12. Role play 2: The job interview.

The Landscape Institute advertised the position of a landscape architect, received a lot of CVs and covering letters from potential candidates and chose the best of them to attend the job interview.

Work in pairs and role-play this job interview. You should decide which of you is going to be an applicant and which one is going to be an interviewer.

Description of roles.

The interviewers should ask the applicants some questions about their qualifications and previous professional experience. They should find out what skills, abilities and personal qualities the applicants have, what they expect from the job they are applying for, and what contribution they can make to the development of the company. They may also invite the applicants to ask questions about their role in the company, future responsibilities, etc.

The applicants should be ready to talk about their education, experience at previous jobs, major achievements and everything that can suit the position they are applying for. They should do their best to prove their suitability to the position. At the end of the interview they may ask the interviewers some questions themselves.

When role-playing the job interview you should use some of the questions listed in the Appendix II and the following sample interview:

Interviewer: Good afternoon, Mr. Aniston, please have a seat.

Interviewee: Thank you.

Interviewer: How are you doing today? Did you have any trouble finding the office?

Interviewee: I'm fine, thank you, and I had no trouble at all getting here.

Interviewer: Great. Well, let's get started. Could you tell me a little about your educational background?

Interviewee: Yes, I graduated from the Wichita State University in 2006, with a Master’s degree in Landscape Design Management. After that I completed certification course in Landscape Design from Butler college in Wichita.

Interviewer: I see. Now, how about your work experience?

Interviewee: After I left Butler college, I worked for a year at the Future Landscape Design.

Interviewer: And after that?

Interviewee: From there I moved to San Francisco and was employed by the Garden World.

Interviewer: What were your most important responsibilities at your previous jobs?

Interviewee: I was responsible for supervising landscape construction work, preparing site plans, land use, studies, reports, evaluating designated sites and developed designs as well as for maintaining good client relationships. You can see a full description of my experience and duties on my resume.

Interviewer: How did you like your last job?

Interviewee: Overall, I liked it a lot. The people were great and my boss was supportive and understanding.

Interviewer: Then why did you leave it?

Interviewee: In fact, I am seeking a position which will offer a greater challenge and more responsibility and I think that the position in your company is the best choice possible.

Interviewer: What are your strong points for this position?

Interviewee: I should say I can work under pressure and meet the tightest deadlines, besides, I am good at establishing interpersonal relationships with any clients and have strong organization skills.

Interviewer: Do you have any weaknesses?

Interviewee: Well, I feel very shy about speaking in public. I am planning to find a mentor to help me deal with this problem.

Interviewer: OK. What do you do in your spare time?

Interviewee: I am very fond of sports, I often play tennis, swim and go skiing.

Interviewer: Oh, that sounds good. And now, is there anything you’d like to ask me?

Interviewee: Yes. Will I have to make business trips abroad?

Interviewer: Yes, probably, as we have expanded our business to some countries of Western and Eastern Europe.

Interviewee: Oh, I see. I would be very glad to take this opportunity.

Interviewer: Well, thank you for your time. We'll be making a selection in a couple of days and will call you one way or the other.

Interviewee: Thank you for seeing me. Have a pleasant day.

Unit 3