Job interview funs

1

Newspaper Editor: So you’d like a job on our paper?

Cub Reporter: Yes, sir.

Editor: Have you ever told a lie?

Reporter: No, but I’m willing to learn.

(Am.) cub – новичок

2

HR Manager to job candidate: «I see you’ve had no computer training. Although that qualifies you for upper management, it means you’re under-qualified for our entry level position.”

Several weeks after a young man had been hired, he was called into the personnel manager’s office.

“What is the meaning of this?” the manager asked. “When you applied for the job, you told us you had 5 years’ experience. Now we discover this is the first job you’ve ever had.”

“Well,” the young man said, “in your ad you said you wanted somebody with imagination.”

PART 1

1. Pre-reading discussion.

a) Speak about your best (worst) job interview. What went wrong? What was good?

b) Give your advice on what should be done before and during the interview.

c) Read the text and check your answers.

Interviewing for a job

A job interview may last for thirty minutes, or it may take several hours; it may be conducted by one person or by several, either at one time or in a series of interviews. Since it is impossible to know exactly what to expect, it is important to be as well prepared as possible.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

Learn as much as you can about your potential employer before the interview. Consult with people whose judgement you respect. Use all available resources. Talk with people who are already working in this company. These questions can be:

What kind of business is it?

Does the business provide a service and, if so, what kind?

How large is the firm?

Is it a subsidiary of a larger operation?

Is it expanding?

Where will you fit in?

This kind of information can be obtained from current employees, from company publications, or from back issues of the local newspaper’s business section (available at the public library). You should try to learn about the company’s size, sales volume, products and new products, credit rating, and subsidiary companies from its annual reports, and from other business reference sources.

Such preparation will help you to speak knowledgeably about the firm or industry as well as to ask intelligent questions of the interviewer.

It is a good idea to try to anticipate the questions an interviewer might ask and to prepare your answers in advance. The following is a list of some typical questions posed in job interviews:

Why do you want to work for this company?

What was your previous position?

What are your short-term and long-term occupational goals?

What are your major strengths and weaknesses?

Do you work better alone or with others?

How do you spend your free time?

DURING THE INTERVIEW

Promptness is very important. Be sure to arrive for an interview at the appointed time. It is usually a good idea, in fact, to arrive ahead of time, since you may be asked to fill out an application before meeting the interviewer. Take along your resume, even if the company already has a copy. For one thing, the interviewer may want another copy; for another, the resume contains most of the information required on an application.

Remember that the interview will actually begin before you are seated. What you wear and how you act will be closely observed. The way you dress matters: it is usually best to dress conservatively and to be well groomed.

Remain standing until you are offered a seat. Then sit up straight – good posture suggests self-assurance – and look at the interviewer, trying to appear relaxed and confident. It is natural to be nervous during an interview, but be careful to remain alert. Listen carefully and make an effort to remember especially important information. Do not attempt to take extensive notes during an interview, although it is acceptable to jot down a few facts and figures.

When answering questions, don’t ramble or stray from the subject. Take a minute to think before you answer difficult question; not only will the time help you collect your thoughts, but it will also make you appear careful in your answer. Say only what you must in order to answer each question and then stop; however, avoid giving just yes and no answers, which usually don’t permit the interviewer to learn enough about you. Some interviewers allow a silence to fall just to see how you will react. The burden of conducting the interview is the interviewer’s, not your – and he or she may interpret it as a sign of security if you rush in to fill a void in the conversation. But if such a silence would make you uncomfortable, be ready to ask an intelligent question about the company.

Highlight your qualifications for the job, but admit obvious limitations as well. Remember also that the job, the company, and the location must right for you. Ask about such factors as opportunity for advancement, fringe benefits (but don’t create the impression that your primary interest is security), educational opportunity and assistance, and community recreational and cultural activities (if the job would require you to relocate).

If the interviewer overlooks important points, bring them up. But if possible, let the interviewer mention salary first. If you are forced to bring up the subject, ask it as a straightforward question. Knowing the prevailing salaries in your field will make you better prepared to discuss salary. It is usually unwise to bargain, especially if you are a recent graduate. Many companies have inflexible starting salaries for beginners.

Interviewers look for self-confidence and an understanding, on the part of the candidate, of the field in which he or she is applying. Less is expected of a beginner, but even a newcomer must show some knowledge of the field. One way to impress your interviewer is to ask questions about the company that are related to your line of work. Interviewers respond favorably to people who can communicate easily and present themselves well. Jobs today require interactions of all kinds: person-to-person, department-to-department, division-to-division.

At the conclusion of the interview, thank your interviewer for his or her time. Indicate that your are interested in the job (if true), and tactfully get an idea of when you can expect to hear from the company.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW OR WHAT TO DO AT HOME

When you leave, jot down pertinent information you learned during the interview. (This information will be especially helpful in comparing job offers.) A day or two later, send the interviewer a brief note of thanks, saying that you find the job attractive (if true) and feel you can fill it well.