can you guess what questions you
might be asked during a job interview?

Financial/Tax Analyst at XMC

The Opportunity:

About You:

Job Posting
Analysis

COMPANY PROFILE

•Sponsorship, experiential and analytics marketing agency
•Help other companies “bring media worthy and digitally-

engaging sponsorship and experiential programs to life”
•Problem solvers, creative, forward thinker and entrepreneurial

JOB DUTIES

QUALIFICATIONS

•Education – Accounting or Finance
•Experience – Tax filing & strategy (nice-to-have – not specified)
•Hard Skills – Accounting processes, income tax principles &

software – Oracle, SAP and Tax Prep
•Soft Skills – Communication, teamwork, leadership, work ethic,

prioritization, attention to detail, problem solving, organization

The 3 things employers want to know:

1. WILL YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF WORK?
Self-Awareness & Attitude Check– Assessing You

2. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB WELL?
Skill Verification & Demonstration– Assessing Your Abilities

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

3. WILL WE ENJOY HAVING YOU AROUND?
Cultural/Organizational Fit – Assessing Your Suitability

Will you like this type of work?
Self-Awareness & Attitude Check – Assessing You

Sample
Questions

◦

Tell me about yourself.

Tips & Tricks

Know yourself! Do some serious self reflection

Think about your educational/career trajectory and
what led you to apply to the positions you’re applying to

Think about all you’ve experienced, the skills you’ve
developed, the mistakes you’ve made and lessons
you’ve learned

Think of yourself as a product or politician – you have
talking points/a personal brand/key points you want to
be known by

Tell me about yourself.

your professional history – you want to explain what led you to apply for this position and why you
think you’d be a good fit.

Tell me about yourself.

I’m a youth worker turned career coach who has always been
passionate about helping people reach their goals. Most of my

searching and share it with Sheridan students so that they can
successfully launch careers of their own!

What’s your biggest weakness?

You do want to give an actual weakness that is honest, you do not want to make the interviewer
question your ability to do the job. Sometimes your weakness is obvious and it’s a great time to

tackle something you were insecure about. Example: they want someone with experience in
construction, but you don’t have any… tell them that you have an interest in it, you’re a quick

learner or that you have familiarity with it through academic projects – or something.

What NOT to say:
I work too hard
I work too much
I care too much
I am a perfectionist
My communication (or other key skill)
I’m not good at public speaking/presenting

What’s your biggest weakness?

I can sometimes spend a lot of time focusing on smaller details. For
example, I could literally spend days editing an existing handout or

perspective and ensures my priorities are in order.

Will you be able to do the job well?
Skill Verification/Demonstration – Assessing Your Abilities

Sample
Questions

pharmaceutical industry over the last decade?
◦ How would you redesign our mobile app to make it more user-friendly?
◦ A company that produces various flavours of soda has found that it is

operating at a loss despite its revenues being high. What are the possible
reasons for this situation?

◦ What is your understanding of GAAP?

Tips & Tricks

Describe your proficiency with
[Computer Software]?

and know what skills are needed for this job so you should at least be familiar with the software.

Describe your proficiency with
Desire2Learn (SLATE)

I used it as a student, so I’m not a stranger to the
platform. While I haven’t used it in a professional

capacity yet, I currently use BlackBoard, a very similar
software, so I know how to post content,

accouchements, mark assignments, etc. Plus, I like to
think I have relatively strong computer skills as I can
generally pick up new technologies relatively quickly.

Behavioural Questions

Sample
Questions

everyone to work extra hours. How would you handle that?
◦ How would handle working with people who have a different perspective than

you on an important matter?
◦ Tell me about a time you went above and beyond to complete a task or

project.
◦ Describe your approach to problem solving.
◦ Tell me about a time you had unclear responsibilities. How did you manage

that? What was the outcome?

Tips & Tricks
The majority of interview questions you will be asked are
likely to be behavioural or situational questions.

The STAR Story Telling Method

SITUATION & TASK ACTION RESULTS

Set the scene
Who, what, where, when & why?

Explain yourself
How?

Boast a little bit
So What?

Think of a situation or task (project or problem)
that required you to use one of your skills that

are listed in the job posting. What was
happening? What needed to be done? Why?
Provide some context so the person gets a
sense of the scope of the task/your work.

/software you used, strategies you referenced, etc.

What was the result of you taking those
actions? What was the final outcome of your
actions? What impact did you have? What did
you learn? What were the reactions of others

around you? Use facts/numbers that prove the
impact of your work!

Tip: Keep this part brief. You’re only setting up
the story to help give your “action” context.

Tip: Be very detailed and specific- make sure you
focus on what YOU did!! This is the part of the story

where they get to see your skills in action!

Tip: Try to use objective results – quantify if you
can but qualitative facts are okay too (like

praise from a boss)

Tell me about a time you
used your organization skills
to keep your team on track.

Situation/Task

In my current job, I report to 2 managers and support a team of 15 so I have to handle
multiple responsibilities and competing priorities on a regular basis.

Keep it simple, positive and give broader context if you can

Action

Most important part of the story!

Be very specific – focus on what YOU did

Result

This process allows me to remain organized on the job while efficiently supporting my
department.

Boast about how your hard work paid off 

GOOD LUCK!

Tell me about a time you
experienced difficulties working in

a group.

Situation/Task

keep it simple, positive and give broader context if you can

Action

Be very specific – focus on what YOU did

Result

Boast about how your hard work paid off 

Will we like having you around?
Cultural/Organizational Fit Questions – Assessing your suitability

Sample
Questions

Tips & Tricks

What type of management style do
you work best under?

Be careful. You don’t want to speak negatively about anyone or any style of management – unless
of course certain styles are a hard no for you. But you always must be professional and polite in

your interview.

What type of management style do
you work best under?

I’m a very easy-going person and I tend to get along
with different personality-types and so I can adapt to
any management style. I have had some employers

who encourage lots of independent work, and others
who prefer to give clear, specific instructions. I was

able to create strong relationships with those
managers and ultimately thrive in both environments.

Questions YOU can ask!

Tips & Tricks

After reading the job posting and asking yourself the job
posting analysis questions, think about what else you’d like
to know about the position or company.

Sample
Questions

1. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSITION:
◦ What are the most challenging aspect of this job?

◦ Can you tell me about the team I would be supporting? What are their strengths
and the biggest challenges?

2. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPANY:
◦ What do you enjoy about working here?

◦ What gets you excited about the company’s future?

3. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS:
◦ When do you hope to have this role filled?

◦ Can I have a business card so I can follow up?

Do you have questions for us?

POSITION
1. I’m used to working with business students, but not
project or process management students – is there anything
that differentiates them?

COMPANY
2. Do you think Sheridan will still become a university?
3. Other than being creative, what do you think makes
Sheridan different than other colleges?

NEXT STEPS
4. Ideally, when do you want the new coop advisor to start?
5. Can I get your business card?

Things to do after the interview

TAKE NOTES
◦ How’d it go? Did any questions catch you off guard? Write

them down! After a few interviews you mind find a pattern
that you need to address

SEND A THANK YOUR LETTER (PHYSICAL VS ELECTRONIC)
◦ Within 24 hours! Thank them, remind them how you’re

valuable and say anything you wish you would have said

FOLLOW UP (PHONE VS EMAIL)
◦ Check-in with them if it’s been 2-3 days longer than you

expected to hear back from them… Don’t be annoying. People
are busy and sometimes hiring a new intern takes a backseat
if the office is busy

Sample Thank-You Note!

Hello Cory,

I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for interviewing me yesterday. It was
great meeting with you and the hiring committee.

I hope that you agree that I am a great fit for the role and I hope to be working with
you soon!

Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Kayla Vatcher

What are employers looking for/assessing?

What are employers looking for?

What are the different types of interviews?
What are the different types/formats of interviews?

What if you don’t have any relevant experience?

What if you don’t have any relevant experience?

What are some illegal/ inappropriate questions?
What are some illegal/inappropriate interview questions?
What if they ask an illegal /inappropriate question?
What if they ask an illegal/inappropriate question?

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

How can you guess what questions you might be asked during a job interview?
Slide Number 29
Job Posting Analysis

The 3 things employers want to know:

Will you like this type of work?�Self-Awareness & Attitude Check – Assessing You
Sample Questions

Tips & Tricks
Tell me about yourself.
Tell me about yourself.
What’s your biggest weakness?

Slide Number 38

What’s your biggest weakness?
What’s your biggest weakness?

Will you be able to do the job well?�Skill Verification/Demonstration – Assessing Your Abilities

Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks

Describe your proficiency with [Computer Software]?
Describe your proficiency with Desire2Learn (SLATE)

Behavioural Questions
Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks
The STAR Story Telling Method

Slide Number 50

Situation/Task
Action
Result

Slide Number 54
Tell me about a time you experienced difficulties working in a group.

Situation/Task
Action
Result

Will we like having you around?�Cultural/Organizational Fit Questions – Assessing your suitability

Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks

What type of management style do you work best under?

What type of management style do you work best under?
Questions YOU can ask!
Tips & Tricks
Sample Questions
Do you have questions for us?
Things to do after the interview
Sample Thank-You Note!

Preparing for your Co-op Interviews

quiz

What is a job interview?

Job interviews are conversations where job
seekers and employers assess whether the
job opportunity is advantageous for both
parties

As an applicant, you are often assessing,
questioning and gathering information about
the employer at the same time as they are
assessing, questioning and gathering
information about you.

What are employers
looking for/assessing?

What are employers looking for?

Employers want to see if you will fit in and add
value (fit & competence)!

They are expecting you to sell yourself

Confident behaviour is preferred – BUT NOT COCKY!

Their perception of your personality is critical

Apparently, employers care most about your:
◦ Attitude (40%)
◦ Appearance (25%)

◦ Communication skills (25%)
◦ Related skills/experiences (10%)

What are the different
types of interviews?

What are the different
types/formats of interviews?

Undirected

Video

TelephoneDirected

Group Panel

How do you prepare?

How do you prepare?
Buy an outfit

Plan your commute

Research the company

Reread the job description

Have your “elevator pitch” ready

Create STAR stories demonstrating key skills

Practice responses to commonly asked questions

Prepare a list of interesting questions you can ask them

Print 3 copies of your resume, transcripts and references

What do you wear?

Know the company and the industry

Colours such as navy, grey, brown or black

Good fit – not too tight, not too baggy

Make sure your clothes are clean & pressed

Shower, smell good but no perfume/cologne

What do you bring?

1. Copies of resume

2. References

3. Prewritten questions

4. Pen and paper

5. Folder AND agenda

6. Purse or briefcase

7. Recommendations

8. Awards & certificates

9. Your talking points

10. Samples of work

When do you arrive?

10-15 minutes before it starts

AT LEAST 5 minutes before it starts

20 minutes early is TOO early

What if they’re late?

Remember, stuff happens

Be professional and polite

Patience and positivity is impressive

Reschedule the interview if you must

What if you’re nervous?

What if you don’t have
any relevant experience?

What if you don’t have any
relevant experience?

They asked you to come in for an interview based
on what you wrote on your resume – expand on that

Make use of all the other stuff you’ve done
(coursework, volunteer and/or part-time work)

Talk about your transferable skills and your
understanding of how things could be done

Remember: they want to like you! And they already
do! PLUS, they’re just regular people too.

What are some illegal/
inappropriate questions?

What are some illegal/inappropriate
interview questions?

What if they ask an illegal
/inappropriate question?

What if they ask an
illegal/inappropriate question?

Be polite & professional!
a) Answer, if you don’t mind
b) Say that while you don’t mind answering, you’d like

to know how that information is relevant
c) Say that you feel the question is inappropriate for a

job interview and that you’re not going to answer it

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

How can you guess what questions you
might be asked during a job interview?

Financial/Tax Analyst at XMC

The Opportunity:

About You:

Job Posting
Analysis

COMPANY PROFILE

•Sponsorship, experiential and analytics marketing agency
•Help other companies “bring media worthy and digitally-

engaging sponsorship and experiential programs to life”
•Problem solvers, creative, forward thinker and entrepreneurial

JOB DUTIES

QUALIFICATIONS

•Education – Accounting or Finance
•Experience – Tax filing & strategy (nice-to-have – not specified)
•Hard Skills – Accounting processes, income tax principles &

software – Oracle, SAP and Tax Prep
•Soft Skills – Communication, teamwork, leadership, work ethic,

prioritization, attention to detail, problem solving, organization

The 3 things employers want to know:

1. WILL YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF WORK?
Self-Awareness & Attitude Check– Assessing You

2. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB WELL?
Skill Verification & Demonstration– Assessing Your Abilities

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

3. WILL WE ENJOY HAVING YOU AROUND?
Cultural/Organizational Fit – Assessing Your Suitability

Will you like this type of work?
Self-Awareness & Attitude Check – Assessing You

Sample
Questions

◦

Tell me about yourself.

Tips & Tricks

Know yourself! Do some serious self reflection

Think about your educational/career trajectory and
what led you to apply to the positions you’re applying to

Think about all you’ve experienced, the skills you’ve
developed, the mistakes you’ve made and lessons
you’ve learned

Think of yourself as a product or politician – you have
talking points/a personal brand/key points you want to
be known by

Tell me about yourself.

your professional history – you want to explain what led you to apply for this position and why you
think you’d be a good fit.

Tell me about yourself.

I’m a youth worker turned career coach who has always been
passionate about helping people reach their goals. Most of my

searching and share it with Sheridan students so that they can
successfully launch careers of their own!

What’s your biggest weakness?

You do want to give an actual weakness that is honest, you do not want to make the interviewer
question your ability to do the job. Sometimes your weakness is obvious and it’s a great time to

tackle something you were insecure about. Example: they want someone with experience in
construction, but you don’t have any… tell them that you have an interest in it, you’re a quick

learner or that you have familiarity with it through academic projects – or something.

What NOT to say:
I work too hard
I work too much
I care too much
I am a perfectionist
My communication (or other key skill)
I’m not good at public speaking/presenting

What’s your biggest weakness?

I can sometimes spend a lot of time focusing on smaller details. For
example, I could literally spend days editing an existing handout or

perspective and ensures my priorities are in order.

Will you be able to do the job well?
Skill Verification/Demonstration – Assessing Your Abilities

Sample
Questions

pharmaceutical industry over the last decade?
◦ How would you redesign our mobile app to make it more user-friendly?
◦ A company that produces various flavours of soda has found that it is

operating at a loss despite its revenues being high. What are the possible
reasons for this situation?

◦ What is your understanding of GAAP?

Tips & Tricks

Describe your proficiency with
[Computer Software]?

and know what skills are needed for this job so you should at least be familiar with the software.

Describe your proficiency with
Desire2Learn (SLATE)

I used it as a student, so I’m not a stranger to the
platform. While I haven’t used it in a professional

capacity yet, I currently use BlackBoard, a very similar
software, so I know how to post content,

accouchements, mark assignments, etc. Plus, I like to
think I have relatively strong computer skills as I can
generally pick up new technologies relatively quickly.

Behavioural Questions

Sample
Questions

everyone to work extra hours. How would you handle that?
◦ How would handle working with people who have a different perspective than

you on an important matter?
◦ Tell me about a time you went above and beyond to complete a task or

project.
◦ Describe your approach to problem solving.
◦ Tell me about a time you had unclear responsibilities. How did you manage

that? What was the outcome?

Tips & Tricks
The majority of interview questions you will be asked are
likely to be behavioural or situational questions.

The STAR Story Telling Method

SITUATION & TASK ACTION RESULTS

Set the scene
Who, what, where, when & why?

Explain yourself
How?

Boast a little bit
So What?

Think of a situation or task (project or problem)
that required you to use one of your skills that

are listed in the job posting. What was
happening? What needed to be done? Why?
Provide some context so the person gets a
sense of the scope of the task/your work.

/software you used, strategies you referenced, etc.

What was the result of you taking those
actions? What was the final outcome of your
actions? What impact did you have? What did
you learn? What were the reactions of others

around you? Use facts/numbers that prove the
impact of your work!

Tip: Keep this part brief. You’re only setting up
the story to help give your “action” context.

Tip: Be very detailed and specific- make sure you
focus on what YOU did!! This is the part of the story

where they get to see your skills in action!

Tip: Try to use objective results – quantify if you
can but qualitative facts are okay too (like

praise from a boss)

Tell me about a time you
used your organization skills
to keep your team on track.

Situation/Task

In my current job, I report to 2 managers and support a team of 15 so I have to handle
multiple responsibilities and competing priorities on a regular basis.

Keep it simple, positive and give broader context if you can

Action

Most important part of the story!

Be very specific – focus on what YOU did

Result

This process allows me to remain organized on the job while efficiently supporting my
department.

Boast about how your hard work paid off 

GOOD LUCK!

Tell me about a time you
experienced difficulties working in

a group.

Situation/Task

keep it simple, positive and give broader context if you can

Action

Be very specific – focus on what YOU did

Result

Boast about how your hard work paid off 

Will we like having you around?
Cultural/Organizational Fit Questions – Assessing your suitability

Sample
Questions

Tips & Tricks

What type of management style do
you work best under?

Be careful. You don’t want to speak negatively about anyone or any style of management – unless
of course certain styles are a hard no for you. But you always must be professional and polite in

your interview.

What type of management style do
you work best under?

I’m a very easy-going person and I tend to get along
with different personality-types and so I can adapt to
any management style. I have had some employers

who encourage lots of independent work, and others
who prefer to give clear, specific instructions. I was

able to create strong relationships with those
managers and ultimately thrive in both environments.

Questions YOU can ask!

Tips & Tricks

After reading the job posting and asking yourself the job
posting analysis questions, think about what else you’d like
to know about the position or company.

Sample
Questions

1. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSITION:
◦ What are the most challenging aspect of this job?

◦ Can you tell me about the team I would be supporting? What are their strengths
and the biggest challenges?

2. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPANY:
◦ What do you enjoy about working here?

◦ What gets you excited about the company’s future?

3. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HIRING PROCESS:
◦ When do you hope to have this role filled?

◦ Can I have a business card so I can follow up?

Do you have questions for us?

POSITION
1. I’m used to working with business students, but not
project or process management students – is there anything
that differentiates them?

COMPANY
2. Do you think Sheridan will still become a university?
3. Other than being creative, what do you think makes
Sheridan different than other colleges?

NEXT STEPS
4. Ideally, when do you want the new coop advisor to start?
5. Can I get your business card?

Things to do after the interview

TAKE NOTES
◦ How’d it go? Did any questions catch you off guard? Write

them down! After a few interviews you mind find a pattern
that you need to address

SEND A THANK YOUR LETTER (PHYSICAL VS ELECTRONIC)
◦ Within 24 hours! Thank them, remind them how you’re

valuable and say anything you wish you would have said

FOLLOW UP (PHONE VS EMAIL)
◦ Check-in with them if it’s been 2-3 days longer than you

expected to hear back from them… Don’t be annoying. People
are busy and sometimes hiring a new intern takes a backseat
if the office is busy

Sample Thank-You Note!

Hello Cory,

I just wanted to take the time to say thank you for interviewing me yesterday. It was
great meeting with you and the hiring committee.

I hope that you agree that I am a great fit for the role and I hope to be working with
you soon!

Thanks again for your time and consideration.

Kayla Vatcher

What are employers looking for/assessing?

What are employers looking for?

What are the different types of interviews?
What are the different types/formats of interviews?

What if you don’t have any relevant experience?

What if you don’t have any relevant experience?

What are some illegal/ inappropriate questions?
What are some illegal/inappropriate interview questions?
What if they ask an illegal /inappropriate question?
What if they ask an illegal/inappropriate question?

Commonly Asked Interview Questions

How can you guess what questions you might be asked during a job interview?
Slide Number 29
Job Posting Analysis

The 3 things employers want to know:

Will you like this type of work?�Self-Awareness & Attitude Check – Assessing You
Sample Questions

Tips & Tricks
Tell me about yourself.
Tell me about yourself.
What’s your biggest weakness?

Slide Number 38

What’s your biggest weakness?
What’s your biggest weakness?

Will you be able to do the job well?�Skill Verification/Demonstration – Assessing Your Abilities

Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks

Describe your proficiency with [Computer Software]?
Describe your proficiency with Desire2Learn (SLATE)

Behavioural Questions
Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks
The STAR Story Telling Method

Slide Number 50

Situation/Task
Action
Result

Slide Number 54
Tell me about a time you experienced difficulties working in a group.

Situation/Task
Action
Result

Will we like having you around?�Cultural/Organizational Fit Questions – Assessing your suitability

Sample Questions
Tips & Tricks

What type of management style do you work best under?

What type of management style do you work best under?
Questions YOU can ask!
Tips & Tricks
Sample Questions
Do you have questions for us?
Things to do after the interview
Sample Thank-You Note!

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