Job Interview 

Interviewer: How many jobs have you had since leaving 
university? 
Candidate: I've worked for six companies. 
Interviewer: Why have you changed jobs so often? 
Candidate: I wanted to earn more money. 
Interviewer: What have you done that shows leadership? 
Candidate: Well, I lead the sales team. I'm also chairperson of a local business association. 
Interviewer: What are your strengths? 
Candidate: I'm fluent in Italian and Spanish. I'm good at training sales staff and I get on well with 
people. I think I'm very good at organizing seminars for customers. 
Interviewer: In what ways has your job changed since you joined the company? 
Candidate: I now have more responsibility and work longer hours. 
Interviewer: What mistakes have you made? 
Candidate: I'm not patient when people don't meet deadlines. 
Interviewer: Have you ever worked with a difficult person? 
Candidate: Well, the boss in my last company wasn't easy to work with.

Comprehension Questions 

1. How many companies has the candidate worked for? 
2. Why has the candidate changed jobs so far? 
3. What strengths does the candidate possess? Say just two things. 
4. What mistake has been made by the candidate? 

Dialogue Practice 

Practice the conversation below with your partner. 
A: How many jobs have you had since leaving university? 
B: I've worked for (six companies). 
A: Why have you changed jobs? 
B: I wanted to (earn more money). 
A: What are your strengths? 
B: I'm good at (training sales staff and organizing seminars for customers). 

Interviewer & Candidate 
[Experience] 
What did you learn from your last job?  -I learned to..
What didn't you like about your last job?  - Well, I had a problem with..
[Skills] 
What are you good at?  -People say that I'm good at..
Do you have any special skills?  -My main strengths are..
[Future plans] 
What do you want to do in the future?  My main aim is to..
Where do you want to be in ten years' time?  I plan to be.. I hope to have....
[Interests] 
What do you do in your free time? - I really enjoy..
What are your main interests? -I spend a lot of time..

Cosmopolitan readers queue for Tube job 

More than 1,400 readers of Cosmopolitan have applied to become a London Tube train driver. London Underground described the response to its single advertisement in this month's issue as 'exceptional.
Successful applicants will have to get out of bed for regular 4:45 a.m. starts, but the ￡27,650 salary and up to eight weeks'  holiday may prove sufficient compensation.  
Lorraine Candy , editor of Cosmo, said t he interest her readers had shown demonstrated that young  women were not bound by traditional career patterns. 
 'It's always been a classic thing for boys to want to be train drivers. Now we're seeing that girls 11 Unit 01 Careers can do it too,'
 she said. 
 'I don't think the job is boring or unsexy and I'm sure the passengers couldn't care less whether the train is being driven by a man or a woman—as long as it's on time.
The ability to break bad news to travelers more sympathetically is one reason London Underground is  keen to increase its number of female drivers from 100—just three percent of driving staff. 

Comprehension Questions 

1. How many adverts did London Underground put in Cosmopolitan? 
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the job? 
3. What do passengers care about most? 
4. Why does London Underground want to hire more women?

Activity 

High Profile Inc.: Job Interview 
High Profile Inc. (HPI) is one of the biggest sports agencies in the world. At present, HPI is 
interviewing two candidates for the job of marketing manager in its London office. Read the marketing 
director's notes below. 
Skills required 
- Communication skills - Negotiating skills - Interested in travel 
- Teamwork skills - Speak two foreign languages 
Task 
1. Work with your teacher. 
Person A takes a role as the Marketing Director: turn to page 123. Person B takes a role as Candidate 1: turn 
to page 124. 
Read your role card and prepare for the interview. Then, hold the interview. 
2. Change the roles. 
Person B takes a role as either the Marketing director or the second option, P. Madison: turn to page 123. 
12 Careers Unit 01 
 Person A takes a role as Candidate: turn to page 124. 
 3. Decided which candidate is better for the job and explain why. 

Discussion Class Work 

1. Look at these jobs. Who do you think should get the highest salary for these jobs? Put the jobs 
in order, highest salary first. 
- lawyer - accountant - firefighter 
- nurse - fashion model - teacher 
- football star - postal worker - advertising executive 

2. Which of the following would you like (○) or not like (×) in a job? 
a. a lot of telephone work 
b. writing lots of reports 
c. working with the same people 
d. working with a lot of different people 
e. working individually 
f. sharing an office 
g. using English at work 
h. working flexible hours (including weekends) 
i. a casual dress code 
j. uniforms 
3. Which is more important to you: a high salary or having a job you enjoy? 

Business Culture 

China: Interview Etiquette 
Individual Work 
• Your interview may be scheduled on a weekend, as some offices are open on Saturdays 
• You may be greeted by a handshake, nod or slight bow to the head. Return the gesture that is 
initiated by the interviewer. The traditional Chinese greeting is a bow. When bowing to a 
superior, you should bow more deeply and allow him/her to rise first. 
• Dress in appropriate attire for the industry to which you are applying. It is best to be slightly 
conservative (more formal) for the first interview. For males conservative suits and ties in subdued 
colors are the norm. For females, conservative suits or dresses are generally worn. A blouse or any other
kind of top should have a high neckline. Neutral colors such as beige and brown are common. 
13 Unit 01 Careers 
Due to the emphasis on conservative, modest dress in Chinese business culture, flat shoes or very low 
heels are the main footwear options for women. High heels are acceptable at formal receptions. 
• the interview: if you are presented with business cards, accept with both hands. Study it for a few 
moments before carefully placing it away. Do not hastily stuff a business card into your back 
pocket or write on someone's business card, as this is regarded as highly disrespectful 
• be aware that in China, it is perfectly acceptable to ask people questions about age, income, marital status 
or related subjects. If you do not wish to answer personal inquiries, side-step these questions as graciously
as possible. Regardless, do not express annoyance, outrage or similar feelings that will cause the
questioner to 'lose face'. 
Write Aloud 
What do you know about the etiquettes or tips for a successful interview? 

Vocabulary 

Dialogue 
association: an organization or club 
Individual Work 
fluent: a) having full command of a foreign language, b) spoken or written with ease 
get on with someone: to have a friendly relationship with them 
Reading 
queue: to stand in a line waiting for something 
advertisement: a promotion of a product or service
keen: eager; willing 
Vocabulary Exercise 
Fill the gaps with the words above. 
1. I saw an for a job with a large engineering company. 
2. Becoming in a foreign language is no easy task. 
3. He joined an athletic 
4. I wonder how Sam him. 
5. She's still to keep in touch with her ex-boyfriend.
6. There is a line of women in for bread.