Your Canadian job interview checklist

❝

— Mark Hunter

Landing a job interview is a significant milestone, but it’s how you perform during the interview that will ultimately determine if you receive an offer. Drawing from expert insights shared by New Canadians, this checklist will guide you through essential steps to ensure you’re prepared, confident, and ready to make a lasting impression.

First Impressions Matter:
☐ Be punctual and prepared.
☐ Answer the phone or enter the room with confidence.
☐ Maintain a clear, enthusiastic tone without rambling.

Tell Your Story Effectively:
☐ Create a “career sheet” outlining your education, roles, and achievements.
☐ Use this as a mental guide to answer questions confidently.
☐ Practice storytelling to convey your experience clearly.

Ask Insightful Questions:
☐ Prepare a few thoughtful questions to ask at the end of the interview.
☐ Focus on job priorities, company culture, and next steps.
☐ Ask about follow-up procedures to show initiative.

Extra Tips:
☐ Send a thank-you email within 24 hours.
☐ Reinforce key discussion points and your enthusiasm for the role.

Q: What if I’m asked a question I don’t understand or need more time to answer during a job interview?

A: If you encounter a confusing question, try these steps:

1) Ask for Clarification: Request more details if needed, e.g., “Could you please clarify what you mean by that?”

2) Take a Pause: Use a brief moment to think by saying, “Let me take a moment to think about that.”

3) Paraphrase: Restate the question in your own words to ensure understanding.

4) Be Honest: If unsure, admit it and offer to follow up with more information later.

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Take your interview skills to the next level by mastering the art of storytelling. This approach not only highlights your experiences but also makes them relatable and memorable to interviewers.

1. Introducing the Situation
❌ “So, yeah, there was this time when things got really busy at work.”
✅ “In my previous role at [Company], I encountered a situation where we had to rapidly scale our operations due to a sudden increase in demand.”

💡 This response provides specific context, helping the interviewer clearly understand the scenario and its significance. It sets the stage for a more compelling and relevant story.

2. Describing the Task or Challenge
❌ “We had to get things done faster.” 
✅ “The challenge was to streamline our workflow to meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.”

💡 This explanation precisely outlines the challenge, making it clear what you were up against. The clarity helps the interviewer appreciate the complexity of the situation and your role in addressing it.

3. Explaining the Actions You Took
❌ “I just did what I could to help out.” 
✅ “I implemented a plan that involved automating key processes and redistributing tasks among team members.”

💡 This response details your specific actions, showcasing your initiative and problem-solving skills. It illustrates how you contributed to overcoming the challenge, making your role in the success more tangible.

4. Highlighting Your Skills

❌ “I think my management skills helped.” 
✅ “This required strong project management skills, so I created a detailed timeline and set up regular check-ins to ensure we stayed on track.”

💡 By connecting your actions to specific skills, you demonstrate your competence and show how you applied these skills to drive results, making your contribution more credible and impactful.

5. Emphasizing the Results
❌ “Everything worked out in the end.” 
✅ “As a result, we reduced production time by 25% and increased customer satisfaction ratings by 15%.”

💡 Quantifying the results provides concrete evidence of your impact. This makes it easier for the interviewer to understand the value you brought to the situation and the measurable success of your efforts.