English conversation class

CLASS 2 – WORK AND EDUCATION

We use graduate only for the event of finishing high school or college, for example:

“I graduated in 2010.”

“He’s going to graduate next year.”

“The whole family attended her college graduation.”

When talking about what you studied, we say “I studied,” “I majored in,” or “I have a degree in”:

“I graduated in 2010. I studied sociology.”

“I majored in Latin American literature.”

“I have a degree in veterinary medicine.”

Administrative assistant

Example: “I have spent five years as an executive assistant with Wiler, Inc. in administrative
support roles. As the current executive assistant to the CFO, I frequently collaborate with
other administrative assistants to perform calendar management, coordinate international
travel and assemble research reports for the financial specialists in our six offices around the
world. At the beginning of last year, I optimized our email filtering system to improve office
communication and reduce the amount of missed messages by 28%. I understand that your
company depends a lot on email communication, so I want to use my organizational abilities
to achieve faster communication processes in this office.”

Senior financial consultant

Example: “I have 10 years of experience in personal finance management, and I have assisted 45 repeat clients in increasing
their capital by an average of 15% every year. As a financial analyst, I utilized visual growth charts to show my clients how
each saving plan option can impact their goals. When I became a senior financial analyst, I supervised other analysts and
trained them in providing the most helpful experience to our customers. As your senior financial consultant, I aim to integrate
my individualized approach to helping clients build the retirement fund they will depend on.”

Social media specialist

Example: “My experience includes a variety of marketing and advertising opportunities. In college, I was the ad intern at
the local radio station, where I designed event posters for local concerts and music festivals. Then I worked as a market
research assistant, analyzing consumer data and drafting reports for the marketing director. My other positions allowed
me to practice applying research to writing ad copy, social media posts and a few radio commercial scripts. As your social
media specialist, I would want to continue sharing my research insights and improving my ability to transform consumer
data into actionable, engaging content.”
1. Question: What work experience have you gained that will help you with this job?

 I have some strong work experience that will help me with this job if I am
successful.  I worked for a year as a student in a local Pizza restaurant.  That
helped me to get confidence in talking to the public, and also showed me that this
is a job where I will need to work hard.  I then worked for a short while in a
kitchen, helping the chef.  That showed me the other side of working in a
restaurant, so I can understand the importance of giving the chef accurate
information with orders.  I also worked for a while in a bank.  That shows that I
am confident with handling money, which will help when I take payment for
meals.
2. Question: What will be the most important part of your work?

Model Answer: I think that dealing with customers will be the most
important part of my work.  For my previous work experience in a shop, I
needed to develop a good understanding of the products we sold so I could
help customers. I also learned to be polite and keep smiling, even with
some of the more challenging shoppers.
Note: ‘more challenging’ is a euphemism.  Using a language tool such as
this demonstrates a good grasp of English.  It is a polite way of saying
rude.  To call customers ‘rude’ or ‘impolite’ at interview is too literal; using a
phrase such as ‘more challenging’ will bring a smile to the interviewer’s
face.
3. Question: How would your friends and colleagues describe you?

Model Answer: (Little Pause!) I think that I did well on my previous

course.  I got on well with other people, and really enjoyed working with
them. At the same time, sometimes I had to put my work first, and make
sure that I completed what I needed to do. So, I would say that they would
describe me as disciplined, but friendly and supportive.
4. Question: What will you find most satisfying about this job?

Where should I begin.  There is so much I would enjoy about this job. 
Meeting people, helping the public, getting to know my colleagues.  But I
think best of all will be meeting a visitor who is confused, or worried, and
helping them to know what they want.  I would really enjoy doing that. 
When I worked at (your previous job) I loved helping my customers.
5. Question: What part of the job would you find hardest?

Model Answer:  You can hear that English is not my first language.  But
even when I was less good at speaking in my job as a (relevant work) I
learned to cope.  My English is getting better all the time, but I am not
afraid to ask if I do not understand something, and my studies are helping
me to improve.
6. Question: What has your work experience taught you about yourself?

The last time I worked as a language assistant, I found the work really
interesting but sometimes hard. I learned a lot from my work experience. On
one occasion I found two boys fighting in the playground. I managed to calm
them down by being calm myself. I asked them what had happened and
helped them to resolve their fight themselves. I thought that in a situation like
that I would get angry myself, and perhaps take sides, but I did not.  I think
that this was a great lesson for me.