4 Job interviews

A Preparing for interviews

When companies are recruiting1, they often have a set of criteria2 (e.g. three years of
experience in the field, or a degree in a relevant area) which they use to find the most suitable
candidates. If you are shortlisted3 for an interview, make sure you do your homework first:
find out as much as you can about the company, its products, markets, competitors, etc.
If you can, ask a friend to do a trial run4 with you. This will help boost5 your confidence.
The interview may be conducted by a panel [a group of people], probably including your future
line manager6. Don’t forget to make eye contact with all the interviewers while you are talking.
As you arrive for the interview, body language7 is important. Give a firm handshake and
speak up8. This will help to create a good first impression.
1
hiring (new staff) 2 requirements you use to make a decision 3 selected from a larger group 4 a practice
of something new 5 improve or increase 6 the person who is directly responsible for your work 7 physical
movements which show how you are feeling 8 speak (more) loudly and clearly

B During an interview
These are examples of things that might be said at a job interview.
A: So, can you talk us through1 your CV?

B: Well, I studied Engineering and then took a job as a trainee2 at F3

Telecom.

A: I’d like to ask about opportunities for professional development3.

B: We have a very good in-house4 training programme for new recruits5.

1
tell us about in more detail 2 a person
Can you give us an example of how you’ve worked well under pressure?
who is learning a new job 3 training given
How would your colleagues / your supervisor6 describe you? to employees to increase their knowledge or
skills 4 within the company 5 people who
I’m keen to take on7 more responsibility. have just joined (the company) 6 the person
who checks your work 7 start to have 8 find
A: We’re looking to fill the post8 fairly quickly. If you are successful, someone to do the job 9 time you need to
how soon could you start? work in your job after you have officially told the
company you are leaving
B: The notice period9 on my present job is just two weeks, so I could
start very soon.

C A job offer

Reply Forward
Dear Mr Malton,
Thank you for attending the interview last week. We very much enjoyed meeting you. We are delighted to offer you
the position of Trainee Programmer. We believe your qualifications and experience will be an ideal fit for1 the job.
Please review the attached document outlining2 your salary, benefits (including paid leave3) and reporting
structure4, and sign where indicated. Return the document within five business days. Once we have received the
paperwork, we will contact you to arrange your start date.
We look forward to welcoming you as part of our team.
Kind regards
Melanie Stephens

1 3
very suitable for time off you are paid for, such as holiday or parental leave
2 4
giving an overview of company structure and who you report to

14 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

 5 At work: colleagues and routines
A Colleagues
1
Philip is my opposite number1 in has the same position / does the same job as me
2
the company’s New York office. We way of communicating and working together
3
have a good working relationship2 working together to achieve shared goals
4
and there’s a lot of day-to- more formal equivalent of opposite number
5
day collaboration3. Having a /ræˈpɔː/ communication/relationship
6
4
counterpart like Philip in another branch is a great make decisions without being told what to do
7
support. Last month we got a new boss, who quickly /ˌhaɪəˈrɑːkɪkəl/ has a structure with important
established a good rapport5 with everyone. She and less important people
8
likes us to take the initiative6. The company is very a system where some people have the right to get
benefits/promotions before others
hierarchical7; there’s a pecking order8 for everything. 9
an agreement where two people each share the
I do a job-share9 with a woman called Rose, which suits
same job
us as we each have childcare responsibilities. My office 10
a policy of sharing desks in an office, so people
uses a hot-desking10 system, so I sit in a different place
sit at whichever desk is free on a particular day
every day. I socialise with my workmates11 outside of 11
colleagues you are friendly with (especially in
work, but we try not to talk shop12 on those occasions. non-professional occupations); informal
12
talk about work; informal
B During the day (different work patterns)
I do fairly mundane1 tasks. Occasionally I have to meet a deadline2 or they need
someone to volunteer3 for something. Then the job is more rewarding4 and
stimulating5. Sometimes I have a heavy workload6 but at other times it can be
quite light.
1 2 3
ordinary, not interesting have something finished by a fixed day or time offer to do something without
4
being asked or told to do it making you feel satisfied that you have done something important or useful, or
done something well 5 encouraging new ideas or new thinking 6
amount of work I have to do

I start work at my machine at seven o’clock when I’m on the day shift. The job’s
mechanical1 and repetitive2. All I ever think about is knocking off3 at three o’clock.
The shift I hate most is the night shift. I start at ten and work till six in the morning.
It’s a bit monotonous4. It’s not a satisfying5 job – I feel I need something a bit more
challenging6.
1 2
you don’t have to think about what you are doing the same thing is repeated every day
3 4 5
finishing work; informal boring because it never changes (does not) make me feel pleased
6
by providing what I need or want that tests my ability or determination

I have a pretty glamorous1 job. I’m a pilot. But the hours are irregular and anti-social2.
I’m not stuck behind a desk3, but long-haul flights can be a bit mind-numbing4; most
of the time the plane just flies itself. We work to very tight schedules5. But I shouldn’t
complain. I feel sorry for people who are stuck in a rut6 or who are in dead-end7 jobs.

1 2 3
very exciting, which everyone admires do not enable one to have a normal social life sitting at a
4
desk all day; informal extremely boring 5 very strict or severely limited timetables
6 7
stuck/trapped in a job they can’t escape from with no prospects of promotion

I started off as a technician1. After retraining, I worked for a software company, and later I
went in with2 a friend and we formed our own software company as a start-up3 in 2009,
so now I’m self-employed. My husband is freelance4: he works for several different
companies as and when they need work done – he’s a computer programmer5.
1 2
person whose job involves practical work with scientific or electrical equipment formed a business
partnership with 3 a small business that has just started 4
or works freelance 5
someone who writes
computer programs

16 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced

 6 At work: job satisfaction
A Aspects of job satisfaction
What does job satisfaction mean? [a feeling that your job is worth doing and fulfils you] Is it just
having a pleasant workplace or is it more than that? [the place where you work] Can a run-of-
the-mill job be satisfying? [ordinary, not special or exciting]
Some people are prepared to put up with a stressful or unpleasant job if it means short-term
financial reward. [immediate; opp. = long-term] [money gained]
Staff morale has been very low since the company announced a freeze on pay rises. [amount of
confidence felt by a person or group]
Our new manager is very keen to encourage teamwork to help us solve problems. [working
together for a common purpose]
Is job stability more motivating than an exciting, high-risk career? [not likely to change]
After working in the fast-moving fashion industry for six years, Sam has decided to look for a
career with a better work–life balance. [developing or changing very quickly] [the amount of time
spent working compared to the amount of time spent doing things you enjoy]
Daniel’s job in a dynamic new company is often challenging but exciting. [continuously
developing]
Chloe is demotivated in her current job following recent changes in the finance sector. [feeling
less enthusiastic about work] She is looking to work in / seeking a career in something more
creative, like marketing.

Language help
The text has some words with similar meanings connected to work. It is a good idea to learn
them in pairs, e.g. fast-moving and dynamic (industry/profession), seeking a career in …
and looking to work in … . (Note: we say look to, meaning consider or plan, NOT look for.)

B Expressions connected with working life

In many countries, women are allowed maternity leave, and men paternity leave, if they’re having
a baby. If they adopt a child, they may have a right to adoption leave. [time away from work to prepare
for and look after a new baby / adopted child]
What perks (informal) / (extra) benefits (formal) do you get in your job? [extra things apart from salary,
e.g. a car, health insurance]
What’s your holiday entitlement? I get four weeks a year. [number of days you have the right to take
as holiday]
Do you get regular salary increments each year? [increases/rises; formal] Do you get performance-related
pay rises? [depending on how well you do your job] Do you get an annual bonus? [extra money paid once a
year, usually based on good performance]
Most people think they are overworked and underpaid. (often said together as an informal, humorous
fixed expression)
Because of the recession, the company announced that there would have to be voluntary/
compulsory redundancies. [people losing their jobs, by offering to do so / having no choice]
During the strike, the airport managed to continue running with a skeleton staff of volunteers.
[the minimum number of workers needed to keep operating]
The people on the interview panel at the last job I applied for were so unfriendly that I got very
nervous. [the group of people interviewing someone for a job]

18 English Vocabulary in Use Advanced