Canadian Government Executive - Volume 26 - Issue 01

January/February 2020 // Canadian Government Executive / 15 EMPLOYMENT 2 Research Yourself What is your reputation within the organization, or in the industry? What would your team members and boss say about you? Do you spend time with colleagues outside of work or do people think you’re unsociable? Even if you have a great reputation at work, do you know what would come up if an interviewer searched for your name online? Are there any pictures, comments, profiles, or associations that could damage your professional image? By researching yourself, you can find out what your interviewer will see, and you’ll be less likely to be surprised by a ques- tion you didn’t expect. It also gives you the chance to remove or prepare thought- ful responses to, any photos, tweets, blog posts, or comments that are questionable or negative. 3 Think about your strengths and weaknesses The interviewer will likely ask you to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. Make a list of these in advance, so that you can provide a quick, honest answer that puts you in a good light. Be honest when you talk about your weaknesses, but keep your comments short and positive. Focus on one that you’ve been working on, and provide examples of your progress. For example, “My biggest weakness used to be my communication skills. I’ve been im- proving these through self-study and prac- tice, and I now touch base with every team member first thing in the morning to share project updates in person.” When you talk about your strengths, concentrate on the ones that you’ll use most in this role, and frame your response to illustrate how specific strengths enable you to meet the organization’s needs. Also, spend some time thinking about your own career goals and how this po- sition will help you achieve them. Inter- viewers want to know about your passion and what motivates you, so you need to be able to articulate clearly how this role will help you progress. 4 Identify key competencies Analyze the job description carefully, as this will help you to identify the competencies needed to perform the role effectively. Look at advertisements for any other jobs in the same department, as these may also use the same competency framework. For example, will you need to demonstrate accountability, customer focus, industry awareness, good commu- nication skills, teamwork, or vision? Reflect on how you fulfil these in your existing role, and prepare five to seven examples to demonstrate this. Next, prac- tice answering positive and negative competency-based questions. Make sure that you can remember them, but avoid memorizing them, otherwise you’ll sound inauthentic. 5 Learn to think on your feet Many interviewers will put you on the spot to see how well you per- form under pressure. They usually do this by asking a tough question, such as, “Tell me about your biggest failure as a project manager.” You need to know how to think on your feet so you can respond appropriately to difficult questions. Start by taking a deep breath – this will flood your body with oxy- gen and help you relax. Then, take a few seconds to think about your response, and don’t start talking until you know what you want to say. Repeat the question slowly to confirm that you’ve understood it, if you need lon- ger to think, or ask for clarification. You can also request additional time to formu- late your response. 6 Practice Using role-playing is one of the best ways to practice answering in- terview questions. You can discover how you might react when you’re put on the spot by acting out scenarios with another person. It also helps you to rehearse deal- ing with stress and thinking on your feet, and it can boost your self-confidence. Prac- tice is essential if you want to feel comfort- able, confident and authentic during your interview. However, avoid giving scripted answers, which will likely make a poor im- pression. Practice until you feel confident and prepared, and then stop. Angela Civitella is a certified business leadership coach and founder of Intinde. http://intinde.com/ ad_shure_MXC_CGE.qxp_Layout 1 2019-08-06 2:4