225 Hartman Drive

Portsmouth, NH 03801

(603) 555-4606

January 22, 2001

Mr. Howard Speller, General Sales Manager

Speller Automobiles, Ltd.

315 Rolling Woods Highway

Dover, NH 03723

Dear Mr. Speller:

I am a recent college graduate with a B.A. Degree in Automotive Marketing & Management. I have also been part of a family-owned distributorship for nearly all my life, so cars are my life!

I noticed your advertisement for Automotive Sales and Marketing Assistant in the June l4th edition of the Dover Star, and have submitted my résumé for your consideration.

You mentioned in the advertisement that the successful must have:

1) A Bachelor of Arts degree I do

2) Excellent communication skills I do

3) Ability to work well with people at all levels I do

4) Eagerness to learn and “pay my dues” I am and I will

This is the job that I believe was made for me. I am available immediately and can offer you competence, dedication, and a good work ethic. If you don’t mind, I will call you next week to see if a personal interview can be scheduled.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to speaking with you next week.

Sincerely,

Nelly Nickleby

Interview / собеседование

An interview can be described as a planned discussion with a specific purpose. How does a selection interview differ from a conversation, a chat about a job?

A business manager needs to gather information that provides evidence about applicant’s ability to do the job, and to fit in with the work team.

But interviewing is a mutual exchange of information. It is an opportunity to give an applicant as much information about the job as possible so that they can decide whether or not they want to take it if it is offered.

A company wants people who accept job to be motivated to work for the business. Treating them with respect is important too.

The interviewer’s questions set out to get the candidates talking about their experiences and their lives in general. The answers can reveal whether they can do the job, plus their motivation and adjustment and give some indication of how they cope in a variety of situations – including those they are likely to be under pressure and stress.

The questions that are most effective in this regard are «open ended» questions. What..., why..., when..., how..., where..., and who... words help to keep questions open. Phrases such as «How did you do the stock-taking?», «Tell me about...» or «Can you explain...» should give a great deal of useful information.

The interviewees are to reveal their ability, experience, motivation and adjustment, they, not the interviewer, must do most of the talking. The best ratio is 60:40.

Common interview questions

Here are some common questions you are likely to be asked in an employment interview. Look through the sample answers to some of them and write your own version of a good answer to each of the questions:

1. Tell me about yourself.

Give a brief answer: no more than a minute. Tell something about yourself that relates to the job.

2. Why do you want to work for us?

We suggest a sincere answer: «My personal goals and the company goals and values are the same, and I want to be part of it».

3. What would you do for us?

Don’t presume to tell the interviewer exactly what you would do because you don’t know their «problems». It’s better to know enough about the organisation to relate an experience of yours which represents successful solving of a past employer’s problem.

4. What are your strong points?

It’s a good idea to relate your good points to the company when possible.

5. What is your biggest weakness? (A look-for-the-reaction type question.)

When you are asked for your biggest weakness, you’ve got to appear mortal! The idea here would be to give a weakness, which from the interviewer’s point of view isn’t much of a weakness. «Well I really don’t feel I have a weakness which affects my working ability. I think at times I have a tendency to be impatient and push people too hard to get a job done. Patience isn’t my strongest point».

6. Tell me one of your working experiences.

7. What did you like least about your previous job?

8. Why did you leave your last job?

9. How long will it take you to make a contribution to our firm?

10. How long would you stay with us?

11. What are your career goals?

12. How much do you expect to be earning five years from now?

13. Do you have any objections to a psychological evaluation?

14. Do you have any questions for me?