Job Interview Tips for Newcomers to Canada: Preparation, Common Questions, and Follow-Up

Understanding Canadian Interview Culture

Job interviews in Canada tend to be professional but relatively friendly. Interviewers are generally polite and will try to make you feel comfortable. However, there are certain cultural expectations that newcomers should be aware of. Punctuality is extremely important. Arriving five to ten minutes early is considered ideal. Arriving late, even by a few minutes, creates a very negative impression and can cost you the opportunity entirely.

In Canadian interviews, you are expected to make eye contact, offer a firm handshake (for in-person interviews), and engage in brief small talk at the beginning. The interview will typically last between 30 minutes and one hour. Most interviews follow a structured format where the interviewer asks a series of prepared questions. Some companies conduct multiple rounds of interviews, including phone screenings, video interviews, panel interviews, and sometimes skills assessments or case studies.

Unlike in some cultures where modesty about your achievements is valued, Canadian interviewers expect you to speak confidently about your accomplishments. This is not bragging. It is demonstrating your value. Prepare to talk about specific situations where you solved problems, led initiatives, or delivered results. For more on navigating the Canadian job market, explore our resume and cover letter guide.

How to Prepare for a Job Interview

Preparation is the single most important factor in interview success. Here is a step-by-step approach to preparing for a Canadian job interview:

Research the Company

Before your interview, thoroughly research the company. Visit their website, read their "About Us" page, understand their products or services, check recent news articles about them, and review their social media presence. Look at the company's mission and values, and think about how your own experience and values align. Canadian interviewers frequently ask "Why do you want to work here?" and a well-researched answer that references specific things about the company makes a strong impression.

Review the Job Description

Go through the job description line by line and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. For each requirement, prepare a specific example from your experience that demonstrates you meet that requirement. This preparation will help you give targeted, relevant answers during the interview.

Prepare Your Stories

Canadian interviews rely heavily on behavioral questions, which are questions that ask you to describe how you handled specific situations in the past. The interviewer wants to hear real examples, not hypothetical answers. Prepare five to seven stories from your work experience that demonstrate different skills: leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, conflict resolution, time management, and adaptability. The STAR method, described below, will help you structure these stories effectively.

The STAR Method for Behavioral Questions

The STAR method is a framework for answering behavioral interview questions in a clear, structured way. STAR stands for:

Situation: Describe the context. Where were you working? What was happening? Set the scene briefly.

Task: Explain what you needed to accomplish. What was your role? What was the challenge or goal?

Action: Describe the specific actions you took. Focus on what you personally did, not what your team did. Use "I" rather than "we."

Result: Share the outcome. What happened as a result of your actions? Whenever possible, quantify the result with numbers, percentages, or specific impacts.

Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

While every interview is different, there are certain questions that come up consistently in Canadian job interviews. Here are the most common ones and strategies for answering them:

Tell Me About Yourself

This is almost always the first question. Keep your answer to about two minutes and focus on your professional background. Start with your current or most recent role, briefly mention your relevant experience, and conclude by explaining why you are interested in this particular position. Do not share personal details like your family situation or immigration story unless it is directly relevant.

Why Do You Want to Work Here?

This is where your company research pays off. Reference specific things about the company that appeal to you, such as their values, their products, their reputation, or their growth. Connect these to your own career goals and experience.

What Is Your Greatest Weakness?

Choose a genuine area for improvement that is not critical to the job, and explain what you are doing to address it. For example, "I used to have difficulty delegating tasks because I wanted to ensure everything was done perfectly. I have been working on this by setting clear expectations and checking in at milestones rather than micromanaging, and I have seen a significant improvement in both my team's productivity and my own time management."

Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your strongest qualifications and connect them directly to the job requirements. Highlight what sets you apart. As a newcomer, your multilingual abilities, international experience, and cross-cultural perspective can be genuine assets. Frame them as advantages. For more on leveraging your international experience, see our credential recognition guide.

Video Interview Tips

Video interviews have become increasingly common in Canada, particularly for initial screening rounds. Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet are commonly used. Here are specific tips for succeeding in a video interview:

Test your technology: Check your internet connection, camera, and microphone at least 30 minutes before the interview. Download any required software in advance. Have a backup plan, such as a phone number to call, in case of technical difficulties.

Choose your environment carefully: Find a quiet, well-lit space with a neutral background. Natural light facing you (from a window behind your camera) is ideal. Avoid backlit situations where your face appears dark. Ensure the area behind you is tidy and professional.

Look at the camera: When speaking, look directly at your webcam, not at the screen. This creates the impression of eye contact. It feels unnatural at first, but it makes a significant difference in how you are perceived.

Dress professionally: Dress as you would for an in-person interview from head to toe. You never know when you might need to stand up, and dressing fully helps you get into a professional mindset.

What to Wear to a Canadian Job Interview

The appropriate dress code for a Canadian job interview depends on the industry and the company culture. As a general rule, it is better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed. For corporate environments (finance, law, consulting), wear a suit or business formal attire. For most office jobs, business casual is appropriate: dress pants or a skirt with a collared shirt or blouse. For creative industries or startups, the dress code may be more relaxed, but you should still look polished and put-together.

If you are unsure about the dress code, look at photos on the company's website or social media pages to see what employees typically wear, and dress one level above that. When in doubt, business casual is a safe default for most Canadian workplaces.

Follow-Up Emails After the Interview

Sending a follow-up thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview is a standard practice in Canada and is strongly recommended. Many hiring managers consider it a factor in their decision. A good follow-up email should be brief (three to four short paragraphs), thank the interviewer for their time, reference something specific that was discussed during the interview, reiterate your interest in the position, and express your enthusiasm for the next steps.

If you interviewed with multiple people, send a personalized email to each one. If you do not have their email addresses, you can ask the recruiter or HR contact to forward your thanks. Keep the tone professional but warm.

Salary Negotiation for Newcomers

Salary negotiation is a normal and expected part of the hiring process in Canada. Many newcomers are hesitant to negotiate because they are grateful for the job offer or because negotiation is not common in their home country. However, accepting the first offer without discussion can mean leaving money on the table.

Before the interview, research the typical salary range for the position in your city. Websites like the Government of Canada Job Bank wage tool provide salary data by occupation and location. Glassdoor Canada and PayScale are also useful resources.

When the employer makes an offer, thank them and express your interest. Then, if the salary is below your expectations, you can say something like: "I am very excited about this opportunity. Based on my research and my experience, I was expecting a salary in the range of [amount]. Is there flexibility to discuss this?" Be prepared to explain your value with specific examples of your experience and achievements.

Additional Resources for Interview Preparation

The Canadian government and many settlement organizations offer free interview preparation services. The Job Bank website has interview tips and job search tools. Many libraries offer career counseling and mock interview sessions. Settlement agencies provide one-on-one coaching tailored to newcomers.

At WelcomeAide, we are committed to helping you succeed in your Canadian job search. Use our AI Newcomer Navigator to practice interview answers, explore our blog for more employment guides, learn about our mission, or see how to get involved in supporting newcomer communities across Canada.