The Job Interview

Harris: Miss Joanne Winters? Please come in and sit down. Make yourself comfortable.

Winters: Thank you, Mr. Harris.

Harris: Now, Miss Winters, may I ask why you are interested in this particular job?

Winters: Well, I've always enjoyed working with people and I have a good head for mathematics and statistics. When I saw the opportunity your company was offering, I jumped at it.

Harris: I notice from your application that you have no experience in doing opinion polls.

Winters: That's true; however, I do have related experience. I've taken journalism courses and worked for the campus newspaper, so I've done several interviews. I also worked one summer in a tourist information office and I'm quite comfortable talking with the public.

Harris: I see that you're working for Bradshaw Industries right now. Why do you wish to leave that position?

Winters: Right now I'm only working part-time there and with the present situation they may be laying off office employees. And, frankly, I would rather have a job dealing with the public; typing and filing all day is really not challenging enough for me.

Harris: So I may contact your current employer as a reference?

Winters: Yes, certainly.

Harris: Fine. Why do you think you are the person for our company, Miss Winters?

Winters: Well — I believe I can be an asset to Canada Wide Surveys. This job interests me very much and I know that I can do it well. Your company has an excellent reputation for a top-notch staff and I'm sure I wouldn't disappoint you.

Harris: Thank you. I understand you have all the particulars concerning the position. Do you have any questions?

Winters: No, I don't think so.

Harris: Well, we do have many applicants still to see. We should be able to let you know one way or the other sometime next week. Thank you for coming.

Winters: Thank you for taking the time to see me, Mr. Harris. Good-bye.

to have a good head for smth. — добре розбиратися в чомусь, мати здібність, хист до чогось

to jump at smth. — ухопитися за щось (за пропозицію)

to lay off — звільнити з роботи

reference — тут: особа, яка дає рекомендацію

top-notch — відмінний, першокласний

particulars — деталі, інформація

Discussion

1. Is this dialogue formal or informal? What are some of the expressions that reveal this?

2. Do you think Joanne Winters will get the job?

3. Role play a job interview for the class. In a class discussion, evaluate each interview. Should the candidate get the job? Why or why not?

4. In small groups, go through "Help Wanted" ads and pick out a few interesting positions. Discuss the qualifications and personal characteristics that would be necessary for the job.

EXERCISES

Exercise 1

Answer the following questions:

1. What is your future profession? / What is your profession (occupation)?

2. Had you a dilemma in choosing your profession (occupation)?

3. What subjects have you always given your preference to?

4. Did your parents (friends) impose their views, likes and dislikes on you?

5. When did you make a choice to become an English teacher (a lawyer, an economist, an accountant, a doctor, a designer, etc.)?

6. What do you have to do to master English?

7. What is your regular business?

8. Have you got a big personnel (staff)?

9. How do you (your parents) earn your (their) living?

10. What special education does your (future) profession require? Name some other occupations in which special education or training is required?

11. How many hours a day do you (your parents) work?

12. Are you satisfied with your salary?

13. What are the merits and demerits of your (your parents') job? Give your reasons.

14. What is the noblest and most difficult of professions?

15. Are the teachers of English in great demand nowadays?

16. What is the teacher's aim in life?

17. Why are the teachers proud of their profession and their role in educating young people?

18. What must you do to be a good teacher?

Exercise 2

(based on the topic "Choosing a Career")

Fill in the missing words:

1. It is very important for us to make the right________of profession.

2. My English teacher was a person I loved best at school because our English lessons were always interesting and________,

3. I managed to do a lot of grammar exercises and found it useful to ________my language________and________.

4. I tried to read________ English books, newspapers and magazines in English on a________basis.

5. I was________to have a very good________laboratory at my school.

6. It had modern'________and we used to spend plenty of time in it listening to different________, imitating the sounds and________of native speakers of English.

7. But what I find especially useful for one________ English is listening to the________of TV and radio programmes.

8. In my opinion it is impossible lo do without foreign languages because of________economic and cultural________of Ukraine with other countries of the world.

9. Nowadays the teachers of English are in great________in our country.

10 I his profession is to my________though I understand that it is a difficult________.

11. A teacher is a sculptor of young________, he is a person to whom society has _____ its children, its hopes, its future.

12. This noblest profession demands of the teacher________thought, _________: for children and________to his cause.

13. A good teacher________in his pupils the desire to know and love for the truth and________.

14. Teaching is a constant stream of________, and for this reason it demands great________.

15. The profession of a teacher is a________ and important one.

16. But at the same time it is also a very difficult and________job.

17. From time________a teacher had been an honourable and ________person.

18. The teacher must _________ all his knowledge, skills and ________to children.

Exercise 3

Following is a list of reasons a person may have for leaving or changing jobs. Talk about each reason and check the ones you think are acceptable to give an interviewer:

____________ I don't like the job I have.

____________ There isn't much room for advancement.

____________ I was laid off because business was slow.

____________ I didn't get along with the boss.

____________ I'm bored with my job.

____________ I want to work on a job that is more interesting.

____________ My job is a long way from my house. I'd like to get something closer.

____________ My job is a long way from my house. 1 have trouble getting to work on time.

____________ The pay is very low.

____________ I hurt my back and I'm unable to do heavy work.

Exercise 4