Opportunities After Highschool

 

 CONGRATS! You've graduated high school. Now what?

Here are a few options: 

Apprenticeships

• Allow you to learn a skilled trade on the job under the direction of experienced workers as well as in a classroom
• These trades are in the following sectors:
• construction (e.g. electrician)
• industrial (e.g. welder)
• motive power (e.g. automotive service technician)
• service (e.g. hairstylist)
• You are paid while you do it.
• For most trades you work for a year, then switch to studying in class for 8-12 weeks, either full or part time.
• It takes between two and five years to complete an apprenticeship.

 Colleges

• Tend to smaller institutions that offer very limited scopes of programs
• More “hands on” and direct-job oriented, less academically abstract
• Shorter program lengths (usually 2-3 years) and less expensive (about $1500 a semester)
  
• Smaller class sizes
• More opportunities for co-op placements or apprenticeships
• i.e. occupational therapist, paramedic, mechanics, computer technicians, pilots
• Also support staff for professionals (i.e. paramedics, law assistants, paralegals, some nursing)
• Usually encompasses trade schools and apprenticeship programs as well as professional certificates (i.e. Red Seal)
  

Universities

• Generally large institutions with multiple campuses offering a wide variety of professional-based, academic degrees. 
• Less hands-on, more abstract programs 
• i.e. History, Biotechnology, Philosophy, Religion, Chemistry 
• Tend to be longer programs (4-5 years) and more expensive (about $2-3000 a semester)
  
• Generally large class sizes 
• Programs often lead to further study / training before careers
  

Work

• Part time vs. full time employment
• Most positions require on the job training, seminars and workshops
• Advancement may be limited as the push for higher qualifications continues to rise.
  

Asking Questions as an Interviewee

While normally we are used to being asked questions in an interview, it is equally important that we ask some of our own.

Here are some must-ask questions and why you should know the answers.

1. What happened to the person who previously did this job? (If a new position: How has this job been performed in the past?)

You need to know any problems or past history associated with this position. For instance, was your predecessor fired, or was he promoted? Is this a temporary position or brand-new? The answer will tell you about management's expectations and how the company is gearing to grow.

2. Why did you choose to work and stay here? 

This forces the interviewer to step out of their official corporate role and answer personally as an employee, potential coworker and potential mentor.

3. What is the first problem I should attend to as a new hiree?

You want to be clear on what the expectations are and confident that you can deliver.

4. What can you tell me about my manager and their work style?

You need to find out who this person is and what kind of manager they are, in order to avoid personality clashes or expectation miscommunication. If you're very independent, being supervised by a micromanager could be an issue.

5. Where is the company heading in the next five years?

You need to know about the future of the company you plan to spend time working for. You don't want to start work and realize the company is beginning to outsource, or worse, shut down. This question also shows you've done your homework and are serious about this company.

6. What's our next step?

This is probably the most important question to ask at the end of the interview. With more candidates already scheduled for interviews, they're not likely to make you an offer yet, but they may be able to provide you with a timeline as to their decision making process. 

 

• As an interviewer, make sure you have answers to these questions, since the interviewee will be asking you! Don't worry about getting the answers "right", but do get creative within the limits of the job posting (i.e. the retail position should not be asked to design a new clothing line as their first problem). This is all about critical thinking.
  

Potential Interview Questions

Almost all interviews begin with this question:

Tell me about yourself!

 And your mock interviews should too.

From the position of interviewer, select 8 other questions from the list below to ask your partner. Make sure you can answer them too, so you know if the responses you get are effective or not. Your responses should be between 30 seconds and a minute in length, and not only give an answer but elaborate on it.

• For instance, if I was asked if I like dogs or cats better, I could say:
  "I prefer cats because they are usually pretty calm and independent animals, they require care but less time and energy than a dog and I feel they would be a good companion in my home"
• This answer explains and opens up a little bit about my character - I like to be independent but still supported, I like calm environments and I don't have the time or energy to devote to exuberant activities (like dog walking, or in the workplace, staff parties or after work events)
  

Try to get a mix of "fuctional" questions (those that help you figure out if they can do the job) and "character" questions (those that help you see if they will fit into your working environment and team).

• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
• Why do you want this job?
• Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
• Tell me about your proudest achievement.
• Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?
• How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
• There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
• How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
• Was there a person in your education or career history who really made a difference?
• What are you most proud of?
• What do you like to do?
• Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.
• What are your lifelong dreams?
• What do you ultimately want to become?
• How would you describe your work style?
• Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job or in school
• What's the last book you read?
• What would be your ideal working situation?
• Why should we hire you?
• What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
• What are three positive things your last boss / teacher would say about you?
• What negative thing would your last boss / teacher say about you?
• If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
• Do you have plans to have children in the near future?
• What do you know about this industry?
• Are you willing to relocate?
• What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
• Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work or school
• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
• Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
• What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
• What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
• What is your greatest fear?
• What's the most important thing you've learned in school?
• What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
• List five words that describe your character.
• What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
• If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
• What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years?
• What do you like to do for fun?
• How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
• Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
• What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
• What is your biggest regret, and why?
• What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
• If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
• If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
• What's the best movie you've seen in the last five years and why?
• Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.
• What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
• If you could get rid of any one of the provinces, which one would you get rid of, and why?
• With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.
• If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
• Who are your heroes?

  

Illegal Questions

Employers are normally allowed to ask all sorts of job interview questions, even bizarre ones. These topics are off-limits in order to prevent discrimination based on prohibited grounds. In most circumstances employers are NOT permitted to inquire about your:

• Race, place of origin, or ethnic origin
• Religion
• Sexual orientation
• Age
• Marital and family status
• Disability
• Financial situation
  

 For your mock interviews, you may decide to include one of these as an interviewer - see if your partner notices! If you are asked a question that is illegal, the best approach is to either reply you are not comfortable answering it, or to deflect it politely. 

For instance, if I was asked if I was planning to become pregnant in the next year (yes, these questions do get asked), I could respond that I am fully prepared to put forth my best efforts with the company regardless of what my personal future may be. It is firm, while reinforcing your willingness to contribute to the company. Acknowledging that your ethnicity/religion/sexuality/etc will not have an impact your ability to perform well is another tactic.

That said, if your potential employer presses the issue, ask yourself if it is a company and culture you wish to be involved in. These comments can be early red flags for your experience and it may be worth reevaluating your opportunities.