Career Blog
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A very wise hiring manager once told me this: “Not asking any questions during an interview is shooting oneself in the foot. As a recruiter, I see it as a lack of preparation and/or interest. Either way, for the candidate, it’s the end of the road.” If recruiters can deduct valuable information from your answers to their questions, they can, and will inevitably, deduct just as much information from your questions.
As the word suggests, an “interview” is a two-way street: just as the recruiters have to ask questions to see if you are the right candidate, you are entitled – and expected – to ask questions yourself to see if the position is right for you. Here is a collection of questions that will help you make a better decision (and a better impression) during the recruitment process.
Ask about the employer’s expectations
Asking specific questions about the employer’s expectations is a good way to demonstrate clearly your interest in the position and your desire to succeed.
- What assets/qualities have made my predecessors successful?
- Which criteria will you use to evaluate my performance?
- What kind of learning/training goals are expected of me during the first six months?
Remember: TAKE NOTES. These questions can often lead to valuable nuggets of information that do not appear in the job description.
Ask about the corporate culture
By inquiring about the work environment, you send a powerful message: You know what suits you, and you want to make sure that you will be happy in your role and excel at your job.
- How would you describe the work atmosphere in three words?
- What do you like best about working for this company/organization?
- What is the busiest/most challenging period of the year, and why?
Remember: Think also about what YOU want. You are, to some extent, interviewing a potential employer. Take this opportunity to gain insight into what values are held in high regard and to see if they match yours.
Ask about the company/organization’s evolution
Showing a genuine curiosity about the organization by asking specific questions proves that you have done your research and that you are a serious contender.
- What are the biggest challenges/opportunities facing the company/organization right now?
- Who do you consider your top competitor, and why?
- How has the company changed over the last few years?
Remember: BE THOUGHTFUL. Avoid asking questions that could be easily answered with a bit of research. First, review the company/organization’s website. Take the time to go through its mission statement, values, “Career” and “Media” sections, and strategic plan. Then, prepare your questions in light of what you have learned.
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A few golden rules
- ACTIVELY LISTEN to the answers, and TAKE NOTES.
- ADJUST your list of questions as the interview goes.
- TAKE REAL INTEREST in your interviewers’ points of view, projects and work. We all love to talk about ourselves. Give them that opportunity, and make them feel heard and validated, so that your interview ends on a high note. This will help you be more MEMORABLE.
As you can see, these questions go far beyond the obvious “When should I expect hearing from you?” I hope these tips will help you create a unique list of insightful questions that will not only wow your interviewers, but also guide you in your decision-making process.
IMPORTANT: Naturally, the questions provided above are only suggestions. You should always use your own judgment to determine if a question is appropriate and relevant or not. For example, if the employer focuses on its advancement opportunities in its job posting, it may be smart to inquire about them during your interview.
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Of all dress codes, business casual is certainly the hardest to define, and yet the most common in the workplace. For most Telfer students, this ubiquitous concept may be just as hard, if not harder to decode, than the most advanced accounting notions. Practically absent from work environments until the mid-60s, “business casual” has grown to become a “standard” in many professional settings. Yet, there is still no clear definition of what business casual is or should be. Here are a few tips to help you grasp this concept and put your best foot forward at work without committing any faux pas.
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Watch and Learn
One of the key indicators of how to dress at work when faced with a business casual dress code is how most people at your level or just above you dress themselves. On the first few days, it may be prudent to pick dressier, more conservative outfits, just to test the waters. Over the course of your first two weeks, take a good look at your coworkers and immediate supervisor, and take notes: the corporate culture will guide you in the right direction.
Remember: Being overdressed does not offend anyone and pleases the discerning eye, while being underdressed can be seen as a lack of care or respect. When in doubt, take it up a notch.
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Find Balance
A good rule of thumb when following a “business casual” dress code is to anchor a more casual piece with a crisp, pressed, tailored one. For example, you could pair a collared button-down shirt with dark-wash jeans (check first with your manager if denim is ok), or a smart pair of slacks with a polo shirt. You could also pair a jersey knit top or a blouse with ankle trousers, or a print shift dress with a solid, structured blazer.
Remember: No matter what combination you go for, make sure to compliment your look with the proper footwear. Very often, shoes set the tone of the whole outfit.
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Consistency is Key
Marketing students know this already: consistency is the key to successful branding. The same principle that applies to major brands applies to your style: maintaining a consistent image at work will help you establish your credibility and create trust. How to achieve it? By creating a capsule wardrobe specifically for work, or by picking a set number of winning combinations within a palette of 8-9 colours maximum.
Remember: You can still reinvent yourself as often as you want outside work! Your 20s are the perfect time to experiment.
Your outfit should match the level of respect and trust that you want to inspire in people.
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Think blazers
Regardless of the gender you identify to, a smart, tailored blazer is the workhorse of the professional wardrobe, as it can elevate almost any outfit and boost confidence. An increasing body of research on “enclothed cognition”, or the power of clothing to affect our thoughts and the way we perceive our capacities, suggests that wearing a blazer or a suit can enhance our productivity and sense of self.
Remember: Choose dark colours, such as navy, charcoal, forest or wine, as they convey authority.
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“business” trumps “casual”
Matching suits may be too formal for your workplace, as they often look severe and can create an unwanted distance between you and your clients when you want, on the contrary, to look amiable and approachable. That being said, your outfit should match the level of respect and trust that you want to inspire in people. Big logos, offensive graphics, anything distressed or overly revealing, as well as athletic apparel used for actual athletic activities, should be avoided at all cost.
Remember: In “business casual”, business comes first.
I hope these few pieces of advice will help you make smarter decisions next time you dress for a “business casual” environment. Keep your eyes open: if someone at your job or at school exudes confidence and inspires trust, try to identify the patterns in the way he/she dresses, and see how you could draw a formula that truly works for you!
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“Mentorship is a two-way street — a relationship between humans — and not a transaction.”
(Fawal, 2018)
Behind every successful individual, there is a panoply of people, including mentors. Learning from a mentor is invaluable to a person’s success. Mentors can help us have an insight on what they do, but most importantly learn about the challenges that have shaped them.
Finding a mentor is great, but how to make the most out of your mentor is the biggest challenge. Having tasted both sides of the coin (being a mentee and a mentor), I’m sharing with you three lessons I’ve learned that will surely help you make the most of your mentor-mentee relationship as a mentee.
1. Take initiative
As a mentee, you have the responsibility to make the first move. You cannot reap if you don’t sow. Likewise, you cannot learn from your mentor if you do not ask or if you do not engage with him/her. Therefore, take initiative: invite your mentor for coffee, or ask if you can shadow him/her for the day. At the end of the day, the more you invest in building and maintaining the mentor-mentee relationship, the more you will benefit from it.
2. Set your expectations
As a mentee, you should set your expectations. If your objectives are not well defined, how can your mentor effectively help you reach your goals? Communicating your expectations will let he/she know what you want to get out of the relationship, and it will help him/her develop a strategy that is better focused on your needs. Ergo, concise and effective communication will enhance your professional ties.
3. Respect
Mentors go out of their way to support you in your endeavours: they put time aside from their busy schedule to answer any questions you may have, introduce you to new people, etc. Therefore, it is crucial that you value their time by showing up on time. Moreover, you should be respectful of their opinions and have an open-minded approach. Mentor-mentee relationships are about dialogue and sharing.
Being mentored is definitely a great way to help advance your career. As you set out for your summer co-op placement or summer job, if assigned a mentor, value this relationship, as you never where it can lead you to!
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Ever wanted to get work experience in Finance and Accounting? Are you looking to represent Canada internationally? As one of the largest employers in the National Capital Region, the Government of Canada has thousands of student positions available in over 150 departments and agencies. And getting access to these positions is super easy through the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP).
What is FSWEP?
FSWEP is a hiring mechanism for federal departments and agencies that offer students entry-level jobs in hundreds of career paths available across the country. This program has been designed to give students valuable and meaningful work experiences in a vast array of fields ranging from Administration to Zamboni operating! Most opportunities include a full-time summer enrollment that can often be extended for students who want to work part-time during the school year. This provides you with a steady source of income that acknowledges the workload you face while balancing school and work.
What you get from it
Personally, I was fortunate enough to start working for a relatively new department three years ago. I was recruited as a student administrative assistant for the Office of the President and COO at Shared Services Canada (SSC). In this role, I greeted visitors to the office, prepared meeting materials for the President and the COO of SSC, and so much more. Through my work, I was able to demonstrate my skills and was referred to the Financial Management Advisory Services, where I will be starting the Financial Officer Recruitment and Development (FORD) program in June to get my CPA.
Where it could lead you
I would highly recommend you apply to the inventory so that your resume is sent to managers looking to hire students across Canada (depending on your preferred locations). There are some pretty cool opportunities out there, including the Student Guide Program in France (with Veterans Affairs Canada) or the student policy analyst positions, which will allow you to shape future legislation affecting Canadians. Working in the public service is truly a rewarding career, as you know that any contribution you make is helping to make Canada a better place.
If you’re interested in trying out what the federal government has to offer, you can find more information about the FSWEP program as well as apply for the various job inventories here:
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“I became a Telfer student over a year ago. During my first year, my main goal was to meet new people, focus on my studies, etc. In my second year, however, I started getting involved with the Telfer Student Council and various Telfer clubs, and assimilating further the content of my courses. This is what I would call “the Telfer experience”. I think we should all remain open to the various opportunities offered to us.
Initially, I wanted to study Law. However, after participating to the Place à la jeunesse competition and finishing first in the Marketing category with my teammates, it became clear to me that Telfer was the obvious choice.
I deeply envy those who had the chance to live such beautiful experiences during their first year.
It was not the case for me. This is why, as the incoming Vice-president of Marketing at the Telfer Student Council, I wish to make it possible for all students to get engaged right at the beginning of their studies at Telfer. And I intend to achieve this through my upcoming integration ideas. ”
– Samuel Benhamou, incoming Vice-president of Marketing, Telfer Student Council
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
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“Wow, you’re only in first year? It’s so great that you’re networking early on”, was the common response I got from recruiters when I mentioned I was a first-year Telfer student, attending Telfer Accounting Club’s wine and cheese in my first weeks of school.
I’ve done a lot of networking. When I was a first-year accounting student, I began attending networking events within my first few weeks of school during the height of Co-op recruiting season. I recall knowing no one, showing up alone and lost; however, being driven out of my comfort zone made me develop new skills and a boldness that is so important when attending networking events. Here are some of the pros to networking early on in your university career.
Understanding your program
When you attend networking events, you get to meet a myriad of people working in your field of study. You have a chance to talk to them about their work: what they enjoy, how the hours are, the various pros and cons of the job, and the expectations placed on an employee in that position. If you’re still unsure about your program or whether you’ll enjoy it, it’s a good place to hear first-hand what a position in your field will be like.
Gaining confidence
When I first started attending networking events in the first year, it was definitely nerve wracking. However, the more you practise the art of the casual slide-in to a group conversation or exiting a conversation tactfully when it’s been going on for too long, the better you get. As a third year attending networking events during Co-op recruiting season, even though it was arguably my most important recruiting season (for my first Co-op), I was never nervous attending the events. I had attended so many events beforehand that I was comfortable meeting new people and the recruiters. One thing that’s important to remember when you’re networking is that the people you’re talking to are just normal people, and were once students as well! Don’t be too intimidated and just be yourself.
Meeting new people
Evidently, the point of networking is to meet new people! When you go to networking events, you’ll most likely see the same students around. It can be a great opportunity to meet other people in your program.
Discovering what you like and what you don’t
After doing recruiting season again in the second year, I really got to know what various companies (especially in accounting) were like based on the people I met. I was able to be more informed and comfortable about my decision for whether to go with a big 4 firm or not when my actual third year Co-op recruiting season came around. Once I knew who I did (and who I didn’t) want to work for, I made myself known on multiple occasions to the people I really needed to meet to reach my goals, and made more purposeful relationships.
I hope all my points about networking early will encourage you to step out earlier on in your career to meet new people! Remember: practice makes perfect! It doesn’t have to be every event available to you, but even just one more event gives you that much more practice.
Good luck!
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“I love Telfer because the concepts we learn in class apply to what we will face in the workplace.
For example, the Business Communication Skills course really helped me honing my public speaking skills. I feel more confident during presentations, which I know will be useful in the future. Another example is the Strategic Management course, more specifically the Intopia simulation, which really showed me what it’s like to run a business. Overall, Telfer has the perfect balance of theory and application, which I feel really prepares us students for the workforce.”
Ifrah Yusuf, 4th-year Accounting Student
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
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It is March, when all of your midterm exams, assignments and projects are piling up before the term ends. Then comes the dreaded month of April, a stressful period of final exams. It is hard to stay balanced and focused on the end goal when all of these impeding deadlines are fast approaching and when summer is just around the corner.
The key to finishing the school year off strong is to take a minute to reflect on what your personal, academic, and professional goals are, and on what you want to achieve this term. Are you trying to land a dream job that could kick‑start a successful career? Do you want to further your education through a Master’s degree? Is there a specific scholarship on the line? Whatever is your goal, keep at it and never give up.
In this article, I am offering you some tips on how you can stay motivated over the next few weeks and complete this term on a high note!
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Prioritize
Everyone always says prioritizing is a crucial step in completing and meeting all deadlines; it is most definitely true! Although we all have our own unique way to keep track of everything, I find that writing down all the daily tasks I have to complete is the most efficient way to visually see what needs to be done. Crossing off tasks (even the smallest ones) is satisfying, and it motivates you to continue being productive. In addition, try to allot an estimated time for each task (block it either in your electronic calendar or on your list).
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Adjust
Although it is important to acknowledge what learning and studying strategies work best for you, sometimes it can be beneficial to adjust to new environments. Through university, I have gathered a variety of studying techniques that are useful for various courses. For example, when the content is math-heavy, I use a dry-erase board and continually repeat practice problems from my lectures and textbook. For other courses that require more memorization, I find that reading my notes aloud and retyping them are the most useful methods. Changing up your studying environment is also important to being productive. Switching location when studying allows your mind to take a break and to adjust to the new environment, providing you with a new sense of energy. It is equally important to determine the time of the day when you feel most productive and to take advantage of that time to finish as much as you can. For example, I have noticed that in the morning, I tend to be more alert and can complete tasks more efficiently. When the weather is nicer, I enjoy going out for a short walk to clear my mind off, after which I feel rejuvenated and ready to continue studying.
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Focus
When I feel overly stressed out and that there are too many deadlines to meet in the short amount of time left, I take a couple minutes to breathe deeply in order to relax and refocus my mind. It is important to recognize the finish line and the steps leading to it. Take a few minutes to focus on your goals for this term, and think about how you will feel once you have completed everything.
With only a few more weeks left this term, you can do it! Keep going and finish this school year strong!
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“Over the years, I have been delighted with the opportunity to meet a number of bright, ambitious Telfer business school students. From the podium at March 7th’s Ladies of the Law brunch, I could see the diverse crowd of attendees, and I felt comforted.
This next generation of young leaders, thinkers and doers are engaged and keen to learn and use their skills to work on tough global issues starting at the local level. They are also aware of the importance of work-life balance, including aspiring to good physical and mental health. As an active volunteer and business lawyer, I feel that these students are well-positioned to fuel our community’s drive for a better future for all.”
- Naomi Morisawa De Koven
Managing Director at MDK Business Law Professional Corporation
Inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York, this weekly feature of the Telfer Career Blog will contain photography of individuals from the Telfer School of Management community and a corresponding narrative that gives us a glimpse into their lives.
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Interviews for your dream job, whether a co-op placement, an internship, or a full-time position, can be stressful, to say the least. Many interviews happen face-to-face, but along your career path, you may very well come across an interview via telephone.
Employers are often conducting phone interviews as part of their initial pre-screening stage. Phone interviews are often seen as less intimidating than in-person interviews, because your body language and professional attire are not considered. However, there are other things you should consider when talking to an employer on the phone: your enthusiasm while answering questions; your genuine interest for the job and the company, etc.
In this article, I’m providing you with some tips on how to ace your next phone interview and increase your chances of receiving an invitation to attend a second interview.
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Focus and Eliminate Distractions
Make sure you are in a quiet area where you are able to talk privately with minimal distractions. This will help you eliminate any potential background noise the employer could notice. If you’re doing your phone interview from home, I would recommend sitting down at a table or a proper desk during the call. I tend to lose my focus and train of thought when surrounded by distractions. It is therefore important for me to set up a “work” environment before the scheduled phone call.
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Prepare Brief Notes
Just as for an in-person interview, you should gather some thoughts and write down a few points for the common questions that you anticipate. The difference with a phone interview though is that you can have your notes in front of you as a reference. Although this may alleviate your stress, do not write down an entire script for each question, as you might not sound genuine when you read it verbatim.
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Listen Carefully
Especially during phone interviews, it is common to listen only to the first part of a question and to overlook what is being asked overall. Many jump to conclusions too early and start answering questions too quickly, without taking a 10-15 second pause to gather their thoughts and focus on how to highlight their abilities/experiences with regard to the needs of the organization. Sometimes it is also difficult to gauge when to stop talking during a phone call, as a long, awkward pause may arise while the interviewer is jotting down notes.
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Follow-up
Many people overlook this crucial last step of the interview process, and it can sometimes determine if you move on to the next stage of the hiring process or if you are eliminated from the pool of candidates. Even though you did not meet the interviewers in person, it is still very important to follow up with them via email, within 48 hours, thanking them for their time and for the consideration.
Through these tips, I hope you will feel more comfortable when your next phone interview happens! Best of luck in all of your future interviews!
