March 19, 2018 Leave a Comment

How to ace your video job interview

Remember this interview that went viral?

We don’t need to tell you that interviewing for a new job is stressful. The experience of having to sit down in front of an employer and answering unknown questions can raise the anxiety of even the most confident job seeker. Interviewees worry about what they are expected to say, and whether they will mess up and make mistakes. For an already anxious job seeker, online video interviews brings a whole other level of unnerving challenges.

Video interviews, where employers use commonly used video applications such as Skype, dedicated job interview sites such as HireView or other applications, such VenterView, an automated interviewing technology, are becoming increasingly common. Employers use the technology to prescreen applicants or even conduct full interviews with long distance candidates.

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February 26, 2018 10 Comments

Help! I left a job after being bullied by my boss, and now I don’t know what to tell employers at interviews

Dear Employment Specialist,

I am an experienced bookkeeper who recently left a job that I had held for 7 years, after having a very difficult experience with my boss that lasted years. I have now begun looking for new work, but am unsure how to explain why I left the job without looking bad.

I left because I was feeling bullied by my manager, and was becoming very unhappy at work. For the first 5 years, I was perfectly happy – I enjoyed my work (and am good at it!) and I had a positive and supportive relationship with all my colleagues, including my manager. 2 years ago, the company was taken over by new management, and they replaced many of my colleagues and managers with their own staff. The atmosphere in the office completely changed. My new manager never had a good word to say to me. She wasn’t clear about what she wanted and yelled at me in front of my colleagues. I tried to not take it personally, but I was getting unhappier by the day, going home crying and hating my work. Eventually, I had to leave, for the sake of my own mental health.

I am now looking for a new job. What do I tell interviewers when they ask what happened to the last job? What do I do about a reference? Do I tell the truth?

Signed: Bullied

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June 23, 2017 Leave a Comment

CanPrep Success Story: Dale found a job a month after moving to New Brunswick

What exercise is to the body, employment is to the mind and morals. – Henry David Thoreau

For anyone immigrating to a new country, finding employment as soon as you arrive is a top priority. It was no different for Dale who was preparing to leave his home in the Philippines and his well-established career in Accounting. When he started researching the job market in Canada, he came across JVS Toronto’s CanPrep pre-arrival employment program and signed up. With determination and focus, Dale worked his way through the following steps of the CanPrep program:
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November 28, 2016 Leave a Comment

What not to bring to an interview

Dear Joanna,

I am beyond scared and nervous about my very first ever job interview that I will be attending for a Financial Analyst position, which is my dream position. It would really help me if I bring my friend with me to alleviate my stress. Is this acceptable etiquette at an interview?

Signed: A little help from my friend (ALHF)

Dear ALHF

The only items that are acceptable to bring with you to the job interview are copies of your resume (one for each interviewer), a portfolio (if it’s relevant), a pen, pad of paper, and a list of your references (to be provided only when asked), as well as any other documents as requested by the interviewers.

Elizabeth Bromstein wrote a fantastic blog on What not to bring in the interview. She suggests that any of these eight items can ruin your chances of getting the job offer by either annoying the potential employer, or undermining their ability to take you seriously:

1. Your parents or friends.
Employers expect to be dealing with an independent, self sufficient person. Don’t give them any cause to think otherwise. You are not a child. Don’t act like one.

2. Your pets.
Again, if you want to be taken seriously, behave professionally.

3. Your phone.
Make sure to turn it off and put it away, out of sight. It is disrespectful and rude to have it ringing in the interview. It is important to show complete full attention to the interviewer(s). Carry as little with you as possible to make the best impression.

4. Drinks.
Coffee and water can become a distraction and an inconvenience. If they offer you a drink, it may be simpler to not accept it. Remember, the interview is about what you can do for the employer, and not what the employer can do for you. Don’t show up carrying a cup of coffee, not only in case you spill it but again, it could be interpreted as rude.

5. A competitor’s product.
Do your homework. Research the products sold by the company and don’t make the mistake of showing up with a product from the competition “… for an interview at Starbucks while carrying a Tim Horton’s cup, unless your plan is to discuss the competition”.

6. Inappropriate personal materials (Fifty Shades of Grey, for example).
Think about how the material you are bringing with you reflects on your professional image. Bromstein recommends that you  “Don’t bring any reading material that makes you look anything less than serious, intelligent, and professional.”

7. Your shopping.
This presents the absolute wrong message. It makes it look like the interview is just something you’re fitting in between other things, not the most important focus of your day. If you want to look like you really care about the job, do your shopping later.

8. Food.
Eat your meal before the interview, whether it’s in person, virtual or on the phone. In all formats, it’s a serious interview. You must be professional and prepared.

If in doubt, don’t bring it. Keep your interview professional, if you want to be taken seriously.

Joanna

Joanna Samuels B.Ed. (Adult Education), M.Ed., CMF, CTDP, RRP is a certified Life Skills Coach and Personality Dimensions Facilitator who works at JVS Toronto as a Job Developer/Job Coach/Workshop Facilitator. Also, Joanna is a part-time instructor of employment counselling with people with disabilities at George Brown College.

September 12, 2016 Leave a Comment

Ask Our Employment Specialist: How do I handle a bad interviewer?

Dear Employment Specialist,

I am very upset about my interview today. I was so prepared, dressed professionally and was ready for any question with a perfect handshake! Unfortunately, I got the feeling that the person interviewing me was the opposite. He seemed unprepared and inexperienced.

How do I handle such an interviewer?

Signed: Perfect Handshake (PH)

Dear PH,

As Will Kerr states in his blog, sometimes a bad job interview doesn’t mean you were a bad job interviewee. It is a good idea to recognize the traits of a bad interview, suggests Kerr, so that “you can take action to make sure that, in spite of them, you still manage to give the best possible account of yours.”

Kerr presents the following three traits of a poor interviewer and tips for handling them:

1. An interviewer who does all the talking.

This could be a sign of an experienced interviewers who know exactly what are looking for and are trying to weed out those candidates who cannot speak up, when hiring, for example, for a sales position. On the other hand, an inexperienced interviewers could be talking endlessly because of nervousness, not being prepared, or a lack of understanding of their role. Your responsibility, as an interviewee is, even if your interviewer doesn’t seem interested in your skills, make sure that they have the necessary evidence to make an informed choice  when making a job offer.

2. An under-prepared interviewer.

I agree that it is upsetting to go into an interview when the interviewer is not clear on who you are, and isn’t particularly familiar with your resume. In some cases, where a department is trying to fill multiple vacancies simultaneously, it’s not uncommon for an interviewer to be confused as to which role the candidate in front of them is actually applying. In this case, interviewers may be distracted by many other concerns, and recruitment might not be their primary responsibility. In some cases remember that, in giving your answers, you cannot assume the level of knowledge from your interviewer that you may have expected, so if you give information regarding something listed on your resume, make sure they actually know what you’re talking about. If you really feel the situation is hopeless, do not be afraid to ask if they would prefer to reschedule — make sure to pose the question in a polite manner. If it has come to that, you don’t really have anything to lose.

3. An overly-aggressive interviewer.

This is a trait of people who are placed in an uncomfortable situation – Kerr suggests that they respond by “bluffing bravado”. Inexperienced interviewers could definitely fall into this behaviour. If you are feeling that your interviewer is on the attack and keeps interrupting you through your response or openly contradicts you, you should (as the British say) keep calm and carry on. Even if it’s a deliberate ploy, or a sign or nerves. One great way of doing this is to have a glass of water to hand. Even if you’re not thirsty, taking a sip is a great way to give yourself a little time to keep your cool and order your thoughts.

Good luck on those interviews!

Joanna Samuels B.Ed. (Adult Education), M.Ed., CMF, CTDP, RRP is a certified Life Skills Coach, and certified Personality Dimensions Facilitator who works at JVS Toronto as a Job Developer/Job Coach/Workshop Facilitator. Also, Joanna is a part-time instructor of employment counselling with people with disabilities at George Brown College.