This document summarizes a workshop on job interviews given by two English Language Fellows in Laos. It provides information about the presenters and an overview of the topics and activities covered in the workshop, including preparing for an interview, cultural differences between interviews in the US and Laos, common interview questions, and resources for studying in the US and improving English skills.

1. Job and Applicant
Interview Workshop
********
English Language Fellows
David Burns and Cindy Massey
The American Center
27 May 2013
Vientiane, Lao PDR

2. English Language Fellows
www.elfellowprogram.org/elf/

3. Contact information:
English Language Fellow in Laos
www.facebook.com/ELF.Laos
ELF.Laos@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/ELFLaos

4. Who are we?
• David Burns is a lawyer and English teacher with over
eight years of teaching experience in seven different
countries. David also served as ELF in Cape Verde and
Albania and as and EL Specialist in Croatia. David has
travelled to over 105 countries and speaks fluent
Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian.
• Cindy Massey is

5. What is a job interview? .

7. • An opportunity to meet face to face
• To discuss your qualifications
• To assess your ability and skills
• To demonstrate your skills and personality
• To sell yourself

8. Cultural Differences:
USA and Laos
• Understand and be
prepared to
appropriately handle
cultural differences.
• Cindy’s skit??

9. Activity!
• Understanding the cultural differences
between the USA and Laos that can
impact your interview:

10. How to Prepare for the Interview
• Research the scholarship, country, job
• Practice responding to common interview
questions
• Anticipate and prepare for unusual or difficult
questions.
• Rehearse in front of a mirror and in front of
friends or family
• Know the time and location of the interview and
get a good night’s sleep

11. May 27 – Memorial Day

12. Research the Scholarship
• Fulbright? Humphrey?
• Learn everything you
can about the
scholarship you are
seeking.
• Research past
candidates and
projects.
• Relate your
experiences to your
scholarship.

13. www.educationusa.info

14. Programs for Students and Scholars
•http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/
•http://www.cies.org/vs_scholars/

15. www.humphreyfellowship.org

16. What % of employers hire
potential employees
based on the following?
• Appearance and impression
• Reliable and punctual
• Work experience
• Education/training

17. First Impressions
• 45 % on appearance and impression
• 35% being reliable and punctual
• 10% on your work experience
• 10% on your education and training
Do YOU make a good first impression?

19. The Day of the Interview
• Do NOT arrive late. Arrive to the Embassy
20-30 minutes early.
• Dress for success.
• Remember your body
language.
• Bring CV-Resume or other
information requested

20. Mark the Date!

23. Activity! Body Language

24. Common Interview Questions

25. Greetings & First Question
Please tell me a little about yourself?

26. Tips for Interviewing
• W – 80% Work/Education Related
• A – 10% Attributes
• P – 10% Personal

27. Activity: BAD & GOOD Opening

29. • Remember that you have to give them a
reason to CHOOSE you from all the other
candidates.

30. What are your strengths?

31. What are your weaknesses?

32. Give me an example of a
time when you have
motivated others?

33. Why do you want to study in
the USA?
• This is a very important question!
• General question but allows you to answer
in detail and give them SPECIFIC and
CONCRETE reasons why.
• Don’t answer generically and don’t overly
patronize the interviewer or praise the
USA.

34. How will you bring your experience and
knowledge back to Laos?
• Similar to what are you plans after
studying in the USA.
• Prepare for this question.
• Give specific examples that stand out from
the other candidates.
• Be creative and tell of what you hope to do
• Be Truthful.

35. Activity! Practice Mock Interviews
Greetings & Opening Questions

37. Some Common Interview Mistakes
• Lack of preparation
• Inappropriate appearance
• Failure to ask questions
• Poor attitude
• Exaggerating or being deceitful
• Poor non-verbal communication
• Over or under answering questions

38. Questions you can ask
• Please describe a typical
day on the job?
• What training programs
do you have available for
your employees?
• What are the plans for the
company in the future?
• What level of
responsibility could I
expect in this position?

39. Closing the interview

40. Before leaving:
• T- THANK the interviewer
• H - give a firm HANDSHAKE
• I - Reinstate your INTEREST in the job
• N- Use the NAME of the interviewer
• C – Get and confirm the CONTACT
information of the interviewer

41. Next week?
• If you want to do one additional workshop,
we can meet here next week June 3,
2013.
• We will begin with more complex and
difficult questions and dedicate most of
the workshop to actual mock interviews.

42. Online Resources: Study in the USA
• https://www.educationusa.info/
• http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us
• http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/
• http://www.cies.org/vs_scholars/
• https://www.humphreyfellowship.org/

43. Job Interview Skills
• http://www.quintcareers.com/sample_behavioral.html
• http://www.mun.ca/cdel
• http://interview.monster.ca/
• http://www.jobpostings.ca/resource.cfm?id=16

44. English Language Resources
• http://www.idiomsite.com/
•http://www.englishgateway.com/
•http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/
•http://www.usingenglish.com/
•http://www.speakenglish.biz/
•http://www.learn-english-today.com/
•http://www.eslcafe.com/
•http://www.englishclub.com/
•http://www.better-english.com/
•http://www.eslflow.com/
•https://www.facebook.com/VOA60

45. Thank You Very Much!