Interview Questions:

1. What were your responsibilities?

2. What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?

3. What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?

4. How do you handle stress and pressure?

5. Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.

6. Why are you leaving or have left your job?

7. Why do you want this job?

8. Why should we hire you?

9. What are your goals for the future?

10. Tell me about yourself.

Landing a job requires more than a well-crafted resume and flawless references.

Let’s start by avoiding these ten gestures:

1. Looking down.

As a job candidate, looking down while responding to questions portrays a lack of confidence. Even if you provide a stellar response, the delivery won't be as powerful if you're looking away from the interviewer. Of course, don't stare at the interviewer for the duration of the meeting, but make eye contact in your response to drive home your point with conviction.

2. Slouching in the chair.

Slouching in your chair can give off the idea that you don't care about the interview. Establish a balance between slouching and sitting up extremely straight. When it doubt, err on the side of sitting more upright and less slouched over in your seat.

3. Not maintaining eye contact.

This relates to No. 1: Maintain a balance between looking in random locations and staring at the interviewer. Need a spot to look aside from directly at the interviewer? Glance at the legal pad you bring for notes every now and then.

4. Foot taps.

In an effort to combat nervousness, some applicants will repeatedly tap their shoe(s) against the floor like they're listening to an up-tempo dance beat. This can be difficult to identify in the interview because you may not even notice you're doing it, but tapping your feet on the ground gives off a feeling of uneasiness. Try to keep your feet still during the interview.

5. Arms folded.

Employers could mistake you for being uninterested and a little pompous if you fold your arms in the interviewing room. As a best practice, lock your fingers together on the table to prohibit unnecessary fidgeting.

6. Weak handshake.

Providing a weak handshake to the potential employer can signal a lack of confidence. A firm handshake that doesn't hurt the interviewer's hand is ideal. The same practices should be applied for men shaking women's hands and vice versa.

7. Frowning.

It may sound obvious, but employers are looking for candidates with a positive attitude. Frowning - or maintaining a stoic look throughout the interview - won't be received as well as someone who smiles and displays positive energy.

8. Moving restlessly.

Be cognizant of any unnecessary movements: playing with your hair, popping your knuckles and random fidgeting should be left out of the interview.

9. Nodding in agreement to everything.

By all means, it's OK to nod in agreement when you come to the same conclusion on a topic with the potential employer. Just refrain from nodding in agreement to every single sentence the interviewer says.

10. The frustrated look.

The picture above illustrates a look of frustration. If you don't know an answer to a question, be honest about it and don't appear to be visibly flustered. That could signal to the interviewer that you're easily defeated and don't work diligently to solve complex problems.

Julie Payette

Education: Attended primary and secondary school in Montreal, Quebec. International Baccalaureate (1982) from the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales, UK. Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical (1986) cum laude from McGill University, Montreal. Master of Applied Science - Computer Engineering (1990) from the University of Toronto.

Roberta Lynn Bondar

Education: Attended elementary and secondary school in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Received a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology and agriculture from the University of Guelph in 1968, a Master of Science degree in experimental pathology from the University of Western Ontario in 1971, a doctorate in neurobiology from the University of Toronto in 1974, a Doctor of Medicine degree from McMaster University in 1977 and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in neurology in 1981. She has certification in scubadiving and parachuting.