Co-op Employers Share Strategies for a Successful Interview
Posted on Friday, July 31st, 2020
On July 24, 2020, the Co-op Department hosted industry employers from various fields to talk about tips and strategies to help students land their co-op interviews. Panelists included co-op employers:
- Lea Catana, Solutions Project Manager, Technology Modernization, Information Technology Services, City of Ottawa
Lea has worked for the city for almost 15 years. She started as a summer student and worked her way through the organization. She now works on a team called Technology and Modernization and is responsible for the Innovation Solutions Unit, where they bring innovation to city services to optimize operations.
- Rania Zammar, Branch Manager, RBC Royal Bank of Canada.
Rania has been working in the banking industry for 17 years and has been working in the role of branch manager for 14. Coaching is a priority in her role at RBC. Currently, during the pandemic, a large part of her job is making sure her team feels both physically and mentally safe and healthy to work.
- Ken Thompson, Manager, Mechanical Design, MDS, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions
Ken is the MDS Manager within the Mechanical Design Department of Gas Turbine Solutions. In his role as manager, he has two main priorities: administrative functions such as overseeing his team, hiring, budgeting, and mentoring and the technical functions such as ensuring all engineering drawings and models meet all applicable standards and supporting mechanical engineers with investigating equipment, procurement, and site surveying.
- Chris Cormier, Architect, M.Arch., OAA, RAIC, John Donkin Architect Inc.
Chris is a licensed architect and one of three employees working at the firm John Donkin Architect Inc. Chris is a project architect, most of the projects the firm completes are infill residential construction but Chris’s role also consists of handling administration needs such as hiring and assisting John in managing the firm.
- Ranjan Banerjee, Manager of Robotic Process Automation, Government of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Ranjan has worked at the federal government for over 22 years in various capacities. Ranjan is currently responsible for building the Robotic Process Automation Team at the Canada Border Service Agency. Ranjan is on three Algonquin College Program Advisory Committees to help adapt the content and learning outcomes to reflect the talent needs of government agencies.
The panelists were asked seven questions on various topics and provided their perspectives on each. From their answers, we have created a summary of tips and strategies to help you with your next co-op interview.
- Tell us about your typical interview style?
“I really want to know authentically who you are. I will start the interview by asking a less intimidating question like, “tell me about yourself” to get the candidate talking and comfortable.” – Rania, RBC
“I always look for STAR technique answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result). From there I will dig down to specifics so I can help you to reach that authentic answer.” – Rania, RBC
“I’m not interested in a perfect answer. I would rather you tell me this is what I did and it was wrong. I made a mistake, here’s what I learned and this is what I would do next time. Learned lessons are something that you carry with you throughout your career. What is important is that we learn from it and don’t keep making the same mistakes.” – Ranjan, CBSA
Key Takeaways:
- Be authentic
- Be prepared with examples
- Incorporate learned lessons
- What are the top two or three attributes you are evaluating during an interview and how can a student excel in this area?
“Being able to have a good connection with not only your co-coworkers but your clients is absolutely critical.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.
“If I am talking to you face-to-face and spending time interviewing you it’s because you have the qualifications and I want to make sure you will fit in the organization. Being able to show you are curious, eager, and actually want to work for us are the key points.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.
“Read a little bit about the company, understand their mission and mandate and align yourself to that mandate. We want to make sure your values and what you are passionate about aligns with our values, this is what will set you apart.” – Lea, City of Ottawa
“We will rate you on how well you are able to present yourself, communicate, and share your stories. So make sure to be clear and concise with every answer so that you can get full marks” – Lea, City of Ottawa
“We know that you’re not going to have much experience, most co-op students don’t really have any experience working in our industry. We want to know that you have a general interest in our company and work and you want to be part of our team. We will show you the tools and train you on how to do the job.”– Ken, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions
Key Takeaways:
- Show your interpersonal skills
- Show enthusiasm for the job and the company
- Do your research
- Communicate clearly
- It’s okay if you don’t have job experience in your field
- If the job you are interviewing for requires specific technical skills, what type of questions would you ask to determine if the candidate is qualified and/ or experienced with the skill?
“In the Architecture field, we will request a portfolio of your work and/or school work to show that you have the technical skills for the job such as using AutoCAD, etc.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.
“We will ask and show you samples to see if you have a good understanding of what you are looking at and do you have the inquisitiveness to ask and try to make an explanation of what you are seeing. Our drawings typically have welding symbols. We will show our samples and allow the applicant to explain what they know about it. What we’re really looking for when we are asking these questions is do you have a start and base we can develop throughout your co-op.” – Ken, Gas Turbine Engine Solutions
Key Takeaways:
- Create a portfolio of your work or school work
- Prepare by reviewing your class notes and textbooks
- What are some tips on how students can best demonstrate their soft skills?
“Be prepared with self-reflection and understanding of what makes you uniquely you. What are your core strengths? Once you know your core strengths think about the times where you achieved success attributed to that soft skill. In your interview by providing specific examples of a situation when you achieved success by utilizing your core strengths.” – Rania, RBC
“Soft skills have very little to do with work experience. They have everything to do with you as a person and your ability to manage issues.” – Ranjan, CBSA
“We don’t want you to rhyme off the soft skills you have, we want you to provide examples. At the co-op student level, we will always throw a lot of tasks your way until you can’t catch anymore. We will ask how you actively manage your time. Give us an example of how you manage this in your day-to-day are there any tools you use?” – Lea, City of Ottawa
Key Takeaways:
- Know your strengths
- Explain in detail a problem you were faced and the steps you took to overcome it
- Be prepared to describe your time management and tools you use to track this
- Do you have any suggestions for how to prepare and do well in virtual interviews?
“You are competing with applicants from all over the world. I want to see that you have spent some time researching our company. We want to see that you are excited to work for us. The more research you do the calmer you will be because you are more prepared.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.
“Make sure what is behind you is not distracting. If you are a successful candidate you could be working from home, is this what the client will see when they are working with a client.” – Rania, RBC
Key Takeaways:
- Test the technology in advance
- Making sure the room is very well lit and tidy up behind you
- Make sure you are ready before the interview starts
- Take a second before you log in, take a deep breath
- Be comfortable
- Be in a room where you won’t be disturbed
- Make sure your voice is clear
- Don’t forget to look right into the camera
- A ) What are some good questions students should ask at the end of the interview?
“Always have at least one question prepared. A question shows that you are engaged, excited, and enthusiastic.
Some great examples could be:
- What is your expectation of the role?
- Why are you hiring?
- What are you hoping this role to accomplish?
These type of questions will allow you to get an idea of what is expected of you from day 1.” – Lea, City of Ottawa
B) How do you feel about questions related to salary and benefits?
“How can you know whether you want a job or are willing to accept the job if you don’t know what you are going to get out of it? There has to be a baseline of expectations both ways to make sure everyone is on the same page. It’s absolutely something you should ask and shouldn’t feel intimidated by.” – Ranjan, CBSA
- If students are interested in asking for feedback after the interview, how should they do this?
“Seeking feedback after an interview is key and something you should always do. Even if you are not seeking specific feedback, checking in a week after your interview is always a good idea.” – Chris, John Donkin Architect Inc.
“At the end of your interview ask: “Is there anything that we have covered that has left you with any doubt that I would be a good fit”. This will allow the interviewer the opportunity to voice any concerns and will give you a chance to address them on the spot. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to take feedback and learn and grow from it.” – Rania, RBC
Key Takeaways:
- Email your questions to HR or interviewers on the panel
- Ask for a follow-up meeting or debrief
- Ask for feedback at the end of your interview
Interviews can be overwhelming and nerve-wracking no matter who you are. One important thing to note is that interview styles and trends are always changing so research is key, prepare in advance and consult with industry professionals in the field. As always, the Co-op Department is here to help in your co-op job search and interviews. If you would like to practice your interview skills, you can book a mock interview at any time with your Co-op Student Advisor.