Skills: Job interviews

Elisa Moolecherry: In today’s uncertain business climate, it’s more important than ever to keep your job skills – and your job-seeking skills — up to date. That’s why we’re offering a special booklet on job interviews with the Business Spotlight 3/2009 magazine. In the booklet, you meet the applicant Danielle Winter, an American. She’s interviewing at Esperanto Relocation Services in London. She has applied for the position of relocation specialist for foreign clients. Let’s turn the microphone over to communications skills expert Ken Taylor for more.

Ken Taylor: In this exercise, we’ll play an excerpt of the interview for you. Listen for the answer to these questions:

What is the name of the human resources manager?
What is the name of the customer service manager?

Winter: Hello. My name’s Danielle Winter. I have an interview with Mr Hardy at 2 o’clock.
Receptionist: Hello, Ms Winter. I’ll let Mr Hardy know you’re here.
Winter: Great, thank you.
Hardy: [entering] Hello, I’m John Hardy, human resources manager. Welcome to Esperanto. You’re Danielle Winter, correct?
Winter: That’s right. It’s nice to meet you, Mr Hardy.
Hardy: Did you find us all right?
Winter: Yes, it was no problem. I downloaded the map from your website.
Hardy: Ah, good, you’ve had a look at the site. Did you come by car?
Winter: Yes. I parked on the street in front of the building. Is that OK?
Hardy: Sure, that’s fine. My car’s there, too — I got here a bit late myself this morning! So, I’ll be holding the first part of the interview and Sue Rather, head of customer service, will be joining us a bit later. Well, then, would you follow me, please?

Ken: Did you get the answer to our questions? First, what is the name of the human resources manager?

Ken: John Hardy. Listen:

Hardy: Hello, I’m John Hardy, human resources manager.

Ken: And, what is the name of the customer service manager?

Ken: Sue Rather. Listen.

Rather: Sue Rather, head of customer service, will be joining us a bit later.

Ken: It’s important to remember — and use! — the names of people you meet in an interview. In fact, it’s good practice generally to know and use the names of people you do business with — right Elisa?

Elisa: Right Ken! We offer some more exercises on interviewing on Business Spotlight Audio. And find tips and advice for your career on our website at www.business-spotlight.de. We bring you a new podcast every Tuesday — thanks for listening!