UNIDAD 4 SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWS

Preparing for the interview:

Congratulations! If you have been invited to an interview, you have passed a significant test. Your
CV and cover letter have made a strong first impression. You have been selected in front fo your
rivals, and made in to the short list.

Preparation is the key to a successful interview. The other candidates may have similar
qualifications, skills and experience. The interview is your opportunity to prove you are the best
candidate for the job. Ensuring you are well-prepared will help you to reduce stress, increase your
confidence and improve your chances of being offered the job.

a) In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Have you ever been interviewed for a job in English? How did it go?
2. How do you feel about going for an interview?
3. How can you prepare for an interview?
b) ¿In pairs, discuss the following tips for preparing for and interview, Which ones do you
think are more important? Which ones would you do first?
 Try to predict the questions you are likely to be asked during the interview.
 Do some research into the Company you are applying for a job with.
 Find out exactly what the job involves.
 Analyse your skills and experience and identify áreas where they match the job
requeriments and the Company needs.
 Rehearse the interview.
 Decide what you’re going to wear.
 Prepare a list of questions to ask at end of the interview.

Making a positive first impression

Before you arrive
You never get a second to make a first impression. People start forming their impression
of you immediately, looking at the outside and making assumptions about the inside. It is
your responsability to ensure that you send out the right message about who you are,
through your physical appearace, your clothes and your body language.
a) Imagine you met somebody new today. After a few minutes talking to you, what
might they say about you, for axample how successful or wealthy you are, your
level of education, or your professionalism?
b) In pairs, discuss what you can do to créate a posotove first impression with an
interviewer. Think about the following points.
 Your appearance
 Body language
 How to break the ice with the interviewer
 c) In pairs, discuss the following interview tips. Write do or don’t next to each tip.
1. Arrive ten minutes early.
2. Speak English with a friend before the interview.
3. Bring a close friend or relative with you for support.
4. Take a copy of your CV and examples of your work with you.
5. Learn some impressive words and phrases to use in the interview.
6. Memorise long answers to questions that you anticípate being asked.
d) Silvia carnali has been invited for an interview at the comunicstions agency,
Futerra. Before her interview she meets Nina, a human resources manager, for
some interview prepaaion tips. Listen to the conversation and write Nina’s
opinión (do/don’t) next to the tips (1-6) in Exercise 2c. do you agree with Nina?
What tips does Nina mention that are not included in the list above?
Small talk
The outcome of an interview can be decided in the first five minutes. From the moment
you arrive for an interview you are being assessed. Even before the interview itself begins
you will be communicating a message about who you are. In order to créate a positive
impression, it’s important that from the moment you arrive what you say is clear,
confident and enthusiastic.
3 a) Listen to extracts from the beginning of Silvia’s interview at Futerra and Alex
Mencken’s interview at a London theatre. Answer the following questions.
1. Why is Mr Lewis late for the interview?
2. What does Silvia read while she’s waiting?
3. What useful informatio does Silvia get from the receptionist?
4. How does Silvia créate a posotive first impression with Mr Lewis?
5. What do Alex and Karl chat about before the interview?
6. How does Alex créate a positive first impression with Karl?

b) In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. Silvia is very polite to the receptionist. Why is this important?
2. What does Silvia ask the receptionist? How could this help her application?
3. Alex mentions that a friend of his who Works at the theatre suggested he
applied for the job. Do you think this was a good idea?
c) 4.2Match the conversation openings (1-8) to the responses (a-h). listen to the
extracts again and check your answers.
1. I’m afraid Mr Lewis is in a meeting at the a. No, no trouble at all.
momento. b. No, thank you, I’m fine.
2. Can i get you anything while you wait? c. I know, It’s awful, isn’t it?
3. I’m sorry I’m late. Our meeting overran a d. Thank you, It’s nice to meet you too.
bit. e. You were highly recommended to me by a
4. How are you? friend.
5. It’s nice to meet you at last. f. I’m very well, thank you.
6. Did you have any trouble finding us? g. That’s quite all right.
7. I can’t believe the weather at the h. That’s okay, I was just admiring the office.
moment!.
8. How did you find out about us?

d) in pairs, practise the small talk in exercise 3c.

e) look at the following examples of interview small talk. Match the beginnings (1-
10) to the endings (a-j). would you say these to the receptionist (R), the
interviewer (I) or both (B)?

1. Do you think i could have a. I got caught in the rain…..

2. Do you have a Company brochure b. Your toilet to fresen up…
3. I’m very sorry i’m late c. A glass of wáter while i’m waiting?...
4. Do you think i could use d. I was planning to be here overa n hour
5. I was just admiring your office ago, but my train was cancelled…
6. Are there many other candidates e. I could have a look at while i’m
7. I had terrible problems parking here waiting?...
8. I’m afraid i’m not feeling very well f. Is it always this busy?...
9. The office is snaller than i expected g. It all looks very modern. Is it new?...
10. Is there somewhere i could leave my h. Do you have many people working
umbrela? elsewhere?...
i. Could I sit down for a few minutes?
j. Scheduled for interviews today?...

f) having some small talk helps to build a positive rapport with the interviewer. In
the UK the weather and transport problems are very common and appropriate
small talk topics. In pairs, discuss the following questions.
1. What small talk topics are commonly discussed in your country?
2. Are there any things you would avoid talking about?
g) In pairs, role play arriving at an interview and making small talk with the
receptionst.
Student A, you are the candidate. Try to get some useful information from the
receptionist. Which you can use later in your interview.
Swap roles and practise again.
Body language
Much of the impact you créate at an interview is based on your body language, and
getting this right is essential. The way you walk, sit and act may influence your
interviewer’s opinión of you as much as what you actually say.
4
a) In pairs, discuss the following questions.
1. How could your body language let you down in an interview?
2. How can you avoid these problems?
b) 4.3 Listen to five people speaking about body language and bad first impressions
in interviews. Write the extract number (1-5) next to the problem it mentions.
Then match each problem (a-e) to the advice on how to avoid (A-E).

1. Trembling voice… a. Make aye contact, but remember not to stare

2. Sweating… b. Politely decine tea or coffee
3. Bad posture… c. Breathe slowly and deeply
4. Shaking hands… d. Sit up straight and lean forward when speaking
5. No eye contact… e. Make sure you know in advance how to find the interview
venue.
c) What tips on body language would you give someone being interviewed for a job in your
country?

Dealing effectively with interview questions

Responding to questions at an interview is your opportunity to give evidence of your
skills and experience, prove you know what the job entails, and demonstrate that you
are the best person for the job.
5
a) In pairs, discuss the following questions
1. What questions migh you expect to be asked in any job interview?
2. What advice would you give somebody about dealing with interview
questions?
b) Look at the following common interview questions. Write the type of question (a-
c) next to each question (1-12).
a) Question that require you to talk about yourself, your ambitions, your
personality, your hobbies and interests.
b) Questions that require you to prove you have researched the job and Company
you have applied for work with
c) Questions that require you to demonstrate you have the skills and experince
required for the job
 1. Can you tell us something about yourself? …
R:
2. What experience do you have that is relevant for this position? …
R:
3. What did you learn during your time at university? …
R:
4. What do you see as your strengths? …
R:
5. What do you think about our webside? …
R:
6. What attracted you to the posotion? …
R:
7. How would your colleagues describe you?
R:
8. What sorts of projects did you work on in your last position? …
R:
9. What university did you attend and why did you choose it? …
R:
10. How do you typically approach new projects? …
R:
11. What do you know about our Company?
R:
12. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? …
R:

Talking about yourself

In all interviews you will be required to talk about yourself. The interviewrs want to find
out whenther you’re the type of person who would be able to do the job and also
whether your personality would fit in with the rest of the Company.
6
a) In pairs, discuss how you would answer the following questions.
1. Can you tell us something about yourself?
2. What did you learn during your time at university?
3. What kinds of things do you worry about?
4. Would you say you’re an ambitious person?

b) Alejandro is a recent Economics graduate, practising for an interview at an

international bank. Listen to his amswers to the four question in Exercise 6ª. In
pairs, discuss what you think of Alejandro’s answers, and suggest ways in which
he could improve them.