You’ve got the call! They want to interview you for a Canadian IT position, but now what? In the series so far, we have given you the most up to date information on how to search for jobs in Canada and oriented you to the essential career documentation needed for applying to positions in Canada. However, now we turn to the job interview which is the important climactic moment when everything comes together, and it is up to you to convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job. Preparation, preparation and more preparation are the keys to master interviews, and for Korean applicants applying for work in North America, preparing for cultural differences in interview styles is also an important component. Therefore, we will help you get ready for interviews in the following articles: 

Significant Korean and Canadian cultural differences in the workplace will first become obvious during the interview process. As we wrote in our articles about the more informal tone used in resumes and cover letters, you will find that this will also be the case with interviews. Certainly, there are some basic conventions for interview structure, dress code and politeness that are similar to Korea, but overall, an interview in North America has more of a feeling and tone of a conversation between peers rather than an interrogation between a boss and a subservient. Indeed, a welcoming smile, handshake and friendly small talk are the usual start to a face to face interview as the interviewer strives to make the interviewee relaxed and comfortable. This more casual feeling in interviews is particularly common in the IT industry where hierarchies, formality and dress code are rare, and the actual skills and abilities of the candidate matter the most. 

Although our articles will mainly cover standard interview styles and questions, non-verbal communication is another area to be aware of. Here are some common body language guidelines for interviews in Canada:

• The interviewer will expect you to shake hands with them. Your handshake should be firm - not floppy. In North America, there is no tradition of bowing.
• Make eye contact with the interviewer for a few seconds at a time.
• Smile and nod (at appropriate times) when the interviewer is talking, but don't overdo it. 
• Do relax and lean forward a little towards the interviewer so you appear interested and engaged.
• Not sure what to do with your hands? Hold a pen and your notepad or rest an arm on the chair or on your lap, so you look comfortable. 
• When the interview is done, thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you.
• Before leaving the interview, be sure to give the interviewer another firm handshake and smile. On your way out, say goodbye to the receptionist or anyone else you spoke to during the interview.

Later articles in this series will go into more detail about what kind of interview questions to expect. The entire multi-interview process is intended to be an opportunity for both the candidate and the company to discover if they will be a good fit with the position and with the corporate culture. 

Kari Karlsbjerg and Elaine Chu are authors of the best-selling bilingual guidebook, Everyday Vancouver, which contains all the practical cultural information and resources Korean newcomers need for life in Vancouver, Canada. 

By Kari Karlsbjerg 다른기사 보기