Applying For A Job

Task 6. A) Read through this outline of the responses of three applicants to the same questions asked in an interview. Consider their answers carefully.

- Good morning, my name is Ms Martin. You've applied for the Laboratory Assistant's position right?

A. Yes.

B. Yes Ms Martin, I have.

C. Yes Ms Martin. When I saw it advertised I thought it would really suit me.

- Can you tell me why you replied to our advertisement?

A. I.... I 'm not really sure.... ahh....

B. Well, I've always enjoyed science and felt that this position would offer me an opportunity to extend my skills in this area.

C. I think that I'd be really good at this kind of work. In fact I learn so fast that I'd be looking for promotion very shortly.

- Do you know exactly what you would be doing as a Laboratory Assistant?

A. Well, I don't really know for sure, but I think it's got something to do with helping out the scientists in the laboratory hasn't it?

B. A Laboratory Assistant helps to maintain scientific equipment, keeping a check on the supplies in the store, and preparing the chemicals for experiments.

C. Oh, a Lab. Assistant helps make sure that all the experiments are done properly.

- What sort of student do you regard yourself as... did you enjoy studying while you were at school?

A. I wasn't the best student. I didn't really like study all that much, but I did it when I had to.

B. I suppose I'm a reasonable student. I passed all my tests and enjoyed studying subjects that interested me.

C. I'm a really great student I didn't have to study much because I always seemed to get by without worrying too much about it.

- What were your favourite subjects at school?

A. I liked Science – it was OK…Well, at least the bits I understood were OK.

B. Maths and Science were my favourite subjects at school. I also enjoyed doing History.

C. I'm afraid that I only liked the ones I was good at. The others were so boring that I found them to be a thorough waste of my time.

- Do you have any further plans for further study?

A. I hadn't really thought much about it…I don't know what courses I could do.

B. Well, I've thought about doing the part-time Chemistry Certificate course at Technical College. I think I would really benefit from doing that.

C. Well, if I had to do it I suppose I would, but now I’ve finished school I'd much rather try to get my social life back into full swing again.

- Suppose our company wanted you to attend an institution to further your skills.... How would you feel about this?

A. Attend a what?

B. If the course would help me improve my prospects for promotion and help me to be better at my job I would definitely do it.

C. Attend a course? When? I hope it would be in the day time? Would I get time off from work to attend it? I hope it's not at night-my social life would be ruined.

- Have you ever had a job before?

A. No I haven't. I've never really been game enough to get one.

B. Yes. I have worked part-time at a take away food store-the one just round the corner...

C. No. I've really been too busy, what with all the study I've had to do to get a good result...

- We have a lot of other applicants for this position. Why do you think that you deserve to get the job?

A. I can't think of any special reason-I suppose I'm no different from most other people.

B. Well, I've found out a lot about this type of work and my research suggests that I would be quite capable of doing the work involved. I also think that I would be able to handle any training course reasonably well.

C. I reckon I'd probably be the best applicant you're likely to get for the job.

- Now, do you have any questions you'd like to ask me about the position?

A. No thank you. I don't think so.

B. Yes. Ms Martin, could you tell me what hours I'd have to work, and for whom I'd be working?

C. Yes... What's the pay like?

- I think I have asked you everything I wanted to. Thank you for coming along to the interview.

A. Thank you Ms Martin. Goodbye.

B. Thank you. When will I know if I am successful?

C. Oh, think nothing of it... Could I see where I'll be working?

B) For each applicant, choose three words/phrases from the list below, which best describes their answers to the interviewer's questions. Which applicant do you think would be successful? Why?

Has done some research; confident and prepared; ill-prepared; unsure; arrogant; hesitant; doubts ability to cope; lazy; not interested in the job; an upstart (presumptuous); modest but sure of him/ her self; adequate; pushy; polite; rude; interested; keen; underconfident; energetic; has good study habits; has sound attitude to study.

C) Make up a dialogue “A job interview “using the following vocabulary.

Below is a list of great verbs to help you express just exactly what you did

with impressive vocabulary. These verbs are used to express responsibilities

and tasks performed:
act/accomplish/adapt/administer/advance/advise/allocate/analyze/apply/aprove/ assist/attain/blend/carry out /catalogue/classify/collaborate/compare/complete/compute/conceive/conduct/ consult/contract/control/cooperate/coordinate/correct/counsel/create/deal/decide/ decrease/define/delegate/derive/designate/detect/develop/devise/direct/discover/ distribute/document/double/encourage/engineer/enlarge/estimate/evaluate/examine/expand/experience/explore/facilitate/formulate/found/govern/group/guide/handle/head/identify/implement/improve/increase/initiate/inspect/install/introduce/invent/ investigate/justify/manage/maintain/moderate/motivate/negotiate/operate/organize/perform/pioneer/plan/prepare/present/process/programme/promote/provide/record/redesigne/repaire/replace/restore/review/revise/save/select/service/set up /solve/stimulate/strengthen/summarize/supervise/support/systematize/test/train/ transact/transcribe/transform/upgrade/validate/vary