How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada?

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada?

With the advent of globalization, the need for a skilled workforce has become a global need. And in the age of easy access and multiple options, it is amazingly easy to apply for a job abroad. But why would anyone want to work overseas? There can be many reasons behind the same such as but not limited to:

1. Need to move to a better country.
2. Availability of multiple job opportunities.
3. Better and higher pay.
4. Job security is higher.
5. Quality of life is better and higher.
6. The future of family members is secure and taken care of.
   • Access to the top-quality education sector.
   • Access to the best healthcare.
7. Immigrant friendliness.
8. Safety and security (economic, political, and social).

The above list is exhaustive but at the end of the day, it all narrows to raising one’s quality of life. And what could be better than getting a Canadian job offer?

However, you may have access to applying to your Canadian dream job, but there is always the fear of, ‘what if’. What if I fumble in my interview? What if I am not able to answer the interviewer? Will I come across as unpleasant or unemployable? What if the interviewer turns out to be unfriendly?… and whatnot?

Such questions arise from a sceptic mind. And while working towards acing your next Canadian interview you must address them diligently. Thus, the “How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada” article will help you get rid of those butterflies in your stomach. And help you realise that all along the strength, motivation and power were within you.

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada?

Here are a few key points you must keep in mind and prepare yourself. When working on how to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada. So, you can ace your interview with the hiring manager of a Canadian company.

Background Research

Even when you are searching for your dream job, you must apply to a company that best matches your needs, and job profile. As a result, you must do in-depth research about the company you are applying to. One of the easier ways other than just getting information from the company’s official website is by getting to know customers/employee reviews. To do so you can read google reviews, and search for company feedback on platforms such as Glassdoor/Fairygodboss/Indeed/Vault/CareerBliss etc. You must also get to know the outreach of the company via social media platforms such as FB, Insta, LinkedIn etc.

Because this will help you assess the scale, size, and profitability of the company. And how your new job profile and company can help you escalate your career growth. In addition, when appearing for the interview such in-depth knowledge will help you better tackle the interviewers’ questions. And share how your skill set is the best match for the position the Canadian company is hiring for.

Another common mistake interviewees do are not understanding the job description. And such a mistake is like making a wild shot in the dark, where neither the hit nor the miss is going to profit you in the longer run. As a result, read the job description completely and repeatedly, if required. In case there is some confusion in understanding you can always formally and politely email the hiring manager seeking further clarity. This may also create an impression of your dedication to landing the right job. And showcase your intelligence in applying for a job that compliments your future growth.

What to look for when getting to know the Canadian job profile you want to apply for?

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? Have the required information before you even appear for the interview.

• Read the job description.
• Understand whether you are applying in the public sector or the private sector.
  • Pay, benefits, work structure, hierarchy, and company operations may vary.
• Make sure you understand your job duties and responsibilities.
  • A general outline of your role in the company.
  • Primary duties you will be handling on a day-to-day basis.
• Eligibility to apply
  • Specific degree/diploma/certification, and or licensure required.
  • Any specific number of years of work experience.
  • Is the job open to freshers?
  • Any specific industry experience, certification, or licensure.
• Matching skills in demand with your own skill set.
  • Match job duties with experience and skill set/abilities.

With the above information, you will be able to create/tailor your resume as per the company/job profile you are applying to. So, you can showcase your strengths that match the company’s needs. Remember before you can make your first impression it is your resume that is going to speak volumes about you. So, make sure you send in a Canadian-style format resume.

Making a Strong Impression

When you are called in for the first round of interviews, from the moment you knock on the interviewer’s door, your interview begins. As an interviewee, you must have a good command of non-verbal and verbal means of communication. We will expand on the same in detail in a later stage of the article.

For making a successful impression it is advisable to prepare a pitch that makes you put your best foot forward. This short, formal, and professional pitch will give an overview of what skill set, experience, and knowledge you bring to the company. This way you can kickstart the interview on a positive and powerful note.

By practising your introduction, you can best prepare yourself to tackle any last-minute jitters that may arise. And boost your confidence while you pitch yourself to the interviewer. A concise, crisp, and relevant introduction will help you garner the best in your interview. Compared, to a pompous, lengthy, over-the-top pitch or the opposite an intro that is too less for the interviewer’s assessment.

You must know, where less is more and where more is less. Thus, create an intro accordingly and do the best of your ability. Besides, it is always helpful to seek an audience and get feedback on the same.

Showcasing Work Experience – The Power of a Well-Curated Portfolio

In the digital age and as per your area of expertise it will be best if you share references and proof of work experience/milestones achieved. You can organise your work accomplishments into a smartly curated portfolio. This shows the interviewer how your past success enables you to best perform and meet the goals of the company to which you are applying.

Carrying a portfolio is best done for people in creative fields such as graphic designers, arts managers, choreographers, directors, writers, architecture etc. For an added positive weightage on your overall impression, you can share client testimonials which will further concrete and give voice to your accomplishments. Having physical evidence of a job well done is always favourable. This provides another added reason for the interviewer for confirming your selection for the next round or the job profile.

Common Questions Interviewees Face in an Interview

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? Ace the questions!

A typical job interview in Canada happens in multiple stages. Such as post applying for the job your first point of contact will be the hiring manager or someone from the Human Resources department i.e., a recruitment specialist or a recruiter. These are the personnel who shortlist your resume and conduct a telephone interview to assess your skills. You will be assessed as per your knowledge, skills, achievements, whether you match the job requirements or not etc. As per the first round of interview(s), you will be further invited for a face-to-face interview with them.

Now we progress to the second round of the interview where you will be facing the interviewer one-on-one. As per the company, you may have to sit in a single or multiple rounds of interviews. This all depends on the kind of staffing practices a company follows. Thus, it is important to be well-planned in advance to tackle interview round(s), the interviewer(s) and the questions that will come along.

The aim is to best represent yourself in front of the interviewer. A well-presented prospective employee has a higher chance of getting a job than his fellow interviewees. The race is to ace standing out from the crowd. And well-balanced and professional representation is what sets the bar higher for the interviewees who will be walking into the room after you or with you.

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? Get to know below.

Top 13 Interview Questions and how to tackle them

1. Tell me a bit about yourself.

• This is the most basic yet powerful question. So, while you are answering the question the interviewer is going to observe and absorb as much info you share verbally and non-verbally.
• Thus, one must exercise, accuracy, brevity and clarity when crafting an answer to this question.
• Convey a too bold or too ordinary and you may stand a chance of not getting ahead.
• This question acts as a decoy for interviewers to gaze into your psyche – your personality type, your behavioural patterns, and past experiences that shape the modus operandi.

2. Is this the first time you will be working in Canada?

• Here the employer would want to assess your enthusiasm to join the Canadian workforce.
• And see how much anxiety, anticipation and or comfort level you will have when starting a new journey in a new workplace.

3. Why did you apply to our organisation for the post of ‘XYZ’?

• An interviewer’s prime aim is to assess, what your aim is regarding the job profile and the company you will be working for.
• What is your ‘hook’? Hook refers to a goal(s)/desire(s) that keeps an employee affixed with their job profile/company. It may be a higher salary/incentive structure/acquiring knowledge/ a stable and secure career etc.
• By understanding the ‘hook’ an interviewer can assess your ability factor concerning your job profile/performance. And the future equation you may have with your colleagues, seniors, and the company.
• Thus, you must give a clear picture of how the company/job profile can help you grow in your career. And how in turn you add to the growth and the profitability of the company for an indefinite time.

4. Describe your day-to-day activities in your past company.

• While answering this question, your employer does not just hear the answer you are putting forward. But also, the way you are describing your past work schedule. How positive do you sound? Do you sound that your past work schedule was regressive for your career growth? Are there any hidden hard feelings that you might feel due to a strict schedule? And how you can handle the work-life situation?
• Thus, you must always paint a positive, productive, and progressive picture of your past company, experience, and work schedule. You can also talk about the positive changes you were able to cultivate due to your past schedule. And as an individual what all changes you were able to witness for yourself?

5. Do you have the required license/certification to work in the job profile you are applying to?

• This is an easy question if you have done your job research right.
• Whilst researching and applying you would come across the technicalities such as licensure/certification that needs to be met for clearing the job interview.
• Thus, before applying, you must meet all the terms and conditions that are required to qualify to get the job.
• You may be a bright candidate, but if you do not meet such technicalities, you will not come across as a long-term asset to the company.
• Any Canadian company that wishes to retain foreign talent would want the interviewees to apply after meeting such requirements.

6. What do you think is the greatest strength that you have?

• While answering this question, one must keep in mind that the interviewer is not interested in self-flattery or a vibrant display of courage and valour. On the contrary, they want to see how you assess and associate your image with yourself. Do you perceive yourself as a people person? Do you see yourself as an influencer? or do you feel you can grow and nurture people? etc.
• So, you must use an example from your life to better support your strength. A real-life example from your work/life experience can give a better insight to the interviewer as to what kind of viewpoint as an employee, you will implement in the Canadian workplace.
• Whilst narrating your story you must touch on all the key points the interviewer/company is looking for in an ideal candidate.
• This is also the right moment for you to step out of the crowd of interviewees. And make a strong mark on the employer, by showcasing the strength(s) that will be hard to ignore. A power the company needs for future growth and achieving company goals.

7. What is your weakness?

• Another question that can pop up is, “describe any weakness that you have?”. Again, the employer just needs to know the thought process and your general perspective.
• How in tune are you with yourself in self-assessment? And how or whether you have taken any measures to overcome your weakness or not?
• Here you have the choice to either come across as a spartan overcoming all odds and emerging victorious or act like a tragic survivor seeking sympathy.
• But act like any of the above and the answer to, “How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada” will be a strong negative.
• Because no employer wishes to hear a weakness followed by a daily soap story. Your experience may be true, yet you must exercise caution.
• So, present an answer that is well-knitted. It must have the right element of truth about your weakness, complemented by an incident, offering you a realisation of the same. And circumstances/efforts by which you have been able to either overcome your weakness or are working on the same.

8. Is there any specific reason for leaving your current/past job/company?

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? It may depend on how well you answer the current question.

• This is the trickiest question to answer. While addressing it people often feel like they are walking on eggshells.
• This is the question that talks more about you as an employee than the company, workplace, and past colleagues you will share about.
• Any interviewer is going to be super attentive as you answer this question. Once again, the interview is going to assess ‘You’ and not your past company or their workplace or workforce. So, put forward an answer that is neither superficial nor half-baked. Be truthful but choose your words carefully.
• Remember no one wants to hire a negative person. Therefore, you can share with the interviewer how the experience from the current/past job profile has enabled you to be an asset to the company you are interviewing for.
• Never, compare the past company with the company you are interviewing for. Those scales are too risky to balance. And not all interviewers are comfortable with such comparisons.
• In addition, avoid sounding excessively flattering. For a tongue imbued with honey attracts flies. Thus, sounding too eager to leave your job will not work in your favour.

9. How do you take criticism/failures in life?

• Another trick question in the bag of the interviewer and yet a fine question to assess your credibility and accountability as a prospective employee.
• Talking of constructive, positive, and uplifting experiences is easy. However, sharing moments of defeat and taking accountability for the same is a mountainous task to handle.
• To address this question positively you must take an incident that makes you sound human and down to earth. Avoid too much information, going to complete details will not have a positive effect.
• Do not use the blame game while sharing your narrative. Any instance where you either blame people, situations, time, or fate, will make you appear unprofessional.
• To leave a positive and powerful message you need to appear as a risk-taker. An individual who is aware of its weakness yet is not afraid to go full throttle. Is always up for learning from its failures. Because you realise these are the little things that make you stronger with each passing moment.
• Also, an impactful answer will leave the impression that you understand nobody is perfect.

10. What do you think are the skills needed for the job position you are applying for?

• Here the interviewer wants to check if you know what you are getting yourself into.
• You must share what you understand from the job description and the skills that are required to perform your job duties.
• At times, interviewees tend to go for the hit-and-miss method. And this defeats the purpose of understanding How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada.
• So, you must be fully prepared with your background research. And know how you match the skills needed to perform productively in the job position you are applying for.
• Also, cite examples of the job description and match them with your experience. And how well you have performed earlier. This will add to your overall impression of the interviewer.
• This way you will move one step forward in knowing how to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada.

11. Why should we hire you?

• An interviewer’s task is to filter the best candidate for the job. You will have a long queue of people applying for the same job. And you would want to stand out to get selected.
• This is a question that is going to make an interviewer see what is the X factor that you possess. And how this factor is beneficial for the company.
• Here you must avoid giving general answers citing platonic qualities. But submit hardcore proof of past success, understanding of the job duties, and demonstrating how your skills complement the job position you have applied for.
• You must not sound too exaggerated while trying to highlight your skills. And avoid sounding too needy as well.
• So, present a well-balanced, formal, and sound answer to impress the interviewer.

12. What is your salary expectation?

• At times, while applying for a job, the job postings do not mention the salary bracket. And on other times the companies share a range they are willing to offer.
• In this question, the interviewer wishes to see what your salary expectation for yourself is. How well you can monetize your skills?
• Yes, because as an interviewer, one cannot select someone who is way out of the line of the salary bracket. And one also can not choose someone who is selling themselves too short.
• On one hand, a higher amount will pose as arrogance whereas the lower bracket will show timidness.
• So, you must, after doing industry research, share a salary bracket that is prevalent in the market.
• In the search for how to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada, this point can either make or break the final negotiation.

13. Do you have any questions that you would like to ask?

• How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada – listen, answer and then question!
• Whenever the interviewer wants you to question them, be careful of what you ask. The hard work you have done towards reaching the pinnacle of an interview may come crumbling down.
• Thus, asking personal questions will have a negative impact on the employer.
• You can ask questions that are open-ended such as:
  • Is the company located in other provinces/countries?
  • What are the expansions plans of the company for the next 5 years?
  • Does the job profile come with the requirement to travel to other provinces or later countries?
  • What prime traits do you look for in all your employees?
  • How do you evaluate the successful journey of your employees? etc.
• By asking for such formal yet enthusiastic answers you will be surely making your position in the company concrete.

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? – Key tips to remember!

Apart from answering the interview questions, there are other elements which are important as well. So, to know How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada, we must address the same:

1. Non-verbal Communication

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? The first step towards this is mastering the art of body language. In an interview, you are assessed 90% on body language and 10% on your verbal communication skills. So, while figuring out How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada you may want to work on your body language.

This includes things such as:

Body posture

While sitting in front of the interviewer your body language speaks volumes before the interview begins. If you are sitting in a slouched, closed position then it indicates under confidence. Whereas dropped shoulders indicate inactivity, laziness, sadness, etc. So, you might want to keep your back straight yet not stiff. A stiff body posture shows nervousness, fear, and uneasiness. So, while keeping your back straight you must keep your comfort in mind as well.

Your body posture reflects your state of mind. So, you would want to achieve a balance in how you present yourself. An open body posture taking up a lot of space can show an overpowering appearance and comfort. But on the contrary, a closed position taking up very less space shows inferiority, self-doubt, image consciousness etc.

However, when you mirror the interviewer’s body language it can send a signal of connection. And help foster meaningful conversations that will lead the results in your favour.

Hand gestures

Hands are the most neglected part of the presentation. A major part of verbal communication is often complimented by hand gestures. A pointed finger can show an emphasis on a particular point. Whereas waving hands too much can show an airy attitude or thinking out loud moment or trying to get across a viewpoint with an added emphasis. On the contrary, if you do not use hand gestures to support your conversation, it may look artificial. It is very natural to use hand gestures while talking. And adds a bit of comfort for the interviewer and the interviewee.

Eyes

It is said that one can not mask the truth in the eyes. And this statement holds true as well. If you are not able to look into the interviewer’s eye when having a conversation, then you will not have a strong impact. A lower gaze or eyes averting contact indicates something is amiss, portrays underconfidence, lies, or is outrightly disrespectful.

So, when you sit in an interview make sure you are looking into the eyes of the interviewer while having a mutual conversation. However, if your gaze is strong and too consistent then you will look creepy. You might want to complement your gaze with a head nod, and hand gestures adding a positive effect on the interviewer.

Head movement

At times in an ongoing conversation, you do not have to say a yes or no to every statement the interviewer puts forward. A simple head nod does the trick, without disrupting the flow of conversation. Imagine talking to a person who is just looking at you while you talk to them. What will the person look like? A statue with no reaction. On the opposite imagine a person who cuts your every sentence where a yes or no situation pops up. How will you feel? Most probably irritated and later angry or disinterested in continuing a conversation.

Similar is the case with your interviewer. They do now wish to entertain inanimate objects. Look alive and presentable, nod and or add a statement along with it as and when required.

Facial expressions

If you sit in an interview with a blank expression or a negative expression, then it will be tough to clear an interview. How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? Be mindful of your expressions! Your lips, eyebrows, eyes, tilting of the head, everything adds up to the overall performance.

So, you might want to avoid expressions that show anger, sadness, irritation, fear, domination, distrust, distress, disinterest etc. However, one can not fabricate an expression. So be formal, professional, and mindful of what emotions you project in front of the interviewer.

Touch

As simple as it may sound but your touch carries energies that can trigger a certain reaction in the receiver. Your touch is a physical indicator of the kind of aura, energy and influence you carry or want to show. So, when you greet the interviewer or exit the interview, a firm shake can show confidence and self-belief. Whereas a soft and conscious handshake can show insecurity, disappointment, or lack of confidence.

Voice

This is a factor which emphasises not, “what you say” but “how you say it”. At times you can be having a normal conversation, but the listener would stop you and ask you to stop shouting. This is a perfect example of minding the tone and pitch of your voice. Any interviewer would not prefer a candidate that is too loud or barely audible.

As an interviewee, your words, tone, pitch etc must complement the overall effect you wish to have on the listener. So, if you are a fast and pitchy speaker, take a few deep breaths and hear your own words as they come out of your mouth. The more conscious you are of your breathing patterns the calmer you will get and will be able to articulate better and positively.

On the contrary, as a slow speaker, you can try to read to yourself faster. Slowly and gradually increase the speed of the words or you would like to mask the slowness with a recitation kind of effect. You must know where you need to increase the speed a little bit and get back to your natural pace when you want to animate a certain point or scenario in the conversation.

Space

This is an element that projects respecting and understanding one’s boundaries and others’ as well. One can not just walk into an interview and hug the interviewer immediately. How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? – not in this way.

If the interviewer is assessing your body language and other attributes, then you must pay attention to the same. Be conscious of when they are focusing on the conversation. Are they fidgeting or playing with a nearby object as you are talking? If yes, either end the topic or ask them a polite and formal question about the topic. This will bring them back into the conversation.

It is perfectly normal to get excited while talking about a passionate moment. But one can not just jump up and expect a high five from the interviewer. The decorum always must be maintained.

2. Dress to Impress

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? Step into the room looking like you are prepared to win it! Yes, the way you dress up and carry yourself itself is a testament to your potential. It is especially important to look your finest but professionally it can mean a very different thing.

The narrative of dressing is changing over time. But no one neglects the effect formal attire makes. Thus, when you appear in an interview you can choose a suit or something less formal. We can also not ignore the awareness of comfortable dressing, now making its way into the formal dressing grooming culture.

A business can choose to have strict formal attire and work setting or have a blend of formal and informal attire and a flexible work setting. It depends from company to company. So, to be on the safer side, you can connect with the company beforehand and get to know the dress code. This will give you a head start on how to plan your attire for the interview.

Even though long beards, tattoos and piercings are a common norm now, looking shabby or unhygienic is still unacceptable. So, groom yourself to the core. You want to create an aura of a smart, elegant, classy individual rather than a carefree pedestrian with no care in the world.

3. Listening

It is quite surprising having such an element be a deciding factor on How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada. Because no interviewer would prefer someone cutting the conversation. Always, listen to understand, craft your answer, and then respond. If you cut a statement or try to overpower a conversation, then you are defeating the purpose of How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada.

As a result, be mindful of what is being asked or shared. And then respond accordingly. The more emphasis is given to this element is less. So, be attentive and speak as and when necessary. Sometimes, instead of words, your non-verbal cues can convey the message you want to share. Thus, choose and use them wisely.

4. Too Much Information (TMI)

Over the past years, TMI has become a very popular factor in conversation. We have memes, statements and examples of conversations floating on the world wide web that highlight everything that is wrong with such a thing. As a result, when you are expressing yourself, you must be careful about what your employer should know and what it should not.

For a question on your strengths and weaknesses, one can not go into details of how things were triumphant over a colleague or how you could not match with your colleague because the person was a certain way. Such information is unnecessary and can create a negative impact on the interviewer.

Even when drawing in from your personal life experiences you can not share details that are quite personal in nature. Not only is such a thing unprofessional but rude as well, both to the interviewer and the person whom you are mentioning.

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? Choose what to say!

5. Formal behaviour over informal attitude

Just like you appear in an interview to get a job, the employer is doing their job. So, trying to get over pally or too informal can show that you are undermining the presence and authority of the interviewer. And this can surely create a rift as the conversation progresses. Finally, leading to unfavourable results.

This factor also includes the choice of words such as:

• Bro over Sir
• Yo! over Hello
• Yaaaas! over yes!
• Slay! over I agree or Perfect!
• Cool over Ok or a formal synonym for affirmation.
• Got it! over I understand!
• Use of slang – explicit words, abbreviations such as LOL, JK, IMHO, BTW etc.
  • Always avoid these words when having a conversation or writing formally to someone/company.

6. Attitude check

You are the one who needs the job and not the other way around. So be humble and do not enter with the air of the Duke of Edinburgh. Be polite, and respectful, and acknowledge the opportunity that is in from of you. For people forget what you say but remember how you made them feel. As a result, being too above the reach can be of no use. Come down to a level where you can find a common ground with the interviewer.

This way you can create a strong and positive connection with the interviewer.

7. Appear less needy

How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada? No matter how enthusiastic you are about landing a job in Canada, appear calm, composed, and professional. Appearing needy, desperate, and willing to do anything for the job will sound negative. Always put a picture that is appealing and positive and not clingy. 

A company/employer/interviewer would not want an employee/candidate that is not able to separate personal desires from professional goals. So, emphasise your credibility and how beneficial you can be to the company. To balance the same focus on how the company can help you grow in your career and build your future.

By looking at the above pointers, you can now fully understand How to successfully clear an interview for your dream job in Canada.

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