How to prepare answers to common questions?

Preparing for a job interview in Canada is often stressful, especially if it's not your first attempt and you really want to get the job. But with the right approach, the interview will be easy and even fun!

Qualifications and culture

Before you start preparing your answers, you need to understand that Canadian employers are often looking for more than just qualifications. They are interested in your culture. That is, they want to see how you will fit into their team. Therefore, your answers should not only be about your skills, but also about how you work in a team, how you deal with conflicts and how you resolve them, and what values you have.

Typical questions

Every interview is unique, but there are some common questions you are guaranteed to hear. Here are some examples:

• Tell us about yourself. This is a real classic. It's important not just to list your experience, but to show how it relates to the job. Start with a brief description of your professional career and don't forget to emphasize your key achievements.
• Why do you want to work in our company? To answer this question, you should do a little research. Learn as much as you can about the company, explore its mission, values, and projects. Show that you are not just looking for a job anywhere, but are really interested in this company.
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? For strengths, choose those that are relevant to the job you are applying for. And for weaknesses, choose something that is not very critical that you are working on. For example, you could say, “I can sometimes be too critical of myself, but I have learned to set more realistic goals.”
• Tell us about a situation where you resolved a conflict. This question tests your communication skills. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Describe a specific situation, what you did specifically and what the result was.

Practice

Now that you know roughly what questions you might be asked at the interview, practice your answers. You can record them on video or just say them out loud. This will help you get used to formulating your thoughts so that you are less nervous during the interview.

Prepare your questions

Don't forget that an interview is a two-way process. Prepare a few questions for the employer. If you don't ask anything at all, the employer may think that you don't care. Ask about the company's culture, development opportunities, or the team you'll be working with. This will show your interest and activity.

Preparing for an interview in Canada is not only about answering questions, but also about showing your personality and willingness to work in a team. Practice with a question before the interview and it will go even better than you expected.