How to behave during an interview

It’s evident that getting a job depends on many factors, among them writing a strong job application and CV or resume. Your behavior during an interview, however, is often the best and often the most important stage in getting a job.

During an interview you might be asked about yourself, your family, your education, your friends, your hobbies, your previous job, your interests and talents, business you plan to have, your strong and weak points, adaptability, flexibility, responsibility, ambition, your failures and experience of overcoming them.

Your possible questions to the interviewer may concern your future job, your coworkers, your salary, your promotion, your duties, possible difficulties (problems).

If you get an invitation for an interview you should try to choose the proper clothes and colour. Remember that your personal appearance sends a message even before you have an opportunity to shake hands with your interviewer.

Interviews may be conducted by one or by several people.

The interview is an opportunity for the applicant to project his/her personality and convince the interviewers of his/her suitability for the job.

1. Pay attention to the way you are dressed.

When you are properly dressed you demonstrate respect and consideration for those with whom you interact.

Your hairstyle, nails and choice of cosmetics will contribute to your appearance.

Your clothing should meet the requirements of business style, it's very important that you should feel comfortable in your suit.

2. Be ready to speak about yourself. Your words should contain something to make people take notice of you. Describe briefly your experience at previous jobs and the good results you achieved there.

3. A standard question you may be asked - "Why are you looking for a job?" You should be ready to offer reasons which sound convincing.

4. You should organize your thoughts logically, have self-confidence, and never distort facts or try to persuade people to your way of thinking.

5. You must be ready to answer some unexpected questions: "What are your strong points?" and "What are your weak points?"

Your speech should be illustrated with clear examples. When speaking about your failures or mistakes be sure to emphasize the conclusion you have drawn after analyzing your failures and what they taught you.

Just remember that the capacity to overcome failures and analyze mistakes is valuable to any company.

6. You may be asked what you can do for the company or how you see your future duties. You should learn as much as possible about the company you aredealing with. If possible quote concrete figures or examples so that the interviewer will appreciate the extent of your contribution.

7. What salary are you expecting?

Think of concrete figures - you should base your answer on the average salaryof other employees with your qualification.

8. Be ready for practical tests - if you apply for a job as a salesmanager you may be asked to sell something or to express your opinion about how to settle a conflict in a hypothetical situation.

9. At the end of the interview you may ask some questions. You should enquire about what your future job will entail, what possible difficulties there are in store for you, and what the other staff members are like.

10. Some more advice:

1) Never be late.Even if you come too early, it is better to walk around outside than to bother the interviewer about what you should do for the next 20-15 minutes.

2) Remember that your speech should be more than mere words. How you speak sometimes is not as important as what you say.

3) Be yourself - just speak the way you speak with your friends. Try to overcome your nervousness. You can learn to control your nervousness rather than let it get the better of you. Try to accept nervousness as a natural way of helping you to be alert and do your best. Remember it is normal and natural for you to be a little nervous. As you speak, smile and try to change your facial expression to convey the emotions that you feel. A smile coupled with good posture can work wonders.

4) Much attention should be paid to eye contact. You should not look at the floor or at the ceiling. Look into the eyes of the people you are talking to.

Your speech is certain to be enthusiastic and lively.

Now think what kind of person you are.

You may use the following words to describe yourself and other people:

Topical Vocabulary

to be well-organized – быть хорошо организованным

to be reliable – быть надёжным

to be adaptable – быть адаптивным

to be energetic – быть энергичным

to be hardworking – быть трудолюбивым

to be experienced – быть опытным

to be modest – быть скромным

to be practical – быть практичным

to be punctual – быть пунктуальным

to be flexible – быть гибким

to be friendly – быть дружелюбным

to be honest – быть честным

to be responsible – быть ответственным

to be patient – быть терпеливым

to be independent – быть независимым

to be sociable – быть общительным

applying for a job – подавать заявление о приёме на работу

a letter of job application – письмо-заявление приёме на работу

curriculum vitae (CV) = resume(American version) – автобиография (обычно пишущаяся при поступлении на учёбу или работу)

a short written account of one^’s education – краткий письменный отчёт об образовании

past employment – прошлая трудовая биография

job-winning tips – советы для получения работы

to be worthy of smb^’s time – быть достойным того, чтобы занимать чье-то время

casual voluntary work – случайная общественная работа

to resume a working role – возобновлять, продолжать роль рабочего

to distort – искажать

salary – зарплата (заработная плата)

to be alert – быть внимательным, бдительным

Answer the questions:

1. What are the main job-winning tips?

2. What is a CV?

3. What is a resume?

4. How must one behave during an interview?

5. What else can you advise while interviewing?

10. What a Businessman Should Know

The First Four Minutes

When do people decide whether or not they want to become friends? According to Dr. Leonard Zunin during their first four minutes together in his book, "Contact First Four Minutes", he offers this advice to anyone interested in starting a new friendship. "Every time you meet someone in a social situation, give him your undivided attention for four minutes. A lot of people's whole lives would change if they did just that".

When we are introduced to new people, the author suggests, we should try to appear friendly and self-confident. In general, he says, "People like people who are like themselves". On the other hand, we should not make the other person think we are too sure of ourselves. It is important to appear interested and sympathetic, realize that the other person has his own needs, fears and hopes... That is not the time to complain about one's health or mention faults one finds in other people. It is not the time to tell the whole truth about one's opinions and impressions.

Dr. Zunin suggests that these first four minutes together be treated with care. If there are unpleasant matters to be discussed they should be dealt with later.

Tell your friend:

1) what are the five rules that a businessman should keep in mind when he meets someone in a social situation;

2) which of the rules you find especially useful;

3) which of them you follow.

One of the most important skills of a businessman is the skill of negotiating. Most negotiations are conducted with a view to reaching a compromise agreement. Both parties together move towards an outcome which is to mutual benefit.

This is a range of tactics which can help conduct negotiations.

It's no use immediately discussing business matters. The topic at the outset of negotiations should be neutral, non-business. It could be immediate experiences, the sort of journey the visitor has had: football, ice-hockey, the morning's newspaper headlines, common interests, etc.

Five per cent of the negotiating time is devoted to breaking the ice. The two parties adjust their thinking and behaviour to one another.

If you want to follow the reaction of your visitor introduce in your speech the question - "Agree?"

At the very beginning of the talks get agreement covering the purpose, plan, agenda of a meeting.

Here is some advice to a negotiator.

1. First discuss major items, then minor items.

2. Follow the headlines of the plan one by one.

3. Come over to the next point after you have resolved theprevious one.

There are always differences of view between the parties. Here is some advice on problem-solving tactics.

1. Present a problem in general and obtain the other party's view on it.

2. Look together at the possibilities of joint advantage.

3. Suggest practical actions to resolve a problem.

If negotiations are difficult and you are in a deadlock, take time-out. It'll help you build bridges between yourself and your partner when you resume negotiations.

Topical Vocabulary

to become friends - подружиться, стать друзьями

to start a new friendship – начать новую дружбу

to give smb undivided attention for some minutes – уделить кому-либо неподдельное внимание

to be introduced to – быть представленным (кому-либо)

self-confident - самоуверенный

in general – в общем

on the other hand – с другой стороны

to complain about one’s health – жаловаться на здоровье

to mention faults – упоминать ошибки

to be treated with care – обращаться заботливо

skills of negotiating – навыки при переговорах