Getting a job—Preparing for an interview: Part I

I've finally caught up with the progression of my blog and posted my global resume, thanks to an example from The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas by Jean-Marc Hachey. Now that that's done, it's time to start thinking about interviews. After all, if we're going to put our resume out there, we have to be prepared for the phone call and know how to respond to some commonly asked questions.

According to Hachey, who has written an entire chapter on "Interviewing for an International Job," it's very important to "be able to discuss your professional work history in terms of specific skills that match the overseas position" (466). This is what I attempted to do in my global resume. Feel free to take a look if you have any doubt as to what that might entail.

Hachey also offers some very helpful examples of questions unique to an international interview, for example:

• "Are there limiting factors to your availability such as health, family or other extenuating circumstances?"
• "Do you have a realistic understanding of overseas living and working conditions?"
• Do you have the . . . social competence (or soft skills) to work with colleagues of different nationalities?
• Will you fulfill the terms of your contract and demonstrate loyalty to the firm in the face of frustrations?"

From The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas, 467.

He also points out that an international employer will more likely ask about personal information, something I've heard and read many times. For that reason, I included a short section on "Personal Data" in my global resume and know not to be surprised when an employer asks about my marital status.

Hachey points out that international employers really want to know "how you deal with people in different situations," and recommends that you emphasize your interpersonal skills in the interview (468). He also provides a list of typical interview questions, which cover but are not limited to: personal information, strengths and weakness, working style, knowledge about the employer, and adaptation to overseas working and living conditions.

Hachey's interview chapter, which includes a lot more tips and sample questions, can be found in The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas or online (for a fee). There are also a lot of free online sources that discuss international interviews, which I plan to discuss in tomorrow's blog.

Print Sources

Hachey, Jean-Marc. The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas, 4th edition. Toronto, Ontario: Intercultural Systems / Systémes interculturels (ISSI) Inc., 2004.