Job Interview Dos and Don’ts

Dos

1. Do your homework. Prepare for your interview by researching the company. This shows your
interest in the business, and will give you an advantage. Also, check to see what the media is
saying about the business. If you know who your interviewer is, research them too.
2. Make a good rst impression. Plan your trip to the interview. Know where to go. Late arrival
for a job interview is inexcusable. Bring your CV, and make sure you know all of the
information that you have put on there. For an online interview, make sure you test your
sound and video to minimise technical issues.
3. Listen and respond accordingly. Be direct, and don’t ramble. Make good eye contact. Give a
rm handshake at the end of the interview.
4. Prepare smart, open-ended questions to ask the interviewer.
5. Sell your strengths and expertise.

Don’ts

1. Don’t speak poorly about your present or former employers. The interviewer will assume you
will do this to them if they employ you. It is a big red ag.
2. Don’t falsify information. If you are being asked questions in an area that is not a strength, be
honest and let the interviewer know that you are willing to learn, or upskill.
3. Don’t speak over the interviewer. It is important to be a good listener. It shows that you are
respectful and have strong interpersonal skills. Note: if it is an online interview, remember
that there is a slight time delay, and avoid rushing to answer a question.
4. Don’t assume it isn’t an interview. Even if it seems uno cial, it is still used as an opportunity
to assess your suitability for the job.
5. Don’t let any past rejections infringe on future opportunities. Approach every interview as a
new opportunity, and learn from past mistakes.
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 Vocabulary:
An advantage: noun a circumstance that puts you in a superior position.

A First Impression: noun one’s initial perception of another person.

To be inexcusable: adjective too bad to be justi ed or tolerated.

To ramble: verb talk or write at length in a confused way.

To be rm: adjective strongly felt and unlikely to change.

An open-ended question: noun questions that prompt respondents to answer in an open way,
with explanations based on their knowledge.

A red ag: noun a warning of danger.

To falsify: verb to change information in order to mislead.

To upskill: verb to teach additional skills.

To speak over: compound verb to talk while someone else is talking.

An interpersonal skill: noun the ability to communicate or interact well with other people.

One’s suitability: noun the quality of being right for a particular person, purpose or situation.

To infringe: verb act to limit or undermine something.

Grammar

Present Perfect (continuous) to speak about work experience up to the present moment.
(has/have been + present participle (root+ing))

Present simple to discuss current job responsibilities.

Past simple to discuss past responsibilities.

Use of conditional forms to imagine situations at work.

• Eg. Second conditional: “If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.”
• (If + simple past + auxiliary modal verb clause).
• Modal verbs: could, would, should, might

Activity: What is your current occupation? Give an example of each grammar point, relating to
your current occupation.

Eg. My current occupation is a teacher.

I have been teaching English as a second or other language to students in France and Australia.
I have taught English as a second or other language since 2009.
I teach 5 pre-intermediate English speakers at Nova Institute.
I taught English in Réunion Island in 2013 and 2016.
If I taught English as a second language at TAFE, I would make sure I complied with all TAFE
teaching rules and procedures.
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