• Tell me about yourself
• Tell me about your experience with this type of work.
• What kind of machines/software can you operate?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What kind of salary are you expecting?

Purpose:

• To put you at ease.
• To learn from you why they should or should not hire you.
• To find out if your mind is on what you can offer an employer; or if it is on personal concerns that may interfere with your work performance.
• To learn a little bit about your background.
• To assess your ability to communicate orally.

Suggestions:

• Demonstrate your ability to communicate information clearly and concisely.
• Demonstrate your ability to prioritize and your understanding of the employers needs by selecting the information about you of most interest to them. Briefly touch on the following:
  • your experience related to the job.
  • your attributes, including your ability to get along with others and appropriate personal information to show stability and a well-rounded character.

Sample response:

"In my work experience, I have a good background in industrial mechanics. This includes maintenance and repairs as well as keeping up with the latest advances in technology. I am also hard working, dedicated and personable. During my spare time, I take part in several sports and I enjoy fixing up old cars."

Tell me about your experience with this type of work.

Purpose:

Suggestions:

• If you have done this work, state where and give examples of your achievements.
• If you have done related work, state your transferable skills. Show your interest in the position and your willingness to learn.
• If you have not done this work, mention other work-related attributes and skill.
• Quickly show your interest in on-the-job training.

Sample response:

"I was a millwright at the Butler Paper Company in Kendridge, B.C. from '86 until just recently. Before that, I was an industrial mechanic at Edgewood Mining Ltd. in Herman N.S. for ten years from '76 to '86. At these jobs, I was responsible for keeping the equipment in good running condition. This included recording all maintenance and repair work performed on each piece of equipment. I also maintained a clean, organized and safe work environment. After six years with Edgewood Mining, I was promoted to a team which specialized in diagnostic services. My training included a four-year apprenticeship program with Edgewood. In '85, I received a Red Seal trade certificate at Alexandria College in Halifax."

What kind of machines/software can you operate?

Purpose:

This question indicates that skills in this area are very important. Express your experience and capability.

Suggestions:

• Be as specific as possible about your expertise.
• If you haven't had experience with the equipment required, describe similar machines/software you've worked with.

What are your greatest strengths?

Purpose:

• To discover reasons for hiring you.
• To find out how well you know yourself.
• To find out if you believe in yourself; and if you are the right person for the position.

Suggestions:

• Mention that besides the work skills, training and experience that you would offer, you also offer job-related qualities such as reliability, enthusiasm, dependability, flexibility and efficiency.
• If time permits, back up these qualities with examples.

Sample response:

"My strengths are inspecting equipment, analyzing problems, then making repairs. Trouble shooting is a regular part of the job. If I become puzzled with a particular problem, I consult my supervisor and manufacturers’ manuals, diagrams or schematic drawings. I am also dependable, knowledgeable and do not mind working long hours to meet a deadline."

What are your weaknesses?

Purpose:

To discover if you are wrong for the job as a result of lack of experience or training, poor people skills, refusal to follow orders, poor attitude laziness...

Suggestions:

• Describe a positive attribute, then continue with a statement of reassurance. For example, “I feel that it is very important to meet deadlines; satisfy the customer; ... I have to really make myself be patient, diplomatic, firm, when I see that this is not happening.”
• Honestly describe an obvious weakness, then describe factors that make up for it.
• Remember, when you raise a doubt, explain it immediately. If you cannot think of any weaknesses, tell the employer this.

Sample response:

"I don’t like to be over-supervised because I have a lot of initiative, and I like to foresee problems before they even arise."

What kind of salary are you expecting?

Purpose:

The interviewer wants to determine whether you have realistic salary expectations.

Suggestions:

• Mention a salary range.
• Stating an exact figure may harm your chances.
• This is where your research can pay off.
• If you know the going rate for the type of work you can use that in your answer.

Sample responses:

• I understand the usual rate is between X and Y. That would be acceptable.
• I am open to any fair offer which is in line with my experience.

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