Essential Job Interview Skills

Congratulations! You have been selected for a job interview and now you are getting ready for that important interview. 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 requires a very specific kind of vocabulary. It also requires a switch to more Standard English and appropriate usage of tenses. Today, I would like to take a look at these areas of English usage. 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?

Don't be surprised by the friendly tone. The interviewer wants to put you at ease (it helps you to 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.

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 secondary school, polytechnic 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. You may wish to talk about your Industrial Training Programme or any work attachments you had. Education Remember that your education took place in the past. Therefore you need to use the past tenses, for example: I attended the Singapore Polytechnic from 2000 to 2003. I graduated with a diploma in business studies. If you are currently a student you should use the following present tenses: I am currently studying at the Singapore Polytechnic and will graduate with a diploma in Business Accounting in June 2003. 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 Language and Communication modules. 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 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: Robinsons has employed me for the last 3 years as a retail officer. I have been creating customer contacts for 6 months. 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 DHL from 2001 to 2002 as a logistics support officer. I worked as a receptionist at the Conrad while I was living in Kuala Lumpur.

Talking about Responsibilities

Most importantly, you will need to demonstrate your qualifications 3

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 related to the job you are applying 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 analysed 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 encouraged 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 located 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

decreased defined delegated derived designated detected developed devised directed discovered distributed documented doubled edited

made managed maintained mechanized merged moderated motivated negotiated opened operated organized originated overcame perceived

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 fair firm enthusiastic experienced 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. Adapted from: Breare, K. (2001) Essential Job Interview English, English as Second Language [Internet]. Available from: <http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa113097.htm>[Accessed 14 January 2002]

SOME FAVOURITE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

2. 3. 4. 5.

What are your strengths? What are some of your weaknesses? What are some of the areas that you think you can improve? How much influence does your family have on you and the decisions you make?

B. Education 1. What is the most valuable contribution polytechnic education has made in your life? 2. Do you think polytechnic education can be improved? How? 3. Why did you choose to join the polytechnic? 4. Why did you choose to specialise in ________ in the polytechnic? 5. What subject did you do well or badly in? Why? 6. Can you tell me about some of the ECA/CCAs you were involved in during your school days? 7. What is the most important thing youve learnt from your polytechnic education? 8. Did you participate in any special project while in school/the Polytechnic? 9. Did you pursue any other courses in your spare time? C. Personal Attitudes and Preferences 1. What kind of people do you like to work with? 2. What kind of people do you find most difficult to work with? 3. What are some of the things you would like to avoid in a job? Why? 4. What is the most important thing you would look for in an employer or company? 5. What do you think is the most important in a job intelligence or persistence? D. Work Experience/ Industrial Attachment 1. What are some of your achievements in your last job/ITP that were recognised by your superiors? 2. Can you give an example or two of your ability to manage or supervise others? 3. In your last job/ITP, what kind of pressure did you encounter? 4. What are some of the tasks at your last job/ITP that you found difficult to do? 5. What problems did you encounter in your last job/ITP? What did you do about it? 6. In what ways did your supervisor help you develop your capabilities? 7. How did your superior rate your performance? What were some of the things he indicated you could improve on? 8. Why do you want to leave your present job? D. Goals and Ambitions 1. Why do you wish to join this company? 2. What are you interested in this particular job? 3. How much do you know about the job you are applying for?

4. How do you feel about travelling on the job? Are you willing to travel overseas? 5. In what way has your last job prepared you to take on greater responsibilities? 6. How do you evaluate our company as a place to build your future? 7. What kind of career objectives do you have? 8. What skills do you need to develop to be ready for this position? 9. Do you have any particular salary goals? 10. What are some of the factors that motivate you? 11. Do you consider yourself a self-starter one with initiative? 12. What are some of your greatest achievements to date? 13. Can you describe a difficult obstacle you had to overcome? How did you handle it? 14. What do you do in your free time? 15. Do you have any questions?