Курс: Interview Preparation Уровень: Intermediate www.englex.

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2. BACKGROUND AND WORK EXPERIENCE

1. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. What is your

educational background? What are your
qualifications? Use the patterns below to help you.

I graduated from the University of Toronto (or Toronto

University) with a B.A. in Physics.

I completed a B.A. in Physics at Toronto University. 

I hold/have/was awarded/obtained/got a B.A. in Physics

from Toronto University. 

Note: B.A. = Bachelor's degree (in Arts)

Here are some other degrees:

B.S. Bachelor of Science
М.А. Master of Arts
M.S. Master of Science
М.В.А. Master of Business Administration
PhD Doctor of Philosophy

2. When asked about your education, is it enough to mention your degree and educational
establishment? Read the text below and answer the questions.

a) Formal Education

Don't just rattle off the name of the university you attended and the degree you earned. If you graduated
with high honors, completed your course of study in a short amount of time or were part of high-profile
academic organizations, include this information in your discussion about education. Also mention
work-study opportunities, internships, job shadowing or on-the-job training you participated in.

 Can you add any additional information to your answer in exercise 1 using the tip above?

b) Professional Training

Mention specialized professional training you've gone through. For example, if your last company sent
you to a vocational institute to participate in an intensive program, it's definitely worth noting in your
job interview.

 Have you done any professional training at your previous place of work? What did it
involve?
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c) Conferences and Seminars

Note professional conferences and seminars you’ve attended, as well as workshops and business expos.
This demonstrates your connection to your industry and highlights the fact that you stay on top of trends
to remain on the cutting edge of your business.

 Have you attended any work-related conferences and seminars? In what way were they
useful?

3. Now combine your answers to the questions above and make a full response about your
education.

4. (Video 2). Watch the video with Rebecca and revise what you’ve learnt.

5. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND. Describe your previous place of work. What

responsibilities did you have?

6. What is the difference between to be responsible to and to be responsible for?

(Video 3). Watch the video with Rebecca and find out. Do a short quiz.

The quiz: http://www.engvid.com/business-english-talking-about-your-responsibilities/#quiz

7. Now complete the following sentences:

 I was responsible for…

 I was responsible to…
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8. USEFUL VERBS. Look at the list below. These are the verbs which can help you describe your
duties.

9. Rewrite the following sentences using the verbs in brackets.

For example:

The answer: I managed a team of five employees.

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10. Rewrite the following sentences using the verbs in exercise 8 so that they sound more concise.

11. (Recording 1). Listen to a discussion between Klaudia, who is looking for her second job, and
Tom, who has just proofread her CV. Answer the following questions:

12. (Recording 2). Susana Cilveti is a recent graduate. Listen to an extract from her interview for
a sales assistant position and answer the following questions.

13. Listen again. Underline the correct phrase.

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14. Tell your teacher about your work experience in detail. Use exercises 8-13 to help you sound
professionally.

15. WHY DID YOU QUIT? Read some tips how to answer this tough question.

16. Three candidates have answered the question Why did you leave (are leaving) your current
position? Try to choose the strongest and the weakest answer. Explain your choice.

17. Can you think of other good responses to this question? How would you answer it?
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18. Have you changed several jobs in the last several years? If yes, be prepared to explain the
reason of your ‘job-hopping’. Read some answers below to help you.
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19. Make sure you know the words and phrases below.

существительные
1. advancement opportunities /əd
возможности продвижения (по службе)
ˈvɑːns.mənt ˌɒp.əˈtʃuː.nə.tiz/
2. allocation /ˌæl·əˈkeɪ·ʃən/ of resources распределение ресурсов
3. a career path продвижение по службе 
4. an educational establishment /ɪ
образовательное учреждение
ˈstæb.lɪʃ.mənt/
5. an expo большая выставка; международная выставка
6. an internship /ˈɪn.tɜːn.ʃɪp/ стажировка
переход с одной работы на другую (с целью получения
7. job hopping
более высокой заработной платы)
8. job shadowing наблюдение за работой специалистов 
9. a mother tongue родной язык
10. on-the-job training производственная практика
11. a reorganization /riːˌɔːɡ(ə)naɪ
реорганизация; преобразование компании
ˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/
12. a workshop семинар; воркшоп
прилагательные
13. laid-off потерявший работу по сокращению
14. relevant уместный; относящийся к делу; важный
15. work-related связанный с работой
глаголы
16. to achieve достичь
17. to anticipate /ænˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ ожидать; предвидеть; предчувствовать; предвкушать
18. to be responsible for smth быть ответственным за что-то
19. to be responsible to smb быть ответственным перед кем-то
20. to chair возглавлять; быть председателем; руководить 
21. to clarify /ˈklær.ɪ.faɪ/ разъяснять;пояснять
22. to collaborate /kəˈlæb.ə.reɪt/ сотрудничать
23. to compile /kəmˈpaɪl/ составлять; компилировать; собирать 
24. to consolidate /kənˈsɒl.ɪ.deɪt/ подтверждать; закреплять; консолидировать
25. to dwindle /ˈdwɪn.d(ə)l/ сокращаться; уменьшаться; убывать
26. to enroll /ɪnˈroʊl/ on a course регистрировать; записываться на курс
27. to entail /ɪnˈteɪl/ повлечь за собой; вызвать
28. to evaluate /ɪˈvæl.ju.eɪt/ оценивать; устанавливать стоимость
способствовать; облегчить; содействовать; оказать
29. to facilitate /fəˈsɪl.ɪ.teɪt/
содействие
30. to highlight /ˈhaɪ.laɪt/ делать акцент; подчеркнуть 
31. to implement /ˈɪm.plɪ.ment/ внедрить
32. to investigate /ɪnˈves.tɪ.ɡeɪt/ исследовать
33. to keep an eye on smb глаз не спускать с; приглядывать за 
34. to merge /mɜːdʒ/ соединяться; поглотить
35. to negotiate /nəˈɡəʊ.ʃi.eɪt/ вести переговоры; договариваться
36. to participate /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ участвовать; принимать участие
37. to persuade /pəˈsweɪd/ убеждать
вычитывать (проверить на наличие ошибок, неточностей)
38. to proofread /ˈpruːf.riːd/ a CV
резюме
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39. to rattle off отбарабанить; выпалить одним духом 

40. to relocate /ˌriː.ləʊˈkeɪt/ перенести; сменить месторасположение 
41. to remain оставаться
42. to resolve /rɪˈzɒlv/ принимать решение
43. to supervise /ˈsuː.pə.vaɪz/ наблюдать; надзирать
наречия
44. afterwards /ˈɑːf.tə.wədz/ впоследствии
45. originally изначально
фразы
46. in a short amount of time за короткий период времени
47. it’s worth doing это стоит сделать
48. on the cutting edge of smth впереди других