Some tips I shared with my OT students and am happy to share with other OT students heading out into their first job. For more details I suggest reading the book: Oliver, V. (2005). 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc.
2. Your resume and cover letter are excellent
Now you have been called for an interview!
Picture source: http://www.jobinterviewtechniques.ne
3. Tips on how to prepare for
interview
Review your resume and cover letter
Do some more research on the organization
and department
Prepare to answer interview questions
Prepare your questions to take to the interview
Prepare your job interview “kit”
4. Tips from the professionals
Decide what to wear one week before the
interview
Dressing for a successful job interview
(http://youtu.be/a5F43Fp5nMQ)
Be certain that your outfit is pulled together and
appropriate for the job
Ensure you are well groomed
Book a hair cut if it‟s overdue!
Don‟t forget nails!
6. The following information is from
Oliver, V. (2005). 301 Smart Answers to
Tough Interview Questions. Naperville,
Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc.
7. Your job interview kit
Cell phone (which is off during the interview)
Directions to your appointment including the name
of the contact, full address (room number) &
phone number
A few extra copies of your resume
Key excerpts from your portfolio if relevant
A pen and notebook
Breath mints
Picture ID in case you need it to get in the building
8. Top 10 tips for being a brilliant
interviewee
1. Be polite, organized and enthusiastic
2. Plan interviews around their schedule not
yours
3. Do your homework
4. Ask contacts for the inside scoop
5. Smile at the interviewer and shake hands,
thank them for the opportunity to be
9. Top 10 tips for being a brilliant
interviewee
6. Avoid canned answers to questions. Practise your
answers so they sound natural on the day
7. Don‟t use words such as “like”, “kinda”, “sorta”,
“awesome”
8. Follow the news. There might be a story about this
organization.
9. Don‟t leave the interview without having asked at
least 3 questions
10. Follow up with a thank you email or letter within 3
business days of your interview
10. The four Ps of performing at
interview
Be PREPARED
Look PRESENTABLE
Sound POLISHED
Stay POSITIVE
11. Don‟t subtract from the interview
Rest well before the interview
you will look healthy and be mentally focused
Make a great first impression
be early (make sure you have been there before)
be polite to all staff (they will be asked for their
impressions)
Be gracious
Your interview may start late
The interviewer‟s phone may ring
Someone may accidentally barge in to the meeting
12. Don‟t subtract from the interview
Give it your best
Avoid canned answers or generalizations
Work with the interviewer‟s style
Meld your style to theirs
Embrace the middle
Dress conservatively but don‟t become invisible
Empathize don‟t criticize
If you are asked to comment but you don‟t want to sound critical, be
diplomatic
Be present
Concentrate on what they are saying, listen, reflect, clarify and stay
focused
13. Types of interview questions
(basic)
1. Do you know what we are looking for?
2. What are your dreams and aspirations?
3. Do you know your strengths?
4. Have you done your homework about us?
5. Do you know your preferred working style?
14. Do you know what we are looking
for?
Ifyou were hiring someone for this position, what
qualities would you look for?
What would you like me to know about you that is
not on your resume?
Let’s say we offer you the job, tell me how this
organization will benefit?
Why should we hire you?
15. What are your dreams and
aspirations?
Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
(Focus on your OT story, your passion for the
profession and where you see yourself heading –
keep it to 3 or 4 points)
Can you describe your dream job?
What are your short-range and long-range goals?
What are two or three things that are most
important for you in a job?
How do you set and manage goals?
16. Do you know your strengths?
(AKA: Sell yourself)
What is the most difficult thing that you have ever
accomplished?
Can you tell me about a recent achievement that you’re
proud of?
What do you like to do on weekends (in your spare time)?
What special traits do you have that make you well suited
to this job?
Can you describe a time when you felt under pressure to
perform? What was the outcome?
Please tell me about a time when you had to work
independently
What would you say is your most outstanding achievement
17. Have you done your homework?
Why have you applied for this position here?
Why us, why now?
What do you like about occupational therapy?
Your first degree was in _____, how did that prepare
you for this career?
What have you done in addition to your degrees to
learn about occupational therapy?
Tell them about other ways you have learned about the
importance of occupational therapy
18. Do you know your preferred working style?
Do you prefer to work alone or in teams?
What motivates you to put forth your greatest
effort?
Who was your greatest role model?
19. Trickier interview questions
1. Give us one good reason not to hire you?
2. You seem to have more experience than we are
looking for, don’t you think you might be bored in
this position?
3. In what ways is a Masters degree better than a
bachelor’s degree?
4. You are young and passionate and your
academic credentials are a great, I worry that
there is no substitute for life experience and
you’re a little light.
20. Impossible interview questions
1. “Pop essay” questions
2. Questions that have no correct answer
3. Ethical questions with a twist
4. “Pigeonhole yourself” questions
5. Questions that send you to confession
21. Pop essay questions
If you could change occupational therapy in
any way what would you change?
What changes are happening in health generally
or occupational therapy specifically?
What is happening in your community that
occupational therapy could get more involved
with?
22. Questions that have no correct
answer
What is the real impact of occupational
therapy?
Break it down into sections
Show your ability to pull apart a puzzle and
analyse it
Show your resourcefulness and problem-solving
ability
Show that you don‟t believe you are an expert on
23. Ethical questions with a twist
When have you confronted unethical
behaviour and chosen not to say anything in
order not to rock the boat?
What if you were working with someone who
managed to take credit for your good
ideas, how would you handle it?
Are you able to act cautiously and ethically?
24. “Pigeonhole yourself” questions
Are you better at visioning or implementing?
Have you ever been so firm that people would
describe you as stubborn or inflexible?
25. Questions that send you to
confession
Is there anything that would prevent you from
giving 110% in this job right now?
What are the biggest risks you have taken in
recent years? Which ones worked out best
and which ones failed?
26. “What would you do if…”
You are likely to be given a scenario question
that describes either an unethical or an unsafe
situation and then asked how you would
manage it
They are looking at your ability to recognize
what is actually going on AND your capacity to
manage it.
27. Personality questions
Tell me about the last time you made a major
change. Why did you do it and how did it work
out?
What were the least enjoyable aspects of your
last job?
Tell us about a time when you experienced
conflict at work, what was it and how did you
manage it?
28. Polishing your persona
Choose 5 adjectives that describe your ideal work
persona
Intelligent
Perceptive
Hard working
Empathetic
Creative
Take temperament test and think about how to talk
about your strengths and how you manage your
weaknesses
29. Questions to test your Political
Prowess
Please give an example of a difficult political
situation you have dealt with on the job.
How aware are you of internal politics that may
affect your performance?
30. Questions that ask you to take off
your “work mask”
How would you describe your sense of
humour?
Do you have any commitments outside the
office that might take you away from work?
Tell me about a time when you were in a
personal situation that made you feel
insecure?
What do you do for fun?
31. Questions you can‟t be asked
Marital or relationship status
Beliefs
Children
Ability to deal with people who are not the
same as you
Financial or lifestyle questions
32. Your turn to ask some questions
Five types of questions that you should ask:
1. Get the conversation going
2. Show you studied the employer
3. Internal structure of the employer and/or job
description
4. Checking if the employer is a good fit for you
5. Questions that put the ball back in the
interviewer‟s court
33. Get the conversation going
What are some of the problems your company
faces right now and what are you doing to
solve them?
What type of employee tends to succeed
here?
How would you describe your management
style and what are you looking for in an
employee?
34. Show you studied the employer
How has the new management structure
impacted the day-to-day processes here?
I saw in the news recently that the
occupational therapy services here are
expanding, can you tell me more about this?
35. Internal structure of the employer
and/or job description
Who would I be reporting to? Are these
people on the same team and what is the
“pecking order”?
How does this team manage ongoing
professional development?
Is there an annual review process? How does
that work?
36. Checking if the employer is a good fit
If I decided to undertake further training in
______ would this advance me more quickly?
I enjoy learning with my colleagues, does the
occupational therapy department run a journal
club?
37. Questions that put the ball back in
the interviewer‟s court
I have my resume and portfolio here with
me, do you have anything else that you would
like to ask me?
Well, I think it’s pretty clear, I would love to
work here, so what are the next steps?
How long do you think it will take to make a
decision about the position, is there anything
else I can do to help you make it?
38. Charm can never be
underestimated
Be playful without being frivolous
Befriend your interviewers
Answer thoroughly and keep on track
Shine: be the best candidate
Show some of the „you‟ your friends know
(language and gestures)
Rephrase key points to show you are listening
Promise yourself a reward for a job well done
39. Sending thank you emails after
interview
It is becoming common to send a follow-up
thank you
Thank you for the opportunity to be
interviewed
Mention a topic that was discussed in the
interview that you enjoyed discussing with
them
Reiterate what they said would happen re
40. If only I had said…
Maybe you wish you could change what you said in
the interview because:
You didn‟t really answer the question
You said too much
You were too general
You have new information
You messed up your answer completely
41. Send an email
Thank them for the opportunity to be
interviewed
Explain that you were unhappy with one of
your answers (and a quick reason)
Give your improved answer but don‟t go
overboard
42. You have a job offer
This is the only time that you are in the driver‟s
seat
Use it but don‟t abuse it
You don‟t have to accept immediately!
Thank them, tell them that you are excited and would
like to discuss the offer with your family
Ask if you can have 24 hours and you will get back to
them
43. After you accept they will ask
“When can you start?”
Tomorrow: if you are presently not working
Two weeks from tomorrow: if you are presently
working and somewhat junior
I can give notice tomorrow and start in 3
weeks: if you are currently employed and
somewhat senior
Four (to 12) weeks from tomorrow: if you are
relocating to a new area to take the job
44. More resources
Nine essential job
interviewing tips
(http://youtu.be/M5ZiuPsb5Zs)