English at Work © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012 Page 1 of 3
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English at Work
Episode 1: The interview
Language for interviews
N a r ra t or: Hold t ight please! This is Anna, on a bus going t o an int erview for a j ob as a sales execut ive at Tip Top Trading – one of London's fast est growing com panies. How are you feeling Anna?
An na : Oh, a lit t le nervous but I really want t his j ob.
N a r ra t or: Well don't worry Anna, as long as you say t he right t hings, you'll be fine. An na : The right t hings! ? Like what ?
N a r ra t or: You need t o sell yourself, be confident , not arrogant and give exam ples. Like: A good exam ple t hat com es t o m ind.
I 'm part icularly proud of.
Tim ekeeping is im port ant t o m e.
An na : Oh right . Thanks. Perhaps you can com e wit h m e?
N a r ra t or: Sorry Anna, you're on your own now – but we'll be list ening in. Look! You've just arrived. Good luck!
Pa u l: Com e in. Hello, I 'm Paul, t he Manager of Tip Top Trading. And you m ust be….?
An na : I t 's Anna.
Pa u l: Yes, very good. Thanks for com ing. Now som ewhere in t his pile, I 've got your CV…
An na : Err, is t hat it t here?
Pa u l: Oh yes, t hanks Hannah. Your qualificat ions look im pressive but what sales experience can you bring t o our com pany?
An na : I worked in a shop once.
N a r ra t or: Ohhh Anna! Sell yourself. Give a good exam ple!
An na : Oh right …m m m ….well a good exam ple t hat com es t o m ind is when I was involved wit h a cam paign t o prom ot e and sell a new range of
clot hes – I loved doing it and it was…
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D e n ise: Oh sorry, excuse m e, here's your t ea Paul.
Pa u l: Thanks Denise. Now Anna, it looks like you've achieved a lot during your t im e at universit y. Could you give m e an exam ple of good t eam working during your t im e t here?
D e n ise: Sorry! I forgot t he sugar. Pa u l: Thank you Denise.
An na : Hm m , so you want an exam ple? I was t he t reasurer of t he debat ing societ y at universit y. That was OK I suppose.
N a r ra t or: Com e on Anna. Be m ore ent husiast ic – t he debat ing societ y is excit ing!
An na : I m ean… I 'm part icularly proud of how I organised t he finances for t he debat ing societ y. We had a very sm all budget and I had t o m ake decisions on what t o buy.
N a r ra t or: I like it ! " I 'm part icularly proud of" - Posit ive but not boast ing. You're doing well.
Pa u l: Very im pressive – so you're a good planner Anna! We like organised people here... ooops, silly m e. I seem ed t o have spilt t ea over your CV.
An na : Oh, do you need som e help?
Pa u l: Oh no…I 'm sure it 'll dry out … carry on please…
An na : Also… t im ekeeping is im port ant t o m e…
N a r ra t or: " Tim ekeeping is im port ant t o m e" – t hat 's good!
An na : I always t ry t o com plet e m y work on t im e. At universit y I never handed m y assignm ent s in lat e.
Pa u l: That 's good t o hear. We like punct ualit y here…
D e n ise: Excuse m e Paul. Sorry it 's a bit lat e – but I t hought you m ight like a biscuit wit h your t ea.
Pa u l: Hm m t hanks….oh lovely, cust ard cream s… m m m . Now Hannah, finally I want ed t o ask you what exact ly m ade you apply for t his j ob at t his com pany?
An na : Errrr… ooo… well. The reason I applied is….
N a r ra t or: Yes, yes, yes Anna? Do you need a bit m ore t im e t o t hink? An na : Errr…m m m …
English at Work © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012 Page 3 of 3
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N a r ra t or: What 's she going t o say? How would you answer t hat ? Join us next t im e t o find out . Before we go, here's a rem inder of som e of t he great lines Anna's used t oday…
A good exam ple t hat com es t o m ind I 'm part icularly proud of.
Tim ekeeping is im port ant t o m e. Unt il next t im e, bye bye!
• Listening com prehension question
What was Anna's role in t he universit y debat ing societ y? She was t reasurer.
