Business English: The Interview

Introductory Questions What do you like or dislike about job interviews? Do you prefer to have interviews over the phone or in person? Why? When was the last job interview you have had? How was it?

What do you like or dislike about job interviews?

Do you prefer to have interviews over the phone or in person? Why?

When was the last job interview you have had? How was it?

Vocabulary to express – exprimer to make eye contact – regarder dans les yeux (de quelqu’un) confidence – confiance a “can do” attitude – attitude positive professionalism – professionnalisme appearance – apparence positivity – positivité

to express – exprimer

to make eye contact – regarder dans les yeux (de quelqu’un)

confidence – confiance

a “can do” attitude – attitude positive

professionalism – professionnalisme

appearance – apparence

positivity – positivité

Video and Questions Watch this video and answer the following questions: Do you think this young woman will be hired? Why or why not? Did the young woman make any mistakes during the interview? What kind of mistakes? What should she have done in order to have a better appearance? If you were giving this young woman an interview, would you have hired her?

Watch this video and answer the following questions:

Do you think this young woman will be hired? Why or why not?

Did the young woman make any mistakes during the interview? What kind of mistakes?

What should she have done in order to have a better appearance?

If you were giving this young woman an interview, would you have hired her?

Grammar: Modal Verbs Modal verbs are used to express: Posibility – may/might He may (might) not come to the interview. (It’s possible that he is not coming to the interview) Question: Might he come to the interview? She may (might) be the employee we’re looking for. (It’s possible that she is going to be hired) Question: Might she be the employee we’re looking for?

Modal verbs are used to express:

Posibility – may/might

He may (might) not come to the interview.

(It’s possible that he is not coming to the interview)

Question:

Might he come to the interview?

She may (might) be the employee we’re looking for.

(It’s possible that she is going to be hired)

Question:

Might she be the employee we’re looking for?

Grammar (continued) Ability (or sometimes possibility) – can He cannot (can’t) come to the interview. (He does not have the ability (or possibility) to come to the interview) Question: Can he come to the interview? She can meet us tomorrow for the interview. (She has the ability to meet us tomorrow for the interview) Question: Can she meet us tomorrow for the interview?

Ability (or sometimes possibility) – can

He cannot (can’t) come to the interview.

(He does not have the ability (or possibility) to come to the interview)

Question:

Can he come to the interview?

She can meet us tomorrow for the interview.

(She has the ability to meet us tomorrow for the interview)

Question:

Can she meet us tomorrow for the interview?

Grammar (continued) Wants, Wishes or Desires – would like (want is used for informal situations) I would like you to have more of a “can do” attitude. (I wish/want you to have more of a “can do” attitude) Question: Would you like to work for us? Mr. Smith would like to see you in his office now. (Mr. Smith wishes for you to go to his office) Question: Mr. Smith, would you like to see Mrs. Olsen now?

Wants, Wishes or Desires – would like (want is used for informal situations)

I would like you to have more of a “can do” attitude.

(I wish/want you to have more of a “can do” attitude)

Question:

Would you like to work for us?

Mr. Smith would like to see you in his office now.

(Mr. Smith wishes for you to go to his office)

Question:

Mr. Smith, would you like to see Mrs. Olsen now?

Grammar (contintued) Obligation – have to, must You must/have to have professionalism for the job. (You are obligated to have professionalism for the job) Question: Must you have professionalism for the job?

Obligation – have to, must

You must/have to have professionalism for the job.

(You are obligated to have professionalism for the job)

Question:

Must you have professionalism for the job?

Grammar (continued) Advice – should, ought, had better You should express confidence and make eye contact during a job interview. (You are advised to express confidence and make eye contact) Question: Should you express confidence and make eye contact during a job interview? You ought to be on time for a job interview. (You are advised to be on time for a job interview) Question: Ought you to be on time for a job interview?

Advice – should, ought, had better

You should express confidence and make eye contact during a job interview.

(You are advised to express confidence and make eye contact)

Question:

Should you express confidence and make eye contact during a job interview?

You ought to be on time for a job interview.

(You are advised to be on time for a job interview)

Question:

Ought you to be on time for a job interview?

Questions Answer these grammar questions below using MODAL VERBS : ____ we contact you for an interview tomorrow? You ____ dress like that because you won’t get the job. They ____ call me tomorrow for an interview. You ____ speak more clearly. I ____ to see you tomorrow. What abilities _____ you have for the job? Why ____ I hire you? I’m sorry, but I _____ hire you because you do not have the qualifications .

Answer these grammar questions below using MODAL VERBS :

____ we contact you for an interview tomorrow?

You ____ dress like that because you won’t get the job.

They ____ call me tomorrow for an interview.

You ____ speak more clearly.

I ____ to see you tomorrow.

What abilities _____ you have for the job?

Why ____ I hire you?

I’m sorry, but I _____ hire you because you do not have the qualifications .

Simulations What is the first thing you should do when you walk into a job interview? A potential employer asks you, “Why should I hire you?” And your response is… You are being interviewed for a corporate business, and they ask you about your abilities as an employee. How do you respond? Your potential employer asks you, “What would you like expect from working with our business?” And your answer is…

What is the first thing you should do when you walk into a job interview?

A potential employer asks you, “Why should I hire you?” And your response is…

You are being interviewed for a corporate business, and they ask you about your abilities as an employee. How do you respond?

Your potential employer asks you, “What would you like expect from working with our business?” And your answer is…