Example Job Interview Questions and Answers Congratulations!

You have applied for a job and now you are getting ready for that important job interview. Your English is excellent and you are looking forward to making a good impression on your future (hopefully) boss. Now, you need to make sure that you also have the right type of English for that job interview. The job interview in English contains specific questions and appropriate answers. It also requires a certain flexibility in your usage of tenses. This feature provides tips on job interview questions and answers in English. When you walk in the room the very first impression you make on the interviewer can have a great influence on the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and are friendly. The first question is often a "breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question. Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:

How are you today? Did you have any trouble finding us? What do you think of the weather lately? Don't be surprised by the friendly tone. The interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). Answer the question without going into too much detail. The language you use should be simple but polite, for example; How are you today? GOOD I'm fine thank you, and you? I'm well thank you. BAD So, so OK Not so well What is most important? Talking about your experience and credentials (qualifications) is the most important part of any job interview. Your qualifications include your education from High School on and any special training you may have done in the past. Your experience is any work that you have done that is directly or indirectly related to the job you are applying for. Education Remember that your education took place in the past. Therefore you need to use the past tenses, for example:

I attended the University of Helsinki from 1987 to 1993. I graduated with a degree in agricultural planning. Etc. If you are currently a student you should use the following present tenses: I am currently studying at the University of New York and will graduate with a degree in Economics in the spring. I am studying English at the Borough Community College. Etc. Remember to include any training you may have had when talking about your education. This includes any computer training, correspondence courses, etc. Make sure to mention your English studies. This is very important as English is not your first language and the employer may be concerned about this fact. Assure the employer that you are continuing to improve your English skills by any courses you may be taking, or by saying that you study a certain number of hours a week to improve your skills. Experience and Qualifications Work experience is by far the most important topic of any job interview (at least in the United States and Britain). Therefore, it is important to explain what experience you have in detail. Generally, employers want to know exactly what you did and how well you accomplished your tasks. This is not the time to be modest. Be confident, and talk freely about your accomplishments in past employment. The tenses you should use are the following: When talking about current employment be careful to use the present perfect or present perfect continuous. This signals that you are still performing these tasks at your current job, for example: Smith and Co. have employed me for the last 3 years as a salesperson. I have been creating customer contacts for 6months. Etc. When talking about past employers use the past tenses to signal that you are no longer working for that company, for example: I was employed by Jackson's from 1989 to 1992 as a clerk. I worked as a receptionist at the Ritz while I was living in New York. Etc. Talking about Responsibilities Most importantly, you will need to demonstrate your qualifications and skills, which are required for the job you are applying for. The job skills that you have acquired in the past may not have been for the same exact job. Therefore, it is important to show how the capabilities you do have relate to the job you are applying for.

I remember a wonderful example of adapting skills to fit the job desired. I had a student from Moscow who had worked as the manager of an important theatre in Moscow. Unfortunately, he had to start from the beginning in New York and therefore wanted to get a job as a rodent exterminator (someone who kills rats!). When asked what kind of experience he had, he replied that, as the manager of the theatre, he had had to make sure that the theatre was always rodent free and was therefore capable of doing the job well! This is a fantastic example of the type of adaptability most employers in the United States are looking for. Use the Right Word Below is a list of great verbs to help you express just exactly what you did with impressive vocabulary. These verbs are used to express responsibilities and tasks performed: acted accomplished adapted administered advanced advised allocated analyzed applied approved arbitrated arranged assisted attained blended brought built carried out catalogued changed classified collaborated compared completed computed conceived conducted constructed consulted contracted controlled cooperated coordinated corrected counselled created dealt decided decreased defined delegated derived designated detected developed devised directed discovered distributed documented doubled edited encouraged engineered enlarged escalated established estimated evaluated examined expanded experienced explored facilitated finalized formulated founded functioned governed grouped guided handled harmonized harnessed headed identified implemented improved increased indexed initiated inspected installed instituted interpreted introduced invented investigated justified led localized located made managed maintained mechanized merged moderated motivated negotiated opened operated

organized originated overcame perceived performed pioneered planned prepared presented presided processed programmed promoted provided purchased raised recommended recorded recruited

rectified redesigned repaired replaced restored reversed reviewed revised saved screened selected serviced set up solved sorted sparked specified started stimulated

strengthened summarized supervised supported systematized tested trained transacted transcribed transformed tripled upgraded validated varied verified vitalized won wrote

To describe your skills the following adjectives are useful accurate active adaptable adept broad-minded competent conscientious creative dependable determined diplomatic discreet efficient energetic enterprising enthusiastic experienced fair firm genuine honest innovative logical loyal mature methodical motivated objective outgoing personable pleasant positive practical productive reliable resourceful self disciplined sense of humour sensitive sincere successful tactful trustworthy

Use these verbs and adjectives and really sell yourself. You only have a few minutes to show how good you really are. By using this, precise vocabulary and being confident can help you make the best impression possible.

Job Fair A Role-play Line-up

Time: 1 hour Focus: companies are primarily interested in the qualifications of potential employees.

Before you let the students go at it, you The purpose of this lesson is to give false
beginners some practice at job interviews in English. This lesson is intended more for adults or college students. Although, a real job interview will be much more complex, this lesson should give students a look at the vocabulary that is necessary for doing a job interview in English. should probably model an example interview with one student. You may also want to discuss the questions that each party will want to ask (though I've found it is not necessary). Role-play Activity: Job Fair

Now, comes the real focus of the class: a roleplay activity to practice doing job interviews in English. Divide the class into two groups: companies seeking to hire employees and people seeking to find jobs.

This lesson follows a format of a discussion,

followed by a role-play activity. Preparation:

The companies line up in row. And the job The teacher will need to print off and
photocopy three MS word documents: Benefits and Qualifications Employers Activity Sheets Job Seekers Activity Sheets Note: The Employer Sheets and the Job Seeker Sheets are both seven pages long. There are seven different employers and seven different job seekers. Also, you might want to consider editing the information to suit your particular class. Introduction and Discussion: seekers go from company to company and ask about the jobs. The job seekers are primarily interested in what benefits they can get. The companies are primarily interested in the qualifications of potential employees.

Before you let the students go at it, you

should probably model an example interview with one student. You may also want to discuss the questions that each party will want to ask (though I've found it is not necessary).

Both groups should fill out the table on their

activity worksheet. And when they are done and if time permits, you can ask the employers who they would like to hire and why.

Tell the students that you will be talking about

job interviews today. Define the words benefit and qualification on the board.

Make a chart with the headings benefits and

qualifications on the board and ask the students to come up with some examples. Write the examples under the appropriate class into two groups: companies seeking to hire employees and people seeking to find jobs.

The companies line up in row. And the job

seekers go from company to company and ask about the jobs. The job seekers are primarily interested in what benefits they can get. The

Target Language:
Vocabulary Items:

promotion, work experience, medical insurance, vacation, bachelor/masters/doctor degree, references, salary wage housing, license, commissions, tips bonus, well-spoken, hardworking, discounts, training courses, dental insurance, creativity, report card/transcript, raise neat appearance/dress.
Questions:

What kind of experience do you have? What did you study in university? Do you have any special skills? What are your good points and bad points? What company do you represent? What kind of job do you offer? How much does the job pay? Where is it located? Do you offer any benefits? Is there any chance for a promotion or a raise?