Series:

English in Business Settings

English for
Job Interview
Let’s be so good that recruiters can’t ignore you.

l e a r n i n g . v i e t n a m w o r k s . c o m
This ebook is an attachment of the online course
"English for Job Interview".
The course can be accessed at
www.vietnamworkslearning.com

1
1
Small talk &
Introduce
yourself

2
1a - Small talk
What is a small talk?
Small talk is a social chit chat about topics that are not
important, but close to everyday life, often happens
between two people who just met. Topics such as
weather, sports news, traffic conditions,… are suitable
for just-met people to discuss.

When should I have a small talk?

For a job interview, you should use small talk at the
beginning. When there is a distance between the
interviewer and the candidate, a small talk would help to
close this gap. It will help the atmosphere become more
comfortable to both sides.

Why do I need this small talk?

For the interviewer, small talk is a perfect way to break the
ice. They not only want to recruit skillful people, but also
look for a colleague. Hence, communications on even the
smallest topic matter. Through small talk, the interviewer can
?
evaluate you in many ways: your interests, your concerns,
even your ways of thinking.
For candidates, this is a golden opportunity to make a good
first impression. Make sure you take this chance to show
your confidence, language skill and emotional intelligence.

3
Signals of a small talk
Common topics for small talk:

Your current Location Weather Sport Traffic Work

state

Interview may say:

• How are you today?/ How is it going?/ How are you doing today?
• Did you have any difficulty finding us?/ Do you have any trouble finding us?/
The traffic today was bad, isn't it?
• It’s a lovely day today, isn’t it?/ I can’t stand the rain like this, it’s so bad.
Are you a big fan of Manchester United?/ Did you catch the soccer match
yesterday?
• Your CV amazed me. You must have lots of intercultural experiences working
that long overseas./ I find your resume very impressive.
• How long have you been working there?/ That’s a very interesting job, how did
you get into that?

Strategies to have a good small talk

Be relaxed. Answer yes/no, then Answer yes/no, then ask the

Be positive add a comment interviewer the same

Good examples:
• I’m great. Thank you. How are you?
• Not at all. A good friend of mine lives here so I'm familiar with the area.
• True. Fortunately, I took that into account when calculating the time to get here.
• Thank you. Having a good understanding of different cultures has always been
my passion.

4
Language booster
Other ways to say “Yes”
• Sure.
• Yeah.
• Absolutely.
• I’d love to.
• That would be great.

Other ways to say “No”

• Not at all.
• I’m okay, thank you.
• Actually, I didn’t…

Go out of your way

to make an
outstanding first
impression.
Robert Cheeke

5
1b - Introduce yourself
What does an “introduce yourself”
request mean?
Yes, this request is for you to briefly talk about yourself. In a regular social
context, these introductions are often short and without construction, such
as your name, your nickname, your hobbies, where do you live. However, in
an interview, the request "introduce yourself" is a bit more complicated.
On one hand, you still need to introduce yourself within 4 to 5 sentences
(neither too long nor too short); on the other hand, you should provide
enough information so that the interviewer may have a good idea about you,
your education, relevant skills and qualifications to the applied position.
Hence, the request "introduce yourself" in the context of a job interview is a
short description of you and your relevant background.

When should I get a request to introduce

myself?
The "introduce yourself" request usually takes place at the beginning of a job
interview, after you have gone through a small talk.

Why do I need to introduce myself?

To the employer, besides understanding your background, listening to the
introduction of yourself will help them evaluate your ability to express, explain
problems and your ability to communicate in English coherently. The employer
is looking for a colleague who would fit in and is able to communicate English
on simple topics naturally.
For being a candidate, answering this question will allow the interviewer to have
a better understanding of you, your education, experiences and factors that
you’d like emphasize, which are often your “selling points.” Sounds simple, but
this question requires a certain preparation in terms of ideas, information,
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personal details and how they should be put together cohesively.
you’d like emphasize, which are often your “selling points”. Sounds simple, but
this question requires a certain preparation in terms of ideas, information,
personal details and how they should be put together cohesively.

Interviewer may say

• Let me know a bit about yourself.

• Tell me about yourself.
• How would you describe yourself?

Strategies to introduce yourself

impressively
Dos:
• Reply with a confirmation
• Keep in mind this introduction should be general.
Avoid diving into great details
• Start listing these facts following both time and
level of relevance order

Don’ts:
• As you have seen my CV…
• Thank you, let me introduce
myself. My name is…

7
Please take a look at the following sentence templates and
grammar tactics:

Education:
• I graduated from [university] as a [major name] major.
• I was a [major] at [university] from [year] to [year].
• I earned a Bachelor of [major name] in [university] in [year].

Use Simple Past

Usage: Simple Past is used to describe a thing that has
happened and ended in the past.
Formula: Subject + Verb 2 (+ Objective)
Examples:
I graduated from the National University of Vietnam, majoring
in Computer Science.

Experience:
• First, I worked for [number of years] as [past position] at [company name].
Then, I moved up and became [past position] at [company].
• I do [work] in the first [number of years], [job title] in the next [number of years]
and currently work as a [position].
• I started my career as a [position] at [company] for [number of years]. After
that, I took up the role as a [position] at [company] until now.

Use Present Continuous

Usage: Present Continuous is used to describe an event that
took place at the time of speaking.
Formula: Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing (+ Objective)
Examples:
Currently I am working at company ABC as a general
accountant

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 Use Simple Present
Usage: Simple Present is used to describe a habit, a truth.
Formula: Subject + Verb (+ Objective)
Example:
I always succeed in acquiring new customers

Career plan:
• I will work on [skill] to become a [position].
• I will fulfill my career plan by becoming a [position].
• I will upgrade [skill] and become a [position].

Use Simple Future

Usage: Simple Future is used to describe something that will
happen in the future.
Formula: Subject + will + Verb (+Objective)
Ví dụ:
I will upgrade my skills in digital marketing and will become
a digital marketing manager in the future.

Language booster
*Please note these suggested words are only neutral or positive. Also
make sure to use a dictionary to know what suits you best.

Common words you can use to call yourself:

• A communicator
• A perfectionist
• An organizer
• A doer
• A thinker
• A people person
• An extrovert or an introvert

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Common adjectives you can use to describe
yourself:
• Goal-oriented/result-oriented vs. progress-oriented
• Detail-oriented/meticulous
• Assertive/determining
• Innovative/creative
• Open-minded/a person with growth mindset
• Disciplined/organized
• Supportive/dependable
• Enthusiastic/devoted

Go out of your way

to make an
outstanding first
impression.
Robert Cheeke

10
2
Previous
Experience

11
 What do previous experience
questions relate to?
Previous experience questions will usually relate to
your working experience in prior positions, from which
you have learned skills suitable for the position. Hence,
responding to these questions precisely and concisely
could distinguish you among other candidates and
decide whether you could be offered a contract.

When does the interviewer ask

about previous experience?
When you get to an interview, the interviewer will
frequently ask you to describe your working
experience, which creates a chance for you to
share. This section will often start right after your
introduction about yourself, or else the interviewer
can insert the questions naturally into the
conversation at the beginning of the interview.

Why does the interviewer ask

these questions?
For the interviewer, before getting to the interview,
?
they have already reviewed your resume and are
familiar to your background. Therefore, it is no need
for you to summarize your application form, instead,
the interviewer wants you to show which skills you
have had during previous working experience,
character, your attitude towards this job and then,
examines whether you would suit the vacancy they
are looking to fill. 12
your character, your attitude towards this job and then, examines whether
you would suit the vacancy they are looking to fill.
For the candidates, your prior experience serves as a sign of whether you
would be a valuable asset or a good match for the company. Hence, don’t
just repeat your CV, but “Tell a Story” instead. A short but coherent and
detailed story which includes all the skills making you a good candidate for
whatever positions you are applying for.

Interview may say

• I’m curious to know more about the experience of [past
position] as stated in your CV. What did you do on a daily
basis?
• You had [a number] years in [Place or Company]? Can you
please tell me about your experience?
• So, you were a [past position]. What types of work did you
do?
• Tell me more about the time when you worked in [company].
What kind of issues did you have to deal with?
• How does your prior experience prepare you for this job?
• Do you think your experience matches the needs of the role?

Strategies to highlight your

previous experience
To give the best answer you may follow these
instructions:

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1- Use simple, active statements
Using simple statements with strong words to demonstrate your qualities is an
effective way to show your confidence, your proactivity and professionalism.
Good examples:
• We integrated multiple great ideas, retained the original strengths, and added
helpful ideas about how to use the new handout.
• I educated new customer service representatives on best practices, coached
new hires through their first calls and acted as team mentor.
• I developed extensive skills working with customers even when they were
distressed.

2- Describe information concisely and show connections

Only discuss necessary details about your abilities, your accomplishments and
your attitude for the new role so that you can avoid rambling. Besides, you
should make a link between your previous tasks and those required in the new
position.
Sentence templates:
• I have spent [years of experience] working as [previous position] at
[company]. I frequent [actions].
• My experience includes a variety of [areas]. In college, I was [position] where
I [tasks]. Then I [tasks],…
• From [year] to [year], I joined [company] as a [position], where I performed
various tasks, such as [task] and [task].
• At [company name] as a [position], I worked closely with [in contact position
or department] to [big task/function]. Such [big task] required me to [small
task], [small task], and [small task].

3- Use specific quantities in your answer

These statistics are strong evidence for your accomplishments.
Good examples:
• So far, I have fulfilled 3 projects and I have gained significant experience from
them.

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• At the beginning of last year, I optimized our email filtering system to improve
office communication and reduce the amounts of missed messages by 28%.
• I have assisted 45 repeat clients in increasing their capital by an average of
15% every year.

4- Set goals
In order to prove how serious you are, at the end of this part, you should list
out goals that you determine to obtain in the new role.
Sentence templates:
• As your [the position], I would want to [goals].
• As a [position] at your company, I aim to [goals].
• As I understand that [company’s needs], I want to use my [skills] to [goals].

5- Use Simple Past or Present Perfect to describe

Simple Past
Formula: Subject + V2 (+Objective)
Usage: Used to talk about things that happened or existed
before now.
Example:
• I joined the SEC in 2015, taking on the role of a senior
marketing manager.
• Two years ago, I worked as a market research assistant,
analyzing consumer data and drafting reports for the
marketing director.

Present Perfect
Formula: Subject + have/has + Past participle (+Objective)
Usage: Used to describe something that happened in the
past, but the exact time it happened is not important. It
has a relationship with the present.

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 Examples:
• So far, I have done two major digital marketing projects and I
have gained significant experience from them.
• Until now, I have helped to raise the amount of customers of
my company from 250 to over 800 customers.

Language booster
Vocabulary used to describe work experience:
• Make tough calls:
A choice or judgment which is difficult to make
• Implement [something]:
Put something into effect
• Carry out a plan:
To put a plan into execution
• Be in charge of/Be responsible for:
Involve important duties, independent decision-making, or control over others
• Lead/Led a team:
Control a group of people
• Succeeded in (something) = achieved (something):
Complete or accomplish something
• In charge of (something):
In control or with overall responsibility
• CV, resume:
A brief written account of personal, educational, and professional qualifications
and experience, as that prepared by an applicant for a job
• (On a) daily basis = typical day:
Daily
• Duty:
A task or action that someone is required to perform

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Vocabulary used to describe skills and abilities
• Project management skill:
The process of using skills in order to take a project from start to finish
• Capacity development:
The process by which individuals and organizations obtain, improve, and
retain the skills, knowledge, tools, equipment, and other resources needed to
do their jobs competently.
• Decision making skill:
The ability to select between two or more alternatives to reach the best
outcome in the shortest time.
• Interpersonal skill:
The behaviors and tactics a person uses to interact with others effectively.
• Leadership skill:
Essential component in positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions
about their organization's mission and goals, and properly allocate resources
to achieve those directives.
• Problem solving skill:
Ability to solve problems in an effective and timely manner without any
impediments.
• Communication skill:
Ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently
• Critical thinking skill:
The ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection
between ideas
• Time management:
The ability to use time effectively or productively, especially at work
• Market research:
The action or activity of gathering information about consumers' needs and
preferences

List of useful conjunction phrases

• To begin with:
First - used to give the first important reason for something

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• As a result + clause:
The outcome of something that you have done, because of something
• Because of + noun/noun phrase:
By reason of, as a result of
• Finally:
As the last in a series of related events or objects; used especially at the
beginning of a sentence to introduce the last point or idea
• In the meantime:
Until something expected happens, or while something else is happening; used
especially at the beginning of a sentence
• In addition/Furthermore:
Also and more importantly; used to add information
• To be specific:
Used to clearly defined or identified something
• Nevertheless:
Despite what has just been said or done; used to say something that contrasts
with what has just been said
• On the contrary:
The opposite; used to intensify a denial of what has just been implied or stated
• At last:
Used when we have been impatient as a result of long delays
• In the end:
Used to refer to a conclusion after a long process, after a lot of changes or after
a lot of discussion

It's not what you achieve, it's what

you overcome. That's what
defines your career.
Carlton Fisk

18
3
Behavioral
Interview
Questions

19
What do Behavioral Interview
Questions focus on?
Behavioral interview questions typically focus on
different , often difficult employment related situations
candidates faced at work. In addition, these questions are
decided by the interviewer based on skills that are needed
for the position. Hence, the interviewer can predict how
well you will behave in the future.

When would these questions be asked?

Behavioral questions will be asked at the heart of the
interview, after you've introduced your past experiences.
Otherwise, the interviewer will be more likely to ask these
questions in the same section when you talk about your
previous experience.

Why do I need these questions?

For the interviewer, based on your response, they can
understand your critical thinking and problem-solving
skills. Therefore, they will judge if there is a fit

?
between your skills and the position the company is
seeking to fill.
For the candidate, through answering these
questions, you can storytell one of your
accomplishments with as much detail as possible. It
is a golden chance to show your ability and create a
striking impression compared to other candidates.

20
Interviewer may say
The interviewer may ask you to tell a difficult situation that you
have ever solved.
• Give me a time when you need to make one of the toughest decisions.
• Tell me about the time when you went above and beyond the
requirements for a project.
• Describe a stressful work situation — and what you did about it.
• Can you tell us the single most stressful work challenge you ever had?

The interviewer may ask you how you handled the problem
• Describe a time when you demonstrated your leadership skills.
• When was the last time you faced a challenge or conflict? What happened?
• How have you dealt with conflict in team settings?
• Tell me about a time when you had to manage multiple responsibilities.

The interviewer may want to know one of your failures or successes in

your career
• Tell me about a problem which you think went well with your contribution.
• Tell me about the time when you made a mistake.
• Tell us about the worst professional failure you had.
• Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.

Strategies to answer behavioral

interview questions

S-T-A-R-L
=
Situation + Technique + Action
+ Result + Learning

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Situation
Describe the situation in which the event took place, explain the specific location
and time.
Sentence templates:
• I remember it was [month, year], [problem].
• When I was a [position] for [company], [problem].
• A few years back I was working at [your company, your position], when
[problem].
Good examples:
• I remember that was in September, 2016. There was an upset customer who
came to our desk and started yelling at us. She asked us to return the money
unless she would see our director.
• When I was a account manager at company A, there was a time the system was
hacked by a group of anonymous hackers and we lost a lot of data.
• A few years back I was working as a Service Advisor at a car dealership, when
the Service Manager announced that we had been receiving an unacceptable
amount of negative reviews for the service we had been providing to our
customers.

Technique
State the tasks you must complete or the problems you face
Sentence templates:
• My responsibility was [task].
• It was my role to [task].
• I was task with [task].
Good examples:
• I was a new team leader at SEC, still taking handover from the old team leader.
• It was my role to lead the transition for my group while also communicating with
our client to keep the project on track.
• I was task with being the leader of a group of 4 people to come up with a
solution.

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Action
Describe in detail the methods you have used or the actions you have taken to
solve the problem.
Sentence templates:
• [Start of solution]. [Middle of solution]. [Peak of solution].
• To be honest, I was a little inexperienced at that time. Instead of doing [solution
A], I did [solution B].
• My mistake was that...
• I was wrong when overestimated...
Good examples:
• At first, she refused to talk to me by questioning whether I am even a manager
and that she needed to talk to the one who is in charge. Then I confirmed that I
was the one in charge and asked politely “allow me to hear what happened?” She
agreed to come in with me to a small room and start sharing her situation.
• To be honest, I was a little inexperienced at that time. Instead of doing asking for
the permission of the manager, I decided to give the customer a solutions which I
think the best solution.

Result
What are the results and achievements?
Sentence templates:
• Turn out, [result].
• We ended up [result].
• After implementing my suggestion, [result].
Good examples:
• Turns out she made an online payment, and her Internet went down at that
moment so the transaction was not successful. However, she still lost her money
without having the confirmation ticket she paid for.
• We ended up completing the project on time, meeting all of their specifications.
It was incredibly rewarding to navigate a lot of changes and succeed under
pressure.
• After implementing my suggestion, mechanics were able to focus mainly on
their specializations, which meant they worked faster and more efficiently, which
translated to wait times dropping by 18%
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• After implementing my suggestion, mechanics were able to focus mainly on
their specializations, which meant they worked faster and more efficiently, which
translated to wait times dropping by 18%.

Learning
Lesson learned from the situation.
Sentence templates:
• Thanks to the experience, I learned that...
• After the experience, I could work on...
• Thanks to/ after this situation, I realized that…
Good examples:
• Thanks to this experience, I learned that we needed a follow-up procedure for
payment reports and really had to take them seriously. In the reflection meeting, I
also raised this up. Around 1 month later, we got our first version of payment
FAQs and follow-up system up and running.
• After this situation, I realized that I should put myself in customers' situations if I
want to understand and work well with them.

Note: Common mistakes that should be avoided

• Talk too much about personal information

• Ramble. The more you go on and on, the more likely
you are to get off track
• Tell a story that is anything but a success or lesson
• Make up the story instead of telling the truth
• Apply parts of STARL unequally(Example: Spending too
much on a situation and the action is too short.)

25
Language Booster
Vocabulary used to describe project and problem:
• Form a team/team up with:
To join another person, or form a group with other people, in order to do
something together
• Set deadlines:
Decide on a date when something must be finished
• Kick-off:
Start a project
• Schedule meeting:
Arranged or planned a meeting according to a timetable
• Ahead of/Behind schedule:
Earlier/later than planned or expected
• On schedule:
On time; as planned or expected
• Put a plan into action:
Execute a particular plan or decision
• Plan ahead:
Decide what to do in advance
• Make a plan:
Plan what you're going to do with someone on a certain day and time
• Stick to the plan:
Follow the plan
• Stay on budget:
Keep spending money as it had been planned for
• Increase the budget:
Excess of cost over budget
• Wrap up the project:
Complete or finish the project
• Sign off the project:
End the project
• Launch:
Start something (product)

26
Vocabulary used to describe your responsibilities:
• Assign responsibility:
Require someone to do a particular task
• Tasked with:
Assign one the responsibility of completing some task
• Outsource a task:
Delegate (a task, function, or responsibility) to an independent provider
• Be working as/ working on:
To work as/ to do something as your duty
• Be responsible for:
Involve important duties, independent decision-making, or control over
others
• Abdicate responsibility:
Stop controlling or managing something that you are in charge of
• Assumption of responsibility:
The act of taking a position of responsibility
• Shoulder responsibility:
Agree to start having a difficult or unpleasant duty
• Exercise responsibility:
Take action because you have responsibility for something
• The responsibility lies with somebody:
They are responsible for it
• My role at that time was:
Have a particular position at a certain time

I am not a product of my
circumstances. I am a product of my
decisions.
Stephen Covey

27
4
Shortcoming

28
What does the interviewer expect to
hear from you?
In this part of the interview you are not encouraged to
talk about the laziness, disorganization, nerves and so
on. Instead, you should say things that can express
your maturity through the way you recognize your
shortcomings and then you are already looking for
ways to deal with them.

When does interview ask these questions?

Shortcomings or weaknesses are often referred by the
interviewer after discussing about your problem - solving
experience or your accomplishments. Or else, they can be
asked during the conversation when you talk about your
previous experience. Hence, by carefully establishing the
appropriate context, you can highlight both your self-
awareness and professionalism.

Why do I need shortcoming questions?

For the interviewer, shortcoming questions help them to understand
deeply your personality, your ways of thinking towards yourself or your
career, your weaknesses, and the way you cope with your shortcomings.
They also want to see a more different aspect of you except your
impressive achievements in order to examine clearly whether you would
suit the vacancy based on the details you give.
For candidates, you need to answer these questions confidently.
Sincerity is very important. You need to show that you are a person of
initiative, you are aware of your weaknesses and you can overcome or
turning them into good things.

29
 Interviewer may say
• What is considered to be your greatest weakness?
• Besides your strength, what would be your
shortcoming?
• Do you have any weaknesses or shortcomings?

Strategies to story-tell your shortcoming

Firstly, "Tell" - we need to describe some of our weaknesses
honestly. At this point, you should minimize giving false
information. An observant employer will immediately find out
if you're trying to make up a story.
However, you should not feel shy or scared because all of us
have imperfections. Sometimes, clarity and sincerity in your
responses will give you a valuable trust from the employer.

Sentence templates:
• To be honest, I can be [adjective]. Sometimes, I find myself [verb]
[adverb].
• Well, that would be my [noun/verb-ing] tendency. [Verb-ing]
(opposite action) has been a challenge for me.
• To tell the truth, I sometimes see myself as [adjective]. While it is
true that…
• Over time, I realized that I tend to…
• The experience of two years working in…has taught me that I
have a [noun/verb-ing].

Secondly, "Make it positive" - we need to express our

shortcomings in a positive way. You should tell the
interviewer the reason of having that shortcoming. It is the
awareness of your weaknesses that marks the starting point
for positive and change.

30
Sentence templates:
• But sometimes, it could help me/others out as well. I can become [noun or
adjective].
• Looking at a bright side, it does allow me to [verb] as well.
• However, it is not always a negative thing. If I could find a way to balance…
• Having said that, it enabled me to look deeper into the problem, understand
myself clearer…
• Even though I realized that is a shortcoming, I truly see myself improving and
being more aware of the situation.

Lastly, "How you overcome it" - don't just stop at being

aware of the problem. Instead, tell the interviewer how you
overcame the weaknesses and what is the lesson learned.

Sentence templates:
• Anyway, I discovered that if I [verb], I would be able to [verb].
• From time to time, I've learned how to cope with this bad habit by
[verb-ing].
• As soon as I realized the issue, I quickly took firm action against [noun/
verb-ing].
• Be aware of the situation, I have taken many short courses to improve
my knowledge and skills.
• Although that is an unavoidable shortcoming, I have taken this very
seriously and...

Language Booster
List of useful vocabulary used to describe your weaknesses:
• Disorganized
• Self-critical/sensitive
• Perfectionism
• Shy/Not adept at public speaking
• Competitive
• Limited experience in [a nonessential skill]
• Not skilled at [delegating tasks] 31
• Competitive
• Limited experience in [a nonessential skill]
• Not skilled at [delegating tasks]
• Take on too much responsibility
• Not detail-oriented/too detail-oriented
• Not comfortable taking risks
• Too focused/lack of focus
• Have trouble to say no/asking for help

How to maintain the conversation flow or avoid turning

it into an awkward moment:
• Make sure to listen and focus on the speaker
• Encourage the other person to share more about
something by asking questions
• Give honest compliments
• Allow silences to happen naturally
• Be aware of your body language and pay attention to the
other person's body language

You are strong when you

know your weakness. You
are beautiful when you
appreciate your flaws. You
are wise when you learn from
your mistakes.
Suresh Babu R in Quotes

32
5
Challenging
Questions

33
What are challenging questions?
Challenging questions are questions used to challenge your confidence
and the ability to show yourself at a high level.
Types of questions
There are three types of challenging questions:
Quite hard questions - Ask you to prove that you are special,
unique, different
Interviewer may ask:
• Why should we hire you?
• What makes you think you can do this job better than someone else?
• How are you different from other candidates?
Hard questions – Challenge you to solve an imaginative situation
Interviewer may ask:
• If you have to choose between good and on time or perfect and late,
which pair would you choose?
• What if you had to ask staff to work beyond his/her job description or
regular responsibility? How would you do so?
• How would you react if you had to complete a task that made you
dissatisfied with your job? How would you address this with
management?
Very hard questions – Challenge you to solve an invasive questions
or trick questions
Interviewer may ask:
• We like our employees to look and carry themselves a certain way. Do
you think you will be able to set your financial hardships aside to rise to
the occasion of working here?
• Many of our employees work here for five years and don't get
promoted. Won't you find it frustrating?
• I see from your resume that you worked at your former company for
years, and that's terrific. But I also noticed that you weren't promoted
during that time. Why not?

34
When do we have to answer
such questions?
These questions might emerge at any given time when the
interviewer considers you as a good candidate; or you
seem to be not a right match, but still have a last chance.
Once the interviewer refers to this section, this is the most
important highlight of the interview.

Why do employers ask these questions?

These challenging questions have a purpose: they give
the interviewer a deeper sense of what makes you
different or special from other candidates, whether you
are competent enough or if you are mature or highly
experienced. Hence, they help the interviewer to decide
?
if you are the right fit for the position.

Strategies to handle challenging questions

For relative hard questions, you can follow these steps:
* Spend time to think
* Repeat the employer's questions politely
* Ask the employer for clarification
* Suppose a certain answer
Good examples:
• What makes me different? Well, that’s a very interesting question. I believe
everyone has his or her own unique characteristics, and for me, I believe that…
• Right, I understand what you meant. Even though I believe I have many strong
characteristics, the one that would make me different is...

35
For hypothetical questions, you can:
* State the problem, solution and the benefit of your actions
* Connect your experiences
* Get clarity if you're unsure about the context of the question
* Use “Conditional sentences”

Conditional Sentence Type I

Formula: If + Simple Present, will-Future
Usage: To talk about the result of an imagined future
situation, when we believe the imagined situation is quite
likely.
Example:
In my opinion, if I have a chance, I will (do something)…

Conditional Sentence Type II

Formula: If + Simple Past, would + infinitive
Usage:To talk about the possible result of an imagined
situation in the present or future.
Example:
From my point of view, if I had to go through such a situation,
I would definitely (do something) …

Conditional Sentence Type III

Formula: If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle
Usage:To talk about the imagination for a different past,
where something did or did not happen.
Example:
Personally, I think if the situation had been worse than that,
I would have resorted to (do something)...

36
For trick questions or invasive questions, you can apply these
techniques:
* Stay calm
* “Buy time” to think
* Try to clarify
* Use conditional sentences
* Be honest
Good examples:
• That’s a very interesting question, however, I have a few things that
may need to be clarified. Do you think I can assume that…
• That’s quite an interesting question, however, I wonder that…

When you get into a tight place

and everything goes against
you until it seems that you
cannot hold on for a minute
longer, never give up then, for
that is just the place and time
when the tide will turn.
Harriet Beecher Stowe

37
6
Question
Time

38
What does “Question request” mean?
This request is for you to show your concern or
seriousness about the job. These questions are often about
topics that weren’t covered or you would like to discuss in
more detail. A thoughtful question could reaffirm your
interest in the job. It also helps you stand out from other
candidates and demonstrate that you are the right fit for
the position.

When does this process happen?

Interviewers will often set a stage for candidates to ask
them questions right after challenging questions.
Sometimes they will also enable you to ask questions in
other sections of the interview. However, you will have the
opportunity to ask more and freely once the interview has
gone over the peak.

Why do we need these questions?

For the interviewer, they want to evaluate how serious and
interesting you are about the new job besides the need to
listen to your concerns towards the job or working
environment. This is also one of the decisive factors which
?
helps the interviewer assess whether the candidate has the
right mindset for the job.
For candidates, this is the chance for you to learn more about
the company or the job, to show your interest in the job, and
give a memorable final impression for the interviewer.

39
Interviewers may ask
• Do you have any questions for me?
• Is there anything you'd like me to clarify for you
regarding our company?

Strategies to be unique with your

good questions
Steps to have a good preparation:
* Do research to learn about the position requirements and the values
of the company
* Make a list of good questions you are going to ask
* Investigate more on their industry
* Avoid simple questions that anyone can easily find an answer
* Rehearsing your questions out loud

If the interviewers are executive and staff, good questions are:

• How would you describe your company environment and culture?
• Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job?
• What are the three best things you like about the company?
• What are the top three things you find the company still needs to improve?
• What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in
this role?

If the interviewers are team lead and manager, good questions are:
• What is the typical career path for someone in this role?
• If it's okay, would you please tell me about your plans [related subject
to your work]?
• What are the company's highest-priority goals this year, and how
would my role contribute?
• What are the next steps in the interview process?
• What are your expectations for this role during the first 30 days, 60
days, years?

40
Language Booster
List of collocation to start your good questions:
• I was wondering…
• Perhaps you could tell me…
• Would it be possible to tell me…
• Could you possibly clarify a point for me…
• I hope you won’t mind telling me…
• Could you please explain ... for me?
• Can you be a little bit more specific about…?
• In your opinion, how would…?
• From your perspective, what is...?

Phrases to show your concentration:

• Wow, that’s fantastic.
• That’s a great plan I think.
• Please go on.
• Uh huh/Hmm (nod your head).

You can tell whether a

man is clever by his
answers. You can tell
whether a man is wise by
his questions.
Naguib Mahfouz

41
7
Compensation
and Benefits
Negotiation

42
What is Compensation and
Benefits Negotiation?
Compensation and Benefits Negotiation is a process in
which the interviewer and the candidate negotiate on
salary and benefits for the position. This process happens
when the candidate’s expectation and the interviewer’s
offer are not the same. It is to help the interviewer ensure
the expected salary is reasonable and also help the
candidate to assess himself as a good choice.

When do Compensation and

Benefits Negotiation happen?
This usually happens at the end or maybe in the next round of the interview
process. When employers mention this, they are likely to identify you are the
right fit for the position they are offering. The interviewer in this case may be an
HR manager, a project manager or a decision maker.

Why do we need this process?

For the interviewer, this helps them understand your
expected salary. They also want to create an opportunity
for you to assess yourself and be convinced that you
deserve such Compensation and Benefits. Moreover, this
?
helps them to ensure that they are making a good
investment.
For candidates, this is the chance to value yourself and
convince the interviewer that the given salary expectation
is reasonable.

43
Interviewer may ask:
• What would be your expected salary?
• What are you hoping to earn in this position?
• Do you have a salary range in mind?
• Your expected salary is a bit higher than the market range for this
position. How can we be convinced you are worth that offer?

Strategies to negotiate on benefits

1. Attitude:
* Demonstrate your confidence
Sentence templates:
• I am really confident in [something / doing something] as
displayed through the achievements I had in the previous roles.
• It is certain that I am capable of handling [task] and delivering
results.
• I picture myself as a [something] individual who would make
endless contributions to the company.

* Stay firm as a candidate

Response templates:
• I am really certain in my opinion, so that...
• I don’t think what you proposed reflects the value and
contribution I would bring to the organization. How about…

2. Bargain up
Sentence templates:
• I believe an additional of [percentage] of what is on the table would
encourage me to accept the offer immediately.
• On top of what you proposed, how about an additional [amount of money]
as incentive would be fairer and encouraging for me to contribute the best
to the organization.
- I think the package you suggested was a bit lower than I could accept. In
fact, it is not very competitive for a role at this level. I would suggest you 44
to the organization.
• I think the package you suggested was a bit lower than I could accept. In fact, it
is not very competitive for a role at this level. I would suggest you revise the
package by increasing the amount to [a value].

3. Compromise
Sentence templates:
• I would suggest you revise the package by increasing the amount to [an
amount]. On top of that, I would propose the package comes with an
additional incentive or performance bonus if I exceed all the agreed KPIs and
expectations.
• Thanks for your suggestion, I am thinking could we meet half-way at [an
amount]?
• While I appreciate your offer, I believe my experience of [previous job
position] brings a level of unique value to your company that would be better
reflected in a salary along the lines of [an amount].
• Thank you for your adjustment, that is much closer to what I can consider.

4. Accept the deal

Sentence templates:
• You have my gratitude for giving me this opportunity.
• I truly appreciate your consideration for the position. Thank you.
• I look forward to this opportunity of working here. Thank you.
• Thank you so much for your offer. I’d love to start the job as soon
as possible.

Language Booster
Vocabulary and phrases
• Salary:
Money that employees receive for doing their job, especially professional
employees or people working in an office usually paid every month

45
• Wage:
A regular amount of money that you earn, usually every week or every
month, for work or services
• Remuneration:
An amount of money that is paid to somebody for the work they have done,
usually for every phase or project
• Performance Bonus:
An extra amount of money paid to an employee who has done their job well
• Incentive:
Something, especially money, that encourages a person or an organization
to do something
• Gross salary/income:
The total amount of money an employee receives before taxes and
deductions are taken out
• Net salary:
A person's salary after taxes, insurance
• Performance review:
A formal assessment in which managers evaluate an employee’s work
performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, offer feedback, and set
goals for future performance
• Benefit, welfare:
An advantage such as medical insurance, life insurance, and sick page, that
employees receive from their employer in addition to money
• Insurance:
An arrangement with a company in which you pay them regular amounts of
money and they agree to pay the costs if you have accidents, injury or etc
• Inpatient treatment:
A type of program in which a patient is provided with 24-hour care at a live-in
facility
• Outpatient treatment:
A type of program in which a patient is provided with 24-hour care at a live-in
facility but does not stay there
• Leave: an amount of days that an employee is allowed to be away from
work.
• Annual leave or paid leave: a paid number of days each year that an 46
• Leave:
An amount of days that an employee is allowed to be away from work
• Annual leave or paid leave:
A paid number of days each year that an employee is allowed to be away
from work
• Unpaid leaves:
An unpaid number of days each year that an employee is allowed to be away
from work
• Maternity leave:
A period in which a woman is legally allowed to be absent from work in the
weeks before and after she gives birth
• Medical leave/sick leave:
Time away from work because of illness

Successful negotiation is not

about getting to 'yes'; it's
about mastering 'no' and
understanding what the path
to an agreement is.
Christopher Voss

47
8
Post-
Interview

48
What is a thank-you email?
A thank-you email is an email sent to the interviewer
to show your gratitude for giving you an opportunity
to show your ability. This is a sign of your
determination for the position.
A good thank-you email should include appreciation
towards the recruitment opportunity, reaffirmation of
your interest in the job, and the ability to contribute to
the development of the company.

When is the right time to write

this email?
You should send thank–you email as soon as possible because it is easier
for you to write when the details of an encounter are fresh in your head. The
most appropriate time is the evening of the same day or the day after the
interview (within 24 hours after the interview).

Why do we need to write a

thank-you email?
It is to show your professionalism as well as your

?
determination in applying for the position.
It is your opportunity to get your name in front of the
interviewer for the last time and leave a positive
impression.
Furthermore, it can also help you to seal the deal after
an interview.

49
Strategies to write a thank you letter
A good thank-you email includes 6 parts:

1. Subject Title
Subjects need to be short and polite. You can
add the name of the interviewer to the title.
Good examples:
• “Thank you, [Name]”
• “Thank you for the interview today.”

2. Greetings
The simplest and most polite way to open a thank -
you letter is the phrase:
Good examples:
• “Dear" + interviewee’s name,
• “Good evening/afternoon/morning + interviewer’s
name, I hope this email finds you well.”

3. Appreciation
You need to show thanks to the employer through solemn
appreciation collocations, thank them for taking the time to
interview you.
Sentence templates:
• "Thank you so much for meeting with me today. It was
such a pleasure to...”
• “Thank you very much for the opportunity to…”
For a more formal way, we use:
• “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for giving
me this opportunity to…”
• “Allow me to use this email to express my appreciation for
the opportunity to…”

50
Collocation to show appreciation
• Deep/fine/great/real/aesthetic appreciation
• Express appreciation
• As a token of your appreciation

4. Restate your interest

Solemnly expected to work together will make employers
believe in your seriousness and determination when applying
to their company.
Good examples:
• “I am really excited about the opportunity to join your
company [and …]”
• “I look forward to make a great contribution to your
organization [and …]”

5. Further clarification
If employers need to contact you to clarify some other issues
that in the interview you have not had enough time to mention.
Good examples:
• “Please let me know If there is anything I would clarify
further.”
• “Please feel free to email or call me if you need further
clarification.”
Or we can use:
• “Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can provide any
additional information.”
• “Should you need any further information from me that could
assist the decision-making process, feel free to contact me.”

6. Ending
To end the email, you need a short and formal message, then
end with your full name

51
Good examples:
• “Best regards,
[Name]”
• “Warm regards,
[Name]”
• “Yours sincerely,
[Name]”
• “Best,
[Name]"

Language booster
Common mistakes should be avoided:
• Lack of greetings
• Do not use the interviewer's first name
• Mention unnecessarily about yourself
• Lack of a heartfelt affirmation that you really want the job
• Do not use gerund (verb noun) where necessary

Appreciation can make a

day, even change a life.
Your willingness to put it all
into words is all that is
necessary.
Margaret Cousins

52
9
Let’s
practice!

53
1. Small talk & Introduce yourself
Self-reflection
Imagine you’re entering a job interview as a candidate.
You meet your interviewer and learn that he is an
expatriate. Now, he starts asking you one of the
following questions. Write down your answer on the
blank space below, and practice speaking.

1. How is it going?
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. How are you doing today?

Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Do you have any trouble finding us?

Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

4. I find your resume very impressive.

Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

54
5. Hold on. Let me get the air con on.
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Homework
Answer these small talk questions:

1. Interviewer: Thanks for coming, how was your day going?

Your answer:
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………

2. Interviewer: Was the traffic bad on your way here?

Your answer:
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………

3. Interviewer: How did you know about this job vacancy?

Your answer:
………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………

55
2. Previous Experience
Self-reflection
Imagine you are applying for a job and you have to prepare for previous
experience questions, let’s practice by doing the steps as follow:
• Choose a job you used to do that is related to the job you are applying for.
• List about 2 to 3 facts - facts about your job such as daily tasks, long term
project, contact person, how effective it is, what did you really innovate/
improve on.
• Put sentences and ideas together, use language conjunctions/
collocations to present ideas in a coherent manner.
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Homework
Put the sentences in the right column of:
(A) Describing previous jobs
(B) Experience you have obtained from the previous experience
1. My first role as a management trainee paved the way for me to proceed further
in my career as a senior account manager at a Head Hunt Company.
2. Throughout the years at company ABC, I have gained important skills, such as
digital marketing and vendor liaison.
3. I developed extensive skills working with customers even when they were
distressed.
4. I spent three years working in a high-volume call center, answering customer
calls, and identifying solutions.
5. From 2015 to 2019, I joined Lotus Company as a Chief Accountant, where I
am in-charge of all accounting activities of both financial and management 56
calls, and identifying solutions.
5. From 2015 to 2019, I joined Lotus Company as a Chief Accountant, where I
am in-charge of all accounting activities of both financial and management
accounting.
6. The internship at bank ABC has taught me the essential skills to embark on
my full-time career as a general accountant.
7. In college, I was the ad intern at the local radio station, where I designed event
posters for local concerts and music festivals. Then I worked as a market
research assistant, analyzing consumer data and drafting reports for the
marketing director.
8. I worked as a kennel assistant at a local animal hospital during the summer
before my freshman year of college.
9. My other positions allowed me to practice applying research to writing ad
copy, social media posts and a few radio commercial scripts.
10. I have 10 years of experience in personal finance management, and I have
assisted 45 repeat clients in increasing their capital by an average of 15% every
year.
11. It was there I discovered what I wanted to do as a career.

(A) Describing previous jobs (B) Experience you have obtained

57
3. Behavioral Interview Questions
Self-reflection
1. Please think of an experience that you have overcome successfully and
apply these instructions to practice.
• Use STARL Framework to systemize your ideas
• Arrange these ideas logically
• Practice to speak fluently
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Please answer the following question by using the knowledge mentioned in

the lessons:
Now can you tell me what is the most challenging problem that you faced
and how you resolved it?
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Homework
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the word in the box
below. Then put them in the right column of STARL Framework.

request and be granted appreciate switch

responsibility as a result manage
family emergency be in charge of apologize
prior task be left unfinished quickly call
realize learn

58
1. One time, at my last job, my coworker had a ______________ and needed to
miss work for some time, and their super-important project ______________ and
without a manager.
2. ______________, we were able to ace the inspection, less costly in the long
run compared to giving employees a few hours of overtime.
3. Thanks to this experience, I ______________ that sometimes we need to put
down our self – esteem to keep the team’s good performance.
4. Throughout the month, I was tasked with small ______________ that took
time away from my goal.
5. One time, I ____________ the packing labels of two packages I sent to
customers. I had to correct the problem without angering the clients.
6. I sat down with them one day during lunch, paid for their meal, and took
initiative by ______________ for my part in the whole mess.
7. After this situation, I ____________ that I should put myself to customers’
situation if I want to understand and work well them.
8. I ______________ a reduction in my weekly goals, allotting me more time to
attack the special project.
9. As the head chef, I ____________ making sure everything was in order in the
kitchen and the BOH before the inspector arrived.
10. My supervisor ____________ my attitude and drive, and I was given several
more projects after that, along with an eventual promotion and pay raise.
11. I ____________ in employees from the last shift to help out, leaving the
others available to prep for that evening’s dinner.
12. Thanks to that experience, I learned that to make your work go well, you
have to know how to identify __________and __________your time appropriately.

S T A R L

59
4. Shortcoming
Self-reflection
1. Please practice answering the following question:
“So, do you have any weaknesses or shortcomings?”
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Now, I want you to choose one aspect that you consider as your
shortcoming or weakness. You would then need to practice making a
logical statement of:
• Why is it a weakness?
• How can it also be beneficial?
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Homework
Complete these following sentences and put them into the right order of a
paragraph talking about shortcoming.

1. I/decide/ I/need/deal/the issue, so I/enroll/a class/time management.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Now/I/put together/plan/as soon as/I/get/new assignment, and I/often/

beat/my deadlines.
……………………………………………………………………………………………

3. It/become/worse/when/I/cannot/finish/any/my tasks/during a month/

and/get/warning/ from my boss.
……………………………………………………………………………………………

60
4. Although/I/always/meet/my deadlines/and/usually/end up/work/before/
a deadline, I/use to/have/problem/procrastination.
……………………………………………………………………………………………

5. I/learn/how/organize/my days/ and attack/assignment/manageable

chunks.
……………………………………………………………………………………………

61
5. Challenging Question
Self-reflection
Imagine you are a candidate and your friend is an interviewer, let create a
conversation by following these steps:
1. So, do you have any weaknesses or shortcomings?
2. Research information and other relevant aspects such as: the market,
skill set, experience, etc
3. Prepare answers to those challenging questions (remember 3 types of
questions)
4. Ask your friend to give questions
5. Practice answering questions as preparation
6. Practice to deal with unexpected questions

Homework
Imagine you are an interviewee and in the interview, your interviewer will ask
you questions as each given situation, how would you answer?
Situation 1:
Linh, 26, currently works as a project leader for a local software
consultancy firm. He has been managing a development team for 3-long-
term projects. Now he is applying for a senior software engineer position in
a leading tech company. Michael is his interviewer.
Michael: Thanks Linh for your explanation of the past experience. This
position requires an individual who has strong technical capacity and is able
to run an agile team remotely. How do you think you are the person we
should hire? What differentiates you from many other candidates for this
role?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

62
Situation 2:
Huy, 27, currently works as a customer care specialist at a local mobile
phone shop. He has 4 years of experience in sales and has firm knowledge
in electronics and gadgets. He wants to become a pre-sale consultant in an
international electronic branch in Ho Chi Minh city. Peter is his interviewer.
Peter: Huy, amazing profile on your CV there. It seems you are really good at
electronics and gadgets. So tell me, what if we need you to do pre-sale
consultancy for clients on medical products, which is a different product
line that we have. What would you do in this case?
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Situation 3:
Mai, 29, currently works as a course coordinator for a well-known English
private institution in Ho Chi Minh city. She has 3 years working intensively in
an English speaking environment and has been managing different courses
in the school. Besides, she can handle parents’ requests and offer different
academic and personal support to students on different levels. She is
applying for a Public relation team lead role in a multinational company.
John is her interviewer.
John: Mai, from what you explained, I think your experience is quite diverse
and relevant. I would like to let you know that the role you are applying for is
really much on promoting the company image and managing our key
product marketing campaigns. Such a person should be able to endure a
high volume working environment and you are going to deal with different
stakeholders, clients, merchants and even customers. How do you convince
me you can handle such a difficult situation where it could get really
stressful and hectic?
How do we know you are the right fit for this role?

63
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

64
6. Question Time
Self-reflection
Let's read the situation and create a conversation
in which the candidate will ask two questions as
the demand of the interviewer. Here is the
situation:
Minh, 29 years old, is a marketer at a local advertising agency. He is applying
for the Product Branding Team Leader position at A, a Multinational Company.
The company is holding a lot of projects on fast food products and aspiring to
gain this market share in HCMC within the next 5 years. David will directly
interview Minh.
Then practice this conversation with a friend until you are fluent in answering
question request.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Homework
Which questions are suitable to place for each position of the interviewer
as follow
A. The interviewers are executive and staff
B. The interviewers are team lead and manager
1. What are the three best things you like about the company?
2. What is the typical career path for someone in this role?
3. What are your expectations for this role during the first 60 days?
4. How would you describe your company environment and culture?
5. What are the company's highest-priority goals this year, and how would my
role contribute?
6. What are the top three things you find the company still needs to improve? 65
7. What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in
5. What are the company's highest-priority goals this year, and how would my
role contribute?
6. What are the top three things you find the company still needs to improve?
7. What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in
this role?
8. If it's okay, would you please tell me about your plans to the project leader
position?

The interviewers are The interviewers are team lead

executive and staff and manager

66
7. Compensation and Benefits
Negotiation
Self-reflection
Imagine you’re in a job interview and you’re asked to
answer one out of these two questions. Write down
your answer on the blank space below and practice
speaking as much as possible:

1. I think the salary you proposed is quite high with your years of
experience. How can you convince me that you are worth that salary?
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Our expected salary is 24 mil VND, but we think that 20 mil VND is a very
good package for a middle-level executive at this role, plus some
additional benefits such as performance bonus at the end of the year.
What do you think about this?
Your answer:....…………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Homework
If you are the following people, what should you say?

1. Thanh, 26, currently working as a project leader for a head hunt

company. He has been managing a development team for 3 long term
projects. Now he is applying for a senior recruiter position in a leading
tech company. His expected salary is 25 million gross.
Michael is his interviewer. Michael is HR manager and he offers Thanh 67
 projects. Now he is applying for a senior recruiter position in a leading
tech company. His expected salary is 25 million gross.
Michael is his interviewer. Michael is HR manager and he offers Thanh
with 20 million gross.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Mai, 29, currently working as a course coordinator for a well-known
……………………………………………………………………………………………
English private institution in Ho Chi Minh city. She has 3 years working
intensively in an English-speaking environment and has been managing
different courses in the school. Besides, she can handle parents’ requests
and offer different academic and personal support to students on different
levels. She is applying for a Public relation team lead role in a
multinational company which requires her to maintain and build up
company’s images.
John is her interviewer and a HR specialist. He asks her about her salary
expectation.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

68
8. Post-Interview
Homework
Imagine you have finished a job interview and you
want to show your gratitude to the employers. Write
thank-you emails for these two following situations:

Situation 1:
Linh, 26, currently working as a project leader for a local software
consultancy firm. He has been managing a development team for 3
long term projects. Now he is applying for a senior software engineer
position in a leading tech company. Michael is his interviewer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Situation 2:
Mai, 29, currently working as a course coordinator for a well - known
English private institution in Ho Chi Minh city. She has 3 years working
intensively in an English - speaking environment and has been
managing different courses in the school. Besides, she can handle
parents’ requests and offer different academic and personal support to
students on different levels. She is applying for a Public relation team
lead role in a multinational company A. John is her interviewer and the
team leader.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

69
10
Answer
Key

70
Lesson 1: Small talk and Introduce yourself
Suggestive answer:
1. Interviewer: Thanks for coming, how was your day going?
Interviewee: It is great! I woke up early this morning and had a morning run.
Then my family had breakfast together before coming here. The meal is always
simple, but you know, I love spending time with my family. And how about you?
How is your day going?
2. Interviewer: Was the traffic bad on your way here?
Interviewee: Yeah, it was pretty bad. I’m not sure what was going on, but I got
stuck in a traffic jam halfway. Even though I don’t live far from here, it took me
more than an hour this morning. Thank God I started the trip early! How about
you? Do you live far from here?
3. Interviewer: How did you know about this job vacancy?
Interviewee: Oh, a friend of mine saw the job post on your company LinkedIn
website. I am sure she is following your company page so that’s why she
noticed that. She thought it might interest me, so she told me about this
opportunity. I think I am very lucky! Are you the one who posted the job?

Lesson 2: Previous Experience

Answer key:
(A) Describing previous jobs
1; 4; 5; 7; 8; 10
• My first role as a management trainee paved the way for me to proceed
further in my career as a senior account manager at a Head Hunt Company.
• I spent three years working in a high-volume call center, answering customer
calls, and identifying solutions.
• From 2015 to 2019, I joined Lotus Company as a Chief Accountant, where I
am in-charge of all accounting activities of both financial and management
accounting.
• In college, I was the ad intern at the local radio station, where I designed
event posters for local concerts and music festivals. Then I worked as a market
research assistant, analyzing consumer data and drafting reports for the
marketing director.
• I worked as a kennel assistant at a local animal hospital during the summer
before my freshman year of college
• I have 10 years of experience in personal finance management, and I have 71
• I worked as a kennel assistant at a local animal hospital during the summer
before my freshman year of college.
• I have 10 years of experience in personal finance management, and I have
assisted 45 repeat clients in increasing their capital by an average of 15% every
year.
(B) Experience you have obtained
2; 3; 6; 9; 11
• Throughout the years at company ABC, I have gained important skills, such
as digital marketing and vendor liaison.
• I developed extensive skills working with customers even when they were
distressed.
• The internship at bank ABC has taught me the essential skills to embark on
my full time career as a general accountant.
• My other positions allowed me to practice applying research to writing ad
copy, social media posts and a few radio commercial scripts.
• It was there I discovered what I wanted to do as a career.

Lesson 3: Behavioral Questions

Answer key:
S
• One time, I switched the packing labels of two packages I sent to customers.
I had to correct the problem without angering the clients.
• One time, at my last job, my coworker had a family emergency and needed to
miss work for some time, and their super-important project was left unfinished
and without a manager.
T
• As the head chef, I was in charge of making sure everything was in order in
the kitchen and the BOH before the inspector arrived.
• Throughout the month, I was tasked with small responsibilities that took time
away from my goal.
A
• I sat down with them one day during lunch, paid for their meal, and took
initiative by apologizing for my part in the whole mess.
• I quickly called in employees from the last shift to help out, leaving the
others available to prep for that evening’s dinner
• I requested and was granted a reduction in my weekly goals, allotting me 72
• I quickly called in employees from the last shift to help out, leaving the others
available to prep for that evening’s dinner.
• I requested and was granted a reduction in my weekly goals, allotting me
more time to attack the special project.
R
• My supervisor appreciated my attitude and drive, and I was given several
more projects after that, along with an eventual promotion and pay raise.
• As a result, we were able to ace the inspection, less costly in the long run
compared to giving employees a few hours of overtime.
L
• Thanks to this experience, I learned that sometimes we need to put down our
self – esteem to keep the team’s good performance.
• After this situation, I realized that I should put myself to customers’ situation if
I want to understand and work well them.
• Thanks to that experience, I learned that to make all of your work go well, you
have to know how to identify prior tasks and manage your time appropriately.

Lesson 4: Shortcoming
Answer key:
4→3→1→5→2
“Although I always met my deadlines and usually ended up working before a
deadline, I used to have a problem with procrastination. It became worse when
I couldn’t finish any of my tasks during a month and got a warning from my
boss. I decided that I needed to deal with the issue, so I enrolled in a class on
time management. I learned how to organize my days and attacked an
assignment in manageable chunks. Now, I put together a plan as soon as I get
a new assignment, and I often beat my deadlines.”

Lesson 5: Challenging Questions

Situation 1:
Suggestive Answer:
That’s a great question, thank you for asking. Based on what you've said today
and from the research I've done, your company is looking for a strong technical
capacity to run an agile team remotely. As my over 6 years of experience
working in technology, I believe that I will meet the demand of having strong
technical capacity. Besides, I am currently responsible for being a project 73
capacity to run an agile team remotely. As my over 6 years of experience
working in technology, I believe that I will meet the demand of having strong
technical capacity. Besides, I am currently responsible for being a project
leader of a development team, a team includes creative and agile people, and I
think 3-long-term project we have succeeded in makes me the best match for
this position. I truly enjoyed what I was doing, which is what drew me to this
position with your company. I would love to bring the skills I learned there to
this position.
Situation 2:
Suggestive Answer:
That’s an interesting question. Actually, if I was asked to do pre-sale
consultancy for clients on medical products, firstly I would outline and fill
myself with knowledge of our medical products such as strengths,
weaknesses, the demand of the customers, target customers, which features
that our products fit them, experience from other consultants,…Then, when I
had already known everything, I would use my previous experience as a
customer care specialist and 4 years of experience in sales. And I believe I
would lead me to success.
Situation 3:
Suggestive Answer:
I’m glad you asked. With over 3 years of managing courses, I think that I can
fully manage your campaigns. I know that I’m lacking in marketing section,
however, with over 7 years of working in different environment and cooperating
with other department, mostly marketing department, which provided me some
perspective over building company images as well as key product marketing
campaigns, I believe I can handle this position well. I also have effectively
stress management. My years of handling parents’ requests and offer different
academic and personal support to students on different levels will absolutely
help me to deal with different stakeholders, clients, merchants and even
customers. Certainly, I will bring those abilities to this position.

Lesson 6: Question Time

Answer key:
To answer this question, please remember that:
• To the interviewer at executive and staff level, you should ask questions
related to daily tasks, working environment or position’s qualities and 74
Lesson 6: Question Time
Answer key:
To answer this question, please remember that:
• To the interviewer at executive and staff level, you should ask questions
related to daily tasks, working environment or position’s qualities and
responsibilities.
• To interviewer at team lead and manager level, questions about career
development, strategic goals or expectations towards the company or position
should be referred to.
The interviewers are executive and staff
1; 4; 6; 7
• How would you describe your company environment and culture?
• What are the three best things you like about the company?
• What are the top three things you find the company still needs to improve?
• What do you think are the most important qualities for someone to excel in
this role?
The interviewers are team lead and manager
2; 3; 5; 8
• What is the typical career path for someone in this role?
• If it's okay, would you please tell me about your plans to the project leader
position?
• What are the company's highest-priority goals this year, and how would my
role contribute?
• What are your expectations for this role during the first 60 days?

Lesson 7: Compensation and Benefits Negotiation

Situation 1:
Suggestive Answer:
I appreciate your offer, however, according to my research and past experience,
my understanding is that 20 to 25 million net per month is typical based on the
role and requirements. It would be grateful if you could make me an offer based
on my current role and experience.
Situation 2:
Suggestive Answer:
Well, this position is not exactly the same as my last job, so I’m more interested
in finding a position that’s a good fit for my skills and interests. I’m confident 75
Situation 2:
Suggestive Answer:
Well, this position is not exactly the same as my last job, so I’m more
interested in finding a position that’s a good fit for my skills and interests. I’m
confident that you’re offering a salary that’s competitive in the current market.

Lesson 8: Post-interview
Situation 1:
Suggestive Answer:
Dear Michael,
Thank you for taking time to meet with me yesterday. I’m very excited about
the opportunity to work at your company.
The Senior Software Engineer role certainly sounds exciting, and it’s a role I
believe I’d excel in thanks to my years of experience in technology and
successful project that I have managed.
I look forward to hearing feedback as soon as you have any updates and
would love to continue discussing the opportunity with you.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need clarification on
anything we talked about in the meantime. Thank you again, Michael.
Best regards,
Linh.
Situation 2:
Suggestive Answer:
Good morning John,
I wanted to take a second to thank you for your time last Friday. I enjoyed our
conversation about responsibilities for the Public Relation Team Lead position
and enjoyed learning more about it.
It sounds like an exciting opportunity, and an opportunity I could succeed and
excel in! I’m looking forward to hearing any updates you can share, and don’t
hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns in the meantime.
Thanks again for the great conversation.
Best Regards,
Mai

76
Contents
Lesson 1: Small talk & introduce yoursel 2
1a- Small talk 3
• What is a small talk? 3
• When should I have a small talk? 3
• Why do I need this small talk? 3
• Signals of small talk 4
• Strategies to have a good small talk 4
• Language booster 5
1b- Introduce yourself 6
• What does an “introduce yourself” request mean? 6
• When should I get a request to introduce myself? 6
• Why do I need to introduce myself? 6
• Interview may say 7
• Strategies to introduce yourself impressively 7
• Language Booster 9

Lesson 2: Previous Experience 11

• What do previous experience questions relate to? 12
• When does the interviewer ask about previous experience? 12
• Why does the interviewer ask these questions? 12
• Interview may say 13
• Strategies to highlight your previous experience 13
• Language booster 16

Lesson 3: Behavioral interview questions 19

• What do Behavioral Interview Questions focus on? 20
• When would these questions be asked? 20
• Why do I need these questions? 20
• Interview may say 21
• Strategies to answer behavioral interview questions 21
• Language booster 26

Lesson 4: Shortcoming 28
• What does the interviewer expect to hear from you? 29
• When does interview ask these questions? 29
• Why do I need shortcoming questions? 29
• Interview may say 30
• Strategies to story-tell your shortcoming 30
• Language booster 31

Lesson 5: Challenging Question 33

• What are challenging questions? 34
• When do we have to answer such questions? 35
• Why do employers ask these questions? 35
• Strategies to handle challenging questions 35

Lesson 6: Question Time 38

• What does “Question request” mean? 39
• When does this process happen? 39
• Why do we need these questions? 39
• Interview may say 40
• Strategies to highlight your previous experience 40
• Language booster 41

Lesson 7: Compensation and Benefits Negotiation 42

• What is Compensation and Benefits Negotiation? 43
• When do Compensation and Benefits Negotiation happen? 43
• Why do we need this process? 43
• Interview may say 44
• Strategies to answer behavioral interview questions 44
• Language booster 45

Lesson 8: Post-Interview 48
• What is a thank-you email? 49
• When is the right time to write this email? 49
• Why do we need to write a thank-you email? 49
• Strategies to story-tell your shortcoming 50
• Language booster 52

Let’s practice! 53
• Small talk & introduce yourself 54
• Previous Experience 56
• Behavioral interview questions 58
• Shortcoming 60
• Challenging Question 62
• Question Time 65
• Compesnsation and benefits negotiation 67
• Post-interview 69
Answer Key 70
• Small talk & introduce yourself 71
• Previous Experience 71
• Behavioral interview questions 72
• Shortcoming 73
• Challenging Question 73
• Question Time 75
• Compesnsation and benefits negotiation 75
• Post-interview 76
Thank you
from Vietnamworks Learning team