The document provides guidance for ESL job interviews. It suggests reflecting on relevant skills and experience from past jobs and studies. In an interview, introduce yourself positively and answer initial questions briefly. Be prepared to discuss qualifications in detail, using accurate tense for current and past roles. Emphasize English studies to reassure employers. A list of helpful verbs and adjectives to describe tasks and skills is also included.

1. Job Interview Lesson for ESL
References:
http://esl.about.com/od/businessspeakingskills/a/j_vocabulary.htm
http://esl.about.com/od/businessspeakingskills/a/job_interview.htm

2. Job Interviewing: Directions
Think about the skills you have and how they relate to the job
you would like. Here are some of the questions you should
ask yourself when thinking about your qualifications:
• What tasks have I done at past jobs that are similar to the
tasks required in this job?
• What are my strengths and weaknesses and how do they
relate to the tasks required in this job advertisement?
• How do I relate to people? Do I have good people skills?
• If I don't have any related work experience, how does the
experience I have / studies I've done relate?
• Why do I want this job?

3. Job interview: first impressions
Introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly.
Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you
something like:
• How are you today?
• Did you have any trouble finding us?
• What do you think of the weather lately?
Answer the question without going into too
much detail. The language you use should be
simple but polite.

4. Job Interview Questions and Answers
Education:
Remember that your education took place in the past.
Therefore you need to use the past tenses, for example:
• I attended the University of Helsinki from 1987 to 1993.
• I graduated with a degree in agricultural planning.
If you are currently a student you should use the following
present tenses:
• I am currently studying at the University of New York and
will graduate with a degree in Economics in the spring.
• I am studying English at the Borough Community College.

5. Job Interview Questions and Answers
Experience and Qualifications:
Work experience is by far the most important topic
of any job interview (at least in the United States
and Britain). Therefore, it is important to explain
what experience you have in detail.
Generally, employers want to know exactly what
you did and how well you accomplished your
tasks. This is not the time to be modest. Be
confident, and talk freely about your
accomplishments in past employment.

6. Job Interview Questions and Answers
Experience and Qualifications:
When talking about current employment be careful to use the present
perfect or present perfect continuous. This signals that you are still
performing these tasks at your current job, for example:
• Smith and Co. have employed me for the last 3 years as a
salesperson.
• I have been creating customer contacts for 6months.
When talking about past employers use the past tenses to signal that
you are no longer working for that company, for example:
• I was employed by Jackson's from 1989 to 1992 as a clerk.
• I worked as a receptionist at the Ritz while I was living in New York.

7. Job Interview Questions and Answers
• Make sure to mention your English studies. This is
very important as English is not your first language
and the employer may be concerned about this fact.
Assure the employer that you are continuing to
improve your English skills by any courses you may
be taking, or by saying that you study a certain
number of hours a week to improve your skills.
Skills Set Lesson:
http://youtu.be/kuzui-9kxQo

8. Useful Vocabulary for an Interview
Below is a list of great verbs that are used to express
responsibilities and tasks performed:
accomplished collaborated designated facilitated interpreted perceived reversed transacted
acted compared detected finalized introduced performed reviewed transcribed
adapted completed developed formulated invented pioneered revised transformed
administered computed devised founded investigated planned saved tripled
advanced conceived directed functioned justified prepared screened upgraded
advised conducted discovered governed led presented selected validated
allocated constructed distributed grouped localized presided serviced varied
analyzed consulted documented guided located processed set up verified
applied contracted doubled handled made programmed solved vitalized
approved controlled edited harmonized maintained promoted sorted won
arbitrated cooperated encouraged harnessed managed provided sparked wrote
arranged coordinated engineered headed mechanized purchased specified
assisted corrected enlarged identified merged raised started
attained counseled escalated implemented moderated recommended stimulated
blended created established improved motivated recorded strengthened
brought dealt estimated increased negotiated recruited summarized
built decided evaluated indexed opened rectified supervised
carried out decreased examined initiated operated redesigned supported
cataloged defined expanded inspected organized repaired systematized
changed delegated experienced installed originated replaced tested
classified derived explored instituted overcame restored trained

9. Useful Vocabulary for an Interview
To describe your skills the following adjectives are useful
accurate experienced practical
active fair productive
adaptable firm reliable
adept genuine resourceful
broad-minded honest self disciplined
competent innovative sense of humor
conscientious logical sensitive
creative loyal sincere
dependable mature successful
determined methodical tactful
diplomatic motivated trustworthy
discreet objective
efficient outgoing
energetic personable
enterprising pleasant
enthusiastic positive