UNIT 4

Conducting Job Interview

(source: http://www.theage.com.au/executive-style/management/blogs/management-line/job-interview-blues-
20110319-1c16r.html)

Learning outcomes:
- Students understand kinds of job interview.
- Students understand what to prepare before the interview.
- Students understand what to do during the interview.
- Students are able to answer common questions asked by the interviewer.
- Students are able to ask questions to the interviewer during an interview.
- Students practice to interview both face to face and on the telephone.
- Students are able to write a follow-up letter.

Job interview is usually an ultimate stage in a job seeking campaign. In another

words, it determines whether you will get a job you really want or not. The future employer
needs to find out if you are the best candidate for the job. On the other hand, you need to find
out if this is a good opportunity for you to have the job and work at the company. However,
fresh graduates often fail in succeeding a job interview because this can be so tricky and
unpredictable. It indeed needs some careful preparation. Thus, you need to know what kinds
of job interview are, what to prepare and what to do.

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A. Kinds of Job Interview

There are many kinds of job interview you, as an applicant, may get through. Here are
the most common types:

1. Phone interview
It is conducted by phone usually for its practicality and efficiency. Sometimes it is
conducted to test your social and basic telephone skills.
2. A face to face interview:
In this case you meet directly with your future employers. In can be in form of:
a. Individual interview
This is one on one interview between you and your future employers and the most
frequent type usually conducted. In addition, it is usually for personally getting to
know you and what you have to do to make a good impression to only one person
to decide whether you are hired or fired.
b. Panel interview
This type of interview is a bit challenging because you are facing two or more
people with relevant positions in the company you are about to work for. The
panel of interviewers may sit all together facing you (and other applicants) in the
same room or they ask you to meet each separately (in different rooms).
It is a bit hard because you need to impress more than one person whom you may
not know their individual responsibilities. Moreover, they may have different
impression and personal judgments about you.
c. Group interview
Possible types of group interview usually conducted are first, you are interviewed
by a group of people (just like a panel interview) and second by a group of other
applicants. Furthermore, group interviews often involve a work-simulation
exercise, such as a problem-solving activity, to test candidates' leadership and
teamwork skills. Therefore, it is sometimes conducted in form of a group
discussion (among the other applicants) or a presentation.

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B. Things to Prepare before Having a Job Interview

It is suggested that a night before the day of the interview, you should prepare yourself:

1. Learn about the company:

(the products and/services, its reputation the hiring policies and practices, their salary
ranges, …)
2. Learn about yourself:
(your qualifications/ strengths and weakness, your plan, your motivation to work
there)
3. Prepare all the necessary papers (your CV, qualification papers, copies of references,
letters of recommendation, and samples of work (your portfolio). Make sure
everything is well organized and neatly presented.
4. Practice answering the questions.
5. Prepare your outfits to wear for the interview.
6. Have a good night’s sleep. It will help you remember and process things better.

By Phone:
1. Confirm the time
2. Prepare the place (strong phone network connection and less noise)
3. Prepare stationery
4. Prepare something to drink, but do not eat nor smoke during the conversation

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C. Things Supposed to Do on a D Day (of the Job Interview)

Here are the tips what you are supposed to on the day of the interview:

1. Have (light) breakfast.

2. Do not be late (Arrive 10-15 minutes early).
3. Stay Calm.
4. Check your appearance and smell.
5. Turn off the phones
6. Introduce yourself with a smile and firm handshake.
7. Maintain good eye contact during conversation.
8. Have pen and paper. Asking to borrow a pen indicates lack of preparation.
9. Be enthusiastic. Recruiters remember a positive attitude.
10. Do not lie
11. Do not answer the questions with “yes/no” ONLY
12. Say thanks
13. Listen carefully to the interviewer’s complete question before responding.
14. If needed, pause and take time before answering difficult questions.
15. Keep going even if you feel you made a mistake.
16. Unless asked, do not discuss salary and benefits.

Exercise 1: In pairs, discuss the following tips for preparing for an interview. Which ones do
you think are more important? Which ones would you do first?
1. Try to predict the questions you are likely to be asked during the interview?
2. Do some research into the company you are applying for a job with.
3. Find out exactly what the job involves.
4. Analyze your skills and experience and identity areas where they match the job
requirements and the company needs.
5. Rehearse the interview.
6. Decide what you are going to wear.
7. Prepare a list of questions to ask at the end of the interview.

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D. Common Questions Asked by the Interviewer

Exercise 2: Look at the following common interview questions. Write the type of the
question (a-c) next to each question (1-12).

a. Questions that require you to talk about yourself, your ambition, personality, hobbies,
and interests.
b. Questions that require you to prove you have researched your job and company you have
applied for work with.
c. Questions that require you to demonstrate you have the skills and experiences required
for the job.

1. Can you tell us something about yourself? a

2. What experiences do you have that are relevant with this
position? __
3. What did you learn during your time at university? __
4. What do you see as your strengths? __
5. What do you think about your website? __
6. What attracted you to the position? __
7. How would your colleagues describe you? __
8. What sort of projects did you work on in your last position? __
9. What university did you attend and why did you choose it? __
10. How do you typically approach new projects? __
11. What do you know about our company? __
12. Where do you see yourself in five years? __

Exercise 3: In pairs, take turns to ask and answer the questions in exercise 2. Which
questions are easiest to answer? Which are the most difficult?

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Exercise 4: Read and complete the following interview between Silvia and the interviewer
with the verbs provided in the box.

apply communicate develop gain get (2x)

lead make meet motivate put work

Interviewer : Can you tell us something about yourself?

Silvia : Well, I’m motivated and I (1) put a lot effort into everything I do,
whether I’m studying at university, at work, or even when I’m playing
sport. During my last year at university, I was captain of the basketball
team. I had to organize matches and (2) _________ the players. As
captain, it was essential that I was able to (3) __________ effectively
and get along with everybody in the team… and for the first time in
years, our team managed to reach the regional final. We didn’t win,
unfortunately, but (4) __________ the team to the final was a big
achievement for me.
Interviewer : What did you learn during your time at university?
Silvia : Oh, lots of things. My Informatics degree was very practical, and there
were many elements of the degree that could be (5) _________ to the
business world. I had a number of challenging assignments, which
often had to be completed within a short period of time. This helped
me to (6) __________ my prioritizing skills and ability to (7)
__________ to tight deadlines.
Interviewer : What kinds of things do you worry about?
Silvia : I worry about normal things, the same as everybody else, I think. I
worry about (8) ___________ deadlines and (9) ___________
everything done on time.
Interviewer : Would you say you’re an ambitious person?
Silvia : Yes, I would say that I’m ambitious. I’m very keen to (10)
__________ a job with a company such as yours where I can (11)
__________ full use of my degree and personal experience. I am a
dedicated worker and would hope to (12) ____________ internal

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 promotion based on my performance at work.

Exercise 5: In pairs, discuss the following questions:

1. Would you prefer to have an interview face to face or on the telephone?
2. Why is it increasingly popular for initial interviews to be held on phone?
3. What are the advantages of telephone interviews for the candidate?
4. When is the best time to arrange a telephone interview?
5. Why should you smile during a telephone interview?
6. What is the candidate’s main aim in most telephone interviews?

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Exercise 6: Read the following article and compare the advice with your answer on the
exercise above (exercise 5).

(Downes, 2008: 69)

Your answer on Exercise 5 The advice according to

the article above

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E. A Follow-Up Letter

After the interview ends, it is suggested that you write a follow up letter. It is done to
thank the interviewer for the time and the chance given to you. In other words, even though
the interview is over, there is still a lot you can do to leave a positive impression on your
prospective employer.

Exercise 7: Complete a follow-up letter below by putting the following sentences in the
correct order.

a. …… the challenges of the post. Having discussed the role of Junior Consultant with you
in greater depth. I am confident in my ability to meet these challenges and believe I can
make a significant…
b. With this mind, I have already developed some practical ideas for making the Futerra
newsletter and website more user friendly, which would lead to closer communication
with key clients. Please feel free to contact me if you require any further information….
c. As mentioned when we met, I am keen to use the research conducted as part of my
Master’s degree on sustainability to enhance Futerra’s identity, while at the same
meeting…..
d. As I feel my qualification and experience make me ideally suited to work in the area. I
recognize the importance of maintaining relationships and ensuring that newsletters and
invitations are sent out on a timely basis….
e. …. regarding my qualifications, experience or suitability for the position. I look
forward…
f. … to the contribution to the close team at Futerra. I am particularly interested in the
projects you mentioned during the interview which involve working with influential
business leaders, ….
g. …. at Futerra, I appreciate the time you and your team took in telling me about the
specific aspects of the job and the valuable work Futerra is doing.
h. Dear Mr. Lewis, thank you very much for taking the time to interview me today for the
position of Junior Consultant…
i. … to hearing from you soon, and thank you again for meeting me. Yours sincerely,
Carlisle Cullen.

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1. ___h__ 3. _____ 5. _____ 7. _____ 9. _____

2. _____ 4. _____ 6. _____ 8. _____

Exercise 8: Practice a job interview.

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