One of the most important preparations for a job interview is to anticipate objections a hiring manager may have about your career profile or history. This can be related to your education, skills, or specific things like age. Being ready with answers will help you better leverage these “negative” elements to your advantage.

Here are some examples of objections that may arise and how to tackle them:

Lack of Canadian experience

This is a major obstacle for most newcomers to Canada. The question is – how can you have Canadian experience if you’ve just arrived?

When employers look for Canadian experience, what they are actually looking for is an applicant’s familiarity with Canadian workplace culture, social cues, and expectations. This points to your soft and transferable skills.

Interview tip: The best way to answer this question is to relate situations where you used your “people skills” in your previous work. Highlight instances when you displayed your flexibility, adaptability, sensitivity to cultural differences, and teamwork in the workplace. Mention concrete examples, but make them brief and concise (use the STAR technique).

Gaps in work history

Long gaps between work, or being unemployed can be seen negatively by employers. They would want to know if you were laid off or fired, and the reasons why this happened.

Interview tip: Being unemployed can be easily answered if you are a newcomer. You’ve just arrived and would need time to look for a job. However, gaps in your work history may be more challenging to answer. If you were laid off, you can explain that it was because of economic challenges or shifts in the industry (or perhaps because of the pandemic). If you took time off to take care of children or a sick family member, for example, or if you needed a vacation to recharge, just be honest. Employers are human too and will understand. If you worked part-time or volunteered during the period, focus on these. Highlight the valuable skills that you gained during your break when you are asked about it in the job interview.

Career shift

A career shift is when you decide to go into a different profession. If you applied and were called to the interview, then you were successful in selling your job experience to the employer. They see a potential for you to succeed in your new career path. The next phase would be to prove that you are serious about this change. You should be able to answer the question “why do you want to shift careers?” convincingly.

Interview tip: It is common for newcomers to shift careers when they come to Canada. Often times, it is because of licensing requirements if their occupation is regulated, or the low demand for their occupation. These are perfectly acceptable answers. Your strategy should be to focus on skills that you have gained in your previous jobs that are applicable to your new one (your transferable skills). Provide examples that show how you can apply these skills to the current job requirements. Don’t forget to mention the steps you are taking to gain more knowledge and skills for your new career. Taking short courses or volunteering are great ways to show that you are committed to the shift. Convey your optimism for this new role and show that you are ready to take on a new challenge.

Too many movements

You may be seen as a job-hopper if you’ve moved several companies in quick succession. This raises a red flag as it can be interpreted as disloyalty. Some employers may also think that you could not hold down a job or perhaps you do not get along well with others.

Interview tip: You can counter this objection even before the interview. In your resume, write a short phrase explaining why you moved after each job title. For example, “laid-off because of downsizing” or “contract ended”. During the interview, be honest about each movement but don’t go into too much detail. More importantly, don’t say anything negative about the companies you’ve left. Instead, focus on common reasons for leaving, like major changes in your job or company, or a change in location/address.

Being overqualified

Usually, employers have other concerns besides your qualifications when they say that you are overqualified. They may think that you will be demanding a high salary because of your qualifications and experience. It could also mean that they have concerns regarding your ability to fit in because of your age.

Interview tip: Keep in mind that an interviewer is not allowed to ask your age during an interview. This is grounds for discrimination. However, if the employer does not say it but you feel that the objection is related to your age, be proactive about countering this concern. Kyle Lee, a career coach at Muse, suggests doing this as early as the “tell me about yourself” phase of the interview. When you answer, make sure to connect your soft skills with the company’s culture and core values. You should also provide examples that illustrate that you are highly adaptable and you easily fit in. Also mention that you are flexible about the salary. Most importantly, emphasize that your wealth of experience will greatly benefit the company.
 
Article updated January 30, 2025.

 
Sources: Explaining short job stints & employment gaps, Michael Spiro, LinkedIn; Ask a career coach: How do I get around ageism in the job search? Kyle Lee, The Muse; How to explain the gap in your resume with ease, Elizabeth Alterman, The Muse; How to explain career change in an interview, Jan Simon, Chron. All accessed on March 31, 2017.