Lesson 2:

Preparing for a job interview

Paul: Guess what? I’ve just received a call from the company I sent my C.V. to!

Steve: Good for you. Have they scheduled an interview yet?

Paul: Yes. The day after tomorrow at 11 A.M. Now, I need your help.

Steve: How can I help you?

Paul: Well, I need to rehearse. Could you help me with some tips on how I should behave at
the interview?

Steve: Of course. Let’s go through the basics for a job interview: Have you done your
homework about the company?

Paul: Yes, but I need to do more research on it.

Steve: In addition, do you know where you are going for the interview?

Paul: Yes, but I do not know how to get there.

Steve: In this case, let’s look at the map because you must arrive early, at least 15 minutes.
Don’t you think so?

Paul: Of course.
Steve: Now, the important facts you must be aware of: look the part, good presentation
counts. Be confident because you have a real nice job experience. Also, do you have extra
copies of your résumé?

Paul: Yes, I do. I wonder what colour tie I should wear? Well, let’s rehearse. Ask me the first
question.

Exercise 1: Job interview questions: answer the questions using the prepositions ago and
since.

1- How long ago did you leave university?

2- How long ago did you do your internship?
3- How long have you ever been self-employed?
4- How long have you been driving?

Exercise 2: Complete with the appropriate term:

Salary, letter, responsible, experience, positions, resume, career, graduates, qualified

1- Job applicants should send their………………….. to the following address.

2- This office is looking for………………from European universities with degrees in
economics or management.
3- Candidates should have …………………… in management position with a minimum two
year-experience.
4- We are looking for newly-…………………. Computer programmers for our IT department.
5- The main duty is to be……………….. for the day-to-day running of the office’s operations.
6- The company offers excellent opportunities for promotion and…………….. advancement.
7- The company announces that two managerial………………have become available.
8- Please, include a cover…………….. and references with your C.V.
9- We offer a compatible……………… with the candidate’s job experience.

Exercise 4:

Match the tasks according to the job description:

1- Business consultant or a business process analyst

2- Vending machine refill person
3- Art Gallery Assistant
4- Technical Support Information Technology Assistant
5- Sales Representative

( ) Installing computers. Unboxing them, connecting all the cables, and powering them on.

( ) Greet guests, sell paintings, open or close the gallery, help in event settings, painting
setting...etc.
( ) The job description is the person assesses several companies and shows them where to
cut costs to yield a greater profit

( ) Collecting the coins that have been inserted in the machine to buy the products

( ) Conducts sales calls, responds to customer requests, and resolves any customer
complaints. Prepares bids.

Exercise 5:

Please explain the meanings of the following abbreviations and business terminologies from
advertising:

(C.A.O.) - ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

(C.O.O.) - …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Double-page spread - ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Prime time - ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

U.S.P. - ………………………………………………………………………………….

Job - ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Task - ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 6:

Elaborate resumes for different positions such as General Manager, Administrative Assistance,
Sales Representative, Purchase Department.
Answers:
Exercise 3:

Resume, graduates, experience, qualified, responsible, career, positions, letter, salary

Exercise 4:

4, 3, 1, 2, 5

Exercise 5:

(C.A.O.) - Chief Administrative Officer

(C.O.O) - Chief Operations Officer

Advertisement printed across 2 pages in a magazine or newspaper

Hours on radio & TV with largest audience, esp. the evening hours

Unique Selling Proposition: That what makes a product different from others.

A job is a collection of tasks and responsibilities that an employee is responsible to conduct. Jobs have
titles.

A task is a typically defined as a unit of work, that is, a set of activities needed to produce some result,
e.g., vacuuming a carpet, writing a memo, sorting the mail, etc.