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.

Acing the Interview Guide

Before You Go to the Interview

1. Do you look professional? Check yourself in the mirror; part of your confidence will come from looking good.
 
2. Carry these items to the interview:

• Several copies of your resume on quality paper.
• A copy of your references.
• A pad of paper on which to take notes (notes are optional).
• Directions to the interview site.

3. Prepare answers to the 10 most common interview questions:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you leave or are you leaving your last position?
• What do you know about this company?
• What are your goals?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What has been your most significant achievement?
• How would your last boss and colleagues describe you?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your salary expectations?
  
  
  • Write your answers to these down on a piece of paper now.

Upon Arrival  

1. Arrive early -- enter the building 10 minutes before your appointment (unless instructed otherwise). Review your prepared stories and answers.
2. Go to the restroom and check your appearance one last time.
3. Announce yourself to the receptionist in a professional manner.
4. Stand and greet your interviewer with a hearty -- not bone-crushing -- handshake.
5. Smile and look into the interviewer’s eyes.

During the Interview

1. Try to focus on the points you have prepared without sounding rehearsed or stiff.
2. Relax and enjoy the conversation. Learn what you can about the company.
3. Ask questions and listen; read between the lines.
4. At the conclusion, thank the interviewer and determine the next steps.
5. Ask for the interviewer’s business card so you can send a follow-up email.

After the Interview

1. As soon as possible, write down what you are thinking and feeling.
2. Later in the day, look at what you wrote and assess how you did.
3. The next day, write a follow-up thank you email, reminding the interviewer of your qualities.

Interview Preparation

 In the Days Before the Interview

1. Create a word document with two columns. On the left side, make a bulleted list of what the employer is looking for based on the job posting. On the right side, make a bulleted list of the qualities you possess that fit those requirements.
2. Research the company, the industry, and the competition. 
• Write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) describing each - include the history and goals / mission statement of the company, what type of industry the company is in (clothing, bridal, animal care, food service) and who it serves, and who the major competitors of the company are.
  
3. Prepare and write your 60-second personal statement: Your answer to the, "Tell me about yourself," question.
4. Write at least three success stories to answer behavioural interview questions ("Tell me about a time when…" or "Give me an example of a time…").
5. List 10 questions to ask the interviewer about the job, the company, and the industry.
6. Research salaries / wages for the job posting and determine your worth. Write down your desired / goal wage ($/hr)
   
7. Determine the absolute lowest wage you would accept for the position (you may want to look up minimum wage in Ontario to help you)
   
8. Get permission from your references to use their names. 
   

• Use class time between April 20 -  May 4 to work on parts 1-7 of this list (we will assume for these interviews that you have permission from your references - just be prepared to say why you chose them). Anything not completed in class time must be finished for homework.
  
  
• Submit all your written work to me (mlcpcivics@outlook.com) by 8AM on May 11

Cover Letters for Part-Time Work

A cover letter isn't ever going to win you a job by itself, but a badly worded letter is going to cause doubts in the employers mind right from the start. A good cover letter explains why you, over all the other candidates, are worth taking the time to find out more about.

Dear [INSERT HIRING MANAGER’S NAME],

Regarding the [INSERT JOB TITLE] position currently advertised on Monster.ca , please find attached a copy of my resume for your consideration.I’m looking to gain practical experience within [INSERT INDUSTRY SECTOR] and feel that a part-time position within your company would help me to demonstrate the abilities I have.

INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN WORK EXPERIENCE
I have been studying [INSERT RELEVANT DEGREE] and have already gained some experience as a [INSERT JOB TITLE] at [INSERT COMPANY NAME] where I [INSERT KEY RESPONSIBILITY OR ACHIEVEMENT].

I believe my skills in [INSERT KEY SKILLS] would make me a positive addition to your team. If you would like to get in touch to discuss my application and to arrange an interview, you can contact me via [INSERT PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS].

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
[INSERT NAME]

Final Civics Project (2021)

 Make Your Own Visitor's Guide

We have covered many Canadian landmarks and tourist areas over the last few weeks as an overview - here is your chance to plan a visitor's guide to one. 

 

Due Date: March 2, 2021

Instructions:

1. Choose a spot in Canada you feel people should visit and know more about. It can be one we covered already or a new one you know about or discovered in your research.
   Note: for some landmarks like the Wawa goose you will need to cover the general area it is located in order to address all the elements I'm asking for.
   
   
2. Submit your chosen topic on the Google Form here. Only one topic can be chosen per person.
   
   
3. Start thinking about the key elements of the location you want visitors to know about and experience. You should be able to note the landmark's:
1. History
2. Location in Canada / address (with a map / directions - remember most brochures tell you how to get there!)
3. Any fees to access it (admission, camping)
4. Hours or months of operation
5. Places to stay overnight
6. Places to eat
7. Fun facts
   
   
4.  Find some pictures of the landmark that illustrate your research. Remember brochures are not just words on paper, they must be eye catching and colourful!
   
   
5. Start putting your brochure together. You can use software like Microsoft Publisher or an online platform like Canva to make a tri-fold style (you will have to save the Canva design to a .pdf format in order to submit/print it) or you can make a double-sided poster style brochure in Microsoft Word.
   Some tips:
1. Use eye-catching colours, photos and phrases but be clear about your message
2. Include enough content to make people want to learn more, but don't tell them everything about the place, otherwise why travel?
3. If you have travel tips (a great restaurant, what to wear or bring, etc.) consider a text box to separate them from the rest of the information. 
4. Don't forget to put your name on the brochure!
   
   Example Brochure:
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Put together a short explanation of your location to present to the class. Do not read your brochure - instead, fill in the details of the area that you researched like a tour guide. Be prepared to answer questions about your chosen location and to offer your opinion of the best (or worst) things to do or experience there
   

Marking Guide:

Brochure                                                                  

History                                                                            /1

Location (with map or directions)                                  /1

Operating times / fees                                                    /1

Visitor information                                                          /3

(places to stay / eat / other things to do in the area)

Fun facts                                                                        /3

 

Presentation

Evidence of planning                                                      /1

Knowledge of material                                                   /3

 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at mlcpcivics@outlook.com

Canadian Landmarks

POWERPOINT HERE

Trans Canada Transportation

Canadian-Pacific Rail

o   A historic Canadian railroad incorporated in 1881. The railroad is owned today by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited

o   Approximately 20,000 kilometres (12,500 mi) of track all across Canada and into the United States, stretching from Montreal to Vancouver, and as far north as Edmonton.

Trans-Canada Highway

o   Transcontinental federal-provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada from the Pacific Ocean on the west to the Atlantic on the east. The main route spans 8,030 kilometres (4,990 mi) across the country, one of the longest routes of its type in the world.

o   The highway officially opened in 1962, and was completed in 1971

Trans-Canada Trail

o   The Great Trail – created by Trans Canada Trail and our partners – began as a bold dream in 1992. Now, 25 years on, it is 24,000 kilometres of multi-use recreational trail – the longest network of its kind.

o   Great Trail is a community-based project. Trail sections are owned, operated and maintained by local organizations, provincial authorities, national agencies and municipalities across Canada.

Anne of Green Gables Farmhouse

o   A 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery which recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl in the fictional town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island.

o   Since its publication, Anne of Green Gables has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into 20 languages.

o   The Green Gables farmhouse is located in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. Many tourist attractions on Prince Edward Island have been developed based on the fictional Anne, and provincial licence plates once bore her image

Confederation Bridge

o   The 12.9-kilometre (8 mi) bridge opened on May 31, 1997.

o   Construction took place from October 1993 to May 1997 and cost C$1.3 billion.

o   It links Prince Edward Island with mainland New Brunswick, Canada.

o   Before its official naming, Prince Edward Islanders often referred to the bridge as the "Fixed Link".

Magnetic Hill

o   A gravity hill, a type of optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain.

o   It is located at the northwestern edge (In the Magnetic Hill Area) of the city of Moncton in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

 

Fairmont Hotels

o   Fairmont is known in Canada for its famous historic hotels and resorts. Many of these hotels were originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

o   Château Frontenac in Quebec City was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980. The site was originally occupied by the residence of the British colonial governors of Lower Canada and Quebec. The World War II Allies' Quebec Conferences of 1943 and 1944 were held at the Château. The hotel is generally recognized as the most photographed hotel in the world, largely for its prominence in the skyline of Quebec City. 

o The Royal York Hotel in Toronto was built by CP Rail in 1929. With 28 floors, it was the tallest building in Toronto at that time, and the tallest building in the British Empire until the construction of Canadian Bank of Commerce tower. It is the residence of choice for Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family when in Toronto. The Queen usually has an entire floor reserved for her and her entourage, occupying the Royal Suite herself. The hotel was recognized under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2006

o   The Banff Springs Hotel was built during the 19th century as one of Canada's grand railway hotels in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The hotel was opened to the public on June 1, 1888. It is a National Historic Site of Canada and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

o   The Fairmont Empress is one of the oldest and most famous hotels in Victoria. It was been designated a National Historic Site of Canada due to its national significance in 1981. The Empress has played hostess to kings, queens, movie stars and many famous people. In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales waltzed into the dawn in its Crystal Ballroom - an event considered by Victorians to be of importance even 50 years later

Museum of History

o   The museum's primary purpose is to collect, study, preserve, and present material objects that illuminate the human history of Canada and the cultural diversity of its people.

o   The museum is one of North America's oldest cultural institutions and is home to the Canadian Children's Museum and an IMAX 3D Theatre.

o   The museum was designed by Douglas Cardinal, a famous Indigenous architect

Bon Echo Pictographs

o   The southeastern shore of Mazinaw Lake features the massive 100 m (330 ft) high Mazinaw Rock, an escarpment rising out of the water, adorned with many native pictographs. The unofficial mascot of Bon Echo Park is the Ojibwe trickster figure and culture hero, Nanabush, who is among the 260 plus pictographs found in the area. The site of the Mazinaw pictographs was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1982

ROM

o   It is one of the largest museums in North America, the largest in Canada, and attracts more than one million visitors every year, the second most for a Canadian art museum

o   Established on 16 April 1912 and opened on 19 March 1914

o   Has more than six million items and forty galleries, including notable collections of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites, Near Eastern and African art, Art of East Asia, European history, and Canadian history.

CN Tower

o   a 553.3 m-high (1,815.3 ft) concrete communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto

o   It was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of Burj Khalifa and Canton Tower in 2010. 

o   In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It also belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers, where it holds second-place.

o   The CN Tower can be seen from at least as far away as Kennedy Street in Aurora, Ontario, approximately 40 km (25 mi) to the north, 60 km (37 mi) east of Toronto, in Oshawa, and from several points on the south shore of Lake Ontario, 48 km (30 mi) to the south in the U.S. state of New York.

Wawa Goose

o   As of 2017, this was the most photographed landmark in North America

o   Wawa means “Wild Goose or Land of the Big Goose” in Ojibway, so it makes perfect sense to have a goose welcoming visitors at the entrance of town.

o   In 1960, the last link of the Trans-Canada Highway was finally completed linking Wawa to Sault Ste. Marie and Western Canada.

o   Local businessmen were disappointed that the highway actually by-passed the downtown core of the community, so one of Wawa’s local entrepreneurs of the day, Al Turcott had an idea of a huge statue of a Canada Goose made of plaster.

o   This has become Wawa’s “Claim to Fame” and our famous goose has welcomed millions of visitors.

Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump

o   Is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of a museum of Blackfoot culture.

o   It was used for 5,500 years by the indigenous peoples of the plains to kill buffalo by driving them off the 11 metre (36 foot) high cliff. Before the late introduction of horses, the Blackfoot drove the buffalo from a grazing area in the Porcupine Hills by dressing up as coyotes and wolves.

o   The camp at the foot of the cliffs provided the people with everything they used to process the buffalo carcasses for their needs, including fresh water. The buffalo was used for a variety of purposes, from tools made from the bone, to the hide used to make dwellings and clothing.

o   After a successful hunt, the wealth of food allowed the people to enjoy leisure time and pursue artistic and spiritual interests. This increased the cultural complexity of the society.

o   According to legend, a young Blackfoot wanted to watch the buffalo plunge off the cliff from below, but was buried underneath the falling buffalo. He was later found dead under the pile of carcasses, where he had his head smashed in

Vegreville egg

o   This Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg) symbolizes the harmony, vitality and culture of the community and is dedicated as a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who brought peace and security to the largest multi-cultural settlement in all of Canada.World’s

o   an immense jigsaw puzzle containing 524 star patterns, 2,208 equilateral triangles, 3,512 visible facets, 6,978 nuts and bolts, and 177 internal struts. The Pysanka is recognized around the world as not only a unique artistic masterpiece but also an achievement of nine mathematical, architectural and engineering firsts.

o   The design represents the first computer modeling of an egg, and the software created to guide the lasers which cut the Pysanka's tiles was eventually purchased and used for the cutting of the exterior tiles of the space shuttle

West Edmonton Mall

o   West Edmonton Mall covers an area of about 490,000 m² (5,300,000 sq ft) and has over 800 stores and services.

o   More than 24,000 people are employed at the property and the mall receives about 32 million visitors per year, between 90,000 and 200,000 shoppers daily.

o   The Mall is home to many attractions, including a theme park, water park, aquarium (including a replica of the Santa María, one of the ships sailed by Christopher Columbus in 1492), ice rink, bowling alley, arcade, three theatres (including an IMAX and a “7D” experience), two mini-golf courses,  indoor shooting range, dinner theatre and ballroom, nightclub, chapel and three radio stations: K-97 (classic rock), 840 CFCW (classic country and news/sports programming), 96.3 Capital FM/

Capilano

o   This is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The current bridge is 140 metres (460 ft) long and 70 metres (230 ft) above the river.

o   It was originally made of hemp ropes with a deck of cedar planks, and was replaced with a wire cable bridge in 1903.

Tallest Totem Pole

o   At 173 feet tall, the wooden tribal totem in Alert Bay, British Colombia is demonstrably the tallest tower of its kind in the entire world

o   While most totem poles represent a single family, this one is meant to represent different factions of the Kwakwaka’wakw people. The figures include the Sun Man, a whale, an old man, a wolf, the Thunderbird and its cousin, the Kulusł, a two-headed serpent, a bear holding a salmon, and a raven holding copper.