The Job Interview

A job interview is your opportunity to present your talents to a prospective employer. During the interview, the employer judges your qualifications, appearance, and general fitness for the job. Equally important, the interview gives you a chance to evaluate the job, the employer, and the company. The interview helps you decide if the job meets your career needs and interests and whether the employer is the kind you want to work for.

To present your qualifications most advantageously, you have to prepare for the interview: you should know how to act to make the interview an opportunity to "sell" your skills.

Careers officer speaking:

– What makes a good interview? First, good preparation before the interview. Three simple guidelines will help you. Guideline number one is – find out as much as possible about the company where you are going for an interview. For example, you can get a lot of useful information from the company's brochures, annual reports, and catalogues. Two, find out if the interview is with one person or with a group of people, and what their jobs are. It's very useful to know something about the interviewers before you meet them. And three, make a checklist of the questions you want to ask at the interview. Remember an interview is two-way process. The company finds out as much as possible about you, and you find as much as possible about the company.

So, that's what you need to do before the interview.

Now the interview itself. There are seven more guidelines to remember here.

Guideline number four: dress smartly. A suit or something formal is best. Five, arrive in good time. Arriving late for the interview is the worst thing you can do. Rule number six: create a good first impression. First impressions are very important. Start the interview with a smile, a firm handshake, and a friendly manner. Guideline number seven: try to stay positive and relaxed during the interview. I know that's difficult. As a rule, people don't feel relaxed, but your body language gives the interviewer a lot of information about you. You want that information to be positive. Number eight: don't give only “Yes” or “No” answers. Talk freely about yourself, give reasons for your opinions, and explain why you're interested in the job. Nine: ask questions. Remember the checklist of questions you prepared before the interview. Show you're interested! Finally, guideline number ten: learn from the interview. Analyze your performance afterwards and think how you can improve the next time!

2. Look through the plan of the job interview. Can you give any other advice to a candidate?

Before the interview:

1. Find out all you can about the company.

2. Find out the interviewer’s name and office phone number.

3. Find out where the interview is held.

4. Find out how to get there and how long it will take you to get there.

5. Make sure you know what the job involves.

6. Dress to look clean and neat.

During the interview:

1. Arrive early. Call ahead if you’re delayed.

2. Try to smile and show confidence.

3. Ask questions and show interest in the job.

4. Be polite, listen carefully, and speak clearly.

“Don’ts”:

1. Don’t panic, even if faced by more than one person. (Breathe deeply and remember all your good points.)

2. Don’t slouch or look bored. (Stand and sit straight, make eye contact.)

3. Don’t smoke or chew gum.

4. Don’t give one-word answer or say you don’t care what you do.

3. Read, translate and role-play the dialogue.

Interviewer: Are you working?

Mr. Guzman: Yes, I am.

Interviewer: Exactly what do you do?

Mr. Guzman: I’ma mechanic. I work in a small auto shop with three mechanics and supervise all auto repairs. I diag­nose problems, make repairs and also check all the repairs in the shop. I have experience with both American and foreign cars.

Interviewer: How long have you been working there?

Mr. Guzman: For three years.

Interviewer: What other jobs have you had? And what did you do?

Mr. Guzman: I was a maintenance mechanic in a plastics factory. I repaired the production machinery. I also did all the general maintenance work and made all electrical re­pairs.

Interviewer: How long were you there?

Mr. Guzman: For about three years.

Interviewer: Tell me about your education and any special training you've had.

Mr. Guzman: I graduated from high school in Colombia in 1980. After high school I went to a university for one year and studied engineering. Now I'm studying English at Ale Community College.

Interviewer: What other skills do you have?

Mr. Guzman: I can do general bookkeeping and billing.

Interviewer: Why do you want to change your job?

Mr. Guzman: The auto shop I work in is very small. There is little room for advancement.

Interviewer: What hours can you work?

Mr. Guzman: I prefer to work days, but I could work any hours.

4. Answer the questions.

1. What is your future profession? / What is your profession /oc­cupation?

2. Had you a dilemma in choosing your profession /occupation?

3. What subjects have you always given your preference to?

4. Did your parents (friends) impose their views, likes and dis­likes on you?

5. When did you make a choice to become an English teacher (a lawyer, an economist, an accountant, a doctor, a designer, etc.)?

6. What do you have to do to master English?

7. What is your regular business?

8. Have you got a big personnel /staff?

9. How do you (your parents) earn your (their) living?

10. What special education does your (future) profession require? Name some other occupations in which special education or training is required.

11. How many hours a day do you (your parents) work?

12. Are you satisfied with your salary?

13. What are the merits and demerits of your (your parents') job? Give your reasons.

14. What is the noblest and most difficult of professions?