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Interviews

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Interviews are a great opportunity to showcase your skills and share your passion for a company, position or initiative. The following authors shared their experiences in interviewing and summarize their tips, stories and lessons learned in order to provide you with actionable steps on excelling in that upcoming interview! Whether you need information on preparation, interview processes of various companies (like Facebook!) or are in need of a confidence boost, we have a story for you. Although nerve-wracking, they are always a learning opportunity regardless of the outcome.

Girl looking into the screen sobbing
Blog
Interview Tips from an Extremely Anxious Cry Baby

I made such great progress throughout the years that Little Nadya would definitely be in awe (and in worry because she’ll need to go through all those interviews). So, how did I do it? It wasn’t easy or comfortable, but that’s how you progress. Here are my tips for overcoming, or at least coping, with extreme interview anxiety.

Person standing in the sunset holding up the sun.
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Working for the Sun: 3 Tips for a Strong Interview

The day before an interview tends to be the most anxiety-inducing, especially as a Co-op student. Maybe it’s because you really want that specific position, have little professional experience or generally have social anxiety in new and uncomfortable situations. With a little reflection on my interview process, I came up with three tips to hopefully calm your nerves before, during and after your next interview.

2 people sitting at a round white table on their laptop
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Behind the Scenes of an Interview: What I Learned While Hiring My Co-op Replacement

Whether you’re like me and have been doing Co-op for a while now, or just have had your fair share of job interviews, then you probably think you know everything there is to be prepared for one. However, I will tell you right now that, unless you have actually conducted a job interview, you most likely do not. Continue reading for some insider tips on Co-op interviews that I feel everyone should know.

A sign is displayed in front of Health Canada headquarters in Ottawa
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Landing an Interview with Health Canada within 24 Hours

Are you currently in the process of securing a job interview? Melanie will take you on her journey and the series of events she took to not only reach out to her hiring manager, but also land an interview within the span of 24 hours. 

sun peaking through the trees
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10 Tips on How to Navigate the Hiring Process: An Insider's Perspective

Nisha’s second work term as a curriculum and programming assistant on a hiring committee for Career and Volunteer Services made her realize that with so many qualified candidates, decisions are sometimes based on the tiniest details. Here are Nisha’s 10 tips for how to stand out from other candidates and the reasons why employer’s value them.

Government Canada
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Highlights from the “Preparing for a Government of Canada Interview” Webinar

How do you prepare for an interview at the Government of Canada? Haebin summarizes for you the key points from a webinar hosted by Angela Foraaunet, a Human Resources Advisor in the Public Service Commission of Canada. Read on to learn more about Ms. Forraunet’s golden advice on acing the interviews and aiming for success.

Woman working on whiteboard
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Whiteboard Interviews

Whiteboard interviews can be nerve wracking if you aren't well-prepared to communicate and present yourself in a confident way. Check out this edition of Interview Types to learn more about how you can set yourself up for success in a whiteboard interview.

People meeting at a coffee shop
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The Coffee Interview

A coffee interview might seem like the most informal type of interview out there, but don't get too laid back yet. Check out this edition of the Interview Series to learn more about how you should handle preparing and carrying out a coffee interview masterfully.

Five people sitting around a table, having a discussion
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A View from the Other Side of the Table: Interviewing from a Co-op Student's Perspective

Ever wondered what your interviewers were thinking? Amanda takes us behind the scenes of an interview process and shares how to prepare for trick questions, ways to leave a strong first impression and techniques for highlighting skills and experience. 

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Dealing with a Mistake During an Interview
a person's hand typing on the keyboard of a laptop
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The Art of Not Losing Hope: Scoring A Co-op Position With The Right Tactics For Your Job Interview

Interviews don't have to be hard if you're prepared. Nelson provides some tips on what how can prepare yourself for an interview and impress your interviewers.

Picture of an interviewer and interviewee
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6 Interview Tips from the Other Side of the Table: an Interviewer’s Perspective

Ever wonder how interviewers feel on the other side of the table? SFU Career & Volunteer Services’ very own superstar Career Peer, Scarlett Wu, shares her perspective on interviews and offers ideas on how to ace your own.

Ivy Choi
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The Pre-Interview Pep-Talk You Never Knew You Needed

Landing the interview is a big and the first step towards experiences that will help you throughout your working life. Here are some of Ivy's top tips on pre-interview preparations. 

Science equipment
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Five Things the Average Science Co-op Applicant Doesn’t Know

"It’s normal to not hear back from interviewers." Wait, what?! Science student, Richard Hsia has some sage advice to ease your mind and sharpen your competitive edge in your co-op job search. 

Comic of preparing for Co-op
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Comic Guide: 5 Tips to Prepare for Co-op

Embarking on your first Co-op placement? Thinking of applying to the Co-op program? In this comic guide, Linnea offers five tips that will give you a fresh outlook on how to update your resume, build up the confidence to go on interviews, and set yourself up for success. You’ve got this! 

couple holding hands and women holding coffee in other hand
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How Dating is like Interviewing and How to Conquer Both

Interviews can be a stressful event, full of anxiety and confusion. Much like the dating world, interviews are a first meeting where you are desperately hoping the other person will like you and vice versa. Here are some things to keep in mind for either situation.

A group of engineers working
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Landing an Engineering Co-op

This article provides a few tips to improve your co-op work search. Having completed a few co-op positions, I’ve learned methods that have helped me get a co-op job offer. Some of the tips may seem cliché but when the little things add up, they can help improve one’s chances by a margin.

Image of Author. She is smiling at the camera and is wearing a white shirt and black coat.
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Tackling the Application Process in the Federal Public Sector

Are you in the process of applying to a federal government co-op position but are unsure of what to expect or whether you’re on the right track? Check out these tips that Christie, a fourth year Criminology co-op student, has to offer after dedicating four of her work terms to various agencies within the federal public sector.

Image of the back of the head of an interviewee getting interviewed by a woman and a man.
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The Interview Basics: 5 Simple Steps to Help You Prepare

Job interviews can be nerve-racking but with planning and preparation anyone can master the basic steps for interview success. Here are five tips to help you get ready. 

Natalie
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The Panel Interview: 5 Things You Should Know

When you think of an “interview”, do you normally think of a one on one interview? That’s what I used to think of.  However, as a co-op student you might experience panel interviews.  Read on to find out what you should know before a panel interview.

a long dark hallway
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The Waiting Room

"'I'm here for an interview with, ah... Mr. Jenson." He felt more than saw her purposeful scan of his appearance. In his mind, the just-noticeable wrinkles in his only white collared shirt became words scrawled in thick, black permanent marker. I'm not good enough. A days' stubble. Hastily tied necktie. What am I even doing here?

Picture of Jingyao
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How My Determination Turned My Shyness Into Confidence - 5 Tips For Working On Your Goals While Enjoying Your Life

If you identify with my story, then here are some tips that helped me reach my goals, and I hope they will help you to work on your goals – whatever they may be -- while enjoying your life.

A photo of the author
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So You Want to Be a Public Servant: Getting Hired into the Federal Government

Jobs in the federal government are well-paid, interesting, and a great springboard for your career. They are also very hard to get. Diana shares these six tips that could help you land your dream job in the Federal Government.

Student searching for work on computer
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Seek and Ye Shall Find: 5 Tips for Co-op Job Seekers

Truth be told, finding the first co-op job can take a very long time. Don’t panic! Here are 5 tips to help keep you on track, motivated and increase your competitiveness in your co-op job search. 

You got this
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5 Ways to Bring Confidence to the Job Interview

Ever feel like interviews do not go your way, or they feel out of your control? Find the one thing you can control: your confidence! Natalie reflects on some of her old co-op interview experiences, and shares some strategies she has learned to bring confidence to your next interview.

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