SERIES 4: THE INTERVIEW

The final part of recruitment includes the interview. If you’ve gotten an interview offer, congratulations! You’re almost at the end of the job hunt! Oftentimes, the most stressful part of co-op recruitment is successfully tackling the first interview you land. In some cases, you might have not had to interview in quite some time. But in others, interviews might have always been scary and the most nerve racking part of applying for jobs. 

We had our senior co-op students provide some tips on how they found success in interviews. By the end of this post, we hope that you’re left feeling more comfortable in interviews, confident in your abilities, and ready to tackle recruitment head-on! 

Before the Interview

First and foremost, to prepare for interviews, make sure to research the company well – when doing so, ask yourself and answer the following question: “what is it about the company/firm that makes me want to start my career here and grow?”

From there, focus on information that resonates with you; for example, the company’s use of social media platforms to raise awareness on global issues, the learning and growth opportunities available, as well as the ways that they give back to the communities they serve . Focusing on information relevant to you is important because this will help show recruiters that the mission and values of the company align with yours – in other words, show them that you’re the perfect fit.

Now that you’ve done your research, take the time to practice your answers for typical behavioral/situational interview questions. How do you do this? Well, we recommend that you compile a list of 30 to 40 of the most common interview questions asked in your field/industry of interest and make sure to have an answer for each. This way, if the question, or one similar to it, comes your way, you have an idea of how to tackle that question in the back of your head. Structure your answers by outlining the situation, your course of action, and the results/impact. As well, preparing an elevator pitch about yourself beforehand to address the question ‘Tell me about yourself’ is extremely useful. Ensure that it is concise and that you can highlight the experiences you’ve had that align with the role and company.

The last thing we recommend you to do to prepare is formulate questions to ask the employer at the end of the interview. This is where your knowledge and research about the company and firm will come in handy. It's important that you have a good understanding of what your potential employer does, and their position in the industry. Asking questions to interviewers can show that you’re highly interested in the position and are eager to learn more than what was included in their posting! To make yourself stand out, make sure that these questions are thought-provoking and meaningful. This will foster conversation during the interview and end the interview off on a positive note.

Some potential questions you could ask include the following: 

• What does support look like for someone working in this role? Is it very independent with minimal supervision or very collaborative with lots of feedback?

• What is an area of this role that you would like to see growth or change in in the coming months? 

• What is something that has kept you with this company? What is your favourite part about working here? 

  • Questions like this allow you to express your excitement and show you’d be willing to become a dedicated member of the company culture. 

• What are your ideal co-op student characteristics? 

  • These types of questions allow you to further understand what makes an ideal candidate, and strive to improve your skills in the areas mentioned. 

During the Interview 

Be in charge of setting the tone! The point of an interview is to see if your personality is a good fit for the company. If you’ve been selected for the interview, chances are the company has no doubt that you’re qualified for the position. This is their chance to really get to know you, and see how you’d fit with the rest of the team! Be yourself and express your personality right from the beginning - this will differentiate yourself from other candidates, and will most likely leave a strong impression that will make you very memorable when the interview is complete. Additionally, opening up and being personable will also encourage the interviewers to do the same. You’ll also be able to gauge how well you think you’d fit in with their team! 

Focus on being excited rather than being nervous! The recruiters will know you’re nervous only if you let them know. Smile, radiate positive energy, and treat the interview like a networking conversation to calm nerves. An interview that is successful is often one where you are composed, calm and confident. 

The majority of interviews will include “situational” questions (for example: “tell me about a time you took charge in a team”). It’s very easy to default back to the last group project that you participated in and talk about your impact on the group. However, odds are every student applying for the position has very similar stories. Try to switch up your answers to questions with an even proportion of answers discussing previous work experience, school, and most importantly: extracurriculars or clubs! The extracurriculars, clubs, and volunteering experiences that you have tend to reveal the most about your personality and interests. These answers show your passions and leave a larger impact on interviewers than school projects and previous work experiences that may not have as strong of a personal connection. You may also strike up a conversation and find something in common with your interviewer! 

A virtual interview tip: if you and an interviewer are waiting for another recruiter to join before your interview starts, try to keep the conversation light and relate to the interviewer to get a personal connection going early on. This will also help calm your nerves!

After the Interview:

You’ve made it: the interview is now over! Now all you’ll have left to do is send off a thank you email to your interviewer within 24 hours of your interview. Make sure that this email is personalized by including certain things you and the interviewer discussed in the interview, key takeaways from your conversation, and restate your interest in making an impact/growing with the company.