This article is written by Helen Caldwell, Campaigns & Communications Associate at Apolitical, with contributions from Abe Greenspoon, Dr. Jean Kunz, Jane Liang, Lauren Hunter, Chad Hartnell, Mark Schaan, Jacky Tweedie and Sarah Hoy.

Interviews can be intimidating – but they don’t have to be. We asked public servants across Canada: If you could only give one piece of advice, what do you think is the most important thing public servants can do to ace a job interview? This is what they said.

“Use concrete examples from your work history” — Abe Greenspoon

In formal public service interviews, the interviewer will be using a matrix that indicates the essential and asset criteria on which they will be assessing you. You will normally be provided with those criteria in advance on the job poster. Each question asked during the interview will be meant to assess one or multiple of those criteria. In your responses, your goal should always be to demonstrate how you possess one or multiple of the criteria by using concrete examples from your work history or hypothetical examples based on your experience and knowledge.

— Abe Greenspoon, Lead, Connections and Foresight, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada

“Treat the interview as a conversation” — Lauren Hunter

Think of yourself in a client services role, and your interviewers are the clients. Listen carefully to what they're asking for, and think about what needs and priorities they're expressing when they're searching for talent. What are the gaps that new talent will need to fill? What are their aspirations for the role? Doing well in an interview is as much about listening as it is about responding.

When giving answers to questions, even about your own experience and skills, focus on providing concrete details and examples that speak to the needs and interests of the interviewers. For example, avoid long preambles about how you arrived at a place in your career, and instead focus answers on a short overview of this information, with specific details about your role, how you delivered and what the impact was on others.

Treat the interview as a conversation where you're positioning yourself in light of the needs of the organisation you're hoping to join. After all, public service is all about service. An interview is just another way you can focus your resolve on how you plan to uniquely contribute to the greater good.

— Lauren Hunter, Director of Talent Cloud, Treasury Board Secretariat, Government of Canada

“Come prepared with a question or two” — Chad Hartnell

Remember an interview is a two-way information gathering exercise. First, you respond to a series of questions where you're assessed. Then, at its conclusion, there is always an opportunity to ask questions. Treat this as an opportunity to turn the tables and learn about the organisation's culture, leadership and priorities. Come prepared with a question or two that will give you this insight, for example, “What does success look like in your organisation?” If the response is vague, lacks motivation or isn't visionary, you should question whether you want to work there. Guaranteed, the board members will remember you for this line of information gathering which will ultimately help you to determine if the role would be the right fit for you.

— Chad Hartnell, Director of Operations, Impact and Innovation Unit, Privy Council Office

“Make your examples multi-purpose” — Mark Schaan

Use your time in advance of the interview to reflect on your career and prepare clear examples of when and how you met the competencies and experience being tested for. Make these examples multi-purpose so as to fit a variety of possible tacks or questions.

— Mark Schaan, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategy and Innovation Policy Sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

“Practise a lot!” — Sarah Hoy

Prepare like crazy for the interview! This should include the following:

  • Research as much as possible on the workplace and the job itself (if possible).
  • Try to reach out to people who work in the workplace (if possible) for tips and advice.
  • Using the job specification, prepare possible questions and answers that might be asked.
  • Make sure you prepare a lot of examples to use to respond to questions (think STAR – situation, task, action, result).
  • Practise a lot!

— Sarah Hoy, Program Analyst, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Ontario Public Service (Government of Ontario)

“Review the knowledge specified on the poster” — Dr. Jean Kunz

Prepare, prepare, prepare! Review the essential qualifications listed on the job poster and compare the experiences and competencies sought with your own experience and skills. Be prepared to speak to your experiences to demonstrate that you have the qualifications expected of the job. Review the knowledge specified on the poster and equip yourself. For example, if knowledge of the mandate and mission of the organisation is expected, then, search the organisation’s website to get its mandate and business lines.

— Dr. Jean Kunz, Director, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

“Practise while timing yourself” — Jacky Tweedie

Draft anticipated questions and responses based on the job poster, tying to competencies. Use NRCan STAR method. Practise, practise, practise - while timing yourself.

— Jacky Tweedie, Senior Manager, Service Modernization and Delivery Unit, Fisheries and Oceans

“Show the value you can bring to the table” — Jane Liang

Show the value you can bring to the table by addressing the hiring manager's pain points.

— Jane Liang, Project Lead, Ontario Financing Authority, Toronto, Canada

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