Co-op Interview #1

This morning, I had my first co-op interview for the summer 2007 work-term. This one was with Public Works and Government Services Canada, PWGSC for short. I didn't really prepare myself for this interview as much as I had hoped because I have so much on my plate right now that preparing for that interview wasn't one of my priorities. The job description sucked like crap anyways so I didn't really know what directorate or area I was under so I could barely find any information on that. I only researched a little about what PWGSC was about. Anyway, the job wasn't one that appealed to me because it sounded more administrative.

So I arrived almost 20 minutes early and sat there and waited and waited. Good thing I was early because the interviewer came to get me about 5 minutes before the actual start time as indicated in my co-op navigator. Then he proceeded to tell me that there was a room change because the interview rooms were too small to fit four people (3 interviewers and 1 interviewee). The new room? Zampub. That's right. The campus pub in the Sports Complex. Now that's a change of scenery. I've been in the cramped rooms in the Sports Complex and the large offices in Brooks, including the one of the director's. Never have I ever had an interview (co-op and non-co-op) in such a "relaxed" atmosphere. I found it too funny they brought me to Zampub. After introducing themselves, they asked me if I wanted something to eat or drink! Hahahaha. Too funny. So throughout my interview, which lasted almost 1 hour, I could hear Kelly Clarkson, Green Day, U2, Snow Patrol, and Cyndi Lauper, just to name a few, playing in the background. Hahaha. Kind of made the interview less intimidating for sure.

Anyway, I thought the interview went quite well, although I messed up on the "What do you know about PWGSC" question. I forgot to mention they purchase goods and services for the government. Duh....But I did mention that they were the property manager for all federal department and agency buildings; offer telecommunications, translation, information technology, etc. services for departments and agencies; and that they manage all national historic properties such as Parliament Hill. Hehehe. The interview was conducted half in English and half in French and I thought I answered my questions in French quite well considering I get really nervous and forget words when I speak with a stranger. Moreover, the big boss (R. Jodoin) and one of the interviewees (a current co-op student) were quite impressed with some of my answers. And sometimes, when I answered some questions, Mr. Jodoin would ask me how I liked working there, etc...questions that didn't even relate to the actual question! Guess he was just curious. Hahah. cuz while I was answering questions from the co-op students, he spent time looking over my resume and was wowed about some of the stuff I did.

I really enjoyed answering their questions because they were unique -- not the same boring ones like "what are your strengths? your weaknesses?" or "what would you do if there were two projects due at the same time?" The questions were well thought out and they actually tailored the questions to your past experiences, your studies, etc. I thought they were very creative.

Anyway, at the end of the interview, Mr. Jodoin mentioned that he would be matching the student at the end of the day or tomorrow, so I would receive a phone call tomorrow on whether I've been matched with PWGSC or not. Like I mentioned at the top, I wasn't too keen on this job. But after their introduction and explanation of what they do, it sounds really interesting! Hahaha. Well, I've got two other interviews confirmed so far: one with Infrastructure Canada as part of their Communications Team and the other with Treasury Board Secretariat as a Junior Policy Analyst, so we'll see what happens.

Mr. Jodoin also mentioned that I was only 1 of 3 candidates chosen out of the pile of almost 100 applicants from the University of Ottawa, so I guess I did do (or am doing) something correct. Screw you National Defence for rejecting me at Army News and Directorate of History and Heritage! You missed out. I guess I shouldn't be too bitter about not being selected for an interview with DND, but there's a part of me that is bitter because those two positions were positions I really really really wanted.

Infrastructure Canada....here I come! Interview tomorrow morning!