Interview Tips for International Students

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Interview Tips for International Students

• Lynn Walsh, Career Advisor

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Differences Between Interviews in Canada Other
Countries

• Communication Styles Expected to be direct and
  assertive, including a firm handshake, eye
  contact, and a confident posture interviewers
  typically ask direct questions and for further
  evidence of a particular skill or experience.
• In other cultures, the interviewer may expect to
  do most of the talking, or may be indirect about
  asking for information.
• Self-disclosure Many cultures consider personal
  questions about your likes/dislikes or
  strengths/weaknesses to be an invasion of one's
  privacy.

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Differences Between Interviews in North America
Other Countries

• Self-promotion Important to be confident in
  discussing your accomplishments and goals, and
  assertive in contacting employers.
• In some other cultures, it is more appropriate
  for you to show modesty and respect, and wait to
  be asked before volunteering information.
• Individual Responsibility Using a wide variety
  of resources to identify jobs (friends, family,
  faculty, associations, etc.) is common. This is
  your network!
• In some cultures, jobs are found through one
  resource, often family or government.

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Cont

• Career Self-Awareness Demonstrate knowledge of
  self, career goals, and how they relate to a job.
  
• In other cultures, jobs may be assigned and
  questions about ones role in a company might
  indicate potential disloyalty.
• Eye contact may be disrespectful persons of
  higher status
• Researching an organization in advance may show
  too much initiative and independence
• Being late may not be a problem personal
  relationships matter more than time

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A Job Interview Is

• An opportunity to meet face to face
• To discuss your qualifications
• To assess your ability and skills
• To demonstrate your skills and personality
• To sell yourself

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The Keys to a Successful Interview in Canada

• Convey a positive attitude and show confidence
• Be enthusiastic keep eye contact with
  interviewer
• Beware of non-verbal communication
• Pay attention to physical appearance
• Be knowledgeable of the company
• Dont talk yourself out of a job remain calm and
  collected
• Dont keep the interviewer waiting arrive 10-15
  mins early
• Listen attentively

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The Keys to a Successful Interview in Canada

• Be Prepared
• Have extra resumes on hand.
• Have references on hand if not attached to
  resume.
• Conduct background research on organization.
• Remain calm when faced with periods of silence
• Silence is not always bad but dont wait to long.
• Know your resume
• Reread it before going into an interview.

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Keys to Successful Interview in Other Countries

• Interviewers look for information regarding
  character or personality
• Age, race, sex, or martial status may be
  important topics
• Jobs may be assigned by government or family
• - Companies assign work based on what is
  available and they expect individuals to take
  what is available
• Inquiring about status of application may seem
  rude

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Pre-Interview Stagegetting started

• Assess your career path
• Research company and position you are seeking
• Find out what type of interview it is
• Develop list of potential questions and responses
• Confirm date, time and location

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Interview Stage

• Appropriate dress
• Create a good first impression
• Ensure that you understand the question
• Be yourself
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewers
• Appear confident
• Listen carefully to the questions
• Bring extra copies of resume and references

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Interview Stageprepping

• If you have a career portfolio, bring it
• Ask questions
• What is the organization's plan for the next five
  years?
• What kind of work can I expect to be doing the
  first year?
• How much assistance is made available in
  developing career goals?
• What are the opportunities for advancement?
• Thank them, shake hands ask for business card

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Interview Stage - International scope

• Citing accomplishments on your resume may seem
  boastful, self-serving etc.
• Interviewers may talk for the majority of the
  interview
• Asking about the interview process may seem too
  forward

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Post-Interview Stageonce its over

• Recap interview
• Request feedback from interviewer
• Send thank-you letter or email
• Follow-up within 24 hours
• Express gratitude for the employers time
• Highlight qualifications
• Restate your interest in the company/career area
• Communicate enthusiasm to have met with them

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4 Types of Interviews

• Case Interview
• Behavior Based Interview
• Telephone Interview
• Videoconference Interview

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Case Interview

• Used to assess logical thinking and problem
  solving skills
• Classic business cases are used to test analytic
  ability to sort key facts and stay focused
• Example This is the situation, what would you
  do?

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Behavior Based Interview

• Used to determine if you have skills / attributes
  needed for the position
• Use specific examples from work history,
  education and extracurricular activities to
  demonstrate the skill the interviewer is
  assessing
• Example Tell me about a time when

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Telephone Interview

• Sound friendly, confident and calm
• Thank the interviewer for the call
• Collect your thoughts
• Smile
• Get company information
• Tip Dress up as if youre meeting face-to-face

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Videoconference Interview

• Dress professionally they can see you
• Speak slowly
• Prepare for silence due to a 5 sec audio delay
• Be aware of extra movements and noises
• Be patient sounds may be distorted
• Speak up and project your voice
• Relax and smile

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Common Interview Mistakes(Based on feedback from
recruiters)

• Lack of preparation
• Inappropriate appearance
• Failure to ask questions
• Poor attitude
• Exaggerating or being deceitful
• Poor non-verbal communication
• Over or under answering questions

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Important Service

• We do mock interviews!
• What is a this?
• Practice/pretend interview to get you ready for
  the real one.
• You are asked questions and given feedback on
  your answers and performance
• Can be booked for an upcoming interview or just
  wanting to see your interview performance
• Your only cost is time!
• About 1 hour in length
• 30 mins interview and 30 mins feedback

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Contact

• Lynn Walsh
• International Student Career Advisor
• p 709-737-8167 or 737-8895
• lwalsh_at_mun.ca
• Office Hours
• Mon., Tues. Fri. (9am 5pm) Centre for Career
  Development (CCD), 4th floor of UC
• Wed. Thurs. (9am 445pm) ISA Office, Corte
  Real