Successful interviews
UNIT 7 Preparing
for the interview Making
positive first impression
Dealing
effectively with interview questions
Avoiding
common mistakes Role-play
game
Preparing for the interview
Preparation is the key to a successful interview. The other candidates may have similar qualifications, skills and experience. The interview is your opportunity to prove you are the best candidate for the job. Ensuring you are well-prepared will help you to reduce stress, increase your confidence and improve your chances of being offered the job.
SPEAKING 1. In pairs, discuss the following tips for preparing for the interview. Which ones do you think are more important? Which ones would you do first?
Try to predict the questions you are likely to be asked during the interview.
Do some research into the company you are applying for a job with.
Find out exactly what the job involves.
Analyse your skills and experience and identify areas where they match the job requirements and the company needs.
Rehearse the interview.
Decide what you are going to wear.
Prepare a list of questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Making positive first impression
You
never get a second chance to make a first impression. People start
forming their impression of you immediately, looking at the outside
and making assumptions about the inside. It is your responsibility
to ensure that you send out the right message about who you are,
through your physical appearance, your clothes and your body
language.
SPEAKING 2. Discuss the following interview tips. Write do or don’t next to each tip. Prove your answer.
Arrive ten minutes early.
Speak English with a friend before the interview.
Bring a close friend or relative with you for support.
Take a copy of your CV and examples of your work with you.
Learn some impressive words and phrases to use in the interview.
Memorise long answers to questions that you anticipate being asked.
In pairs, discuss what you can do to create a positive first impression with an interviewer. Think about the following points.
Your appearance
Body language
How to “break the ice” with the interviewer
Dealing effectively with interview questions
Responding to questions at an interview is your opportunity to give evidence of your skills and experience, prove you know what the job entails, and demonstrate that you are the best person for the job.
SPEAKING 4. Discuss the following questions.
What questions might you expect to be asked in any job interview?
What advice would you give somebody about dealing with interview questions?
5A. Look at the following common interview questions. Write the type of question (a-c) next to each question (1-14).
a. Questions that require you to talk about yourself, your ambitions, your personality, your hobbies and interests.
b. Questions that require you to prove you have researched the job and company you have applied for work with.
c. Questions that require you to demonstrate you have the skills and experience required for the job.
1. Can you tell us something about yourself? a
2. What experience do you have that is relevant for this position? ____
3. What did you learn during your time at university? ____
4. What do you see as your strengths? ____
5. What do you think about our website? ____
6. What attracted you to the position? ____
7. How would your colleagues describe you? ____
8. What sorts of projects did you work on in your last position? ____
9. What university did you attend and why did you choose it? ____
10. How do you typically approach new projects? ____
11. What do you know about our company? ____
12. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? ____
13. What kinds of things do you worry about? ____
14. Would you say you are an ambitious person? ____
5b. Try to think of some more questions for each category (a-c).
5c. In pairs, take turns to ask and answer the questions in exercise 5a and 5b. Which questions are easiest to answer? Which are the most difficult?
Read more of these typical questions at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk or by searching, for example, on Google.
L
ISTENING
6a.
Alejandro is a recent Economics graduate, practicing for an
interview at an international bank. Listen to his answers to the
four questions in Exercise 5a. What questions was he asked?
6b.
Discuss what you think of Alejandro’s answers, and suggest ways in
which he could improve them.
6
c.
Listen to a recruitment expert, Grace, commenting on each of
Alejandro’s answers. Do you agree with her?
6
d.
Listen to the answers Alejandro gives in the real
interview. How has he improved his responses?