Mastering Canadian Job Interviews

PATH TO CAREER SUCCESS
The Secret to Answering 'Why Should We Hire You?'

Emily Durham is a senior recruiter at Intuit, public speaker, and content creator. On Canadian Business, she provides advice on how to tackle the challenging "Why should we hire you?" question in job interviews. 

🌀Reframe the Question: 
Instead of just using this question to gush about the company and how much you want to work there, view it as an opportunity to sell yourself and highlight your qualifications specific to the role.

Use a Three-Part Structure:
1️⃣ Overview of Who You Are: Provide a brief, one to three-sentence summary of your professional profile. (Emily suggests thinking of this as your LinkedIn profile headline.) 

Emily’s example: “Hiring me means hiring a seasoned recruiter with seven-plus years of experience in talent programs, high-volume hiring, and talent marketing.”

2️⃣ Examples of Your Skills: Align your skills with those listed in the job description, focusing on less-obvious or specialized skills.

For a role at Intuit, Emily explains how she highlighted her experience: “Intuit was looking for a recruiter to build an early careers recruitment program across several markets, so I stressed that I am both experienced in and passionate about that aspect of the role, citing specific examples.”

3️⃣ Examples of Your Values: Highlight how your values match the company’s values and culture, using specific examples.

Emily’s example: “I really align with the organization’s passion for solving customer problems with technology. Intuit’s value of ‘stronger together’ is something that I’ve personally embodied while building international recruiting programs in partnership with stakeholders.”

💡Emily’s Other Tips:

• Review the company website and career page. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the company’s values, products, and culture and be prepared to discuss these in the interview. 

• Avoid over-preparation. Don’t script your answers word-for-word. Instead, map out key points so that the conversation is natural and genuine.

• Support your claims with specific instances from your experience. As a rule of thumb, if you don’t have specific evidence of something, don’t bring it up. 

CAREER COACH Q & A
Navigating New Horizons with Expert Guidance from a Seasoned Career Coach

Q: What are some key differences between job interviews in Canada and other countries?

A: Great question! Here are some key differences: 

• Canadian interviews often emphasize behavioural questions. 

• Be prepared to share specific examples of past experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). 

• Interviews in Canada typically have a more conversational tone, with interviewers looking for cultural fit as well as technical skills. 

• It's important to demonstrate not only your qualifications but also your ability to work well in a team and communicate effectively. 

• Showing enthusiasm for the role and the company can also make a positive impression.

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Empowering Newcomer Women and Girls

Paula, who is originally from Colombia, arrived in Canada in 2001. She has over 15 years of experience working towards the successful integration of Internationally Trained Professionals into the Canadian labour market. Now serving as CEO of the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Paula leads initiatives aimed at recognizing and responding to the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families. CIWA offers over 50 programs and services, such as employment support, language training, and housing assistance, making them a provincial and national leader in settlement services.

Be sure to read Paula’s full story on Immigration.ca
You can also find the full podcast episode here.

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LEARN THE LINGO
✅ Multi-Word Verbs Used in Job Interviews

Multi-word verbs, also sometimes called phrasal verbs, are when you take a verb and add a word or words to change its meaning. These verbs are common in English, but they can be tricky because their meaning isn't always clear from the words they're made up of. 

Here are some 3-word, multi-word verbs you may hear in an interview. 

Look forward to /lʊk ˈfɔrwərd tə/
✅I look forward to bringing my leadership skills and strategic vision to your team.

• Meaning: To anticipate or eagerly await something.

• Form: "Look" (verb) + "forward" (adverb) + "to" (preposition).

Come up with /kʌm ʌp wɪð/
✅I come up with innovative solutions to challenges. I regularly brainstorm ideas that drive efficiency and improve processes within the organization.

• Meaning: To think of or produce something, especially ideas or plans.

• Form: "Come" (verb) + "up" (adverb) + "with" (preposition).

Follow through with /ˈfɒloʊ θruː wɪð/
✅I follow through with tasks and projects effectively. I ensure that every initiative I start is completed with thoroughness and attention to detail.

• Meaning: To complete an action or task that has been started.

• Form: ""Follow" (verb) + "through" (adverb) + "with" (preposition)

Keep up with /kiːp ʌp wɪð/
✅I keep up with industry trends and best practices. I continuously update my knowledge and skills to remain competitive and bring valuable insights to your company.

• Meaning: To stay informed or remain at the same level as something or someone.

• Form: "Keep" (verb) + "up" (adverb) + "with" (preposition)

Take care of /teɪk kɛr ʌv/
✅I take care of responsibilities with dedication and efficiency. I manage projects and tasks meticulously, ensuring smooth operations and delivering high-quality results.

• Meaning: To manage or handle something with attention and responsibility.

• Form: "Take" (verb) + "care" (noun) + "of" (preposition)

Don’t forget to practice! Rewrite these sentences in the context of your own job interview.