An explanation essay is a type of
After you
academic paper in which the author
presents some point of view or opinion on a
particular topic, subject, event, or situation.
It’s worth noting that an explanation essay is
also known as an expository essay.
An explanatory essay is all about presenting
a neutral view on the set topic by providing
analysis from research. Its primary goal is to
present a lucid explanation as to why things
happened the way they did. After reading
your essay, the audience should have a
clear understanding of your point of view,
even if they don’t pick your side.
Usually, the author of the explanatory essay
decides upon a set topic and then
approaches the issue from a specific angle.
In most cases, this angle is complicated and
gives room for discussion. The author
presents a point of view of his or her choice
that fairly explains why a certain outcome
was reached.
The typical format for an explanatory paper
is the traditional 5-paragraph essay. Usually,
this includes an introduction, three body
paragraphs (limited to one subtopic each),
and a conclusion. This is a basic essay
format.
•Keep in mind that the explanatory writing
doesn’t need to be limited to five
paragraphs — you can make it longer. No
matter how many paragraphs you decide to
include in your essay, be sure that your
introduction includes a powerful thesis
statement. Also, double-check if the paper
is based on facts rather than personal
opinion. Last but not least: make sure to
connect paragraphs with transitions.
Most explanatory essays tend to be a page
or two in length. That's why the overall
essay is usually around 5 paragraphs long.
Remember that your introduction should
present the topic to the audience. Also, it’s
vital that you incorporate the thesis
statement in the last paragraph.
are done with it, try to develop the body
paragraphs with the information detailed in
the thesis statement. Finally, include a
conclusion that summarizes your essay's
key points after the restatement of the
thesis. As you can see, creating an
explanatory essay outline is not as difficult
as it may seem at first glance. And now let’s
dig deeper into the definition of the
explanatory essay thesis.
Explanatory thesis- When talking about a
thesis statement, most people usually mean
one or two sentences that summarize the
main idea of their academic paper and
clearly express what it is they are going to
say about the given topic. Overall, your
thesis statement identifies what topic will be
discussed and the purpose of your essay.
As the explanatory essay is tailored to
explain or acquaint your readers with
something, the goal of the explanatory
thesis is to tell readers what it is you are
going to explain and what aspects of the
topic will be considered.
Once you’ve chosen a suitable topic, it’s
time to draft an outline of your explanatory
essay. The best option here is to stick to five
paragraphs that were mentioned above:
draft an introduction, three main body
paragraphs, and a conclusion. The outline
helps students ensure that they follow a
logical pattern to detail all their trains of
thought. After completing all of the above
steps - review your material and start writing
your explanatory paper.
Each explanatory paper should start with an
introduction.
● Try to capture your audience’s
attention.
● No matter how you decide to do that
- it may be a quote, rhetorical
question, catchy motto, or anecdote.
 ● Feel free to improvise and use your
imagination.
● Picking a hook thesis statement is
also important.
● After presenting a thesis statement,
include any necessary information
that gives a background of the topic.
● The last sentence of your
introduction should integrate a thesis
statement to give a preview of the
content in the body paragraphs.
The Body
● No matter how many paragraphs
you decide to include in your
explanatory essay, they all should
follow a similar style.
● They all should be in line with each
other and maintain a certain flow in
the paragraphs. Within each
paragraph, you are to include a
claim that is linked to the thesis
statement. This way, it will be easier
to connect all the points.
● Try to support your claims with
evidence from external sources.
Make your readers feel confident
about the information, you present to
them.
● Don’t forget to integrate a concluding
statement that offers a summary of
the claim's significance.
● The concluding statement should go
along with the thesis statement. In
simple terms, all body paragraphs in
your explanatory paper should follow
this format.
The Conclusion
● Restate your thesis. This way you
will bring your
readers’ attention back to the main point as
well as add strength to your presented point
of view.
● Summarize your supporting points
presented in each of the body
paragraphs accordingly. Restate the
importance of each one. This way
you will logicall defend your
explanatory thesis.
● Provide an overall concluding
statement. In other words, explain
the value of the particular point of
view chosen from a global
perspective. Your goal here is to
captivate your readers to study the
subject further on.
Cite your sources
● This one is an absolute requirement
when writing an explanatory essay.
You better try hard in this area. A
successful explanatory essay will be
factual and contain verifiable
information. Cite your sources and
make it easy for the audience to
check where you drew your facts.
Revise your essay
● After completing your explanatory
paper, it’s always a good tip to revise
it a couple of times. To make your
revision phase more effective we
advise you to answer the following
questions:
● Does the essay give an objective
analysis that unfolds logically? Did I
use relevant facts and examples in
your essay?
● Has the information in my paper
been communicated to the
audience? Is the word choice
precise?
 ● Did I use transitions and linking
words in the essay to help the
reader’s understanding?
● Does the concluding paragraph
communicate the value and meaning
of the thesis statement and
supporting ideas?
Edit your essay
● Double-check your paper for
different of mistakes and typos.
When proofreading your paper,
make sure that nobody distracts you.
It would be perfect if you revise and
proofread your essay in silence. If
you notice any kinds of errors - edit
your paper to improve both style and
clarity. Even though your essay
should be clear and concise, also
think about how to make it engaging
and lively as well.
● Share your essay with a close
person
● Showing your essay to your parent,
friend or other readers can be both
useful and exciting. They can give
you their opinion on what should be
changed.
● They can also notice some grammar
or punctual mistakes you missed
while writing the essay. Overall, it is
always good to use feedback to
make your essay even better.
Benefits of writing a diary
● There are many reasons why we
journal. From travel journals, dream
journals, and gratitude journals to
prayer journals, we keep specific
journals for differentn aspects of our
life. In the past, many people kept
personal journals, where they recorded the
day’s events and their observations. Without
diarists like
1. Keeps your thoughts organized.
● Diaries help us to organize our
thoughts and make them
apprehensible. You can record daily
events, thoughts and feelings about
certain experiences or opinions.
2. Improves your writing.
● If you want to practice or improve on
your writing, the best thing to do is to
start a journal. You may not have the
perfect topic. All you need to do is to
start writing your thoughts. The more
you write, the more your writing
improves.
3. Set & achieve your goals.
● A journal is a good place to write
your goals,ambitions, aspirations
and new year resolutions. By
keeping them in a diary, you can
monitor your progress and feel
motivated to continue to focus on
your next milestone!
4. Record ideas on the go.
● The benefit of keeping a journal is
that you can record all of your ideas
in one place anytime and anywhere.
Whenever an idea comes to your
mind, you can write it down in your
journal. You can then revisit these
ideas, later on, to look for new links,
form conclusions, or even get a
fresh idea!
5. Relieve stress.
● Writing down your feelings helps you
to "brain-
dump" your anxieties, frustrations and pains
on a journal. This can help you to reduce
and release any stress which you have
accumulated over time.
● Expressing yourself in a diary is a
good way to free up any tension that
prevents you from feeling happy.
6. Allows you to self-reflect
● As Ferris Bueller once said, “Life
moves pretty fast. If you don't stop
and look around once in a while, you
could miss it.” Our fast-paced lives
can become even more hectic as we
start shouldering on more
responsibility, making us feel the
pressure as others place high
expectations on us. This results in
us getting frenzied as we are easily
caught up with the day-to-day.
7. Boosts your memory.
● Your brain is likely to store
information that you have written
down in your diary. Your brain will
make stronger connections with the
information you have learned after
you write them down in a diary,
making it easier for you to recall in
the future too!
The Structure
A clear, concise, and defined thesis
a statement that occurs in the first
paragraph of the essay.
● In the first paragraph of an argument
essay,
students should set the context by reviewing
the topic in a general way.
● Next the author should explain why
the topic is important or why readers
should care about the issue. Lastly,
students should
present the thesis statement. It is essential
that this
thesis statement be appropriately narrowed
to
follow the guidelines set forth in the
assignment. If
the student does not master this portion of
the
essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an
effective or persuasive essay.
Clear and logical transitions between
the introduction, body, and conclusion.
•
Transitions are the mortar that holds the
foundation of the essay together. Without
logical
progression of thought, the reader is unable
to
follow the essay’s argument, and the
structure will
collapse. Transitions should wrap up the
idea from
the previous section and introduce the idea
that is
to follow in the next section.
Body paragraphs that include evidential
support.
•
Each paragraph should be limited to the
discussion
of one general idea. This will allow for clarity
and
direction throughout the essay. In addition,
such
conciseness creates an ease of readability
for one’s audience. It is important to note
that each paragraph in the body of the
essay must have some logical connection to
the thesis statement in the opening
paragraph.
● Some paragraphs will directly
support the thesis statement with
evidence collected during research.
It is also important to explain how
and why the evidence supports the
thesis .
● However, argumentative essays
should also consider and explain
differing points of view regarding the
topic.
● Depending on the length of the
assignment, students should
dedicate one or two paragraphs of
an argumentative essay to
discussing conflicting opinions on
the topic.
● Rather than explaining how these
differing opinions are wrong outright,
students should note how opinions
that do not align with their thesis
might not be well informed or how
they might be out of date.
Evidential support (whether factual,
logical, statistical, or anecdotal).
● The argumentative essay requires
well-researched, accurate, detailed,
and current information to support
the thesis statement and consider
other points of view. Some factual,
logical, statistical, or anecdotal
evidence should support the thesis.
However, students must consider multiple
points of view when collecting evidence.
● It is unethical to exclude evidence
that may not support the thesis. It is
not the student’s job to
point out how other positions are wrong
outright, but rather to explain how other
positions may not
● be well informed or up to date on the
topic.
● A conclusion that does not simply
restate the thesis, but readdresses it
in light of the evidence provided.
● This is the portion of the essay that
will leave the most immediate
impression on the mind of the
reader. Therefore, it must be
effective and logical. Do not
introduce any new information into
the conclusion; rather, synthesize
the information presented in the
body of the essay.
● Restate why the topic is important,
review the main points, and review
your thesis.
● You may also want to include a short
discussion of more research that
should be completed in light of your
work.
Whether you're a small business owner or a
student, you'll benefit from improving your
public speaking skills. Some benefits to
speaking in public include:
● improves confidence
● better research skills
● stronger deductive skills
● ability to advocate for causes
Some Tips for Public Speaking
1. Understand the Expectations and
Learn the Details
● Gather all of the information
regarding location,technical setup,
time you’ll be speaking, dress, topics
to include/avoid, type of
presentation, etc.
● Having all of this information ahead
of time will
 ● help you prepare a presentation that
fits the occasion and resonates with
your audience.
● It’ll also help you avoid technical or
logistical snafus that can add
unnecessary stress.
2. Know Your Audience
● It’s important to understand your
audience as it is to understand the
subject you’ll be discussing in front
of them.
● To connect with your audience, you
need to understand why your topic is
important to them. What do they
expect to learn from the
presentation? Don't assume the
audience is like you. They may have
cultural or geographic biases and
the more you understand them, the
better you can express yourself to
them and avoid speaking gaffes. It is
also important to know the level of
knowledge they have about your
topic, so you can present the
information with the correct tone to
keep people interested and
engaged.
3. Organize Your Material
● Create the framework for your
speech. Write down the topic,
general-purpose, specific purpose,
central idea, and main points. Make
sure to grab the audience’s attention
in the first 30 seconds.
4. Watch for Feedback and Adapt to It.
● Keep the focus on the audience.
Gauge their reactions, adjust your
message, and stay flexible.
● Delivering a canned speech will
guarantee that you lose the attention
of or confuse even the most devoted
listeners.
5. Let Your Personality Come Through.
● Be yourself, don’t become a talking
head—in any type of
communication. You will establish
better credibility if your personality
shines through, and your audience
will trust what you have to say if they
can see you as a real person.
6. Use Humor, Tell Stories, and Use
Effective Language.
● Inject a funny anecdote in your
presentation, and you will certainly
grab your audience’s attention.
Audiences generally like a personal
touch in a speech. A story can
provide that.
A debate is a discussion or structured
contest about an issue or a resolution.
● A discussion, as of a public question
in an assembly, involving opposing
viewpoints.
● A formal contest in which the
affirmative and negative sides of a
proposition are advocated by
opposing speakers
Types of Debate
Formal Debate
● Formal debates are held in formal
meetings such as in school, the
House of Representatives, and in
the senate. Debaters come
prepared, equipped with the
knowledge they need to be able to
reason out effectively.
● A topic is debated upon and the
debaters listen to the arguments
raised by the other debaters from
which they build their arguments and
argue their position.
Informal Debate
● Does not follow a strict structure.
While there are two sides- the
affirmative and the negative- it takes
place anywhere and does not have
to involve two teams. It may take
place between two or more people,
arguing for or against a certain
issue.
Structure for Debate
● A formal debate usually involves
three groups: one supporting a
resolution (affirmative team),one
opposing the resolution (opposing
team), and those who are judging
the quality of the evidence and
arguments and the performance in
the debate.
● The affirmative and opposing teams
usually consist of three members
each, while the judging may be done
by the teacher, a small group of
students, or the class as a whole. In
addition to the three specific groups,
there may be an audience made up
of class members not involved in the
formal debate.
● A specific resolution is developed
and rules for the debate are
established.
Style is the manner in which you
communicate your arguments. This is
the most basic part of debating to
master. Content and strategy are worth
little unless you deliver your material in
a confident and persuasive way.
Speed- It is vital to talk at a pace that is fast
enough to sound intelligent and allow you
time to say what you want, but slow enough
to be easily understood.
Tone- A varying tone is what makes you
sound interesting. Listening to one tone for
an entire presentation is boring. Be
expressive enough!
Volume- Speaking quite loudly is
sometimes a necessity, but it is by no
means necessary to shout through every
debate regardless of context. There is
absolutely no need to speak any more
loudly than the volume at which everyone in
the room can comfortably hear you.
Shouting does not win debates. Speaking
too quietly is clearly disastrous since no one
will be able to hear you.
Clarity- The ability to concisely and clearly
express complex issues is what debating is
all about. The main reason people begin to
sound unclear is usually that they lose their
“train of thought” which is keeping them
going. It is also important to keep it simple.
While long words may make you sound
clever, they may also make you
incomprehensible.
1. Work Together
● When playing in the teams, it is
always recommended to cooperate
and speak as much as needed. If
the members of your team have
common goals, each of you should
be able to make their investment into
the result. If you don’t know how to
prepare for a class debate, here you
will learn about it.
● Your team should also get the
necessary information and start
working on your topic, finding
arguments, and gathering evidence.
2. Write Individual
Speeches
● Before discussing anything together,
each speaker should have time to
brainstorm. They will write their own
 list of arguments and evidence. It
helps everyone to concentrate and
find as many arguments as you can
find when speaking with others.
● Then, you have to discuss all the
speeches collectively and consider
which arguments are the most
appropriate for your discussion.
Each member of the team should
have an opportunity to state their
position.
3. Analyze The Evidence
● You have to write a speech based on
facts, and if your arguments are not
supported by evidence, you should
not use them. That is why it is
necessary to read your evidence
before using it to prove your
position. To know how to prepare for
a debate competition, you should
learn to find evidence. Access online
databases, necessary books, and
other resources that may contain
information on your topic.
4. Arguments For Both Sides
● If you are going to present
arguments against a specific
statement, it doesn’t mean that you
shouldn’t find arguments in support
of this statement. You have to be
ready for the arguments from your
opponent so try to foresee what they
could tell you. By doing it, you
become prepared for comments
from your opponents. If you don’t
know how to do it well and how to
find evidence for both sides, get
debate help from people with
experience.
5. Prepare Your Speeches
● If you haven’t taken part in such
discussions before,
it would be difficult for you to start, that is
why, if you prepare them well, your
presentation will help you win. If everyone
from your team creates their own speech
and then you compile them, it will be a
good start. You will probably have a small
amount of time for writing arguments and
discussing them with your team.
● Professional communication in
written form requires skill and
expertise. From text messages to
reports, how you represent yourself
with the written word counts.
● Writing in an online environment
requires tact, skill, and an
awareness that what you write may
be there forever. From memos to
letters, from business proposals to
press releases, your written
business communication represents
you and your company: your goal is
to make it clear, concise, and
professional.
Texting
● Whatever digital device you use,
written communication in the form of
brief messages, or texting, has
become a common way to connect.
It is useful for short exchanges, and
is a convenient way to stay
connected with others when talking
on the phone would be
cumbersome.
● Texting is not useful for long or
complicated messages, and careful
consideration should be given to the
audience. Although texting will not
be used in this class as a form of
professional communication, you
should be aware of several of the
principles that should guide your
writing in this context.
Email
● E-mail is familiar to most students
and workers. It may be used like
text, or synchronous chat, and it can
be delivered to a cell phone. In
business, it has largely replaced
print hard copy letters for external
(outside the company)
correspondence, and in many cases,
it has taken the place of memos for
internal (within the company)
communication.
● E-mail can be very useful for
messages that have slightly more
content than a text message, but it is
still best used for fairly brief
messages. Many businesses use
automated e-mails to acknowledge
communications from the public or to
remind associates that periodic
reports or payments are due.
● E-mails may be informal in personal
contexts, but business
communication requires attention to
detail, awareness that your e-mail
reflects you and your company, and
a professional tone so that it may be
forwarded to any third party if
needed. E-mail often serves to
exchange information within
organizations.
As with all writing, professional
communications require attention to the
specific writing context, and it may
surprise you that even elements of form
can indicate a writer’s strong understanding
of audience and purpose.
Open with a proper salutation.
Proper salutations demonstrate respect and
avoid mix-ups in case a message is
accidentally sent to the wrong recipient. For
example, use a salutation
like “Dear Ms. X” (external) or “Hi Barry”.
Include a clear, brief, and specific
subject line.
This helps the recipient understand the
essence of the message. For example,
“Proposal attached” or
“Your question of 10/25.”
Close with a signature.
Identify yourself by creating a signature
block that automatically contains your
name and business contact information.
Avoid abbreviations.
An e-mail is not a text message, and the
audience may not find your wit cause to
ROTFLOL (roll on the floor laughing out
loud).
Be brief.
Omit unnecessary words.
Use a good format.
Divide your message into brief
paragraphs for ease of reading. A good
e-mail should get to the point and
conclude in three small paragraphs or
less.
Reread, revise, and review.
Catch and correct spelling and grammar
mistakes before you press “send.” It will
take more time and effort to undo the
problems caused by a hasty, poorly written
e-mail than to get it right the first time.
Reply promptly.
Watch out for an emotional
response—never reply in anger—but make
a habit of replying to all e-mails within
twenty-four hours, even if only to say that
you will provide the requested information in
forty-eight or seventy-two hours.
Avoid using all caps.
Capital letters are used on the Internet to
communicate emphatic emotion or yelling
and are considered rude
Memos
● A memo (or memorandum, meaning
“reminder”) is normally used for
communicating policies, procedures,
or related official business within an
organization. It is often written from
a one-to-all perspective (like mass
communication), broadcasting a
message to an audience, rather than
one-on-one, interpersonal
communication.
The Purpose
● It may also be used to update a
team on activities for a given project
or to inform a specific group within a
company of an event, action, or
observance.
● One effective way to address
informal, unofficial speculation is to
spell out clearly for all employees
what is going on with a particular
issue. If budget cuts are a concern,
then it may be wise to send a memo
explaining the changes that are
imminent. If a company wants
employees to take action, they may
also issue a memorandum.
● While memos do not normally
include a call to action that requires
personal spending, they often
represent the business or
organization’s interests. They may
also include statements that align
business and employee interest, and
underscore common ground and
benefit.
Memo Format
● A memo has a header that clearly
indicates who sent it and who the
intended recipients are. Pay
particular attention to the title of the
individual(s) in this section. Date and
subject lines are also present,
followed by a message that contains
a declaration, a discussion, and a
summary.
● In a standard writing format, we
might expect to see an introduction,
a body, and a conclusion. All these
are present in a memo, and each
part has a clear purpose. The
declaration in the opening uses a
declarative sentence to announce
the main topic. The discussion
elaborates or lists major points
associated with the topic, and the
conclusion serves as a summary.
Audience orientation
● Always consider the audience and
their needs when preparing a memo.
An acronym or abbreviation that is
known to management may not be
known by all the employees of the
organization, and if the memo is to
be posted and distributed within the
organization, the goal is clear and
concise communication at all levels
with no ambiguity.
Professional, formal tone
● Memos are often announcements,
and the person sending the memo
speaks for a part or all of the
organization. While it may contain a
request for feedback, the
announcement itself is linear, from
the organization to the employees.
The memo may have legal standing
as it often reflects policies or
procedures, and may reference an
existing or new policy in the
employee manual, for example.

Subject emphasis
● The subject is normally declared in
the subject line and should be clear
and concise. If the memo is
announcing the observance of a
holiday, for example, the specific
holiday should be named in the
subject line—for example, use
“Thanksgiving weekend schedule”
rather than “holiday observance.”
Direct format
● Some written business
communication allows for a choice
between direct and indirect formats,
but memorandums are always
direct. The purpose is clearly
announced.
Objectivity
● Memos are a place for just the facts
and should have an objective tone
without personal bias, preference, o
interest on display. Avoid
subjectivity.
Letters
● Letters are brief messages sent to
recipients that are often outside the
organization. They are often printed
on letterhead paper, and represent
the business or organization in one
or two pages. Shorter messages
may include e-mails or memos,
either hard copy or electronic, while
reports tend to be three or more
pages in length. While e-mail and
text messages may be used more
frequently today, the effective
business letter remains a common
form of written communication. It can
serve to introduce you to a potential
employer, announce a product or
service, or even serve to
communicate feelings and emotions.
● All writing assignments have
expectations in terms of language
and format. The audience or readers
may have their own ideas of what
constitutes a specific type of letter,
and your organization may have its
own format and requirements.
Minutes of Meeting
● Meeting minutes are the official
summary of what happened during a
meeting. They serve as an outline, a
written record for anyone unable to
attend and to use for future
reference. Minutes document what
happened and what decisions were
made. When written well, and when
using a good meeting minutes
template, minutes are a critical
communication tool for your
organization. In this guide, learn and
access everything you need towrite
effective formal and informal
meeting minutes.
Business Proposals
● A business proposal is a document
that’s designed to persuade an
organization to buy a product or
service.
● A proposal is usually solicited or
unsolicited – meaning, that the
purchasing company is either
actively seeking proposals that meet
a specific need or is reacting to an
offer, often from a sales person to
consider a proposal.
Three Major Parts of Business Proposals
● Problem Statement- defines the
problem faced by a business and
also identifies what the solution
would look like. It can be seen as the
starting point for coming up with a
product vision.
● Proposed Solution- explains how
you can address or resolve the
concern/s besetting the client.
 ● Costing/pricing- the part which
explains the fee needed to be
conveyed throughout the process( of
said business proposal).
The Job Interview
● A job interview is a conversation that
occurs between a potential employer
and a job applicant. During the job
interview, the employer has the
opportunity to appraise the
applicant’s qualifications,
appearance and general fitness for
the job opening. In parallel, the
applicant tries to learn more about
the position, to appraise the
employer and find out if your needs
and interests will be met
● Think of the interview as a
conversation between two people
where each person is trying to learn
more about the other. The interview
process is a two-way street. You are
traveling toward a goal—the right job
and the employer is traveling toward
a goal—the right hire.
1. Emotional Intelligence
During an interview, hiring managers will
look for you to demonstrate "awareness" --
both in the context of the interview and in
terms of your past
accomplishments.
Be aware of and express emotion, which
shows that you possess empathy for other
people. Share the credit for your
achievements and commend colleagues or
mentors who helped you get to where
you are today. This demonstrates
selflessness and appreciation for the help of
others, a common trait in emotionally
intelligent people.
2. Informed
A recent Glassdoor survey of 750 hiring
Managers revealed that "being informed" is
the number one skill candidates should
possess to ensure a great interview.
Hiring managers are uniquely positioned to
understand the ins and outs of a role, its
offerings, and the specific characteristics
required. Given the breadth of this
knowledge, you'll need to do your
homework and come prepared with
information to drive a well-informed and
engaging discussion.
3. Active Listener
When preparing for an interview, it's
understandable to want to focus as much
time as possible on your answers.
Active listening is a technique that requires
full concentration and a clear mind. If you're
nervous during an interview (which most
candidates are), your natural response will
either be to over-talk or spiral into a
cascading waterfall of endless thought.
4. Good Manners
You might be the most qualified and
deserving candidate in the world, but if you
don't act with a certain level of grace and
decorum you risk losing the position before
you've even started.
Every touchpoint within a job interview
matters from the initial email or phone call to
your welcome conversation with the
secretary or personal assistant. Each
interaction offers you a chance to
demonstrate thoughtfulness.
5. Honesty
This is an absolute deal-breaker for
practically every hiring manager out there. If
you lie about your CV or past
accomplishments, you risk being found out.
There's never any reason to lie during a job
interview. People respect honesty and will
often side with you. That's not to say you
need to reveal the intricate details of every
contentious issue on your CV, but be
prepared to speak openly about
your past.
6. Motivation
Hiring managers are always inspired by
candidates who possess a strong degree of
motivation. Avoid generic answers and
sensitive subjects such as money or
financial reward.
Use storytelling to explain your motivation
and aptitude for business. If it helps, you
can discuss how this motivation crosses
over into your personal life.
7. Accountability
Never blame other people, places or
things for your problems. It shows a
victim mentality and is a massive red
flag for recruiters. Lack of accountability
is a big issue for productivity and
progression.
1. Start by researching the company
and your interviewers if possible.
Understanding key information about the
company you’re interviewing with can help
you go into your interview with confidence.
Using the company’s website, social media
posts and recent press releases will provide
a solid understanding of the company’s
goals and how your background makes you
a great fit.
2. Practice answering common
interview questions.
Prepare your answer to the common
question: “Tell
me about yourself, and why are you
interested in this role with our company?”
The idea is to quickly communicate who you
are and what value you will bring to the
company and the role—it’s your personal
pitch.
3. Reread the job description.
You may want to print it out and begin
underlining specific skills the employer is
looking for. Think about examples from your
past and current work that align with these
requirements.
If you have no work experience yet, do
share your willingness to learn and skills
that can help you provide the best services
needed for the company.
4. Prepare copies of your resume, a
notebook and pen
Take at least five copies of your printed
resume on clean paper in case of multiple
interviewers.
Bring a pen and a small notebook. Prepare
to take notes, but not on your smartphone
or another electronic device.
1. Making a great first impression.
Don’t forget the little things—shine your
shoes, make sure your nails are clean and
tidy, and check your clothes for holes,
stains, pet hair and loose threads. Display
confident body language and a
smile throughout.
2. Treat everyone you encounter with
respect.
This includes people on the road and in the
parking lot, security personnel, and front
desk staff. Treat everyone you don’t know
as though they’re the
hiring manager. Even if they aren’t, your
potential employer might ask for their
feedback.
3. Practice good manners and body
language.
Practice confident, accessible body
language from the moment you enter the
building. Sit or stand tall with your shoulders
back. Before the interview, take a deep
breath and exhale slowly to manage
feelings of anxiety and encourage
self-confidence.
● Maintain your focus.
● Turn off notifications.
● Use a laptop or computer.
● Charge your laptop.
● Update your computer.
● Find a good internet connection.
● Communicate with your household.
● Wear professional attire
● Keep your screen clear.
● Practice using Zoom.
● Use appropriate body language.
● Ask your interviewer questions

4. Win them over with your authenticity

and positivity.

Being genuine during interview

conversations can help employers easily
relate to you. Showing positivity with a
smile and upbeat body language can
help keep the interview light and
constructive.

5. Respond truthfully to the questions

asked.

While it can seem tempting to embellish on

your skills and accomplishments,
interviewers find honesty refreshing and
respectable. Focus on your key strengths
and why your background makes you
uniquely qualified for the position.

6. Keep your answers concise and

focused.

Your time with each interviewer is limited so

be mindful of rambling. Practicing your
answers beforehand can help keep you
focused.

● Use the mute button.

● Look into the camera while
speaking.
● Choose a professional background.
● Find a brightly lit room.
● Pick a quiet space.
● Silence your phone.