Applying to PEER Group

Careers / Applying to PEER Group

Application tips

Prepare your resume package in electronic format

In an MS Word, HTML or PDF file, include the following details:

• Your contact information (email and snail mail addresses). Make sure this is visible on every page.
• A section that talks about your career objective. It’s better if we don’t have to guess what you are applying for.
• Accurate educational information that reflects whether your program was completed and diploma/degree granted. If you have a university degree or college diploma, you don’t need to document elementary or secondary school education. Don’t forget to tell us about academic awards you have received.
• Hobbies and interests. This section helps round out the picture of who you are. But, don’t include horseback riding as a hobby if you only rode a horse once, several years ago, when you were in high school…
• Updated references. Talk to your references about the opportunity so we don’t take them by surprise when we contact them. If someone said, “Sure, use me as a reference any time” and that was five years ago, ensure the offer still stands and their contact information is accurate.

More resume hints and tips

• Check your spelling, punctuation and grammar carefully.
• Use formatting tricks that make it easier for us to read your resume.
• Don’t gloss over the cool stuff you did in a co-op job because you’re trying to fit your resume on one page.
• Don’t try to fit your resume on one page.

Answer our pre-screening questions

We can’t promise to reply to everyone who sends in a resume, but if we are interested in your application, we might send you some pre-screening questions. Usually, it’s via email. The quality of your response tells us a lot. For some positions, like Reception, we may do the pre-screen over the phone.

Pre-screen hints and tips

• Complete the pre-screen to the best of your ability and email it back promptly.
• If you haven’t worked with a technology that’s mentioned, just put a zero for years of experience. We believe that people can learn things if they’re given the appropriate support. Your pre-screen will help us figure out what you would need to learn on the job here.
• Sometimes the gap is too big, and if that’s the case, we’re both better off if we figure that out upfront.
• People agonize over the salary range question. We have a range in mind and you have a range in mind. If you’re an interesting candidate and there’s a mismatch here, then we’ll talk further before the interview.

After we have received your pre-screen answers, we will set expectations regarding the next steps. If you don’t hear from us by the appointed time, feel free to send an email about your status.

Come in for an interview

Our section regarding interviewing with PEER Group provides lots of tips and tricks for a successful interview at PEER Group. Here are some highlights on preparing for your interview with us.

On interview day, make sure you shower, shave, pluck, and dress nicely – do whatever you need to do to show up looking well-groomed and smelling nice, but not too nice. Please don’t overdo the cologne.

If a trusted person in your life thinks you’re on the wrong track with your look/hair/smell – listen to them.

Before the interview, take some time to:

• Review your resume so you can speak to dates and experiences.
• Review our website so you have a clue about what we do.

On interview day, be ready to:

• Shake hands firmly – but resist the urge to crush bones.
• Make eye contact when you speak.
• Ask questions! Even if you think you know it all, you should ask some questions to get to know more about your interviewers, the job itself, and what it’s like to work at PEER Group.

Accept our offer

If you are the chosen one for the position, we will contact you to get a verbal agreement, discuss your salary level and start date, and then we’ll meet to go over your written offer.

Ask lots of questions so you understand what you are signing and your terms of employment.

Tips and tricks for a successful interview at PEER Group

Know what to expect on interview day

In most cases, we’ll conduct your interview in our offices, face to face. Of course, there may be more faces on our side of the table than on yours.

In Canada, you will spend some time with a member of our Human Resources team, learning about the company and what we do and covering the administrative end of your questions.

Usually, there will be at least two interviews. The first one is an information exchange where we’ll get to know each other. Consider this your basic fit screening interview. The second interview is generally for hiring manager input and approval. If your job touches lots of areas, the group of people who meet you will expand.

Skills testing will be part of the interview process for some positions, (e.g., Information Developers and Accounting).

If you are applying for a Sales position, you will be expected to do a presentation as part of the interview process. After all, talking to a boardroom full of strangers needs to be one of your key strengths. But, don’t worry: you get to pick the topic.

Don’t forget to:

• Shake hands firmly – but resist the urge to crush bones.
• Make eye contact when you speak.
• Attempt to engage all the interviewers.
• Ask questions! Even if you think you know it all, you should ask some questions to get to know more about your interviewers, what it’s like to work at PEER Group, and what exactly you will be doing here anyway.
• Give yourself about 15 minutes before the interview time to relax, review your material and get a feel for the environment. WAY better than sliding in the door 10 minutes late because you forgot to leave time to park and wait for the elevator…