Learn the keys to preparing for an interview with a Canadian employer.
How to Prepare for an Interview in Canada
Getting an interview simply means that you have been given the opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for the position. It is your chance to showcase your knowledge and skills.
Considering that the biggest challenge of an interview is that there is a large volume of information to prepare, and it is difficult to predict the approach of the interview.
- Will it be in your personality?
- Your technical skills?
- Both?
The success of the interview is completely in your hands. That’s why it’s so important to prepare.
What happens when you don’t reside in Canada but want to work here?
Unless you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you will ALWAYS have to address the question about immigration. If you are an international candidate with no local experience, then the employer will need to be convinced that you are planning to stay in Canada for at least 2 years. Otherwise, they may not be interested in making this type of investment.
Why is that? It takes a lot of time and is expensive.
Some employers tend to be reluctant when it comes to hiring international workers with a temporary work permit. This is not because they are not open to the idea, but rather because they do not understand immigration laws thoroughly. Therefore, they simply dismiss the idea altogether by avoiding what they believe to be a tedious process. However, as a potential candidate, it is important that you do your research thoroughly on the subject so that you can tell the employer about the opportunities available to them.
See the links below for more information:
Lack of local experience
All countries have their own rules and regulations, and Canada is no different. Therefore, we often hear the need to have “Canadian Work Experience” which refers to employers looking for people with relevant experience gained in Canada.
But not having it should not be an impediment to getting a job. At this time employers must be shown that they are committed to learning and adapting to the Canadian way.
General tips on preparing for interview questions:
- Research the company. What do they do? What is their mission, vision and values? Do they align with yours, etc.?
- Focus on the position itself and how the company can benefit from a candidate like you, not the other way around. Remember that the company is making an investment by hiring you therefore, they want to know how it benefits them.
- Many interviews will begin with the question “tell me about yourself.” Prepare a two-minute overview of yourself that takes your interviewers through your resume and shows your suitability for the position in question. This question is not intended to be answered by providing personal information, e.g. marital status, sexual orientation, etc.
- Sometimes interviewers will be assessed on their ability to perform in the role through a series of tests. So be prepared if this is a common practice in your field of work.
- Answer concisely, but try to avoid yes/no answers.
- Don’t worry about admitting that you don’t know something, but don’t say it too often. You may admit that you don’t know something, but always keep track of how you’re working on learning.
- Be prepared for abstract hypothetical questions that assess your ability to indicate how you would act in certain situations.
- Remember to smile and make eye contact with interviewers, this will show confidence in your communication skills.
After the interview:
Send a “thank you” email (if appropriate, i.e. you have your contact details, there is an invitation to continue chatting, and your recruiter has given the green light to communicate directly) to each member of the interview panel.
If you have a job offer and need help explaining to your employer how they can hire you, contact us so we can help you.
