Interview Englsih
面试口语

　　Part I Objectives

The ABCs of Job Interviews In North America
北美工作面试须知

Common questions guidelines to proper answers
常见问题及应对技巧

“Tell me something about your self” – The tone-setting question
面试中的自我介绍

Nonverbal Pitfalls to Watch For
小心坠入面试中肢体语言的陷阱

　　Part II The How-Tos

　　The ABCs of Job Interviews In North America

　　The one-on-one format is the most familiar and common format in job interviewing. It's about two people sitting down to have a conversation. In this case, the conversation has a particular purpose: To determine whether there is a natural fit between the interviewer, the applicant and the job available. Both parties will leave this conversation with some kind of a judgment. The interviewer will know whether you can fulfill the responsibilities of the position, and you will know whether or not this is the right position, and company, for you to utilize and expand upon your talents.
　　The interview begins the second you and the interviewer initially meet -- this is the crucial nonverbal judgment. The interviewer is sizing you up: Are you dressed appropriately? Are you well-groomed and pleasant? Next, is the handshake -- do you offer a limp-fish handshake or is it firm and comfortable? A lot of close scrutiny takes place in those initial moments, and the interviewer can get a good idea as to how well the interview will or will not go based on his or her first impressions of you. After a bit of chitchat or warm-up, the questions begin.
　　The conversation will usually begin with the same request: "Tell me about yourself." The information you reveal as an answer to this question and throughout the interview allows the interviewer to get a clear picture of you, and certain pictures or patterns will begin to emerge. Each time a new subject is mentioned, the interviewer may want to dig a little further, and the picture becomes more focused.
　　Behavioral questions such as, "Tell me about your experience with...," give the interviewer clues about your past experiences that can be applied to solving the problems of the job in question. You must be prepared to talk about your achievements and past behaviors and have examples of the experiences you mention. For example, if you say, "I am very detail-oriented," or "I am an analytical problem-solver," there must be examples to back the claims. Show the interviewer that you are detail-oriented by providing him with an example of when your attention to detail positively affected your work. You should create a list of your accomplishments and experiences that validate these claims prior to interviewing.
　　If you don't immediately offer this information, the interviewer can probe further. As an example, you might say, "I have excellent written communication skills." The interviewer can now follow up on this subject by asking, "What type of writing have you done?" Or, "Tell me about a project you have worked on involving written communication skills." If you aren't able to come up with good examples, or success stories, there might be a credibility problem. Saying you can do something and actually giving an example of when you have done it are two different things.
　　Interviewers are attempting to get a picture of your abilities to perform in the position that is available. They are also looking to see how you would fit in with the corporate culture. Sometimes there will be a succession of one-on-one interviews within the same company. The process may begin with the human resources department, then move on to an interview with a prospective boss, or hiring manager. It may then continue down the line to other members of a department, and can sometimes include a CEO.
　　In each one-on-one conversation, you must be able to present good examples and tell about past successes. When this is done, you can leave the interview knowing that you have communicated a picture that is positive and accurate, no matter how many conversations it takes.

Part III Let’s Talk Business

　　Common Job Interview Questions

　　By rehearsing interview questions, you'll become more familiar with your own qualifications and will be well prepared to demonstrate how you can benefit an employer. Some examples:

　　"Tell me about yourself."
　　Make a short, organized statement of your education and professional achievements and professional goals. Then, briefly describe your qualifications for the job and the contributions you could make to the organization.

　　"Why do you want to work here?" or "What about our company interests you?"
　　Few questions are more important than these, so it is important to answer them clearly and with enthusiasm. Show the interviewer your interest in the company. Share what you learned about the job, the company and the industry through your own research. Talk about how your professional skills will benefit the company. Unless you work in sales, your answer should never be simply: "money." The interviewer will wonder if you really care about the job.

　　"Why did you leave your last job?"
　　The interviewer may want to know if you had any problems on your last job. If you did not have any problems, simply give a reason, such as: relocated away from job; company went out of business; laid off; temporary job; no possibility of advancement; wanted a job better suited to your skills.
　　If you did have problems, be honest. Show that you can accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes. You should explain any problems you had (or still have) with an employer, but don't describe that employer in negative terms.

Demonstrate that it was a learning experience that will not affect your future work.

　　"What are your best skills?"
　　If you have sufficiently researched the organization, you should be able to imagine what skills the company values. List them, then give examples where you have demonstrated these skills.

　　"What is your major weakness?"
　　Be positive; turn a weakness into a strength. For example, you might say: "I often worry too much over my work. Sometimes I work late to make sure the job is done well."

　　"Do you prefer to work by yourself or with others?"
　　The ideal answer is one of flexibility. However, be honest. Give examples describing how you have worked in both situations.

　　"What are your career goals?" or "What are your future plans?"
　　The interviewer wants to know if your plans and the company's goals are compatible. Let him know that you are ambitious enough to plan ahead. Talk about your desire to learn more and improve your performance, and be specific as possible about how you will meet the goals you have set for yourself.

　　"What are your hobbies?" and "Do you play any sports?"
　　The interviewer may be looking for evidence of your job skills outside of your professional experience. For example, hobbies such as chess or bridge demonstrate analytical skills. Reading, music, and painting are creative hobbies. Individual sports show determination and stamina, while group sport activities may indicate you are comfortable working as part of a team.
　　Also, the interviewer might simply be curious as to whether you have a life outside of work. Employees who have creative or athletic outlets for their stress are often healthier, happier and more productive.

　　"What salary are you expecting?"
　　You probably don't want to answer this one directly. Instead, deflect the question back to the interviewer by saying something like: "I don't know. What are you planning on paying the best candidate?" Let the employer make the first offer.
　　However, it is still important to know what the current salary range is for the profession. Find salary surveys at the library or on the Internet, and check the classifieds to see what comparable jobs in your area are paying. This information can help you negotiate compensation once the employer makes an offer.

　　"What have I forgotten to ask?"
　　Use this as a chance to summarize your good characteristics and attributes and how they may be used to benefit the organization. Convince the interviewer that you understand the job requirements and that you can succeed.
Here are some other job interview questions you might want to rehearse.

　　Your Qualifications
　　What can you do for us that someone else can't do?
　　What qualifications do you have that relate to the position?
　　What new skills or capabilities have you developed recently?
　　Give me an example from a previous job where you've shown initiative.
　　What have been your greatest accomplishments recently?
　　What is important to you in a job?
　　What motivates you in your work?
　　What have you been doing since your last job?
　　What qualities do you find important in a coworker?

　　Your Career Goals
　　What would you like to being doing five years from now?
　　How will you judge yourself successful? How will you achieve success?
　　What type of position are you interested in?
　　How will this job fit in your career plans?
　　What do you expect from this job?
　　Do you have a location preference?
　　Can you travel?
　　What hours can you work?
　　When could you start?

　　Your Work Experience
　　What have you learned from your past jobs?
　　What were your biggest responsibilities?
　　What specific skills acquired or used in previous jobs relate to this position?
　　How does your previous experience relate to this position?
　　What did you like most/least about your last job?
　　Whom may we contact for references?

　　Your Education
　　How do you think your education has prepared you for this position?
　　What were your favorite classes/activities at school?
　　Why did you choose your major?
　　Do you plan to continue your education?

Part IIII Exercises and Discussions

　　Answer the 10 most-asked questions mentioned in Part two by using guidelines provided in the article.
　　Tell the class an interview story of yours. Before you reveal the final result of this job-hunting experience, let other students criticize on your performance and give you a virtual offer/rejection. Compare it with the actual result.
　　Think of your best/worse interview experiences and share them with your class and instructor. Why do you think that you did a great/horrible job? If you can go through it all over again, what improvements can be made?

　　Part V Supplementary Notes

　　Tell Me About Yourself

　　It's one of the most frequently asked questions in an interview: Tell me about yourself. Your response to this request will set the tone for the rest of the interview. For some, this is the most challenging question to answer, as they wonder what the interviewer really wants to know and what information they should include.

　　Eleanor dreaded this question. When it was the first one asked at her interview, she fumbled her way through a vague answer, not focusing on what she could bring to the job.

　　"I'm happily married and originally from Denver," she began. "My husband was transferred here three months ago, and I've been getting us settled in our new home. I'm now ready to go back to work. I've worked in a variety of jobs, usually customer service-related. I'm looking for a company that offers growth opportunities."

　　The interview went downhill after that. She had started with personal information and gave the interviewer reason to doubt whether she was an employee who would stay for very long.
　　· She's married, and when her husband gets transferred that means she has to leave; she did it once and can do it again.
　　· She has some work experience with customers but didn't emphasize what she did.
　　· She is looking to grow. What about the job she is applying for? Will she stay content for long?

　　The secret to successfully responding to this free-form request is to focus, script and practice. You cannot afford to wing this answer, as it will affect the rest of the interview. Begin to think about what you want the interviewer to know about you.

Focus
　　List five strengths you have that are pertinent to this job (experiences, traits, skills, etc.). What do you want the interviewer to know about you when you leave?
　　Eleanor is strong in communications and connecting with people. She has a strong background and proven success with customer relationships. Her real strength is her follow-through. She prides herself on her reputation for meeting deadlines.

　　Scripting
　　Prepare a script that includes the information you want to convey. Begin by talking about past experiences and proven success:
　　"I have been in the customer service industry for the past five years. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls in the high tech industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that go along with it, is the opportunity to connect with people. In my last job, I formed some significant customer relationships resulting in a 30 percent increase in sales in a matter of months."
　　Next, mention your strengths and abilities:
　　"My real strength is my attention to detail. I pride myself on my reputation for following through and meeting deadlines.

When I commit to doing something, I make sure it gets done, and on time."
　　Conclude with a statement about your current situation:
　　"What I am looking for now is a company that values customer relations, where I can join a strong team and have a positive impact on customer retention and sales."

　　Practice
　　Practice with your script until you feel confident about what you want to emphasize in your statement. Your script should help you stay on track, but you shouldn't memorize it -- you don't want to sound stiff and rehearsed. It should sound natural and conversational.
　　Even if you are not asked this type of question to begin the interview, this preparation will help you focus on what you have to offer. You will also find that you can use the information in this exercise to assist you in answering other questions. The more you can talk about your product -- you -- the better chance you will have at selling it.

　　2 Nonverbal Communications
　　It begins even before you say your first word in an interview. By the time the interviewer walks toward you, an opinion is already being formed. There you sit waiting to spew out your answers to questions you've prepared for, while you are already being judged by your appearance, posture, smile or nervous look.
　　A study done at UCLA a few years ago revealed that the impact of a performance was based 7 percent on the words used, 38 percent on voice quality and 55 percent on nonverbal communication.
　　Look back at speakers or teachers you've listened to. Which ones stand out as memorable? The ones who were more animated and entertaining or the ones who just gave out information? This is not to say you have to entertain the interviewer (no jokes, please), but it does mean the conversation should be more interactive. If you say you are excited about the prospect of working for this company but don't show any enthusiasm, your message will probably fall flat. So smile, gesture once in a while, show some energy and make the experience more pleasurable for both sides.

　　Nonverbal Pitfalls to Watch For:
　　1.The handshake: It's your first encounter with the interviewer. He holds out his hand and receives a limp, damp hand in return -- not a very good beginning. Your handshake should be firm -- not bone-crushing -- and your hand should be dry and warm. Try running cold water on your hands when you first arrive at the interview site. Run warm water if your hands tend to be cold. The insides of your wrists are especially sensitive to temperature control.
　　2.Your posture: Stand and sit erect. We're not talking "ramrod" posture, but show some energy and enthusiasm. A slouching posture looks tired and uncaring. Check yourself out in a mirror or on videotape.
　　3.Eye contact: Look the interviewer in the eye. You don't want to stare, as this shows aggression. Occasionally, and nonchalantly, glance at the interviewer's hand as he is speaking. By constantly looking around the room while you are talking, you convey a lack of confidence or discomfort with what is being discussed.
　　4.Your hands: Gesturing or talking with your hands is very natural. Getting carried away with hand gestures can be distracting. Also, avoid touching your mouth while talking. Watch yourself in a mirror while talking on the phone. Chances are you are probably using some of the same gestures in an interview.
　　5.Don't fidget: There is nothing worse than someone playing with his or her hair, clicking a pen top, tapping a foot or unconsciously touching parts of the body.

　　Preparing what you have to say is important, but practicing how you will say it is imperative. The nonverbal message can speak louder than the verbal message you are sending.