Tips for Candidates: How to Breeze Through Your Temporary Job Interview

So you discovered the benefits of working with a staffing firm and you landed a job interview for a temporary job in Canada, or you just need that temporary job to get to the next chapter in your career. Whatever the case, it’s that time. It’s time to meet the employer face-to-face and go through the gauntlet that takes the form of an temporary job interview. If you have ever applied for a job, you know that you should be prepared. You have to be ready to answer some hard questions, make a good impression and know enough about the job to land it.

While these are good tips, they are also very generic. That’s why we here at Pure Staffing Solutions have put together a list of tips and tricks that will help you ace your temporary job interview. Remember, a little insight and practice go a long way when it comes to making that first impression count. So, let’s get to it!

Table of Contents

#1. Be Thorough with the Job Description

The first thing you need to do before showing up to the interview is to make sure that you have a thorough understanding of the job description. Take some time to go through the different requirements, role expectations and desired skills that the employer has listed on the job post. This should give you a fair idea of what the employer is looking for. Having this in mind will help you align your presentation and yourself better with the job opening.

The more the employer feels that you are aligned with the role, the better your chances of being hired for the same. If there are certain areas where you feel there might be a skill gap in your resume or past work history, prepare a compelling argument. You should be ready to tell them why that is and how you aim to overcome it. This ability to adapt to sudden obstacles is a desirable trait.

#2. Do Your Research about the Company

This goes without saying that you should know the employer you are going to work for, even if it is for a temporary period. What if you end up liking the job or the company and want to move to a permanent position? It’s best to have this information on hand from the very beginning. This also helps in is your employability as a temporary worker. The more you know about the company, its operations, mission, vision, and overall business as well as your role within, the faster you will be able to catch up if and when you start the job.

This is an asset for both the employer and you. The minute you walk through that door with a proper understanding of the business, you have already made a good first impression. Online platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor could be a good place to start when you are researching.

#3. Prepare the Elevator Pitch

Elevator pitches are short (20-30 second) introductory speeches. Usually used in marketing or when someone is pitching a story to their editor. However, this is a great tool to adopt for your temporary job interview. You know that: “Tell me about yourself.” is coming your way. Practicing the elevator pitch intro can save you a ton of time and deliver everything they need to know about you crisply and concisely.

Here is an example of how to go about it: Start with an introduction. Make it enthusiastic, mention your full name, a brief overview of your education and work history. Next, move on to your USP (Unique Selling Proposition). This translates to, what makes you particularly qualified to take this job. Remember to focus on the problem you aim to solve in this role and not the job you do. Lastly, end the pitch with a call to action. This can be done by posing a question to the interviewer, allowing them to respond and make it more conversational.

“Knowledge is not skill. Knowledge plus ten thousand times is skill.” – Shinichi Suzuki, Japanese Musician

#4. Get Your Portfolio in Order

Having a detailed resume is great and all, but you can take it one step further and compile a portfolio of your work. This can include a blog, photographs of your work, or other forms of work samples. Show off your industry knowledge and how you can add value to the organization. You could even create a 90-day plan of sorts based on the job description and show that to the employer. They need to see that you aren’t just joining for the job, but are looking to contribute to the growth of the business.

#5. Prepare for the Common Questions

In Canada, phone interviews are often used as the first step in vetting a candidate. This could be done via a staffing agency or by the employer directly. They will of course ask you the usual interview questions to get a general overview of you as a candidate. This is usually followed up with an in-person interview or a video conference. Now, when they ask you those general questions, you need to make sure that you don’t memorize the answers to them, as this can come off as overly rehearsed.

A better approach might be to just have the talking points in mind. You simply need to convey your communication comprehensively and naturally. The key here is not to over-practice it.

#6. Start Thinking about the Questions You Want to Ask

It is common practice for interviewers to ask candidates if they have any questions at the end of the interview. It’s a good idea to prepare some questions in advance.

Keep in mind that as the conversation during the temporary job interview progresses, you will probably develop some on-the-spot questions as well. Asking these questions can be a great opportunity to learn more about the organization and the job you are gunning for. This also shows the interviewer that you are genuinely curious about the position, that you’re attentive and that you have done your homework.

#7. Be Ready to Work

The hiring manager will use the temporary job interview as an opportunity to find out if you are someone who can hit the ground running. That is to say, are you willing to be proactive and start working as soon as possible. This also means that a temporary job interview moves along a little faster than one for a full-time position. You might need to provide references right away and might even be tested for your skills (think of it as a practical exam).

You should also know that we here at Pure Staffing Solutions have a dedicated team for temp jobs. Being industry experts, they are ideally positioned to help you land your next temp job. Who knows, from there, the possibilities are endless! Get in touch with us at [email protected] or call us at 855-583-7873.