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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #118886: A job interview 1: organising it...





    > Other English exercises on the same topics: Speaking | Jobs [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Vocabulary: greeting people - Vocabulary: on the phone - On the phone - Interacting with someone - Dialogue : What time...? - Conditional clauses - Differences between Like and As - Eating out-Vocabulary
    > Double-click on words you don't understand


    A job interview 1: organising it...


    This lesson will have two different steps. Indeed, when I planned it, it quickly became obvious that I wouldn't be able to have the whole matter in just a few words and only one test. If I did, I would have to "sum up dramatically" and sacrifice what is essential for students. I refused to do that.  

     

     

     

    Here, we're going to deal with a topic that you have asked for as a necessity, and which is very important. We'll have to learn what's essential to manage to "ace"... A JOB INTERVIEW!..., a real test that should be prepared quite seriously. Please, be patient and work with a will! I give you the FORCE! 

    In this first part, we'll see how to prepare this important test, in the long run, seeing the attitude you have to adopt before taking the test: study grammar, some key constructions and tenses, and a few expressions of useful vocabulary. In the following lesson, we'll then concentrate on what you MUST absolutely get ready for:  the usual questions you're most likely to be asked during interviews.  

     

     

     

    YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GO FOR A JOB INTERVIEW (where you'll need to speak correct English...) Here are a few important points to work on (in the long run): 

    Before the interview, don't be afraid to speak, using small talk = thank for the "invitation".

     - Thanks for inviting me to this interview.

    Show interest in the company. 

    - Is the position based in this building, or elsewhere? / How many people work here? / the offices are impressive./ I see you have an open plan. 

     

     

     

    I) What you're showing about yourself:  

    1) Take care of your appearance and of the way you introduce yourself: 

    ◼️ If a specified dress code is requested, see (Lesson test), respect it. You should always think about the position you're interviewing for, in order to adapt yourself and wear the suitable clothes. Whatever style they have, your clothes should always be clean and you should take care of your appearance and invest in your image. (wear casual clothes, if it is specified, or more formal ones.)  Women should pay attention to their necklines, to the length of their dresses or skirts, sleeves.  I'm awfully sorry to have to make such sexist remarks, but the business world has its rules and its demands! 



    ◼️   Female or male, make an effort to have a clean and handy hairdo, with no excentricity...

           





    2) Pay attention to your posture and body language: your body speaks louder than words. Your initial handshake can reveal a lot about yourself

     

            

     

    (Don't slouch, stare,  frown or fidget; sit up straight, maintain eye contact and SMILE. 

     



    3) Do not hesitate to establish eye contact, (but avoid staring) and SMILE. 

     

                   

     

    II) A necessary preliminary work: 
    Your CV as well as your Cover Letter will already be at your future employer's disposal. Then, you'll have to clear up and develop some aspects of your 
    professional experience  (your former position/ why you left/ what you're expecting) and of your personal experience: voluntary work / clubs/ activities.

    You'll also have to prepare the answers to the most frequent questions.  (Following lesson 2)

    You should know how you're going to answer the interviewer's questions beforehand. Recruiters ask the same list of job interview questions at almost every interview, but they're expecting to hear specific answers. 




    III) Your English is important, but what you're saying is what really matters.

                                                    

     

    1) Some grammar constructions must be revised and perfectly mastered: 

    ◼️  present perfect= (HAVE + past participle): remember that this tense is used to express the results of an action, therefore, it will be very convenient for your purpose. 

    - I have planned... / I have organised... / I have always appreciated working in a team and have encouraged... / After reading the job description, I have realised... / I have been working as a... for... years/  



    ◼️ 
    the preterite: (= base verb + ed/ 2nd column of irregular verbs): indicates that the action was in the past; it is often accompanied by a date.

    - A few years ago, I had to let some employees go... / For a difficult project, I used the team environment to check for errors... / I stayed late every day that week to help... / We exceeded the initial estimations...

    * if clauses... = the unreal present: If I had/ were... I would... (You have to imagine something that doesn't exist... but that can reveal a lot about you...) 

    and, of course, the answer to the usual question:  If you were an animal, which one would you be? If I were an animal, I'd be a .....





    2) A few keywords and expressions: 

    ◼️ Your answers must be grammatically correct describing example given in your past experience.  (Don't forget to answer the questions:  When? Where? What happened? What were your actions? What were the RESULTS?

    - When I was a student at X College, I had four projects due in the same week; therefore, I created a schedule, broke every part of my work in different steps and gave them back on time. My Professor was very satisfied. 

     

    ◼️ Listen carefully to the questions and do not hesitate to say if you didn't understand them: (Yet, do not overuse this!  )

    - Sorry, I didn't quite get/ catch what you've asked me. 

    - Sorry, can you please repeat the question? 

    - Just so I'm clear, you're asking about... 

    - Excuse me. Can you clarify....?

     

    There you are... ready for the test? The FORCE is with you.  

    Step 2 is here: test

     



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    1. ' I’m shy, and when I maintain , I might think I’m , and will automatically blush... Very annoying! '

    2. ' I a team for years and in 2007 several collaborators for the company’s interest. A horrible experience... '

    3. ' Of course, for your job interview, you should respect the conventional , not wear , and pay attention to your , Sandra... '

    4. ' As they have already read your they’ll know you’re committed to on a weekly basis.'

    5. 'If I had to be an animal, a lion! Definitely! Is that bad?'

    6. 'Excuse me, I’m not sure I understood this question... what aspect of the team work you’d like me to develop, please?'

    7. ' Yes, I’m very good at organising , mine and my collaborators’.'

     

       








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