If you’ve found yourself in the market for a new job this year, you aren’t alone! Whether you are looking for your first job, have found yourself recently unemployed, or are ready to move on to greener pastures at a new organization, you’re joining the many Canadians on the hunt for new career opportunities. While interviews can be very nerve-racking for many, with the proper preparation and skills you can ace your next job interview.

Before the interview

  • Print and organize your application resources (e.g. extra copies of your resume, cover letter, and work portfolio if applicable).
  • Research the organization and role fully.
  • Rehearse interview questions. Practice answers to common interview questions (e.g. “tell me about yourself”) and questions related to your field. In interviews, there are 4 main types of questions you should be ready to answer:
    • Clarifying or ‘house-keeping’ questions: basic questions typically asked at the beginning of an interview used to gather clarifying information about a candidate (e.g. “what is your availability”, “tell me about yourself”, “what about your background as it relates to this role makes you a strong fit for this opportunity”, “why are you interested in this position” etc.).
    • Behavioural questions: questions based on the interviewee’s lived past experiences. (i.e. “tell me about a time when…”).
    • Situational questions: questions based on a hypothetical future situation (i.e. “what would you do if…”).
    • Job-specific questions: questions to test industry-specific knowledge (e.g. “what fundraising strategy do you find the most effective and why?”).

Helpful tip: Come to an interview ready with several past work experience stories that you can use to answer common interview questions. For example, think of a time when…

  • You had to solve a conflict at work,
  • You mentored someone,
  • You came up with a creative solution to a problem,
  • You had an interpersonal issue with a colleague,
  • You led a team,
  • You managed your time well,
  • You accomplished a project that you were proud of,
  • You made a mistake and what you learned from it.

Refer to the next section on how you can use the STARF method to guide your answers in an interview.

  • Prepare an interview-appropriate outfit (e.g. blazer, skirt, pants, and/or crisp shirt). Because some companies will have more rigid dress codes than others, try to research the organizational culture beforehand. When in doubt, dress up versus down.
  • Get a good night’s sleep!

During the interview

Interview dos:

  • Come prepared
  • Arrive early
  • Restate your name
  • Be friendly
  • Write notes
  • Be concise
  • Connect your answers back to the job posting
  • Answer questions using the STARF Method drawing from your past experiences:
    • Situation – What was the situation?
    • Task – What were your responsibilities?
    • Action – What actions did you take to solve the issue?
    • Result – What was the result?
    • Follow-up – What follow-up was done?
  • Ask questions at the end of the interview. When asked, “Do you have any questions for us”, say “yes”! Here are 5 useful questions to ask:
    • Typical day – “Can you elaborate more on what a typical day looks like for this role?”
    • Hour expectations – “From the job posting I see that this role is advertised as 30 hours per week. Can you elaborate more on what specific shifts you are hoping the successful candidate will fill?”
    • Challenges and opportunities – “What are some of the main challenges and opportunities that your organization is currently facing, and how can this role
      help to address those issues?”
    • Workplace culture and values – “Can you tell me about an employee you recently promoted? What about them and their performance did you value?”
    • Final touch base – “Do you have any remaining concerns regarding my experience in regard to my suitability for this role that I can help to address now?”
  • Thank them!

After the interview

The interview is over, phew! You’re done right? Not yet. After you leave a job interview, follow these steps:

  1. Send a thank you email to the hiring team (refer to next section).
  2. Collect and organize your interview resources. This can include any notes you took during the interview, and your resume and cover letter.
  3. Continue to research and reflect on the role. This way if you are offered the position, you can more critically decide if the position is the right fit for you at this time.

Check out the 2023 CharityVillage Handbook for Job Seekers: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Job Search Success to learn more about the job search process and strategies for landing your next position.