Task 3. Read a newspaper article in which people talk about their experiences at job interviews. For questions 14 -25, choose from the people (A- F). The sections may be chosen more than once.
Talking Yourself into a Job
Being interviewed for a job can be a stressful experience. We asked six people what they learnt from being in that situation.
A
My first interview for a job taught me a great deal. I was applying for the position of junior account executive in an advertising company, which involves dealing with clients on a face-to-face basis. It follows that you have to be good at interpersonal skills, and unfortunately, that’s not the impression I gave. Like a lot of people, I tend to babble when I’m nervous. The interviewer began by asking me to say something about myself, and I started talking about my hobbies. But I got carried away and went off at a tangent, which made a bad impression. The other lesson I learnt was that if you are asked what your weaknesses are, you really shouldn’t be evasive. You could mention a weakness that can also be a strength. For example, being pedantic is not always a bad thing in certain circumstances, and you should explain how you cope with that weakness, but you have to say something.
B
In my present job I have to interview applicants, and I can offer a few general tips. Firstly, a candidate should not learn a speech off by heart; you will come across as insincere, as if you have practiced everything in front of a mirror. Secondly, it is crucial to understand what the interviewer wants you to talk about. For instance, an interviewer might ask about a situation where your supervisor or manager had a problem with your work. Now, what the interviewer is really after is to see how you react to criticism, and the best thing is to say that you tried to learn from this. Finally, don’t try to conceal your real character. When I was interviewed for a job many years ago, the interviewer asked me at the end of our talk if I had any questions. I was very keen to get the job, so I asked what opportunities there were for promotion if I were hired. I wondered if perhaps I had been too direct, but I later discovered that employers like you to seem eager, and I think they were impressed by my enthusiasm and ambition.
C
One good way to prepare for an interview is to find out as much as you can about the company applied to from its website and promotional material. When you are asked if you have any questions, you can show that you have done this preparatory work, which will impress the interviewer. I also think a lot of candidates are too defensive in interviews. It’s not enough just to avoid giving the ‘wrong’ answers; you should also actively try to make a good impression. Make it clear that the interview is a two-way process: after all , you want to be sure the company is the right place for you. It’s acceptable to take the opportunity, when one is offered, to interview the interviewer! One way to do this is to ask him or her some penetrating questions such as why he or she has stayed with the company for so long. Some people might think such a question is arrogant, so size up the interviewer first and decide whether it would be an appropriate thing to ask.
D
I remember one interview I attended with a company that makes ice cream and other dairy products. I didn’t know much about the company, and it was brought home to me that I should have found out some basic facts. I turned up in a smart business suit and tie, only to find that my prospective employers were in jeans! They believed in being casual: no private offices, everyone ate in the same canteen, people all used first names with each other etc. I realised I should have done more research. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job. On another occasion, at the end of an interview, I was asked if I had anything to say. I was so relieved that the interview was over that I just smiled and blurted out: ‘No thanks!’ I later realised this was a mistake. A candidate should decide in advance on at least ten things to ask the interviewer: it’s not necessary to ask more than two or three questions, but you need to have some in reserve in case the question you wanted to ask is answered in the course of the interview.
E
Preparation is of extreme importance; things like finding out what form the interview will have. Will there be any sort of written component, for instance, and will you be talking to one person or a panel? And of course, you need to prepare answers to those awkward questions designed to find out more about your character. For example, you might be asked about your most important achievement so far; don’t answer this in a way that makes you seem swollen-headed or complacent as this will suggest that you don’t learn easily. Actually, it’s not so much what people say that makes them seem arrogant as the way they sit, how they hold their heads, whether they meet the interviewer’s eye, so bear that in mind. Another question interviewers sometimes ask, to find out how well you work in a team, is about mistakes you have made. You should have an example ready and admit that you were at fault, otherwise it looks as though you are the kind of person who shifts the blame onto others. But you should also show that you learnt from the mistake and wouldn’t make it again.
F
Being nervous can make you forget things, so always take detailed notes with you to an interview, even about the simplest things - this will help you feel less nervous. I also think you have to strike the light balance between being too arrogant and too self-effacing. For example, if you are asked where you see yourself in five years’ time, don’t be diffident about showing that you are ambitious. You could even say you’d like to be doing the interviewer’s job! Show that your ambition is the force that drives you – employers are happy to see this characteristic because it also suggests you will work hard. Take every opportunity to reinforce the impression that you are eager; one way is by asking questions about the job. This suggests that you will take it seriously. You could also ask what made the last person to fill the position you have applied for successful, or what you could accomplish in the job that would satisfy the interviewer. Naturally, the answers to questions like this are valuable in themselves, but frankly, the main reason for asking is to ensure you make the right impression.
Which person mentions the following?
14. establishing how the interview will be conducted