Is work happiness?
28 August 2013
Read by 1802 persons
The idea of ??facing recruiters gives you cold sweats? Don't panic! Two human resources managers in engineering firms reveal the details of their practices and give tips for shining in an interview.
Learn about the company
Last February, Luke Côté landed a junior engineer position in energy efficiency at the consulting engineering firm GENIVAR. Before getting there, he spent a month and a half learning about the different companies where he wanted to apply. "I got information from the companies' websites, but I also went through other sources, like friends who already worked there." The game was worth the candle: during the fifteen interviews he had, several recruiters asked him to talk about their firm.
Finding out about the company you are applying to is essential to demonstrate that your interest is real, according to Manon Lessard, senior recruitment advisor for Eastern Quebec at GENIVAR. "When I come across a candidate who doesn't know the company, I have a problem. At a minimum, they must have done enough research to be able to tell me what motivated them to apply to us or for the position."
Before presenting yourself for an interview, a summary search of the recruiter's values and projects is necessary. "It's not about learning the website by heart," she adds, "but having remembered a few elements. For us, it reveals a little of the candidate's areas of interest." So, if you mention that one of the reasons that prompted you to apply is the company's involvement with a community organization, the recruiter will understand that social responsibility is important to you.
Learn about the company (again!)
In addition to allowing you to answer the question "Why do you want to work for us?", researching a recruiter will help you determine which experiences and qualities to highlight. For example, on its website, the consulting engineering firm CIMA+ places entrepreneurship among its three main values. The company is therefore looking for employees who demonstrate autonomy and initiative, explains Heidi Gaudet, Director of Talent Acquisition and Strategy. Before presenting yourself for an interview, identify elements of your background that demonstrate that you possess these qualities, such as an extracurricular project that you initiated.
Prepare yourself
It's difficult to predict all the questions that will be asked during a job interview. But there are still timeless classics for which it's worth preparing. For example: Why did you choose the engineering profession? Why do you want to work in consulting engineering in a company? And the killer question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Heidi Gaudet is a fan of this last question. "But rather than using the word "weaknesses," I ask the candidate to name something they would like to improve or develop." With this type of question, a recruiter generally seeks to measure your self-awareness. This is why there is no real bad answer, provided it is accompanied by concrete examples and possible solutions to remedy it. For example, you could admit that you lack organization and that your documents are sometimes poorly filed on your computer, but that you consult practical guides that offer methods to solve this problem.
It is also very likely that you will be asked how you are qualified for the position. To prepare, review your relevant experiences. This is what Angéline Jeanson, a graduate engineer, did during an interview last year. Since she had her eye on a project manager position, she chose elements of her background that demonstrated her leadership. "For example, I participated in two economic missions with the University of Sherbrooke. One in Dubai, of which I was president, and one in Australia, for which I was director of international operations. In both cases, I demonstrated organization and managed personnel and sums of money." Thinking back to these feats of arms allowed her to easily bring them into the discussion during the interview. And it worked: since December 2011, she has been a project coordinator at CIMA+.
Ask questions
In an interview, questions are not the sole prerogative of employers. You also have the right to ask them. Recruiters even appreciate that you do so. This can notably show that you are projecting yourself long-term within the company.
Some ideas for questions to ask: What projects is the company working on right now? If you are hired, what type of tasks will be entrusted to you upon your arrival? What career progression can a junior engineer expect to experience within this company?
Regarding money questions, the opinion of our two recruiters is divided. For Manon Lessard, it is better to wait to be selected to discuss the topic. Heidi Gaudet recommends another approach: at the end of the interview, find out when you will be informed of the working conditions and salary. A discreet way to test the waters.
Jobboom.com/carriere
Stay yourself
Are you stressed, nervous? It's normal! Take a deep breath and try to be natural. Because recruiters are primarily looking to get to know you. So trust yourself and...smile!
Learn about the company
Last February, Luke Côté landed a junior engineer position in energy efficiency at the consulting engineering firm GENIVAR. Before getting there, he spent a month and a half learning about the different companies where he wanted to apply. "I got information from the companies' websites, but I also went through other sources, like friends who already worked there." The game was worth the candle: during the fifteen interviews he had, several recruiters asked him to talk about their firm.
Finding out about the company you are applying to is essential to demonstrate that your interest is real, according to Manon Lessard, senior recruitment advisor for Eastern Quebec at GENIVAR. "When I come across a candidate who doesn't know the company, I have a problem. At a minimum, they must have done enough research to be able to tell me what motivated them to apply to us or for the position."
Before presenting yourself for an interview, a summary search of the recruiter's values and projects is necessary. "It's not about learning the website by heart," she adds, "but having remembered a few elements. For us, it reveals a little of the candidate's areas of interest." So, if you mention that one of the reasons that prompted you to apply is the company's involvement with a community organization, the recruiter will understand that social responsibility is important to you.
Learn about the company (again!)
In addition to allowing you to answer the question "Why do you want to work for us?", researching a recruiter will help you determine which experiences and qualities to highlight. For example, on its website, the consulting engineering firm CIMA+ places entrepreneurship among its three main values. The company is therefore looking for employees who demonstrate autonomy and initiative, explains Heidi Gaudet, Director of Talent Acquisition and Strategy. Before presenting yourself for an interview, identify elements of your background that demonstrate that you possess these qualities, such as an extracurricular project that you initiated.
Prepare yourself
It's difficult to predict all the questions that will be asked during a job interview. But there are still timeless classics for which it's worth preparing. For example: Why did you choose the engineering profession? Why do you want to work in consulting engineering in a company? And the killer question: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Heidi Gaudet is a fan of this last question. "But rather than using the word "weaknesses," I ask the candidate to name something they would like to improve or develop." With this type of question, a recruiter generally seeks to measure your self-awareness. This is why there is no real bad answer, provided it is accompanied by concrete examples and possible solutions to remedy it. For example, you could admit that you lack organization and that your documents are sometimes poorly filed on your computer, but that you consult practical guides that offer methods to solve this problem.
It is also very likely that you will be asked how you are qualified for the position. To prepare, review your relevant experiences. This is what Angéline Jeanson, a graduate engineer, did during an interview last year. Since she had her eye on a project manager position, she chose elements of her background that demonstrated her leadership. "For example, I participated in two economic missions with the University of Sherbrooke. One in Dubai, of which I was president, and one in Australia, for which I was director of international operations. In both cases, I demonstrated organization and managed personnel and sums of money." Thinking back to these feats of arms allowed her to easily bring them into the discussion during the interview. And it worked: since December 2011, she has been a project coordinator at CIMA+.
Ask questions
In an interview, questions are not the sole prerogative of employers. You also have the right to ask them. Recruiters even appreciate that you do so. This can notably show that you are projecting yourself long-term within the company.
Some ideas for questions to ask: What projects is the company working on right now? If you are hired, what type of tasks will be entrusted to you upon your arrival? What career progression can a junior engineer expect to experience within this company?
Regarding money questions, the opinion of our two recruiters is divided. For Manon Lessard, it is better to wait to be selected to discuss the topic. Heidi Gaudet recommends another approach: at the end of the interview, find out when you will be informed of the working conditions and salary. A discreet way to test the waters.
Jobboom.com/carriere
Stay yourself
Are you stressed, nervous? It's normal! Take a deep breath and try to be natural. Because recruiters are primarily looking to get to know you. So trust yourself and...smile!
