My name is Gurleen (she/her) and I am a Career Peer Educator (CPE) at the University of Alberta Career Centre. I am also a psychology student working towards my Honors degree. As a CPE, some of the things I help fellow students with include document critiques, career advising and mock interviews. Today I am sharing some tips on how you can succeed in your interviews. 

Step 1: Conduct a skills audit. A skills audit is about tailoring your skills to the job posting and preparing specific examples that will help you think deeper about your skills and experiences that will make you a good fit for the position. Here are 3 steps involved in a skills audit: 

Step 2: Identify key skills from the job posting that are most important to the employer. There are three main skills you can focus on: 

1. Transferable skills: these are skills that can be applied from job to job. E.g. you can gain interpersonal skills as a career advisor and while being a server 

2. Technical skills: these skills are specific to a particular occupation or job. E.g. knowing how to use a particular machine at a warehouse or how to use Java

3. Personal skills: these skills are specific to your personality or personable traits E.g. you are empathetic

Step 3: Relate your experiences to specific skills in the job posting. You can do this by thinking critically about the technical, transferable or personal skills you possess and finding ways to relate them to the position you are interviewing for. This will also help you identify specific examples from your past experiences that you can structure into your interview answers. 

For example, if the employer is looking for someone who can provide good customer service, think critically about the skills you might have used in the past that apply to customer service.

• Providing good customer service have excellent active listening, communication, conflict resolution skills, etc. 

• Think about when you have used some or all of those skills in past experiences and jot down some examples. For instance, you might have used active listening skills in your role as a peer support volunteer or as a receptionist. 

Step 4: Prepare and practice, PRACTICE!

1. Research The Organization. Researching the organization will help you: 

• Make a connection with the company by relating to their specific goals, missions, and projects,  

• Dive deeper into why you wish to work at this particular company/organization, and 

• Respond to the interviewer when they ask you what you know about their organization.

2. Practice Common Interview Questions. A simple Google search can help you find common interview questions. Practice makes perfect - this is true for interviews as well. The more you practice your skills, the more prepared you will be to answer confidently and ace your interviews.  

3. Record yourself answering practice questions out loud. Recording yourself and rewatching can be uncomfortable, but it will allow you to notice your mannerisms, personality, and non-verbal ways of communication. These pieces are important when connecting with the employer and help you create an impression!

Taking these steps can help you build confidence, reduce anxiety and succeed in your interviews. If you have any questions about preparing for interviews or careers, reach out to the Career Centre or the AWE team. We are always here to help!