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.pdfWe were expecting you at 8:00 and you only arrived at 8:30. Did you have problems finding us?
–Getting up was the problem. My alarm clock didn’t go off.
–I am sorry for having inconvenienced you, but the delay was unavoidable.
Why did you decide to try our company?
When can you start work?
–Well, I am just trying everybody.
–On today’s tough job market you have to try every company with an opening that matches your qualifications and experience.
–Will next Monday be okay with you?
–I can start now if you would like me to.
27.Practice answering the above questions your way, keeping in mind the comments given. Interview your classmates using the questions of Exs. 21, 25 and 26. One of your classmates is an applicant, the rest of the class is the interviewing board. Trade roles. Work together as a group.
28.During the interview you are expected to ask some questions to show interest in the job as well as demonstrate your knowledge and maturity. Ask a few well-formulated questions, though you may think you already know everything. Even if you do not get a job offer out of this interview, you may get some fresh ideas where to apply. Work in pairs.
Model:
St. 1: Ask about the availability of a formal job description.
St. 2: Is a formal job description available?
–what exactly you would be expected to accomplish in this position;
–your specific duties and responsibilities;
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–your working hours;
–how often performance reviews are given;
–projects you would work on at the beginning;
–new projects this firm has undertaken recently;
–training and educational opportunities;
–the ideal candidate for this position;
–whether the company had any layoffs or reductions in the last few years and how this department was affected;
–the people with whom you’ll be working most closely;
–make sure you covered everything that is important for them;
–how many people are being interviewed for this position;
–how soon a hiring decision will be made;
–someone else that may be interested in a candidate with your qualifications;
–if they have any reservation about hiring you.
LISTENING AND SPEAKING
Dialog 1
29.Listen to your teacher reading the dialog. Does Jane regret having missed the interview?
30.Listen to the dialog once again and repeat after each speaker. Follow the script if necessary. Trade roles.
Getting Prepared
Ann: Hey, Jane, I have a job offer and I think I’m going to go for it. It’s my first experience with this, and I’m really excited.
Jane: Yeah. You’re going to have rough times. I know this for sure because I learned it the hard way. I recently missed a job interview.
Ann: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. But you get better with each interview. I’d say, you learn a lot from your own experiences.
Jane: Right. Next time I’ll prepare more.
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Ann: Oh, yeah? What do you mean?
Jane: Well, I’ll call the company and ask for a copy of their annual report, or whatever it is, so I could be better prepared. I mean I’d do a lot to seem smart and competent.
Ann: Come on, Jane, you’re not saying you’re going to practice all those interview questions, are you? You are going to take it seriously this time?
Jane: Sure. And I’ll also do a dry run* the day before so I’ll not get lost* going there. Last time I missed my interview by showing up late. All I’m saying is that I’ve ruined my best chance to be hired. But next time I’m not going to miss it!
31.Read the dialog in pairs. Trade roles. Then role play the dialog.
32.Sometimes you need to make yourself clear by saying something in a different way.
a)Note how it is done in Dialog 1.
b)Study some more ways of making yourself clearer to the listener by rephrasing what you have just said:
– I mean (that) … . |
NEUTRAL |
–What I mean is … .
–In other words, … .
–To put it another way (differently) … .
–That’s to say, … .
–What I’m getting (driving) at is … .
– What I’m trying to say is … . |
INFORMAL |
–What I’m really saying is (that) … .
–All I’m trying to say is (that) … .
–All I’m saying is (that) … .
–All I mean is … .
–I’d say, … .
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– Perhaps I should make that / myself clearer by saying that … . FORMAL
–Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that … .
33.Match the situations in A with their B counterparts. Practice saying the two parts together. Use the key if necessary.
A
1.In my career, sonny, I started out sweeping the floors and learned everything from bottom up …
2.You know, I finally came to terms with my boss about my salary …
3.I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Will you cover for me?
4.Mary, you may get in trouble for being absent at the personnel meeting. I suggest you lie low for a few days …
5.Miss Cooker, could we slip away somewhere and have a little talk …
6.We all have disappointments. You have to learn to take the bitter with the sweet. That’s life …
B
a)… that’s to say, let’s escape quietly and have a talk in secret.
b)… All I mean is don’t let’s talk about business at the party. It’s out of place here.
c)… what I’m trying to say, I learned everything from the very beginning.
d)… what I am getting at, could you please conceal my absence or maybe someone could handle my work?
e)… all I’m saying is that we finally came to an agreement that it is inadequate.
f)… I mean I had always worked alone.
7.All right everyone, we’re not here to talk shop. Let’s have a good time …
8.I had never teamed up with anyone else before …
Key: 1c; 2e; 3d; 4h; 5a; 6g; 7b; 8f.
g)… what I’m driving at, learn to accept the bad things along with the good things.
h)… in other words, it would be wise to keep quiet and not to be noticed.
34.As you should always speak to the benefits of your prospective employer, do not just mention facts, but state benefits about these facts and how it can relate to the company.
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Say what benefits of hiring you may result from the statements below. Use the phrases from Ex. 30.
Model:
– I have an extensive computer and word processing experience. (I mean you will save time and money as there will be minimal learning time and immediate results.)
1.My co-workers always praise me for being reliable and punctual.
2.I had perfect attendance at my previous place of employment.
3.I always deliver more than what is expected.
4.I am always eager to learn and try new things.
5.I get along with others very well.
6.I have exceptional organizational skills.
7.When necessary I work long hours until the task is completed.
8.I like to play sports in my free time.
9.I am career-oriented and take my work seriously.
Dialog 2
35.Listen to each dialog in turn and answer the questions: a) What position is the applicant seeking? b) Why is the applicant looking to leave his present job? c) Does the applicant manage to compensate for his weaknesses on the job? d) Can the applicant start working right away?
36.Listen to each dialog again and repeat after the speakers. Follow the script if necessary. Trade roles.
At an Interview
a) In the Secretary’s Office
Applicant: Good morning. My name is Steve Cooper. I have an interview with Mr. Howard at 11:30. I hope I’m not too late.
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Secretary: Oh, yes, you are quite in time. If you’d like to take a seat, Mr. Cooper. Mr. Howard is seeing another candidate, but I’m sure he won’t be long.
Applicant: Okay. Thank you.
Secretary: In the meantime, please fill out the application form. Are you applying for a job in the Sales Department?
Applicant: No, the Accounting Department. I’m hoping to join the firm as a computer operator. Writing computer programs, operating the computer, you know, that sort of thing.
Secretary: I see. That’s a fairly good job, isn’t it?
(A voice on the intercom) Miss Wilson, please send in the next candidate, Mr. Cooper, if he’s here.
Secretary: Yes, he is. I’ll bring him in, Mr. Howard. Mr. Cooper, follow me, please.
b) In the Interview Room
Applicant: Good morning, Mr. Howard.
Interviewer: Good morning. Come in, Mr. Cooper. Do have a seat and let’s get started. In your application, you say that you only spent ten months with your last job. Why are you looking to leave your present job?
Applicant: Actually, I like my present job very much, but my potential for growth is limited there. Besides, the firm is relocating abroad, and I don’t think I can manage it because of my circumstances.
Interviewer: Now I’d like to talk about what you know about our company.
Applicant: I know that you are a developing company quickly expanding its activity. So you need a team of creative people to be competitive in the area …
c) Getting through the Interview
Interviewer: Now, let’s talk about some other things. How do you handle the least interesting or least pleasant tasks of a job?
Applicant: Mmm. The best way I can answer is that every job in this field has routine tasks, which have to be done, too. Doing them is part of satisfaction of doing the job well.
Interviewer: OK. And what do you think your major weaknesses are?
Applicant: Oh, how shall I put it? Some people consider me a perfectionist, you know, I usually strive for perfection. Moreover, I’m too detail-oriented, I always try to get things right.
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Interviewer: And how do you compensate for your weaknesses on the job?
Applicant: I would say I tend to take on too much myself, so now I’m trying to delegate more. Besides, I don’t think I’m as organized as I’d like to be, so what I now do is to use checklists. I find this helps.
Interviewer: Could you give me a specific example of time when you didn’t meet the deadline?
Applicant: Well, once I was in a rush, and I knew I wasn’t going to meet the deadline but instead of accepting it, I stayed late and worked over weekend. I still didn’t make it.
d) Nearing a Close
Interviewer: Now, some more questions to close up the interview. When would you be able to start?
Applicant: Well, let me see. I can’t start right away as I have to give my present employer a two weeks’ notice. But I may come on evenings or weekends to familiarize myself with the new position. Actually, I can begin working on November 15th.
Interviewer: I think that’s all, Mr. Cooper. You should hear from us in a couple of weeks, one way or the other, or we’ll ask you to come back for another talk. Thank you.
Applicant: Thank you very much. Goodbye.
Interviewer: Goodbye. (Into the intercom) Next candidate, please, Miss Wilson.
37.Sometimes it is difficult for you to answer a question right away, so you may need a little more time to think it over. These phrases will help you do that:
–Well, let me see.
–Well, let me think.
–I’ll have to think about it.
–That’s a good question.
–How shall I put it?
–Shall I put it that way?
–Let’s put it this way.
–The best way I can answer that is … .
–Mmm, that’s a difficult question. Let me see.
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38. Answer the following interview questions, giving yourself time to think. Work in pairs.
Model:
Interviewer: What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
Applicant: Oh, that’s a good question. I think it depends on my performance on the job and the opportunities for growth, but I am ready to take on more responsibility in the future.
1.How would you describe yourself?
2.Would you describe yourself as a risk-taker, or someone who plays it safe?
3.What things are important for you on the job?
4.Do you have a geographical preference? Are you willing to travel?
5.Why would you leave your present job?
6.Do you work well under pressure?
7.How do you generally handle a conflict?
8.What kind of people do you work well with?
9.How do you go about making important decisions?
10.What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
11.What are the skills you need most to advance your career?
12.How far do you expect to advance with this company?
13.What was your greatest failure / success?
14.What do you do in your spare time?
15.How much do you think we should pay you?
ROLE PLAY
39.Think of a position you would like to apply for. Make up a dialog following the situation and the strategy suggested below. Work in pairs.
Situation: At the Job Interview. Agree on the number of people on the interviewing board, so that the questions to the applicant may be shared among the interviewers.
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INTERVIEWER |
APPLICANT |
Greets the Applicant. Asks if it was difficult to get to the interview.
Asks the Applicant to speak about him / herself.
Asks to describe his / her friend and what he / she does for living.
Asks about the Applicant’s participation in extracurricular activities while in college.
Asks about his / her summer job mentioned on the resume and whether it was important.
Asks about his / her greater strengths and weaknesses.
Asks about the reasons for leaving his / her previous job.
Answers the greeting. Responds. Produces some copies of the resume and distributes them among the interviewing board.
Gives a brief presentation of his / her marketable skills.
Describes him / her focusing on the points that make them similar and different (presenting a person they’d like to hire). To make him / herself clear says something in another way.
Indicates social duties and responsibilities s/he had.
Highlights things s/he learned, people s/he helped, employers s/he pleased.
Thinks over the answer. Takes time to stress his / her good points while just mentioning his / her shortcomings.
Explains having received a better offer. Says some words in favor of his / her previous job, boss, and colleagues.
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Asks about his / her attitude to working under pressure and having to meet deadline.
Asks some technical questions to know his / her competence in the field.
Asks about his / her salary expectations.
Invites the applicant to ask some questions.
Asks about the time s/he would be able to start.
Closes up the interview.
Assures that s/he can be counted upon in emergency.
Shows his / her proficiency in the subject.
Gives a salary range.
Asks some well-formulated questions.
Sounds most cooperative.
Expresses gratitude for the interview. Takes leave.
Responds.
40.Conduct mock interviews for a few positions in Appendix 1. Trade roles. After each interview, identify the areas for improvement as well as the strengths of both interviewer and interviewee.
Commentary
dress code – a set of principles or rules that determines how you dress
coordinates – articles of clothing that form a pleasing ensemble when worn or used together
overdress – to dress too warmly, too showily, or too formally for the occasion underdress – to dress more plainly or informally than is indicated by the occasion drop by – to visit someone informally without arranging a particular time
put down (a person) – to speak unworthy about a person
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