Interview Prep: Seven Tips for Indigenous Candidates
By Meaghen Fillion
Whether you are landing your first professional role, switching careers, or stepping into leadership, good interview prep can set you up for success! Here are seven practical ways to get ready, including a Pathways Perspective for each to help you stay grounded in your values during the process.
1. Own your story
You need to explain your career path, your wins, and your motivation without stumbling. Practice connecting the dots between your past experiences and the specific role you want.
Pathways Perspective: Your culture is part of who you are. Don’t hide it. If values like reciprocity, respect, or community resilience define and guide your work ethic, say so. It makes your story real and memorable.
2. Do Your Homework
Dig into the company’s mission and recent projects. This proves you are serious about this specific job rather than just looking for a paycheck. It also helps you give better answers.
Pathways Perspective: Check their track record on inclusion. Do they have Indigenous partnerships or specific initiatives? Make a note of these. You can use this information to ask smart questions at the end of the interview.
3. Rehearse the Basics
You know they will ask questions like, “Tell me about yourself” or “What are your strengths?” So do not wing it! Prepare answers that use specific examples to prove you can deliver results.
Pathways Perspective: Connect your background to your professional toolkit. If you grew up in a community that prioritized collective success over individual glory, explain how that makes you a better team player.
4. Pitch Your Transferable Skills
Job titles change, but skills like leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability apply everywhere. Have examples ready that show how you use these skills in different situations.
Pathways Perspective: Traditional knowledge is a professional asset. Concepts like long-term stewardship or holistic thinking are highly valuable in modern business. Frame them as strategic strengths.
5. Interview Them Back
An interview is a conversation. Use your research to draft your own questions about the organization, whether it’s about team culture, growth potential, or how they measure success.
Pathways Perspective: Ask about what matters to you. Try asking, “How does this organization support Indigenous staff?” or “How do you ensure diverse voices are heard in the boardroom?”
6. Sort Out Technical Logistics
If the interview is online, confirm the time, the time zone, and the software platform well in advance. Be sure to test your camera and microphone beforehand, too.
Pathways Perspective: Get grounded. Do whatever helps you focus. That might be smudging, deep breathing, or just five minutes of silence. Enter the “interview room” with a clear head.
7. Don’t Do It Alone
Call a mentor or a trusted friend to roleplay the interview with you. Saying the answers out loud fixes issues that you won’t catch by just thinking about them.
Pathways Perspective: Use your community. Many Indigenous organizations provide mentorship specifically for this. These resources exist to help you win, so take advantage of them.
Final Thoughts
Good preparation is standard, but authenticity is what gets you hired. Your cultural background and personal experiences are assets. Don’t leave them at the door. Bring your full self to the table.
Meaghen is a Consultant at Pathways. Learn more in her Employee Spotlight.