Interview Preparation

You prepare as you would for any interview with a company considering hiring you. Be yourself. Don't try 'tricks'; no one will be fooled except you. Think about what you want; where you expect to be and what you'd like to be doing career-wise in 5 years.

Ask yourself if you really want to work for that company. If so, why? (If not, don't bother with the interview. Really. Just walk away.)

Find out as much as you can about the company before the interview.

What does the company do that interests you? What problems can you help them solve? What skills do you bring that they need? How will you fit in? Who would be your supervisor? Will they provide the tools you need to do your job to the best of your ability?

DO NOT ask about salary or benefits. You can always find industry surveys of salaries on-line. They'll show you what pay you can expect, given the type of job, industry, and your education and experience. Use this information to negotiate your salary once the company offers you the job.

Determine who is the decisionmaker.

Do not be fooled by good cop - bad cop interview technique. Speak clearly to interviewers that seem 'hostile' just like you do to the ones who seem friendly.

Know your strengths.

Know your weaknesses, and show how you have a plan to address them given the chance.

Be prepared to show how your team did something that you were just a part of, and show how you helped the team, rather than "it was all about you." Its never all about you.

Remember the hiring company has way more to lose by making a bad choice than do you. So if you make it your goal to put all the interviewing people at ease you have just done probably the best thing that you can to help them see you as a potential hire.

Know the company mission statement, and vision statement, and show how it is congruent with yours. If they are about reliability and up time and you are about taking chances to save money, probably not a good match.

Here is my trick for hiring questions, I ask two questions - one what is the last book you read. and two , i give a question that makes you think- like say, how many gas stations are there in your state or province.

The book question tells me alot more than just what book you claim to have read. I watch your eyes, your breathing, and listen to your passion, or lack of passion, and whether or not you seem to have got it.

The unsolvable unexpected problem shows me if you can think on your feet and come up with a reasonable estimate or process.

There is more, but you need to function in the interview. so as others said, be honest, be yourself and be courteous, and demonstrate that you are a competent and thoughtful person and you should get the offer.

If your paperwork has no glaring errors or exaggerations.

Milo

There have been spoken well enough. Additionally, here are some more common hints that may help you get prepared for the interview:

I am pretty sure Hydro One has your resume and found your qualification, skills and experience fit for the position, otherwise they wouldn't bother having the interview with you. The first thing you need to do is to find out the position you applied for and see the job description. If you cannot remember, you can ask Hydro One contact person (most probably HR) to send the job description before the interview – nothing wrong with it (you hardly get them over phone, send email or left voice message). Once you know the job description, try to map your skills and the job requirement. It may happen, your experience and skills match some of the requirements and some are not. Get well prepared to answer any question nicely that matches. The area that doesn't match, ask yourself how comfort you are able to do it if such assignment is given to you. If you are positive, your answer should reflect that you didn't have chance to work in this area but you are familiar to it and will be glad having the opportunity to do it, also give some works that you have done related to it (example, you didn't do substation operation but you did substation or transmission line maintenance and closely worked with the substation operation people and very familiar to the work they do, or you didn't do the grid substation operation but worked in distribution substation etc.). Try to do more study in this area so that you can prove your knowledge in case further question is asked to testify your knowledge. If you are asked some question that you don't know at all, gently let them know that you don't know it – don't attempt to answer blankly. Try to answer every question what will be asked for even a word indicated in your resume – failure to do it ensures not hiring you for the position.

If you have the experience in substation operation (or even maintenance), you know the nature of job. They may seek for your interest of doing this sort of job - may be the substation is located in remote isolated area in the Northern part of Ontario.

As others suggested, do a research on Hydro One and get a good understanding about their business and infrastructure. This helps you answering question like why you are interested for Hydro One or this position. Make at least two questions for yourself so that you can ask them if you are asked to do so. The questions should show your interest about the position/company, as well as it reflects your intelligence.

Try to get the information what the type of interview for 3-4 hours. You mentioned the technical interview is only 1 hour. What about other 2-3 hours? Is it some sort of written examination or meeting with the higher executives or a sort of orientation or the interview with other department like HR, Finance? Find it out from the contact person and it will help you to get better prepared.

I guessed you are looking for job and well prepared for this sort of interview and most probably you know better than any others in this forum, who may not have interview in very recent.

Hydro One is a good and large company in Ontario, Canada and I wish you good luck.

- MS

Things to consider. There are six things that determine the ability for you to be hired:

1. Suitability and ability to do the job. You have to express your skill set to the interviewers such that they get a clear understanding of your abilities and unique skills. If you don't have specific traits that they need for a position, emphasize the positive traits that will let you get them; willingness, ability to learn, and a desire for challenges. Cite examples where you had to learn new skills and how you quickly mastered them.

Nothing beats a good story, so phrase those examples as a good story and it will broadcast your communication skills.

2. Willingness to do the job. Let them know clearly that you want the job!

3. Manageability and team player. Nobody wants to hire someone that can't be managed and will not play with the team. You need to be telling stories that demonstrate where and when you worked with a team and that you a team player. You can be given a goal and are a self starter that can get there without being a burden to your supervisor.

4. Be professional! Demonstrate your professional behavior in the way you carry yourself from the moment you come through the door. Manners are an absolute, so be very conscious of others and be polite. Take an interest in every one there and get names and cards. You will be sending everyone a thank you letter in the mail ASAP, so take copious notes about everything and everyone. That means their position in the organization, their duties and accomplishments. Try to get a feel for each person's expectations from you and think how you can fill those expectations.

Demonstrate to your interviewers that you are:

Reliable

Honest

Take pride in your work and accomplishments

A team player with the bottom line and end goal on your mind

Analytical and use good deduction tools and techniques

You listen well!!! Do that during the interview and ask questions that demonstrate that you heard what they were saying. Be sharp!

Energy

Tenacity. You do not give up and will keep working until you succeed.

Communication skills. Your interview is the perfect place to be articulate and clear.

Confidence. You may not know everything, but you do know you can learn and want to learn.

Tell them about times how you saved your previous company money or time, or earned them money.

Efficient. Demonstrate you work efficiently and thoroughly.

Profit minded.

5. No matter what the job you interview it is always the same job! Everyone, no matter what their position or occupation is a problem solver. That is what they are hiring you for!

Make sure in your interview that you demonstrate that you are a problem solver and have a good understanding of the skill set and procedures to break down problems and get results.

You can sum up these traits with this short acronym: RITLS - Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Learning to Lead, Spirit of Winning.

6. Tell stories! Not aimless fairy tails, but narratives on how you did this, solved that, earned this, worked with these people, etc. The single best way to deliver the message of what you can do is with specific examples in the form of a story.

Stories have been the vehicle of communication for millenniums. Homer (not Simpson) was legendary for his ability to connect to people through stories. Our brains are genetically hardwired to respond to stories. Stories spark imagination. Your interviewers should see you in their minds solving that tough problem, or making that important deadline by working late or all night, or helping a team mate succeed.

When you are done the interview team will will be able to clearly visualize you at work at their company and contributing to their goals with the attributes you have demonstrated with your stories.

Make notes tonight of all the accomplishments you have made to date. This will help you when asked questions about your skill set. Being fresh in your mind you will be able to frame your responses with concrete examples in stories.

These notes will also help you realize all your great attributes and you should feel pretty pumped up when you review that list just before the interview.

Best of luck!