Canadian Government Executive - Volume 26 - Issue 01

14 / Canadian Government Executive // January/February 2020 EMPLOYMENT By Angela Civitella Preparation is Key to a Successful Job Interview Y ou’re midway through an in- terview for a promotion you really want, and it’s all going well. But suddenly, the inter- viewer asks you a question that you can’t answer. Your heart sinks, and you start talking without knowing how you’re going to finish the sentence. You don’t need to see the interviewer’s face to know that you’re handling this question badly. The way you respond to questions in an interview can make or break your chances of getting a promotion or a new job. It’s common for interviewers to ask difficult questions. They’re not doing this to trip you up; they just want to see how well you perform under pressure and whether you can think on your feet. The more you prepare, the less nervous you’ll be and the more confident you’ll feel and sound. Follow these six steps below to handle interview questions effectively. 1 Gather Information First, gather information about the role. This can help you to predict the questions you may face during the inter- view, especially ones about your strengths and weaknesses and past failures and suc- cesses. Preparation helps you reflect on mean- ingful workplace experiences, and the ac- complishments and stories that will show- case your strengths and skills. Take time to read the job description carefully, and if possible, speak to people who work in the department or team that you’re being interviewed for. Brain- storm questions that interviewers might ask, based on what you find. For example: what knowledge, skills or experiences do you need? What abilities have you devel- oped in your current role that will help you? How will your understanding of the organization benefit your new team? What problems will you be expected to solve? Who will report to you?