ИТИП / GOING THROUGH THE INTERVIEW

GOING THROUGH THE INTERVIEW

 

If you have written a convincing resume/CV and a cover letter, you are likely to be invited for a job interview. However, you should not relax. Job interviewing is a minefield. Your prospective employers have a stack of resumes from talented applicants. They want to know more about you. Are you hard to get along with? Can you meet deadlines? How badly do you want the job? Here some of the toughest interviewers reveal their most frequent questions and suggest how you might handle them.

 

1.What exactly do you want from us?

Describe your ideal job. To make a better impression, you can prepare a description of your dream job.. Include several adjectives outlining the company, the job and yourself. This focuses you on exactly what you want and what you can offer even if the interviewer doesn't ask you.

 

2.   Why did you leave your last job?

Deep down, interviewers know many people leave jobs because they hate their boss, but few employers want to hear it. Many interviewers suggest people concentrate on the business reasons for joining a new company. For example, «after two years running the marketing department I've learned a lot about… Now I want to learn about…» or, «I am at the stage in my careerwhere I want to add... to my background, and your company is the leader in that field.» If you were fired because of a conflict, however, you may better tell interviewers yourself rather than having them rely on 'industry gossip'.

 

3.   Tell me a little about yourself. Or How, would you describe yourself?

Plus: Tell them only information that is relevant to the job unless you have some other talent or accomplishment that is outstanding and impressive. Explain your skills and personal qualities.

Minus: Wasting time with details that are not related to your ability to do the job (such as «I am 21 years old and was raised in a village in Kazakhstan».)

 

4. What js your greatest accomplishment?

Don't tell about the responsibilities, tell about results. The better candidate will say, «First we looked at the strategy of the company. Then we researched the audience. Then we determined what kind of payback we could achieve...». This answer describes the big picture, not just the activities.

 

5.   What do you know about our company?

Plus: Know what the company does: size, products, history positions available. Tell them why you would like to work for their company: good working conditions, opportunities, staff, etc.

Minus: Asking questions about the company from the interviewer.

 

6. Why should I hire you?

Once again, explain your qualifications for the position, your skills and personal abilities, what you can add to the company, and reiterate your desire to work for them.

 

7.   What are your strengths?

Present three. Relate them to the job or company.

 

8.   What are your weaknesses/ shortcomings?

Don't say that you have none; give only one. Position it in a positive answer like, «I am sometimes impatient and do the work myself when there are deadlines.»

 

9.   Do you have any salary requirements?

Plus: Saying that you are flexible about the salary. A good idea is to find out an average salary for such a position.

Minus: Being too specific because you can either demand too much or say something that is lower than they intended to pay.

 

10. Do you have any questions for me?

Plus: Ask a question. If you ask appropriate questions, the employer will know that you are really interested in the job. You may ask these questions, if they have not been discussed during the interview:

1. What would my responsibilities be?

2. Do your employees receive training?

3. What is the salary range?

4. Are there any benefits? (insurance, pension plan, vacation, holidays)?

5. When does the work day begin and end?

6. Are there opportunities for advancement?

7. May I call you on ... and ask about the availability of the position?

Minus: No questions. It shows a general lack of interest or excitement about the job.

 

You can start your questions like this:

I was wondering	+     if/when/     +	sentence
Could you tell me	+     how/what/     +

 

 

DIALOGUE

 

Mr. Sanchez: Anna Golubeva? I'm John Sanchez. Nice to meet you. Please sit down.

Anna: It's a pleasure to meet you finally.

 Mr.S: I see from your application that you are from Novosibirsk. How long have you been living in the States?

Anna: About 5 months. I came here around the beginning of this year.

 Mr.S: Your English is excellent.

Anna: Thank you. I studied it for 2 years before I left.

 Mr.S: Do you happen to have brought your resume with you?

Anna: Yes, here it is.

Mr.S: I see from your resume that you were an engineer at an electronics factory. What were your specific duties?

Anna: I was in charge of the production line for television sets. I directed a team of line workers and made all changes to increase productivity.

Mr.S: Do you have any experience with computers?

Anna: I know several languages, COBOL and FORTRAN to name two, and I have studied CAD and SQL at an institute here in the States.

 Mr.S: Well, your work experience sounds perfect for the opening at our plant in New Jersey. We will inform you by telephone about the next level of interviews. Thank you for coming in today and meeting with me.

Anna: I really appreciate the opportunity to introduce myself and tell you about my work background. I am looking forward to our next meeting. Thank

you.

 

 

Activity 1: Change these sentences to a polite form according to the model from the text:

1. Is there any overtime?

2.     When would I start?

3.     Is there any training?

4.     Are there any benefits?

5.     How often do you give raises?

6.     Is there a probation period?

7.     Is there medical insurance?

 

Activity 2: Look at the following pairs of reasons for leaving a job. Check the reason that an interviewer would like better. Why?

The pay was too low. I wanted to work indoors. I didn't like the hours. There were family problems but they are straightened out. I was fired for missing work. They wouldn't give me a raise. I got hurt on the job.

I wanted to .improve my skills. The work was dangerous. I needed more hours. I left to take care of my sick daughter, I had a car problem but now I have a new car. I was ready for more responsibility. I had health problems, but I'm fine now.

 

Activity 3: Interview chart.

What should you do in a job interview? Check the answers you think are right and then discuss your answers in class.

Always   Sometimes   Never

1. Smile all the time.

2. Look at the interviewer.

3. Chew gum if you are nervous.

4. Wear a suit and tie (men) or a dress (women)

5. Keep quiet if you don't understand a question.

6. Answer a question even if you don't understand it.

7. Ask a lot about money.

8. Come on time.

9. Refuse to answer a question you don't like.

10. Give short answers.

11. Give long answers.

12. Think about questions before the interview.

13. Ask questions.

14. Dress neatly.

15. Speak softly.