Hardest University Employment Interview Preparation Guide

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Too many candidates talk about prospective teaching as if its value were entirely self-evident, or they simply lean on the intrinsic intellectual interest of the topic. Instead, think in terms of outcomes and learning objectives, because evaluation is integral to good teaching. What will the students get out of the course? What work will you set, and how will it be assessed? What skills will they acquire? How will it complement the rest of their studies?

I would be happy to contribute to some of the existing courses you run, such as x and y but I also have a few ideas of my own that I feel would appeal to students in the x year of their education. [Describe the course] I feel that it would fit into your curriculum particularly well because it complements your other courses in x field but is unique because it covers an earlier time period or uses different resources [examples].

Keep it brief. Give a definition related to actions and results.

This is key, because it’s one of a few typical interview questions that gives you a chance to really sell yourself and all your relevant skills. Regardless of whether or not you have any professional experience in a similar role, you can still talk about the skills you picked up during your degree, an internship or part-time job.

If you’ve already been offered an interview, the chances are that the interviewer is aware of what experience you have and sees potential in you. With this in mind, refrain from making excuses for holes in your skillset, and instead try to provide examples of times when you’ve utilized the skills they’re looking for in a different context. If you’re a new graduate, now’s the chance to highlight all the ‘transferable skills’ you gained during your degree, such as analytical ability, written and spoken communication skills and IT mastery, to name but a few.

What happens if your hypothesis is wrong? Your experiments fail? You can't get access to the archive you need? Your grant is unsuccessful? Don't pretend that your research is impervious to failure. Doing so will probably come across as denial or, worse, a lack of self-awareness. What matters is how you handle setbacks, and how you plan to overcome predictable hiccups.

‘in the next year I will be finishing up the revisions on my manuscript for x book which is due for publication on x date. I have several other projects on the go that I wish to pursue after that [give details]; if my funding applications to the x and y grant bodies are successful I should be able to see those projects to publication by [give date].'

Interviewers don't recruit candidates who see themselves in solipsistic isolation. So, based on all your preparatory research into this employer, identify the specific ways that your work aligns with their needs and priorities. Think about: particular specialisms, research clusters, possible collaborations, undergraduate or graduate curricula, interdisciplinary links with other departments, outreach initiatives, etc. Don't turn this into a conceptual answer – ground what you say in a couple of specific, tangible examples.

List three or more attractive factors and only one minor unattractive factor.

This might be your highest-impact paper, but it doesn't have to be. What counts is that you give a sound rationale for your choice. Perhaps you're proudest of the paper which marks a transitional moment in your research or your career. Or perhaps it's the paper that you know had a direct, positive impact on someone else's work. It doesn't matter, as long as you've thought it through.

This can be one of the trickier common job interview questions, especially if your resounding motivation is just to be able to pay the bills one month from now. Here you should remind yourself that although bill-paying is a high priority, passion and interest in your work is even more important. Even if that passion and interest comes from high-earning potential!

To answer this question, put money to the back of your mind and focus on why the job advertisement appealed to you personally. For instance, let your interviewer know if you’re interested in the work the company produces, the culture it offers or the progression the role promises.

These are questions that are very, very difficult to answer on the spot without preparation, so you’ll be caught out quickly if you try to wing it.

Make sure you’re ready for these questions by doing your homework. Find the company online and read through their website, then move on to their competitors and media within that industry. Be prepared to give a critical analysis of a firm's competitors. Do not criticise them for no reason, and if you like them then do say so (and why).

Try not to interpret this sort of question as an attack. Fundamentally, interviewers want you to address their concerns. You work on gibbons – I work on gorillas, so how is your work relevant to mine? You study Shakespeare – I study Marlowe, so what can I learn from you?

This isn't a trick question, and the best response isn't necessarily just to say yes, without hesitation. There are innumerable factors that could have a bearing on what you might say, not least the vexed issue of waiting to hear back about other applications. But let's not assume that being honest is always a bad thing. The crucial point is that, before you get in the room, you should take time to think through whether you would accept the job, and to discuss it with peers and mentors.

Not long at all, you expect only a brief period of adjustment.

An opportunity to use your skills, to perform, and be recognized.

It can easily sound like these questions are designed to catch you out. Do you tell them that you’re applying for other companies, and how those applications are progressing?

It’s good to start with what not to say in response to these kinds of questions.

For example, it might not be a good idea to say that you don’t really know what industry you want to work in, or what career you want.

It’s fine to say that you’re not 100% sure, or that you’re happy to try some different things, or that you have considered completely different paths in the past. But you don’t want to imply that you’re only applying on a whim.

If you mention other industries or careers, make sure to steer your point towards the common threads. What interests you about both areas? That can go a long way to showing that you’d still be engaged by and dedicated to the role you’re being interviewed for.

☛ What are your long range and short range goals and objectives, when and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?
☛ What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you established for yourself for the next 10 years?
☛ What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
☛ What do you really want to do in life?
☛ What are your long-range career objectives?
☛ How do you plan to achieve your career goals?
☛ What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?
☛ What do you expect to be earning in five years?
☛ Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
☛ Which is more important to you, the money or the type of job?
☛ What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
☛ How would you describe yourself?
☛ How do you think a friend or professor who knows you well would describe you?
☛ What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
☛ How has your college experience prepared you for a business career?
☛ Why should I hire you?
☛ What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in business?
☛ How do you determine or evaluate success?
☛ What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?
☛ In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?
☛ What qualities should a successful manager possess?
☛ Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her.
☛ What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
☛ Describe your most rewarding college experience.
☛ If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?
☛ Why did you select your college or university?
☛ What led you to choose your field or major study?
☛ What college subjects did you like best? Why?
☛ What college subjects did you like least? Why?
☛ If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?
☛ What changes would you make in your college or university? Why?
☛ Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
☛ Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?
☛ What have you learned from participation in extracurricular activities?
☛ In what kind of a work environment are you most comfortable?
☛ How do you work under pressure?
☛ In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
☛ How would you describe the ideal jobs for you following graduation?
☛ Why did you decide to seek a position with this company?
☛ What do you know about our company?
☛ What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
☛ Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why?
☛ What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
☛ Do you have a geographical preference? Why?
☛ Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?
☛ Are you willing to travel?
☛ Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?
☛ Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located?
☛ What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
☛ What have you learned from your mistakes?

This question is a stumbling block for many new graduates, simply because they haven’t yet had the chance to develop confidence in their professional skills. This often leads to answers that are too modest or vague, meaning that graduate employers will have a hard time believing you have the skills and confidence to take on the graduate job on offer.

Your answer should address a strength that is relevant to the position, but this can be anything that makes you stand out, whether you gained this quality at work, while travelling or at university. Think of the role in question and provide an example of a strength that is relevant to the position, be that multitasking, organization skills or innovative thinking.

It’s important to tread the line between humble and overconfident – too humble and your strengths won’t be evident, too confident and you risk sounding arrogant. To avoid either, focus on the facts of your strengths, including specific examples of when you’ve had to use them and how you’ve developed them.

Although I am an all-rounder and could contribute to departmental life in many ways, I know that I have the international research profile that you are looking for. [Go on to give details of books and articles written, prizes won etc.]

I also think I am unique in that I have direct experience of running online courses and would be happy to take a lead on introducing that here if colleagues were interested.

Although similar to the “biggest strength” question, graduate employers will often use this question in order to get you to provide more specific examples of your skills. The accomplishment can be anything, from a great student project to a personal feat of courage, but ensure that the skills shown in this accomplishment relate to the job role in question.

Lots of people tackle this question by naming the job title which they hope to have attained, for example: "10 years from now, I want to be a professor." This is OK (provided you can explain how you intend to get there), but it's awfully predictable. Think about achievements rather than status. This question also gives you an opportunity to show that you have a vision for where your field is going. What's the next big question that, in a decade's time, you expect to be working on, or even to have solved?

The reasoning behind these questions is to ensure that you know what you’re getting into.

If your expectations aren’t aligned with the employer’s, then both sides are in for some problems.

Talk to people who you believe have similar jobs and find out what they typically do on a day-to-day basis (LinkedIn may be useful here). Perhaps even contact the HR department of the company you’re applying to and find out exactly what the job entails.

Not only does this approach mean you enter into the interview with the right expectations, it also allows you to prepare better.

When you know what you’re in for, you can ensure you have the proper skill set and prepared examples that demonstrate that you’re the best person for the job.

Refer to past experiences that show you’ve had success in solving previous employer problems that may be similar to those of the prospective employer.

Focus on showing your employer you are in Canada for the long term. Tell them you intend to stay and build your career here.

Because of your knowledge, experience, abilities and skills.