How to use this course?

● Use the pause button

● Write your answers at

the end of every class

● Practise makes perfect

 Tell me about yourself.

Why?
This is a confidence question. Do you and your CV match?

General
● Keep the answer short. 40-120 seconds.
● Keep it professional. The interviewer is interested in
your work life here, not your personal life.
 Tell me about yourself.

Part 1 - What you have been doing in the past, up to now.

I + have + been + ing verb

I have been working as an English teacher for six years.
I’ve been working as a receptionist for two years.
I’ve been studying at University for three years.
I’ve been working in sales for 12 years.

I’m currently (now) working...

 Tell me about yourself.

Part 1 - What you have been doing in the past, up to now.

...working as a/an + profession

I’ve been working as a salesperson for + amount of time.

...working at + specific company (if very well-known)

I’ve been working at BMW for + amount of time

...working in + area of work (e.g. HR, Sales, Marketing)

I’ve been working in marketing for + amount of time
 Tell me about yourself.

Activity - One sentence is incorrect. Which one?

1. I have been working in marketing for two years.

2. I have been working at a salesperson for four years.
3. I have been working at Primark for a year.

Sentence two is incorrect.

Sentence one and three are correct.
 Tell me about yourself.

Write your sentence…+ one or two sentences detail.

Examples
I’ve been working in Education for five years. Most recently
at a college in London, mainly teaching children with special
educational needs.

I’ve been studying digital marketing at University for three

years. Mainly learning about social media and applying new
marketing strategies.
 Tell me about yourself.

Part 2 - What we want now, and in the future.

Now, i’m looking for a new position...

I’m searching for a new position…

I’m wanting a new position…

Examples
Now, I’m looking for a new position in HR.
Now, I’m looking for a new position as a salesperson.
Now, I’m looking for a new position as a consultant.
 Example answer:
Tell me about yourself.
Well, I’ve been working
in retail for seven years.
Most recently at Primark.
Now - write your answer to this question. Mainly organising the
shop and supervising
other staff.
Tell me about yourself.
Before that…

Now i’m looking for a

new position as a shop
manager. And this
company seems like a
good fit.

a good fit/match =
a good combination
 What do you know about us?

What do you know about the organisation/(company name)?

General - An excellent answer talks about:

● What the company does
● About the industry and where they are in it
● The company's ambitions
● The company's values
● The company’s challenges

To find this information, visit and research the company's

website, social media and any news or articles about the
company.
 What do you know about us?

About the industry and their position in it:

“I know this is a new / an established / an up and coming

company in the construction industry/sector.”

established = a good reputation for a long time

up and coming = making good progress, probably successful in the future.

Example: “I know this is an established company in the hotel and

tourism industry.”
 What do you know about us?

What does the company do? Use the present simple.

“You work with different businesses and provide accounting advice.”
“You consult sales teams on how to improve performance.”
“You teach business professionals English for work.”

What is the company’s ambition? Use the infinitive.

“The company's ambition is to provide the highest standard of legal
advice in the world.”
“I know the company wants to maintain its excellent reputation.”
 What do you know about us?
a/the priority =
What are the company’s values? the most
important thing.
“I know customer obsession is very important to Amazon.”
“Finishing the
“I know trust and integrity are very important to this company.” report is the
“I know quality products are a priority for this company.” priority today.”

What are the company’s challenges? Use infinitive

What are
““The company wants to improve customer relations.” your priorities
this week?
“The company wants to increase staff retention.”
“You want to create better products.”
 What do you know about us?

Example answer - Job interview for a supermarket manager

Well, I know Aldi is an established supermarket in the retail and groceries
industry. You provide excellent prices and work very hard to retain customers.
I know the company wants to aggressively expand, and continue to provide the
best supermarket service in the world. I know Aldi’s priorities are low prices,
health and providing a better life for the local community.
I saw that Aldi has won many different awards, such as best supermarket 2020,
and many others. And the company wants to take customers from other large
supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda.

Now, write your answer, for your job interview...

 Why do you want this job?

Why us?
Why this company?
Why are you interested in this job?

General:
- Research, research, research.
- Talk about the company's values, achievements or products.
- Do not talk about salary, or other benefits (parking etc)
- It is ok to say a similar answer to the previous question, use the
phrase “As I said before,...”
 Why do you want this job?

Part 1 - Sentence starters:

Example: I see this job
1. I see this job as a great opportunity to…. as a great opportunity to
- Progress professionally. work at an exciting
- Work at an established/exciting company. company. I know this job
- Improve my skills as an operations manager. involves a lot of problem
- Learn more about.... solving, and I really
enjoy problem solving
and improving results for
2. “I want this job because it involves a lot of…” the company I work with.
3. “I really enjoy verb+ing.”
 Why do you want this job?

Part 2 - Praise the company

- From what I’ve seen and read, this company… has an excellent
reputation / has quality products / is making good progress.

- This company is one of the best in... (area of work e.g. IT,
Pharmaceuticals, Accounting)...and I want to be a part of that.

Part 3 - Why are you and this job a good fit?

- I feel that, with my skills, I have a lot to offer.
- I feel that, this job is a good fit for my skills.
 Why do you want this job?

Example answer:
I see this job as a great opportunity to work at an established construction
company. I know this job involves a lot of organisation and management
skills, and I really enjoy managing different projects and tasks.
I also know that this company is one the best in construction, and I want
to be a part of that. For example, I saw that last year you constructed 400
housing units, and this is the type of work I want to do. I feel that with my
skills, I have a lot to offer.

Now, write your answer, for your job interview:

Why do you want this job?
 Why should we hire you?

What can you bring to the company? to hire (verb) =

What would you bring to the team? To give
Why do you think you’re suitable for this role? someone a job

suitable (adj) =
right for a
General particular job or
- Talk about skills specific to that job. purpose
- Give very specific examples of that skill. role (noun) =
- Talk about your experience. your function in
- Have confidence in yourself. You are showing them an organisation

what they can have at their company.

 Why should we hire you?

“I’m good at verb +ing …

...and I have a lot of experience with this.”

- I’m good at teaching and delivering lessons, and I

have a lot of experience with this. Not much experience?

- I’m good at giving all my

- I’m good at hitting sales targets and building attention to a problem. For
relationships, and I have a lot of experience with example,...

this. - I’m good at repairing

things and working with my
- I’m good at designing websites, and I have a lot of hands. For example, …
experience with this.
 Why should we hire you?

Now let’s get specific! Use real examples and things you have done.
Specifically, I am very focused and goal-orientated. For example, at my
last job I had multiple targets to meet at the end of each month. I planned
how to reach these sales targets, and executed. I was in the top 8% of
sales people in my company three years in a row. If I have a target or a
goal, I don’t stop until I have done it, and done it well.
Specifically, I am very resilient. For example, at my last job I had very
difficult students with complicated needs, and have still managed to
create effective learning environments with them. I also achieved the
highest teaching grade of ‘Outstanding’.
 Why should we hire you?

Example answer:
Why should we hire you?
I’m good at editing videos, and I have a lot of experience with this.
Specifically, I am very knowledgeable about ‘Adobe Pro’ and have used it
for many years. At my last job, I edited five different programmes for
‘Britain’s Got Singers’ and received positive feedback from all five
programmes.
I also… (give more examples of your experience).
And overall, I think that my skills are a good fit for this position.
Now, write your answer.
 What are your strengths?

What are your strengths?

What are your key skills? Strength = best quality
What is your biggest strength? Key skills = most important skills
What are your strong points?

General
- Prepare at least two strengths, three is better.
- DO NOT list lots of strengths.
- Two with examples, is better than 7 without examples.
- Have one or two examples or evidence for every strength.
- Be confident, it's ok to speak well of yourself here.
 What are your strengths?

My biggest strength is that I am... + strength

Some very good strength examples:

- ...committed to improving
- ...creative
- ...an excellent communicator
- ...adaptable / versatile
- ...a good problem solver
- ...highly skilled at …(insert skill)
- ...calm under pressure
 What are your strengths?

Evidence: Why are you this? What have you done?

My biggest strength is that I am versatile. When I worked at ‘Johnsons’ I was asked
to do lots of different jobs, some of them I had never done before. It was difficult,
but I love a challenge, and I always find a way to complete a task. I learn quickly,
and my manager could always trust me with a job.

For example, when the manager was on holiday, it was my responsibility to do

managerial tasks, and I never had problems with this. Or sometimes, I had to work
in a different building or site, and adapt to that new environment.

Another example is my English. I know that English is important for my life

opportunities. So I decided to learn it. I can adapt to my environment, and I think
that is my biggest strength.
 What are your strengths?

Example 2: Not sure what to say?

My biggest strength is that I am committed to improving. Every week I want to be a
little bit better at my job. I see my work as a craft, and there is always the possibility
to improve and learn new skills.

In twelve months, I want to be a much better salesperson than I am today. When I

worked with customers for the first time, I was shy and not confident speaking. But I
spent a lot of time trying to improve that area, and now I am very confident.

Another example of my commitment to improving is my English. I know that English

is important for my life opportunities. So I have spent a lot of time trying to improve
it, and want to continue this.
 What are your weaknesses?

What is your biggest weakness?

What is something you need to improve on?
What are your weak points?
Weakness = something that
General needs to improve
- Plan your answer.
- Keep it quite short.
- Do not say “I’m a perfectionist”. - too common
- The weakness must not really affect the job.
- Prepare two weaknesses
 What are your weaknesses?

Say what the weakness is, then say what we can do to change that.
“One of my biggest weaknesses is…

...that I lack experience with ...that I sometimes say yes to

….(what do you lack/not have too much, and accept too
experience with?). But I am a quick much work. I need to
learner, and I know I will spend a understand when it is time to
lot of time trying to improve this. stop helping someone else,
or to ask them to do
to lack something = something for me. But I am
to not have enough of something working on this.
 What are your weaknesses?

Some other common weaknesses you can write about: spontaneous (adj) =
doing something
without a plan
One of my biggest weaknesses is...
- ...speaking too honestly.
- ...that I lack humour when managing. Are you
- ...sharing responsibility. spontaneous?
Or do you
- ...my English level.
prefer to plan?
- ...not being naturally spontaneous.
 What are your weaknesses?

What is your biggest weakness? Example:

One of my biggest weaknesses is my English level. Sometimes I find it difficult to

pronounce long or unusual words. But I am working on this. I am always taking
English classes and practising my speaking skills.

Now, write your answer.

 What makes a great (insert job)?

What would an excellent performance look like?

What are the traits / characteristics of a good (insert job)?
What makes you a great (insert job)?
General
- It is ok to list traits here
- Make your answer very specific for the job
- You are showing your knowledge of the role
- You are showing your knowledge of what excellence is in the role.

Vocab: traits / characteristics = qualities of someone

She is funny and confident.
 What makes a great (insert job)?

Example answer:
A great nurse…
- is very caring and empathetic.
- They pay attention to details and have excellent communication skills.
- They have a good sense of humour, and are always ready to learn.
- Most of all, they are committed to the patient.

Write your answer, for your job.

- Your answer will be very different language and vocabulary.
- Google “what makes a good…(insert job)”, and write the best answers.
- Research in English, because translations can be wrong.
 Job specific questions

A school teacher might be asked:

A chef might be asked:
- How do you respond to bad behaviour?
- Who is your favourite
- How do you teach a writing lesson?
chef? Why?

A salesperson might be asked:

- Sell me this pen.

What job specific questions will you be asked?

 Silly and Unpredictable Questions

What animal would you be and why?

When you go on holiday, when do you pack your suitcase?
What is in your fridge right now?
What was the last book you read?
Are you lucky?

General
- Take your time! Wait 10 seconds and give an answer.
- Try and give an answer that doesn’t make you look really bad.
 Silly and Unpredictable Questions

Example: What animal would you be and why?

Answer A: Probably a snail. I’m quite slimy, and slow.

Answer B: Probably a dog. I’m quite happy and giving.

Which answer is better? Why?

Remember
- Take your time
- Give a positive answer
 Silly and Unpredictable Questions

Look at the questions, do NOT write or prepare an answer.

But try and give an answer.

What animal would you be and why?

When you go on holiday, when do you pack your suitcase?
What is in your fridge right now?
What was the last book you read?
Are you lucky?
 A Challenge Question

Why is there a gap in your work history? Vocabulary

What were you doing in 2017?
gap (noun) =
Why aren’t you going for a higher paying job?
a space with nothing
in it
1. Look at your CV.
2. See what difficult questions you might be asked.
overqualified (adj) =
- Is there a gap in your work history? having more
- Were you at a job for a really short time? education than
needed for a job
- Are you overqualified?
- Did you change careers? Why?

3. Have an explanation ready. Prepare.

 Why did you leave your last job?

Why do you want to leave your current job? Language Tip

Tell me about your last job.
- The word ‘boss’ is
What was your last employer like? informal in English.

General - Use the word

‘manager’ instead.
- Do not say negative things about your last job
- Your ‘employer’ is
- Make a positive comment about your last job
the person or place
- Keep it short that hires you, and
pays you.
Part 1: Praise last job
- You are an
Part 2: Say why you are leaving ‘employee’.
 Why did you leave your last job?

Part 1: Praise last job

“I like / liked working for (say company name).”
- The work environment was/is good.
- The staff and management were/are friendly.
- I have learned a lot of important things there.
- And I’ve got no real complaints about them.
But...
 Why did you leave your last job?

Part 2: Say why you are leaving.

But I want to leave to… But I left to....

- come to this country. - focus on my education.
- change my profession. - travel.
- have a new challenge . - come to this country.
- work with the people at this - look for new opportunities.
organisation.
- grow professionally.
What if you lost your job?
 Why did you leave your last job?

Part 2 continued: Say why you are leaving.

But unfortunately, I was laid off. So now I’m looking for something new.
But unfortunately, I was made redundant. So now I’m looking for something new.

Vocabulary: laid off / made redundant - your company needed to end your contract
because of financial problems, not because you did something bad.

We only say ‘fired’ if we did something bad, and the company asked us to leave
because of this.
Do not say you were fired.
 Why did you leave your last job?

Which answer is better, and why?

[A] My last job didn’t interest me to be honest. [B] I liked working at my last job and I learned a
And the people were too competitive, I prefer lot of important things there. The work
working in a friendly environment. That’s why I environment was good and the company was
want to work here. I can see that everything here run well. But I want to leave to challenge
is much more professional. myself. I feel that at this company I can grow
professionally.

[A] is not good. [B] is much better.

- It talks bad about the last job - It praises the last job
- It makes you look like a negative person - It gives a good and fair reason for leaving.
 Tell me about a time...

Vocab
A competency question, asks us to talk about a time in the past.
have to =
- Tell me about a time you had to make a difficult decision. obligation
- Tell me about a time you made a mistake. “I have to wear a
tie to work”.
- Tell me about your biggest success.
- Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult person. to deal with
- How do you handle stress? someone/
something = react
to/respond to

The S.T.A.R interview technique helps us answer these questions... To handle

something = to
react to something
 Tell me about a time...

How to structure your answers using STAR:

Situation - Where? What? Who? When?

Task - What you had to do. What you were asked to do.

Action - The action you took. What you did.

Result - What happened because of your action. Be specific.

 Tell me about a time...

Example: Tell me about a time you had to handle stress at work.

[Situation] Well, I was working at a hotel in Barcelona.

[Task] And I was asked to be the manager for the day, because my manager was
sick. I was really nervous.

[Action] I decided to try my best, and I spent the day dealing with difficult
situations and customers. I did a really good job.

[Result] After the experience I felt more confident more confident about my job.
And two months later the hotel offered me a job as a manager. So it was a big
success.
 Tell me about a time...

Example: Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work, how did you overcome it?

[Situation] Well, I was working as a personal trainer at a gym in 2016. I had a client who was
very old. I made a big mistake and made him do an exercise that was too dangerous. He
injured himself.
[Task] I had to change my plans for older clients.
[Action] So I decided to take two different online courses that taught me better exercises for
older people. I spent a lot of time reading about how to help older people, and different
strategies.
[Result] After I did this, I never had another injury in my class again. And because of my new
knowledge, I got more clients.
 Tell me about a time…(language)

Situation - Good Language Task - Good Language

Well,... I needed to…
I was working…. as a / at…. I had to....
...in 20XY.
I was asked to….
There was.... + infinitive
I was..
“I was asked to find a solution for the
“Well, I was working as an engineer in
safety problem, and it needed to be
2016. And there was a safety problem
done quickly.”
with a building.”
 Tell me about a time…(language)

Action - Good Language Result - Good Language

I decided to… In the end…
I did some research about it and… After the experience I felt…
I + past simple verb It was a success. Because...
E.g. I designed/ built/ worked/ taught
Looking back I should have... (if you
made a mistake)
“I did some research about the
problem and found a solution. I
“In the end, the safety problem was
designed a new…”
fixed. And I was given a promotion.”
 Tell me about a time…

Example: Tell me about your biggest success at

Write a story about: work.
Well, I was working for a school in London, and
- An accomplishment or success my class were really difficult to control. I was really
stressed.
- A failure / mistake and what you learned
I had to do something to improve behaviour.
- Working as part of a team I decided to start a new behaviour management
strategy. I made the children agree to a behaviour
- A difficult person / customer / problem contract. And also...
It was a success, because the children's
- Handling pressure / targets / deadlines
behaviour improved a lot. They were happy to
work hard, and behave well. I never lost control of
the class again.