Business English

kieszonkowy poradnik biznesowo-językowy

Business English

Language Guide Job Interview

Dear Readers,

Welcome to another useful and handy BEM language guide! In this issue, we acquaint you with some of the words, phrases and expressions you may come across when participating in a job interview. The aptitude you show at answering the interviewer’s questions is often one of the key factors when the decision is made whether or not to hire you. So, make good use of our tips and work further on your interview-related vocabulary and one day soon it might come in handy. Fingers crossed for a successful interview!

Kieszonkowy poradnik biznesowo-językowy

Opracowanie: Daria Frączek

Colorful Media ul. Lednicka 23, 60-413 Poznań

tel. 61 833 63 28, redakcja@business-english.com.p

Zdjęcie na okładce: goodluz

MOTTO/KEYNOTE :

Bear in mind to be clear, explicit,

audible, truthful, concise, confident, enthusiastic

and focus on actions you have taken.

Selected interview questions – some of them are common, some of them tricky or surprising. Many times interviewers want to see your reactions or ability to react in the right way. We include some tips on answering. There are at least three basic types of question you can be asked:

Questions about yourself

These are questions that require talking about your personality, your approach to life in general, your interests or hobbies, ambitions and plans for the future, such as: place of residence, car or transportation, lifestyle, personality and so on. Inevitably, they are also related with your previous jobs. This type of question may also include ones concerning your private life, such as your civil status, children and lifestyle. However, from the legal point of view, some of these questions could be seen as discriminating, so you are not always obliged to answer.

Examples:

Tell us something about yourself.

Describe yourself briefly; your education, career, interests or hobbies. Mentioning your family of marital status is not required. Concentrate on your positive personal character traits that might be useful and can be applied in the job in question.

Why did you choose the school or university you graduated from? Why did you choose your degree subject?

Relate this to your interests, preferably in a way that connects with your further career and the job you are applying for. Try to present your choice as a conscious one. Avoid mentioning outside criteria such as “it was popular at the time” or “I heard the money was good in marketing”.

What interested you most/least in your last job? What kind of tasks do you like/dislike? Do you prefer to work alone or in a team?

Remember this question is asked to show your attitude towards tasks typical in the job in question, and your predisposition for that kind of work. If you don’t like the kind of work involved, perhaps you should not be applying in the first place...

Why did you leave your last job?

Avoid slandering your previous employers or supervisors. Come up with an answer that is both truthful and does not put you at a disadvantage.

What do you see as your strengths/weaknesses?

When describing weaknesses, choose features that are not universally seen as bad e.g. “I get angry easily”. Instead, choose qualities that show you as a good person in general, although it makes it sometimes difficult for you at work e.g. “I find it hard to refuse helping others”. Include a description of ways you try to combat the negative ramifications of your weaknesses.

Where are you going to be in 5 years’ time/10 years’ time?/Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? What are your long-term goals?

Describe your career priorities. This type of question is to show whether your ambitions and plans are in accordance with the position on offered, and whether you are planning to stay on board for a longer period of time.

Are you available to work overtime?

Answer frankly, considering your obligations outside of the job. Elaborate on the subject, describe the conditions under which you are able to work extra time.

Where do you live? How would you get to work, how long would it take? Do you have a car? Are you keen on travelling? Are you afraid of air travel? Do you smoke? What do you like doing in your spare time?

Describe your interests. If you enjoy reading, talk about the books you like most. Show them who you are as a person outside work.

Questions about your experience and skills

These questions concern the skills and experience required for the job. Examples:

How do your skills and experience match the requirements for this position?

List the activities you’ve performed in your previous jobs that are similar to the ones required or those of your skills that facilitate them.

Would you say you’re well organized/ambitious/creative/calm/ spontaneous?

In this case the interviewer asks about qualities that are desired or unwelcome in the employee. Try to figure out which is which. Elaborate, substantiating your answer.

What did you learn during your time at university/ school/ course/ recent job? What kind of useful skills/abilities did you develop? What skills can you contribute?

When talking about your area of expertise, answer in a way that is understandable to a person unfamiliar with it. Try to relate to the job in question when choosing the characteristics you describe, mention your ability to connect with people easily when applying for a job in customer service.

What languages do you speak?

What was the most difficult situation in your life/your career and how did you manage to solve it?

Preferably, choose a situation you were able to deal with, ultimately achieving a good result. Otherwise, explain why you weren’t able to solve it, what you learnt from this experience and what you would do differently in the future.

What was your greatest success/mistake so far? How successful have you been with your tasks so far?

This type of question is usually aimed to show your involvement and contribution at work. It shows weather you are able to take ownership of your tasks. When talking about your mistakes, describe the ways you’ve learnt from them. If possible describe measures you’ve taken to counteract the negative results of your actions.

Why did you apply for the post of …………………….?

Concentrate on the tasks in the new post or the character of the company itself. Avoid mentioning trivial motives such as money or location.

Questions about the job

These questions focus on the post you have applied for and the company you have applied to work with.

Examples:

What do you know about our organization? What do you think about our webpage/public image?

Before the interview, learn as much as possible about the company. Visit their website, use the Internet and your social network for extra information.

What can you do for us that someone else can’t?

Consider your qualities against those that are essential for the job. Talk about your previous successes.

How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

Be realistic about your answer. Mention the things you would like to start with when assuming the post.

How long do you plan to stay with us?

Give a realistic answer. If you don’t know what to say, state it will depend on the quality of your cooperation.

What is your management style?

Be frank. Remember there is no one correct management style. What the employer needs depends on the company’s situation, the team and other factors.

What is your working style?/How would you describe the way you work?

Present yourself in a positive way. Avoid being stiff, be well organized. Be creative instead of chaotic.

Are you a good manager/…..? Can you give me some examples? Do you feel that you have top managerial/…………. potential?

Name the qualities you possess that make you the right person for the job. Quote situations from your past experience.

Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons, and how did you handle the situation?

If possible describe the situation and explain why you had to make such a decision.

How much would you like to earn?

Name a reasonable sum. Don’t under or overestimate your worth.

Do you have any questions you would like to ask me/us?

You should always have one or two questions prepared to ask the interviewer, as it shows how interested you are in the job or the company. So take the time to think some up prior to the interview.

Types of skills that may be discussed in a job interview

There are different types of skills that can be discussed, including both your area of expertise and the way you conduct yourself among others.

Examples:

skill

synonym

translation

leadership skills

the ability to guide people and establish a rapport

umiejętności przywódcze

communication skills

the ability to exchange information easily and efficiently

zdolności komunikacyjne

negotiation skills

the ability to strike deals with optimum gain

zdolności negocjacyjne

team-working skills

the ability to work as a part of a group

umiejętność pracy w grupie

organizational skills

the ability to arrange work events/meetings 

zdolności organizacyjne

interpersonal/social skills

the ability to work with others regardless of their predisposition

zdolności interpersonalne/ społeczne

analytical skills

the ability to make logical conclusions based on avail able information

umiejętność analitycznego myślenia

manual/technical skills

the ability to perform different tasks requiring specific knowledge or predisposition

zdolności manualne/ techniczne

Vocabulary

Below we list some popular professions as well as some adjectives, verbs and expressions that might be used when describing oneself/professional career/actions taken.

Professions/Posts

profession

translation

Account Executive/Key Account Manager

kierownik ds. kluczowych klientów

Accountant

księgowy

Actuary

specjalista ds. ryzyka (ubezpieczeniowego)