Know the requirements for the position
Re-read the job description carefully, and ask your HR contact for additional information if needed and be prepared possible interview questions. Make sure you have a solid understanding of all the responsibilities, skills, certification and knowledge required, and that you are able to accommodate the job’s location and hours.
Refresh yourself on your experiences and work history
Examine each skill and qualification in the job posting, then review your own work and volunteer history as it relates to the posting. Prepare examples of experiences or successes that back up each requirement. Also, if you need any help, please, contact us.
Prepare for specific interview questions
You will likely be asked interview questions about your teamwork skills, your interpersonal relations, your management style or your ability to work in a diverse environment. Review the job posting again and try to anticipate other likely areas of questioning, and prepare honest and concise answers that highlight relevant aspects of your work history and life experience. On the day of the interview, dress appropriately and arrive early, calm and mentally prepared. And, most importantly, don’t forget to relax and be yourself.
During the interview
When you arrive, you will meet your selection board (usually two or three people, including the supervisor of the position and a representative of Human Resources). The team leader will tell you what to expect and will explain that the board will be recording your interview questions answers for later review. Don’t let this recording process distract you—it’s a normal part of the interview and necessary to make a complete assessment later on.
The board will then begin asking you a series of interview questions to assess your knowledge, abilities and personal suitability. These may include:
- Closed questions that demonstrate your knowledge by requiring a specific factual answer.
- Open-ended questions that are broader in scope and require you to work through the interview questions answer.
- Situational questions that describe a hypothetical situation and ask how you would proceed in those circumstances.
- Behavioral questions that ask you to describe a time in your own history when you dealt with a certain situation, and to explain how you dealt with it.
You may also participate in a set of exercises that will demonstrate your abilities and suitability for the role. (All candidates for the same role will go through the same testing process.) These may include:
- Tests that demonstrate your ability or knowledge of specific relevant tasks, such as keyboarding, accounting principles or writing a memorandum. These may be written or performance-based tests along with interview questions.
- Situational exercises that use hypothetical situations to demonstrate your ability to solve problems or make decisions as well as you have to give you answers of your interview questions.
When the questioning and testing phases of the interview are over, go ahead and ask any questions you still have about the position, the selection process or any other aspect of working for the Yukon public service.
After the interview
After screening and interviewing each candidate, the selection board scores and ranks each one then checks the references for the top-ranking people. Once they have made their decision, they contact the successful applicant, as well as everyone who was interviewed.
If you are selected for the position: Congratulations! You have met or exceeded the essential qualifications of the position. You may be given a conditional offer, pending appeals from bargaining unit employees.
If you are not selected for the position: Don’t be discouraged! Many more opportunities with the Yukon government await you in the future. Ask the Human Resources representative responsible for the competition to explain the reasons you were not successful. This is called a “post-board” and the feedback can be a great help in your next job search.
Before your interview
If your application has been selected for an interview, you will receive an email to set up a time. If you don’t live in Yukon, initial interviews may be conducted by phone or online with Skype.
Know the requirements for the position
Re-read the job description carefully, and ask your HR contact for additional information if needed. Make sure you have a solid understanding of all the responsibilities, skills, certification and knowledge required, and that you are able to accommodate the job’s location and hours. Visit the department site to get valuable information on its mandate, services and structure: gov.yk.ca/depts/.
Refresh yourself on your experiences and work history
Examine each skill and qualification in the job posting, then review your own work and volunteer history as it relates to the posting. Prepare examples of experiences or successes that back up each requirement.
Prepare for specific questions
You will likely be asked questions about your teamwork skills, your interpersonal relations, your management style or your ability to work in a diverse environment. Review the job posting again and try to anticipate other likely areas of questioning, and prepare honest and concise answers that highlight relevant aspects of your work history and life experience. On the day of the interview, dress appropriately and arrive early, calm and mentally prepared. And, most importantly, don’t forget to relax and be yourself.
During the interview
When you arrive, you will meet your selection board (usually two or three people, including the supervisor of the position and a representative of Human Resources). The team leader will tell you what to expect, and will explain that the board will be recording your answers for later review. Don’t let this recording process distract you—it’s a normal part of the interview and necessary to make a complete assessment later on.
The board will then begin asking you a series of questions to assess your knowledge, abilities and personal suitability. These may include:
- Closed questions that demonstrate your knowledge by requiring a specific factual answer.
- Open-ended questions that are broader in scope and require you to work through the answer.
- Situational questions that describe a hypothetical situation and ask how you would proceed in those circumstances.
- Behavioral questions that ask you to describe a time in your own history when you dealt with a certain situation, and to explain how you dealt with it.
You may also participate in a set of exercises that will demonstrate your abilities and suitability for the role. (All candidates for the same role will go through the same testing process.) These may include:
- Tests that demonstrate your ability or knowledge of specific relevant tasks, such as keyboarding, accounting principles or writing a memorandum. These may be written or performance-based tests.
- Situational exercises that use hypothetical situations to demonstrate your ability to solve problems or make decisions.
When the questioning and testing phases of the interview are over, go ahead and ask any questions you still have about the position, the selection process or any other aspect of working for the Yukon public service.
After the interview
After screening and interviewing each candidate, the selection board scores and ranks each one, then checks the references for the top-ranking people. Once they have made their decision, they contact the successful applicant, as well as everyone who was interviewed.
If you are selected for the position: Congratulations! You have met or exceeded the essential qualifications of the position. You may be given a conditional offer, pending appeals from bargaining unit employees.
If you are not selected for the position: Don’t be discouraged! Many more opportunities with the Yukon government await you in the future. Ask the Human Resources representative responsible for the competition to explain the reasons you were not successful. This is called a “post-board” and the feedback can be a great help in your next job search.
What To Bring:
- Resume
- 2 Forms of Identification
- Certifications: EPA, NAA, IREM, CPO, etc.
What To Wear:
- Business Professional – Dress To Impress!
Where To Go:
- Dallas – Penn Apartment Staffing, 10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 520, Dallas, TX 75231
- Houston – Penn Apartment Staffing, 720 N. Post Oak Road, Suite 135, Houston, TX 77024