An Interview for a Job

It goes without saying that getting a job depends on how you talk and how you answer questions at the interview - in short, it depends on you. If you want to succeed, you must spend a little time preparing for the interview.

Rule One - never be late. Rule Two - if you have come too early, it is better to walk around outside than bother the inter­viewer with the problem of what you should do for the next 20 minutes.

If you are late, apologize distinctly, offer a reasonable explanation, and try to forget about it for the rest of the interview.

Pay attention to the way you are dressed. Your clothes should meet all the requirements of business style.

Usually the first question at an interview is: “Tell me about yourself”. You must briefly describe yourself, but your words should contain some information to make them take notice (заметить) of you. For example, you might say that at your previous job you achieved good results. You may be sure that the interviewer will liven up (оживится) and ask what results.

Never distort (искажать) the facts. During the interview some inaccuracies may turn up (появиться) and if you fail to explain them you may be struck off the list of candidates.

There is yet another standard question they may ask you: why are you looking for a job? Get ready to answer this question beforehand, and don't hesitate (колебаться) and don't think too long. You must find convincing (убедительный) reasons.

You may be interviewed in different ways but the interviewer will have a clear-cut (четкий, определенный ) aim – to find out what kind of person you are. In addition, he will be appraising whether you have the necessary set of knowledge and skills. Therefore, you must be ready to answer the most unexpected questions and describe your previous work experience.

Be ready for your interviewer to assess what you can do for the company that is going to employ you. You should be ready for the questions like "How do you see your future duties?"

The next question will usually be "What are your strong points?" Remember that an answer like "I can do everything" won't do. The enumeration of your valuable merits (достоинство) - "I am energetic, hard-working, loyal and so on" - will produce no effect unless you back them up (подкреплять) with examples.

"What are your weak points?" You must also be able to answer this question. Be ready to speak about failures or mistakes in your career, since no one will believe that you had none, but don't start enumerating all of them. Tell your interviewers what conclusions you have drawn from your failures. Just remember that an employee who has the experience of overcoming failures and analyzing his mistakes is much more valuable for the company because he won't lose his head when facing difficulties.

Think about the achievements you can mention at the interview. If you can't answer questions about them or mumble (бормотать) something unintelligible, your chances won't be great. If possible, quote some figures or examples.

Be ready for practical tests. If you apply for a job as a salesperson you may be asked to sell something or you may be required to describe some production situation, to express your opinion on the settlement of the conflict in a hypothetical situation.

What salary are you expecting? Think of concrete figures. You should found your answer on the average salary of other employees having the same qualification. If you are sure that the company is interested in you, you may increase your demands but, naturally, not to scare off (отпугнуть) your employer.

As a rule, they will ask at the end of an interview if there is anything you would like to know. This is your turn (очередь) to interview a staff member. No matter how interested you are in this position, remember that you should not only be selected but actively choose the job, for it may not be the job you have been dreaming about.

19. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What is a resume? 2. What is a standard practice to begin a resume with?
3. What essentials and facts make up (составляют) your per­sonal data? 4. What option may be included in your resume after your per­sonal data? 5. What will be the next portion of your resume if you are a re­cent graduate with limited business experience? 6. What should you highlight in this case? 7. Is this desirable to expand on any courses you took or spe­cialized training you may have participated if they are relevant to the position you want? 8. What should you begin your resume with if you posses a strong background in the work? 9. What will the information include in this case? 10. In what order should you give your list of positions if you posses a strong background in the work? 11. What might you include into a brief section giving an insight into your leisure and non-work activities? 12. What should be the final point (пункт) of your resume? 13. What does getting a job depend on? 14. What is the first question at an interview? 15. What is another standard question they may ask you? 16. What question should you be ready for? 17. What will the next question be?
18. What question must you also be able to answer? 19. What will they ask at the end of an interview?

20. Перескажите тексты, дав ответы на вопросы 19 упражнения:

21. Прочтите слова и запомните их:

trucking – грузовые перевозки

mess - беспорядок

Santana - Сантана (фамилия)

right person - подходящий человек

typist - машинистка

typing course - курс машинописи

talker - разговорчивый человек

be friendly - проявлять дружелюбие

phone - телефон

basket - зд. мусорная корзина

hard worker - трудолюбивый человек

Прочтите текст и ответьте на вопросы:

Job Interview

Mr Johnson is the boss of a trucking company. His office is in a mess. There are papers, books and boxes everywhere. Nothing is clean, nothing is in order. He needs a good secretary.

Mrs Santana wants the job. She is in his office for an inter­view. He is surprised because she is an old woman and she has no office experience. Mrs Santana is talking:

“I’m the right person for this job. I'm a good typist. I took a typing course last year. I can type 50 words a minute. I'm a good talker and friendly on the phone… and I’m organized.

You see, I’m a mother. I’m the mother of 5 children. At home everything is organized, my house is clean and in order. I'm sure you want your office the same way.”

Mr Johnson is interested.

“Mr Johnson, look at your office. There are papers, books and boxes everywhere. Your basket is full. The date on your ca­lendar is the fifth. Today is the tenth. I can take care of every­thing in your office, and I’m a hard worker.

Mr Johnson, I’m the right person for this job.”

Mr Johnson is sitting in his chair and smiling.

“Mrs Santana, when can you start?”

1. What kind of a company is this?

2. Who is the boss of the company?

3. In what condition is his office?

4. Whom does Mr Johnson need?

5. What does Mrs Santana want?

6. Why is she in Mr Johnson’s office?

7. Has she any office experience?

8. Is she a young woman?

9. Why is Mr Johnson surprised?

10. Does Mrs Santana speak on any course she has taken?

11. What kind of course is it?

12. What does she say about herself?

13. What does she say about her house?

14. Does it mean (означает) that in this way she has highlighted her personal achievements?

15. What disorder (беспорядок) does she find in Mr Johnson’s offiсe?

16. How does she emphasize her competence?

17. Has Mr Johnson employed her?

18. Does it show that she has proved (доказала) her suitability to the job?

22. Выучите диалог:

A JOB VACANCY

Оleg was watching TV when the telephone rang.
It was his American friend Dick Jones.

Dick: Oleg, I hope I’m not calling too late.

Oleg: No, Dick, I was watching television. How are you?

D.: I’m fine. I’m calling you at such a late hour because there is good news for you. An hour ago I spoke to a friend of mine. He’s on the Board of Directors at “A&B Instrument Company”. They have an immediate opening for a software programmer. They are looking for a specialist in this field. I told my friend about you. He wants to know if you can come tomorrow for an interview. You shouldn’t miss this op­portunity.

O.: Dick, you’re absolutely right. I agree with you completely. I realize that I should see the interviewer; but what about my job at the gas station?

D.: Oh, come on. Don’t tell them where you are going. Just tell your supervisor you have some personal business to attend to. Promise him to make up the time.

O.: That makes sense, Dick. But I'm a bit afraid because of my poor English.

D.: Stop worrying about it. All you have to do is to explain your previous experience. You can do it perfectly well. You’ve to show your experience but not English stylistic subtleties. Even a few grammatical errors won't harm you. I'm sure you’ll feel at ease with the interviewer.

O.: I hope so. I’ve made up my mind and I’m going to see the interviewer.

D.: Okay. Would you write down the address?

O.: All right. I’m listening.

D.: 620 Broadway, 25 th floor. Ask for the personnel depart­ment. Don't leave home without your resume. Good luck.

O.: Thank you, Dick.

PREPARING A RESUME

Jack Holden: I’m pleased to meet you. Peter. My sister Linda has often spoken about you.

Peter Bubinsky: I’m happy to meet you, Jack.

J.: So you’re a newcomer from Russia. How long have you been in New York?

P.: I’ve been living here about 10 months.

J.: Do you like living here?

P.: Yes, I do. New York is a fascinating city.

J.: Do you have a job?

P.: Yes, I do. But this is a sad story. I’m an electronics engineer without American experience. Now I'm a cab driver.

J.: Don’t lose heart. Driving a cab is not what you have dreamed of. But if you have a good professional background, sooner or later you’ll get a job in your special field. Do you have a resume?

P.: Yes, I do. I have it with me.

J.: Could you show it to me? I happened to work for the person­nel department of a large company.

P.: Here it is.

J.: (reading the resume) That kind of resume won’t get you a high-level job. Major companies receive about 300 resumes a week. They ignore 290 of them.

P.: What’s the reason for it?

J.: Many job hunters stress details that don’t count.

P.: But my resume should reflect my professional experience, shouldn’t it?

J.: Yes, of course. You describe yourself as an electronics engi­neer. That’s not enough. No doubt you have advanced knowledge. But what is your objective? What kind of posi­tion do you want? What abilities qualify you for a job as an electronics engineer with Manhattan Electronics to name just an example? You should tell about your strengths and experiences which will let you do that job. Your strengths should be given more space. Other information could be left out.

P.: Sometimes it’s rather difficult to decide what to stress and what to leave out.

J.: An employer’s main interest is what you can do for the com­pany. Include information that shows that you are the right kind of person for the job. Leave out anything that might give an employer reason for passing you by.

P.: But what about the lack of American experience? That’s a serious obstacle to getting a job.

J.: If the employer realizes that you are a right man for a particular position, he will give you an appointment. Write an­other kind of resume and show it to me.

P.: Thank you so much.

J.: You are welcome. Call me as soon your resume is ready.

23. Английский юмор:

“One of the most tactful men I ever knew,” says a California manufacturer, was the man who fired me from my first job. He called me in and said, “Son, I don’t know how we’re ever going to get along without you, but starting Monday we’re going to try”.

manufacturer – промышленник

fire – увольнять

get along without – обходиться без

Список использованной литературы

1. Агабекян И.П. Английский для технических вузов. – Ростов-на-Дону: Феникс, 2000.

2. Рыжков В.Д. Английский язык в бытовых и деловых ситуациях. – Калининград: Янтарный сказ, 2003.

3. Голицынский Ю., Голицынская Н. Грамматика. Сборник упражнений. – СПб: Каро, 2005.

4. Хведченя Л.В., Хорень Р.В., Крюковская И.В. Практическая грамматика современного английского языка. – Минск: Интерпресссервис, 2002.

5. Саакян А.С. Упражнения по грамматике современного английского языка. – М: Рольф, 2001.