JOB INTERVIEW.- Session 3.- Recruitment process.

What do you think is the key to a successful job interview? Can you think of any interesting pieces of advice tu succeed at job interviews? Let's read a text about this interesting topic and then do the exercise.

Breaking the ice.

During the first few minutes of the interview, job interviewers will 'break the ice' to help you feel comfortable. They will ask you about the weather or how you arrived to the job interview. 'Breaking the ice' is an important way to begin the job interview, but it shouldn't take too long. Make sure to give positive, but not too detailed answers to these 'ice breakers'.

• Give short, positive answers to questions.
• Don't go into too much detail.
• It's a good idea to make a pleasant comment yourself to break the ice. Keep it short, positive and simple.

Third person.

Sometimes, you may have found about a job opportunity through a third person. If this is the case, make sure to use the name of this person to your best advantage by mentioning it at the beginning of the interview.

• Mention the name of the third person at the beginning of the interview. Ideally, this should be done when asked about how you found the job opening.
• Provide the name of the third person. Don't go into too much detail about the relationship, unless asked.
• Give the name of the third person only once. Don't continue to repeat the name during the interview.
• Don't assume the job interviewer knows the person you are mentioning.

Language.

Talking about your job experience and how it relates to the specific job for which you are applying are the two most important tasks during any job interview. Make sure to use lots of descriptive verbs and adjectives to describe your responsibilities. For example, instead of the following job description: I talked to customers about their problems.

A more descriptive phrase with better vocabulary might be: I counseled customers documenting their concerns, and coordinating our response to their individual needs.

• Take some time to prepare descriptive sentences concerning your responsibilities.
• Make sure to connect your past experience to the position.

Text adapted from http://esl.about.com/od/jobinterviewing/a/Job-Interviewing-Listening-Comprehension.htm

• A (indefinite article): we use it with singular countable nouns (not specific)

  I have a new car.

• AN: we use it instead of a when the next word begins with a vowel sound.

  They want to have lunch at an expensive restaurant.

  Whether we use a or an with a word depends on the sound, not the spelling.

  an honest person, an hour BUT a university, a uniform.

• THE (definite article): we use it with

  countable nouns (specific): Let's go to the new theatre.
  plural countable nouns (specific): I found the keys you lost.
  uncountable nouns (specific): He gave them the money and then left.

• NO ARTICLE (zero article): we use it with

  plural countable nouns (general): Do newspapers have a future?
  uncountable nouns (general): You should eat fresh fruit every day.

• SPECIAL RULES:

Here are some examples of verbs and adjectives which are usually followed by a specific preposition. You will probably be familiar with most of them, but do you always get the preposition right? Pay special attention to the prepositions that are different in your language.

VERB + PREPOSITION

• She often listens to the radio in the morning.
• I never agree with my friends about politics.
• He got married to a German girl.
• We may go to the park today. It depends on the weather.
• Don't worry about your exam. I'm sure you'll pass.
• She applied for a job last week.
• I never write emails to my friends. I always phone them.
• This book belongs to Mark.
• I never think about the future.
• He spends a lot of money on clothes.
• I never borrow money from friends.
• If you don't know how to do the exercise, ask for help.
• I am waiting for the bus.
• When was the last time you talked to a friend about your problems?
• She told me she works as a secretary. I think she works for a multinational company.
• I can't concentrate on anything at the moment.

ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION

• He was never very good at sport.
• She's afraid of spiders.
• I'm very interested in architecture.
• She's similar to her sister, but very different from her brother.
• My sister is very worried about her exams right now.
• The park is full of rubbish.
• My boyfriend is very bad at remembering anniversaries.
• There is something wrong with this DVD.

The following exercise shouldn't be too difficult. Let's give it a try.

Once you get a job interview, you need to be prepared. What kind of questions do you think you are going to be asked? Here is a list that might help you?

Text adapted from: http://www.learn-english-today.com/business-english/interviews.html

In order to answer all the questions that you would be asked in a job interview, you need to know a few words that might be useful to describe yourself and your skills. By using precise vocabulary and being confident you can make the best impression possible.

The following verbs can help you to express responsibilities and tasks performed in a previous job.