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Congratulations! You made the decision to go to College, you persevered and succeeded through all the challenges, and achieved your diploma.  You are ready for the next step…FINDING A JOB!!

Here are some interview tips from one of Drake Medox College’s Health Care Assistant Program instructors Rona, who has spent many years on the other side of the interview table recruiting HCAs.

To demonstrate at an interview that you are the right fit for the role, preparation is vital. Use these common interview questions to prepare succinct and relevant responses; matching your skills and attributes to the needs of the company and role whenever possible. Remember to also prepare a suite of compelling examples to help convince the interviewer that you are the best person for the job. Preparation, positivity, and proof are your keys to interview success.

5 Commonly Asked Interview Questions and How You Should Respond To Them

Tell Me About Yourself.

This is a generally the first question you will be asked; designed to break the ice. A strong, succinct answer will quickly gain the interviewer’s attention, and separate you from other candidates who may be tempted to divulge their life story. Give a brief, concise description of who you are and your key qualifications, strengths and skills. Tailoring your answer to the role offered by declaring the strongest benefit that you bring to an employer will leave the interviewer compelled to know more.

Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is trying to gauge your enthusiasm for the role as well as your level of knowledge about the company. This is easily accomplished by visiting their website in advance, or speaking with current employees whenever possible. Give specific examples of things that attracted you to the company and elaborate on your strengths, achievements and skills and how they match the position description, making you the right fit.

What Are Your Strengths?

The interviewer wants to know what you are particularly good at and how this would fit into the role. Choose a few of your key strengths that are required for the role, and give specific examples of how you have demonstrated them successfully in the past. Strengths could include the ability to learn quickly, composure under pressure, ability to multi-task, team focus or your ability to work unsupervised.

What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses? 

The interviewer is trying to gauge your self-awareness. We all have weaknesses, so it’s best not to say you don’t have any. Avoid using the word ‘weakness’ and instead talk about an ‘area for improvement’ that is not vital for the job, or specify a ‘challenge’ that you are working to overcome. Demonstrating a willingness to develop yourself and face challenges turns the answer into a positive.

How Do You Respond to Working Under Pressure?

The interviewer wants to see that you have composure, problem solving skills and can stay focused in difficult conditions. Give an example of a time when you were faced with a stressful situation (not caused by you) and how you handled it with poise. Describe the context, how you approached the situation, the actions you took and the positive outcome. Demonstrate how you remained calm, in control and got the job done.

Job Search preparation and training is part of every program offered at Drake Medox College.  In addition to getting the support you need with your resume, cover letter, job search and interview skills, all grads also receive regular job postings after graduation!!  To learn more about our Healthcare Programs, call an advisor today at 604 629-0196 or visit our webisite at www.drakemedoxcollege.ca