Ace Your BCIT Interview: Insider Strategies and Sample Answers

As a BCIT student or graduate, nailing the interview process can be the key to landing your dream job. Interviews at BCIT are designed to assess your skills, knowledge, and fit for the role, making it crucial to prepare thoroughly. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll equip you with insider strategies and sample answers to help you stand out from the competition.

Understanding the BCIT Interview Process

BCIT’s interview process can vary depending on the program or position you’re applying for. However, there are some common elements that you can expect:

1. General Interview Questions: These are questions that are asked across different jobs and industries. They aim to verify the information on your resume and understand your motivation, key strengths, weaknesses, future career goals, and salary expectations.

2. Technical or Job-Specific Questions: These questions are designed to assess your technical knowledge, skills, and expertise related to the specific role or program you’re applying for.

3. Behavioral or Situational Questions: These questions evaluate your problem-solving abilities, decision-making skills, and how you would handle specific situations related to the job.

Preparing for General Interview Questions

To help you prepare for the general interview questions, we’ve compiled a list of common questions and sample answers from BCIT’s Career Services:

1. “Tell me a little bit about yourself/Tell me about your background.”

This question is often used as an icebreaker, allowing you to transition into a professional mindset while summarizing your relevant background.

Sample Answer: “I will be graduating this December with an Accounting Diploma from BCIT. At BCIT, I completed numerous hands-on accounting projects and volunteer work for tax-clinics with community organizations. Through my training and volunteer work, I developed my competency in handling general accounts receivable & payable and performing general payroll functions. I believe that my accounting experience, ethical standards, and professionalism would make a valuable contribution to your team.”

2. “What interests you about our company, and why would you like to work with us?”

This question assesses your knowledge of the company, your priorities, and your genuine interest in the role.

Sample Answer: “I have a great respect for what the Vancouver Refugee Society does for the community. The work that you do to increase public awareness and support refugees and their families is vitally important, and it would be a privilege to support this work. Having spoken with your representative at the Refugees Services Networking event, I was excited when I saw that you were recruiting a Communications Assistant. My passion and expertise in social media would contribute to increasing public awareness and engaging younger supporters, something that I understand you are determined to do.”

3. “What are your greatest strengths/Tell me what you could bring to the company?”

This question allows you to highlight your unique qualities and how they align with the role and company.

Sample Answer: “I really excel at communication and relationship building. In my industry-sponsored project, I felt really comfortable breaking down the components of the work we were doing in a way that was easy for the client to understand so they felt confident we were meeting their vision for the finished product. I used active listening techniques to confirm the client was on the same page as the team members, and debriefed with the team to ensure our progress was aligned with the client’s goals. I’ve heard from my IT network that a big challenge for technical sales roles is ensuring the client has enough technical knowledge of the project to feel informed without overwhelming them with jargon or complicated technical aspects. I think my ability to bridge different levels of knowledge and build trust can be a key way to overcome that challenge.”

4. “What is your greatest weakness?”

This question assesses your self-awareness, honesty, and ability to identify and address areas for improvement.

Sample Answer: “I really enjoy working in a team, and I believe that teamwork is important in this field. In the past, I once had a hard time letting a project go or sharing a task with others because I was convinced that I could do it all on my own, and that asking for help would be taken as a sign of weakness. This led to me taking on projects that overwhelmed me and resulted in frustration. It hasn’t been easy learning to let go, but I’ve been working on trusting others and sharing responsibilities for projects, and as a result, I’ve been able to accomplish incredible things. Now I clearly see the value of cooperation on a deeper level. I also understand that projects, which would have been fine if I had done them on my own, are way better as a result of the input and work of the entire team.”

5. “How would you describe your ideal work environment?”

This question helps the interviewer assess if your personality, preferred work environment, and work styles align with the company’s culture.

Sample Answer: “My ideal work environment is one that is centered around working as a team and allows everyone’s talents to flourish. When I was researching your company, your desire to cultivate each of your employees’ skills was very impressive to me. I find that I work best in an environment that is empowering and positive, no matter what the work is that I’m doing.”

6. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

This question identifies if your career plans or goals fit in with the company’s long-term objectives.

Sample Answer: “I’m really excited about this position at Clear Consulting because, in five years, I’d like to be seen as someone with deep expertise in the energy sector, and I know that’s something that I’ll have an opportunity to do here. I’d also be very happy to take on more responsibilities here in the next few years and potentially even take the lead on some projects.”

7. “What is your salary expectation?”

This question assesses your confidence, negotiation skills, and whether your expectations align with the company’s budget.

Sample Answer: “Before I give you a number, I’d like to understand how you compensate employees and how this job fits into your compensation structure. I’m curious to know the salary range for this position and the standard benefits you provide. That will give me a better idea of what an appropriate salary would be.”

Preparing for Technical and Behavioral Questions

In addition to general interview questions, you may encounter technical or behavioral questions specific to the program or role you’re applying for at BCIT. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

• Review course materials: Revisit your course notes, assignments, and projects to refresh your technical knowledge and skills related to the role.
• Practice with mock interviews: Participate in mock interviews with friends, classmates, or career services to practice answering technical and behavioral questions.
• Research common questions: Look up common technical and behavioral questions for your specific program or industry, and prepare well-structured responses.
• Use the STAR method: When answering behavioral questions, use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to provide structured and detailed examples of how you handled specific situations.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for BCIT interviews takes time and effort, but the rewards of landing your dream job make it well worth the investment. Remember to research the company, practice your responses, and showcase your unique strengths and experiences. With confidence and preparation, you’ll be well on your way to acing your BCIT interview and taking the next step in your career journey.