AgCareers Career Guide - September 2016 - CDN

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the organization run. “Be straight-
forward about your ambitions, because
if our goals don’t match, neither of us
will be happy,” said Tabor.
Do research on the company and
know the career path. “Understand that
you need to have time to learn your new
job well and learn the business, before
moving up,” added Lemanski.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
Okay, now it is your time to gloat a
bit! Your answer to this question gives
you an opportunity to show a sense of
accomplishment. For students,
accomplishments can involve class
projects or volunteer activities that
can be meaningful in a work situation.
When answering this question
make sure to put it into context, “Talk
about how many people were involved,
your role, why it was important to you,
factors like how much money or time
saved, donations received, process you
created and if that process is still in use
today,” shared Lemanski.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK
FOR OUR COMPANY?
This question takes some research on
the company to answer effectively
as well. “Research the organization’s
culture, values, products, structure.
Take the details you find compelling and
relate this to why you want to work for
the organization,” said Lemanski.
“Show how your goals line up with the
organization’s mission statement,” added
Tabor. You want this to be a
memorable answer, so be sure to
show your passion!
the novelty of the question, add a smile
and do your best to relate it to the
position. Keep in mind your answer to
a brainteaser is probably not a make or
break component of your interview!
“Overall though, our goal is to make
people as comfortable as possible in the
interview by asking straight-forward
questions so we can assess the fit, for
both the individual and the organization,”
shared Tabor.
IT’S IN THE DETAILS
To be prepared, both Lemanski and
Tabor stress the importance of
researching the company thoroughly
before the interview. Walk through
your answers to some of these common
questions.
No matter what the question, you
should take the interviewer through
specific, detailed examples if you
want to be a successful candidate. As
a college student or recent grad, you
may think you don’t have experience.
However, your examples can be from
school, part-time jobs, internships/
summer work experiences, hobbies or
volunteer experiences. Remember you
are selling your “story” in the interview,
and you are the author and expert!
Comic by Becca Schwartz
BRAINTEASERS
What is your favorite Taylor Swift song,
and why?
“We’ll ask students this question to
break the ice,” said Tabor.
Brainteasers, like “Would you rather
be a zebra or a lion, and why?” really
test your ability to think outside the
box. If one of these questions is posed
to you, show your sense of humor, note
“Our goal is to make
people as comfortable as
possible in the interview
by asking straight-forward
questions.”
23 A g & Food CAreer guide