CAREERS AND EDUCATION

Two habits to cultivate for academic success

Clear your mind space to do more

Being successful in school requires more than just studying – you need to cultivate some habits that help you learn. Here are two good habits to help you with your studies.

A little air will do you good

You have heard it from many people, including parents, friends and health professionals. Outdoor exercise has many benefits. As a student you need to be able to clear and refresh your mind, manage stress, find a way of reviewing material, think creatively and problem solve. Exercise can help with all of that and more. It is a habit you want to include in your daily routine. Not only will you benefit as a student, but you will also get some natural vitamin D from the sun.

All you need are comfortable walking or running shoes and a good jacket to protect you from the rain, snow and cold. Aim for a 30-minute brisk walk every day, even if you are short on time. To make it a habit, work in walking into your other needs. Make it part of picking up groceries, your commute or your coffee break. Or catch up with a friend by asking them to join you on your walk. Check the weather forecast, layer up in winter or go out early in the day in the summer months.

As a student, you may get stuck deciding on a topic for a paper or trying to work out its outline. Allowing your mind to wander as you walk may get your creativity going. If you need to memorize some material or listen to a lecture, you can take it with you with a notepad or use your phone to jot things down as new ideas come to you. Walking may help you solve academic and personal problems as you broaden your focus of possibilities. If it sounds too good to be true or too easy, give yourself a month to try it out. Cultivate the habit and it will give you miles of rewards.

Get organized with these three little lists

Find a little space on your desk or your wall for three little lists. Postit notes are perfect for this or find an equivalent on your phone. The first list is for all the things that you intend to do today. It can range from reviewing a chapter to doing your laundry. Since it is motivating to cross things off the list, use a good dose of realism about what can actually be accomplished in a day. For this you will need to break goals down into manageable tasks.

The second list should include larger goals with deadlines for getting them done. For instance, it might include when you need to finish the research for writing a term paper or the due date for your next project. You will be transferring tasks from the second list to the first one as your assignments and studying are broken into smaller, more doable chunks.

Your third list is for items you don’t have to work on or at least not right away. It includes some of your long-term goals and your plans for the future, including both your plans A and B. This list can evolve as you change your mind on what you want for the future and what is possible. It may also include the skills you want to develop such as becoming a better writer or mastering a particular computer software.

Your three lists allow you to take control of your student life by reminding you of what you will be doing daily, what needs to be accomplished this semester, and the reasons you are doing it. This strategy will keep you motivated and focused, which will help you get to the finish line.

Geneviève Beaupré and Susan Qadeer have extensive experience working in university and college settings, providing career, academic and personal counselling to international and immigrant students.

Smart answers to behavioural interview questions

Get prepared to be hired!

It is common practice for hiring managers to include a few behavioural questions in job interviews to see if you possess skills and abilities needed. Your responses give them a clear idea of how you would handle situations if you were to be hired. While every interview is a little different, here are smart responses to some common behavioural interview questions that could help you prepare.

ADAPTABILITY

1. Tell us about a time when you were asked to do something you had never done before. How did you respond?

Talk about what you learned, the excitement to tackle new challenges and willingness to leave your comfort zone to learn something valuable from the experience.

2. Describe a situation in which you embraced a new system, process, technology or idea, different from the old way of doing things.

Talk about a specific situation where you bring focus on your eagerness to explore new ways of working, what you learned, how you embraced change and found a better way.

3. Recall a time you handled a task assigned to you outside of your job description. Focus on how you approach the task knowing that it may evolve; your willingness to try something new; and steps taken to ensure success, and the outcome.

4. Tell us about the biggest change you have had to deal with?

Speak about your understanding that change is inevitable, how you evaluate situations and adapt successfully and find the support you need.

TEAMWORK

5. Give an example of working with someone who was difficult to get along with. How did you handle it?

Share your willingness to try to see things from the other person’s perspective, your ability to identify the cause of the tension and finding ways to improve the relationship.

6. Tell us about one of your favorite experiences working with a team and your contributions.

Spotlight your energy and motivation as a team player. Use a healthy mix of “I” and “we” statements to communicate your individual and team contributions. 7. Describe the best partner or supervisor you’ve worked with.

Share your understanding of their management style and why it appealed to you, and the kind of personalities you work best with.

8. Can you share an experience where a project dramatically shifted direction at the last minute?

Focus on your work keeping the team aligned and comfort with tapping coworkers for additional help when a project demands it. PRIORITIZATION

13. Tell us about a time when you had to juggle several projects at the same time and how you determined the amount of time reasonable for a task?

Speak about a clear and proactive process for organizing your time, like blocking off your calendar, creating a to-do list, and confirming deadlines.

LEADERSHIP

9. Tell us about the last time something significant didn’t go according to plan.

Focus on your thoughtful reflection, how you took on ownership for the outcome instead of shifting the blame to others and considered what you could have done differently.

10. What steps did you take in a situation to persuade someone to see things your way?

Speak to how you established credibility by using compelling evidence to reinforce a viewpoint rather than acting like you knew best.

11. Tell us about a time when you led by example. How was it received?

Relate a story of how you “promoted” an idea to your coworkers or group. How you did it; what the results were; and how you held yourself to a high standard.

12. Tell us about a tough decision you had to make in the last six months.

Speak about your careful consideration of outcomes; how you sought advice from peers but did not shy away from making the final decision.

14. Tell us about a successful project that you planned and delivered.

Spotlight your methodical approach to planning, organizing and scheduling tasks; strong self-discipline to meet deadlines; and driving a project through to completion.

15. Describe a time when you felt stressed or overwhelmed. How did you handle it?

Highlight your ability to plan and prioritize; how you stayed calm and focused; and how you know to lighten the load by delegating tasks.

16. Give an example of a time when you delegated an important task successfully.

Focus on your understanding of delegating for success and your skills at prioritizing tasks and clarity about deadlines and expectations.

CONCLUSION

Behavioural questions are a great way to showcase your potential and shine in the interview. It pays to employ the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer the questions in a structured way.

Murali Murthy is an acclaimed public speaker, life coach and best-selling author of The ACE Principle, The ACE Awakening, The ACE Abundance and You Are HIRED!. He is also chairperson of CAMP Networking Canada. Learn how he can help unlock your magic at unleashyourwow.com.