Council and City Administration

Interview Process

Prepare for your City of Burlington job interview by learning more about our interview process, including information on behavioural-based interviews, what to expect if your interview is virtual and practical tips to help you feel confident and ready.

What to expect

The City of Burlington's hybrid work model allows for both in-person and virtual interviews. If selected for an interview, you will be contacted directly to discuss the interview process. Virtual interviews are conducted using Zoom.

The City of Burlington uses an interview method called behavioural-based interviews to determine the best candidate for a job.

Generally, when you are being interviewed for a job, the interviewer(s) will ask you questions related to:

skills, knowledge, abilities and attitude
past employment and any previous experience related to the job
your demonstrated ability to fulfill the requirements of the job
knowledge of the job and of the organization
career goals, coursework, post-secondary education

Preparing for the interview

Prepare for the interview by focusing on the responsibilities of the job and list the skills required for each task. What are the key components of the job? What work-specific, transferable and personal management skills are required to do the work well?

Do a personal assessment and think of situations in which you have used the skills the job requires (e.g. leading a team, project management skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills).

The types of interview questions you will be asked depend on the requirements of the position you are being interviewed for. For example, if a job requirement is working to deadlines, the interviewers are looking for candidates to provide examples of:

organizational skills
the methodology used to prioritize the completion of tasks
meeting deadlines

The situations you describe do not have to be directly related to work - they may be related to leisure activities, volunteer work or school projects. If you are a student, look through your research papers and list the skills you needed to complete an assignment or project. Similar to working on a volunteer committee or being a volunteer, you have gained experience in dealing with people and we want to hear from you about how you handled these situations and what you learned from them.

Behavioural-based interviewing

Behavioural-based interviews are designed to learn more about you, your experience, knowledge, and skills. They also provide the opportunity to share examples of how you have handled different situations in the past. These insights are a good predictor of how you may handle a similar situation in the future.

An interview panel usually includes two or three interviewers. Typically, this includes the immediate supervisor of the role that is being filled, a Human Resources representative, and/or one or two people from the immediate business unit or work area.

Prepare short stories

Develop at least three short, but detailed and specific, stories about how you handled situations similar to those you might encounter on the job. Each of your stories should have a beginning, middle and end. Begin with a brief description of the situation (e.g. a problem you faced, a task you were assigned), then describe what you did. End by describing what happened as a result of the action you took. If possible, include numbers or statistics confirming the positive results you achieved.

Also, be prepared to provide examples of times when things did not turn out as you planned. What went wrong? What did you do? What contingencies did you have in place? What did you learn from the experience?

If none of your prepared stories fit the requirements of the questions asked during the interview, take time to think about your answers. You cannot anticipate all the questions you may be asked, so be prepared to think on your feet.

During the interview

Practice eye contact; remember to breathe; most of all…relax.
Get comfortable – consider your body language.
Take notes/names of the interview panel.
Share your examples as though you are telling a story.
Use “I” rather than “we”, “us”, “they” or “our”. After all, the interview is about you.
If you don’t understand the question, ask the interviewer to repeat/clarify.
Listen carefully and make sure you answer the question.
Smile occasionally.
Questions will be provided to you in the Zoom chat feature, use this feature to look back on a question if needed.
Don’t be afraid to take a pause after the question is asked, if you need time to think of an answer that is okay.
Accomplishment statements, which describe results, achievements, and successes from your past, make a good impact.
If you have a disability, we understand that disclosure to a potential employer is an important and complex decision, and it is entirely yours to make. The City of Burlington supports a diverse workforce and we encourage you to share with us any accommodation you may need for an interview and to do your job.

Interview tips

Print and review the job posting prior to the interview.
Be prepared to talk about your work experience.
Rehearse your examples as though you are telling a story before the interview.
You may want to provide a professional portfolio with examples of your past work and credentials.
Be prepared to provide three professional references.
Try your best to be five to ten minutes early.
For virtual interviews, test the meeting link ahead of time and make sure you have a stable internet connection, working microphone and camera to avoid any technical issues.