Vocabulary

logos pictures or designs which symbolise a particular company.

designer names famous and expensive fashion brands

eye contact when you look at someone directly in the eyes

fidget to make small movements with your hands or feet, especially if you are bored or nervous

Exercise 3. FAQs

It's always a good idea to try to predict what questions you will get asked in an interview and prepare some answers before you go in. Here are some examples of quite common interview questions. Match the common interview question on the left with the suitable response from the list on the right.

1. Why did you choose this company? 2. What are your strengths/ weaknesses? 3. How would your friends describe you? 4. What is your greatest achievement? 5. How well do you work in a team? 6. Where will you be in 5 years?

a. People say I'm sociable, organised, and decisive. b. My aim is to have a position in the Management Team. c. I have excellent time management, but I can be impatient for results. d. Because I think I will find the work environment both challenging and rewarding. e. I always support my colleagues and believe we should work towards a common goal. f. Leading the University football team to the national Championships.

Vocabulary

Match the words and expressions on the left with their definitions on the right.

1. an achievement a. what I want to do/achieve

2. to be sociable b. an aim or objective shared with other people

3. decisive c. good at making decisions quickly

4. my aim d. to dislike having to wait

5. to be impatient e. something good that you have managed to do

6. common goal f. to enjoy being with people

Exercise 4. Responding positively

During the interview, always be positive about your previous experiences. Never offer negative information! Instead, sell yourself using active, positive words. In the exercise below, match the words on the left to the words on the right to make 'power phrases' for interviews. (NOTE: words on the right can't be used twice)

1. showing a. colleagues

2. presenting b. initiative

3. solving c. ideas

4. controlling d. objectives

5. achieving e. deadlines

6. motivating f. budgets

7. meeting g. problems

8. creating h. information

Vocabulary

power phrases strong expressions that show how good you are at what you do

colleagues the people you work with

objectives aims, goals

Exercise 5. Vocabulary check

There are lots of expressions using the word 'career' that you might come across. The following nouns all make word partners with career.

plan

ladder

career break

move

prospects

Match each definition below to the correct phrase above:

1. Chances of future success in your career

2. The direction you hope your career will take

3. A change you make in order to progress

4. Time when you are not employed, perhaps when travelling or looking after children

5. A series of promotions towards more senior positions