WHO IS WHO IN THE JOB INTERVIEW?

WRITE THE WORDS IN THE PICTURE

interviewer candidate interviewee recruiter

prospective employer prospective employee

4 people are telling stories from their job interviews. Some of the people were interviewers, some were
interviewees. Read the stories and do the exercises to each of them

STORY NO 1

Fill the gaps with these words: MIDDLE / ONLY / NATURALLY / COMFORTABLY / SLOWLY

“I had a video interview with a tech company. So __________, I only put a shirt and a tie on, ____________ sitting in
my boxer briefs in my living room. In the ___________ of the interview, they gave me some tasks to do, so I had to
go and get a piece of paper and a pen. I got up, ________ walked all the way to the other side of my room, came
back, and sat down at the computer. ________ after I finished talking to them I realised they’d seen everything.” I was
so embarrassed…
– Mike R.

STORY NO 2

Match the underlined expressions with their synonyms: DOING / EMPLOYED / IRRITATED / LEFT / LOOKED /
CHANGE THE DATE OF A MEETING / ANSWER / GIVING BIRTH / HAD TO

We were conducting panel interviews for a refinery operator position. One young man came in and while he did well
on the interview questions, he seemed very nervous and often looked at his watch. At the end of the interview, we
told him he needed to go to the medical department for a drug screen. He seemed very stressed at this news,
looked at his watch yet again and asked if it would take a long time. I was already annoyed at this point, so I asked
him if there was a problem and if he was in a hurry somewhere. We were all shocked by his response. He said, "No,
it's just that my wife is in labor. I dropped her off at the hospital on the way to the interview." When we asked why
he didn't call and reschedule the interview, he said, "Because I really need this job." He was hired, of course.

– Rob W.
STORY NO 3

Put the paragraphs in the correct order

During the interview the interviewer asked me to take a typing test. I explained that I couldn’t take the test because
of my thumb. I told them what had happened to me in the parking place. I offered to come back the next day to take
the typing test. The interviewer gave me a cup of ice water and I put my thumb in it while we continued the
interview.

I once applied for a position of a receptionist. I arrived at the office by car and after I parked my car, I got out, locked
the door and immediately locked my thumb [finger] in the door. My keys were already in my handbag and it was
difficult for me to take them with my one hand.

The next day I got a call from the company. I was hired without a typing test. They said that a person who could stay
as calm as I was with a hurt, swollen thumb was someone they certainly wanted to work for them in the reception.

I shouted for help but no one came. People just looked at me strangely and kept walking. I finally managed to twist
and turn and get my keys out of my handbag. I went to the office building and went into the interview.
Bobbie M.

Match the underlined expressions with their synonyms: SEND AN APPLICATION / BIGGER [after an injury] / QUIET
AND COOL / EMPLOYED / “WRITING” ON A COMPUTER / THE FIRST FINGER ON YOUR HAND

Exercise - Match synonyms

1. candidate a) a man’s underpants

2. recruiter b) answer

3. be in labour c) change the time of an appointment

4. briefs d) employ

5. response e) give birth

6. hire f) growing bigger because of an injury

7. reschedule g) interviewee

8. swollen h) interviewer