'Not-so-usual' co-op job interviews

“Interviews of the not-so-usual kind” are featured in the late summer issue of the Inside Scoop newsletter, published online for UW co-op students. It’s advice they may find useful as the interview season for winter term co-op jobs continues until late this month.

“Every UW co-op student receives training on how to master the one-on-one job interview,” writes Jayne Hayden of the career services office, pointing out that there are other challenges ahead: “the forgotten group, phone, and video interviews”.

About a third of the issue is taken up with her advice on how to make the most of such interviews: “Although the lack of visual cues does weaken communication (body language contributes as much as 70% of our communication with others), there are ways to compensate for this, at least partially. And, there are also some advantages to not being observed.

“Prepare and bring note cards or an outline of the key points you want to make. It’s also a good idea (whether face-to-face or telephone interview) to bring a copy of your resumé. You can then easily refer to both throughout the interview: just ensure that you spread these out on the desk prior to picking up the phone so there isn’t a rustling of papers each time you answer!

“Listening becomes even more important in a telephone interview. If there is any question in your mind that you have not heard correctly, ask if the interviewer can repeat the question. Jot down pertinent points being asked so that you are sure to address each of these in your answer. Don't feel you have to fill in the silences. If you've completed a response, but the interviewer hasn't asked his or her next question, don't start rambling just to fill in airtime. Instead, be silent, or ask a question of your own related to your last response.

“Without body language to help you convey the confidence, enthusiasm, and interest that are essential in any interview, you must use your voice to achieve these goals. Speak clearly and succinctly, and vary your tone and pitch. Don’t forget to smile: you can hear that smile on the phone, and it helps to convey a pleasant and upbeat personality – just the kind employers want to have on their teams.

“What about the video-conferenced interview? With this format, you do have body language, so that’s a bonus. However, where should you look when speaking? Eye contact is very important in any interview (it’s recommended that you make eye contact with the interviewer(s) approximately 80% of the time), so look into the camera as you speak. Check the screen periodically in order to monitor reactions to your responses and adjust accordingly. It’s also a good idea to watch the screen when questions are being asked of you as this will help in your understanding of the question.

“Sometimes there is a delay in the sound with video-conferencing. You know, like the foreign correspondent on the news, who appears to be standing there stupidly after the news anchor asks them a question? It’s all because they didn’t hear the question immediately. You may see the interviewer’s lips moving, but not hear anything for a few seconds. Don’t let this throw you: just be patient and wait for the audio portion to catch up. The reactions of the employers to your responses will also be delayed, so mentally adjust to this as well.

“Lastly, there is the group interview. At UW, this usually entails an employer presenting company and position information to a group of students who they will later interview individually. In such a situation, it is important to arrive a few minutes early, to show interest and enthusiasm while the employer is speaking, and to ask thoughtful questions. If there is an opportunity following the presentation, try to connect with the employer and comment positively on what you have learned about the company, and indicate that you look forward to meeting with them in the individual interview. Try to stand out in a positive way so that they will remember you when you arrive at the individual interview.

“However, group interviews of a different flavour are beginning to grow in popularity. In these, rather than being the sole interviewee, you may be placed in a group consisting of several interviewees. These interviews are particularly popular for positions where group work is a significant component in the work setting. They allow the interviewers to assess your communication skills with teammates, how you use your knowledge in a discussion, and, potentially, your leadership skills.

“Your goal should be to contribute effectively as a team member: provide well-thought out responses that highlight your strengths and skills, listen attentively and with genuine interest to others when they speak, and provide support for their ideas. You should not monopolize the discussion, nor should you sit back and let others do the work. Try to connect topics from different people to create a sense of cohesiveness. It is strongly recommended that you try to make the last or summarizing contribution to the discussion.

“Career Services offers workshops, individual appointments for mock interviews, and a host of resources via shelf and online materials.”

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Public lectures Tuesday, Wednesday

An American researcher will discuss the challenges involved in end-of-life communications between doctors and their patients at a Hallman Visiting Professorship Lecture tomorrow.

Kathryn Pollak, a professor of community and family medicine at Duke University Medical Center, will give a public talk entitled “Doctors and Patients at the End of Life: What Happens Behind Closed Doors?” The free lecture, hosted by UW's faculty of applied health sciences, takes place at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in room 1621 of the Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion.

"The discussions that physicians have with their patients surrounding terminal illness and other serious health issues are difficult yet very important," says Kelly Anthony, UW professor of health studies and gerontology. "Dr. Pollak's recent work, which focuses on oncologist communications at the end of life, will have broad interest to many in the general public but particularly among those involved with the Waterloo Regional Cancer Centre."

In her talk, Pollak will describe how doctors and patients discuss end-of-life issues, including advance-care planning and such difficult questions as "Am I going to die?" Communication can improve, she says, between patients at the end of life and their doctors, making patients and physicians more satisfied and improving the quality of life for patients.

Pollak has been studying patient-physician communication for the past eight years. Her most recent work involves testing a communications intervention to improve how cancer doctors respond to negative emotions in patients. She also examines race and socioeconomic differences in patient-physician communication at the end of life.

As well, she is exploring how primary care physicians discuss weight with overweight and obese patients. Pollak's other area of research, spanning almost 15 years, focuses on smoking cessation programs.

To attend tomorrow’s lecture, guests are asked to register at ext. 32010.

One of Canada's most respected science journalists, Jay Ingram, will discuss his new book on global warming and offer people possible solutions at an event hosted by the UW bookstore and other agencies on Wednesday.

The Daily Planet Book of Cool Ideas: Global Warming and What People Are Doing About It is an adaptation of the popular Daily Planet special TV series on global warming. From icecaps to hot springs, Daily Planet, which Ingram anchors, travelled to remote corners of the earth to find out what can be done to reverse global warming and what people are doing to create a sustainable future.

"Jay Ingram is one of Canada's best-known science popularizers, and we are looking forward to finding out how does the average person make a difference in the fight to stop climate change and global warming," says May Yan, director of retail services.

In his book, Ingram explains what global warming is and possible solutions — even extreme ones — for dealing with the warming planet. He also shows how people are making a difference, from using solar-powered ovens to living off the grid.

Besides hosting the award-winning science show Daily Planet on Discovery Channel Canada, Ingram is the author of nine books and has written and hosted several radio documentaries, including Cranial Pursuits and The Talk Show.

The meet-the-author event, co-hosted by the faculties of science and environment, begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Federation Hall. Tickets, in advance at the bookstore or at the door, cost $3.

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Leaves in the autumn whirlwind

Comments are being accepted until the end of this week about the outline of the Campus Master Plan that's being displayed online and in the Student Life Centre and the Davis Centre library. I noted the other day that a feature of the plan is a "pedestrian spine" running up the centre of the campus, from the University Avenue entrance to Columbia Street, and implied that the idea and terminology are new. In fact the term has been around for a while, as has the concept (which explains why much of it is already paved in distinctive brick). I also wrote, wrongly, that the new “spine” appears to pass right through the Physics building. "Where the red arrow goes through the building," one reader promptly advised me, "is actually the Biology underpass, which is already a through route as far as pedestrian travel is concerned."

Imprint reported on Friday that although the student fee to support CKMS ("Radio Waterloo") is a thing of the past, having been cancelled after a referendum last winter, there are still a few people who didn't get the word. "Two or three students daily" are making the trek to CKMS's offices in the Bauer Warehouse, on the edge of the north campus, to ask for a refund of the nonexistent fee, according to station administrative Henrie Walker. "I find it funny," says CKMS president Steven Krysak, citing it as evidence that students didn't really understand last February's controversial vote very well.

The Faculty of Environment will hold an all-day "greening workshop" tomorrow — "an exciting and critical stage to move forward in Faculty of Environment's quest for a green faculty," according to Anne Grant of the mapping, analysis and design unit in ENV. "The workshop will be the think tank," she says, "for understanding how other university campuses are going green, exploring ideas and identifying common solutions in greening the ENV faculty and reducing their environmental footprint. This workshop is a result of the Greening ENV committee's ongoing efforts to bring awareness in providing a sustainable workplace." The committee's objectives are "to understand ENV's current consumption that includes heat, electricity, water and waste; research and execute ways of reducing our consumption within ES and improve our energy efficiencies; reduce our environmental footprint within ENV; educate building occupants and raise awareness of green possibilities."

Pavement work is scheduled to start today on the access road that runs from the parking lot D kiosk, beside Needles Hall, up towards Biology I. • Larry Swatuk has been officially named director of the International Development program that's operated jointly by the Faculty of Environment and St. Paul's College. • The bookstore is holding a "Princeton Orange Sale" this month, offering sizeable discounts on mathematics and science books from Princeton University Press.

Two former UW staff members died last week. Robert Mateyk, who died September 28, worked in the co-op education and career services department from 1971 to his retirement in July 1996. James Natran worked in purchasing (now "procurement and contract services) starting in 1980, officially retiring just this fall; he died October 2.

CAR

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