Unit 8. Job Prospecting

must have been ________ (effective/important/impressive/significant)! The company now wants to know

more about you. But there is

still more work to do if you want

to get that job! Make sure you

have __________ (researched/discovered/inquired/examined) the company as thoroughly as possible - use the

Internet,

company

reports,

recruitment

literature

etc. _________

(remember/remind/imagine/summarise) yourself of why you applied to this company. Make a list of the skills,

experience, and interests you can

__________ (show/present/offer/demonstrate) the organisation. Finally, try

to ________ (ask/suggest/give/predict) the questions you will be expected to answer - imagine you are the

interviewer!

XI.

Here are some examples of quite common interview questions (1-6). Match them with suitable responses

(a-f).

1.

Why did you choose this company?

a)

People say I’m sociable, organized and decisive.

2.

What are your strengths/weaknesses?

b)

Leading the University football team to the National

Championship.

3.

How would your friends describe you?

c)

I always support my colleagues and believe that we

should work towards a common goal.

4.

What is your greatest achievement?

d)

My aim is to have a position in the management

team.

5.

How well do you work in team?

e)

Because I think I will

find the work environment

both challenging and rewarding.

6.

Where will you be in 5 years’ time?

f)

I have excellent time

management, but

I can be

impatient for results.

1.

showing

a)

problems

2.

presenting

b)

ideas

3.

solving

c)

objectives

4.

controlling

d)

initiative

5.

achieving

e)

deadlines

6.

motivating

f)

information

7.

meeting

g)

budgets

8.

creating

h)

colleagues

IV.

Listen to the final part of the interview and answer the questions.

1.

back-room boys

people who do important work but have no contact with the

public

2.

beat the clock

finish in time; finish before the deadline

3.

Burn the candle at both ends

working too hard, for too long, and on too many things

4.

to be snowed under

to be very busy

5.

to get the axe/the boot/the pink slip

get fired

6.

climb the corporate ladder

move up, get promoted in a company

7.

down to the wire

just before the deadline; right before time is up

a large sum of money or a generous financial arrangement

8.

golden handcuffs

granted to an executive as an incentive to stay in their job, or to

ensure long-term cooperation after their departure.

a generous sum of money given to a person when they leave a

9.

a golden handshake

company or retire (sometimes given to encourage early

retirement)

a clause in an executive's employment contract stating that the

10.

a golden parachute

executive will receive certain large benefits if their employment

is terminated

11.

keep your eye on the prize

stay focused on the goal

12.

plum job

a desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively

easy

13.

pound the pavement

someone who pounds the pavement walks the streets or goes

from company to company, usually in search of employment.

14.

put out to pasture

to say that someone has been put out to pasture means that they

have been forced to retire or give up their responsibilities.

15.

start off on the right (wrong) foot

make a good (bad) first impression

16.

to sweat blood

to work very hard

17.

think outside of the box

think creatively or differently than usual

18.

work one’s fingers to the bone

work very hard

19.

walking papers

If you are given your walking papers, your contract or a

relationship has ended

20.

worth one’s salt

someone who deserves respect because they do their job well