01 - The Interview
Language for interviews
Tip Top Trading is the fastest-growing company in the plastic fruit sector, and Anna desperately wants to be a part of it. Her job interview for a position in sales is going to be a challenge. How will she cope?
Intermediate · 160706 · 2016-07-06
Tip Top Trading is the fastest-growing company in the plastic fruit sector, and Anna desperately wants to be a part of it. Her job interview for a position in sales is going to be a challenge. How will she cope? This program focuses on useful language for job interviews.
1. A good example that comes to mind...
BBC UK: A good example that comes to mind...
2. I'm particularly proud of...
BBC UK: I'm particularly proud of...
3. Punctuality is important to me.
BBC UK: Timekeeping is important to me.
1. Narrator
Hold tight please! This is Anna, on a bus going to an interview for a job as a sales executive at Tip Top Trading - one of London's fastest growing companies. How are you feeling Anna?
BBC UK: Hold tight please! This is Anna, on a bus going to an interview for a job as a sales executive at Tip Top Trading – one of London's fastest growing companies. How are you feeling Anna?
2. Anna
Oh, a little nervous but I really want this job.
BBC UK: Oh, a little nervous but I really want this job.
3. Narrator
Well don't worry Anna, as long as you say the right things, you'll be fine.
BBC UK: Well don't worry Anna, as long as you say the right things, you'll be fine.
4. Anna
The right things!? Like what?
BBC UK: The right things!? Like what?
5. Narrator
You need to sell yourself, be confident, not arrogant and give examples. Like: A good example that comes to mind. I'm particularly proud of. Punctuality is important to me.
BBC UK: You need to sell yourself, be confident, not arrogant and give examples. Like: A good example that comes to mind. I'm particularly proud of. Timekeeping is important to me.
6. Anna
Oh right. Thanks. Perhaps you can come with me?
BBC UK: Oh right. Thanks. Perhaps you can come with me?
7. Narrator
Sorry Anna, you're on your own now - but we'll be listening in. Look! You've just arrived. Good luck!
BBC UK: Sorry Anna, you're on your own now – but we'll be listening in. Look! You've just arrived. Good luck!
8. Paul
Come in. Hello, I'm Paul, the Manager of Tip Top Trading. And you must be....?
BBC UK: Come in. Hello, I'm Paul, the Manager of Tip Top Trading. And you must be….?
9. Anna
It's Anna.
BBC UK: It's Anna.
10. Paul
Yes, very good. Thanks for coming. Now somewhere in this pile, I've got your resume...
BBC UK: Yes, very good. Thanks for coming. Now somewhere in this pile, I've got your CV…
11. Anna
Err, is that it there?
BBC UK: Err, is that it there?
12. Paul
Oh yes, thanks Hannah. Your qualifications look impressive but what sales experience can you bring to our company?
BBC UK: Oh yes, thanks Hannah. Your qualifications look impressive but what sales experience can you bring to our company?
13. Anna
I worked in a store once.
BBC UK: I worked in a shop once.
14. Narrator
Ohhh Anna! Sell yourself. Give a good example!
BBC UK: Ohhh Anna! Sell yourself. Give a good example!
15. Anna
Oh right...mmm....well a good example that comes to mind is when I was involved with a campaign to promote and sell a new range of clothes - I loved doing it and it was...
BBC UK: Oh right…mmm….well a good example that comes to mind is when I was involved with a campaign to promote and sell a new range of clothes – I loved doing it and it was…
16. Denise
Oh sorry, excuse me, here's your tea Paul.
BBC UK: Oh sorry, excuse me, here's your tea Paul.
17. Paul
Thanks Denise. Now Anna, it looks like you've achieved a lot during your time at university. Could you give me an example of good team working during your time there?
BBC UK: Thanks Denise. Now Anna, it looks like you've achieved a lot during your time at university. Could you give me an example of good team working during your time there?
18. Denise
Sorry! I forgot the sugar.
BBC UK: Sorry! I forgot the sugar.
19. Paul
Thank you Denise.
BBC UK: Thank you Denise.
20. Anna
Hmm, so you want an example? I was the treasurer of the debating society at university. That was OK I suppose.
BBC UK: Hmm, so you want an example? I was the treasurer of the debating society at university. That was OK I suppose.
21. Narrator
Come on Anna. Be more enthusiastic - the debating society is exciting!
BBC UK: Come on Anna. Be more enthusiastic – the debating society is exciting!
22. Anna
I mean... I'm particularly proud of how I organized the finances for the debating society. We had a very small budget and I had to make decisions on what to buy.
BBC UK: I mean… I'm particularly proud of how I organised the finances for the debating society. We had a very small budget and I had to make decisions on what to buy.
23. Narrator
I like it! "I'm particularly proud of" - Positive but not boasting. You're doing well.
BBC UK: I like it! "I'm particularly proud of" - Positive but not boasting. You're doing well.
24. Paul
Very impressive - so you're a good planner Anna! We like organized people here... ooops, silly me. I seemed to have spilt tea over your resume.
BBC UK: Very impressive – so you're a good planner Anna! We like organised people here... ooops, silly me. I seemed to have spilt tea over your CV.
25. Anna
Oh, do you need some help?
BBC UK: Oh, do you need some help?
26. Paul
Oh no...I'm sure it'll dry out... carry on please...
BBC UK: Oh no…I'm sure it'll dry out… carry on please…
27. Anna
Also... punctuality is important to me...
BBC UK: Also… timekeeping is important to me…
28. Narrator
"Punctuality is important to me" - that's good!
BBC UK: "Timekeeping is important to me" – that's good!
29. Anna
I always try to complete my work on time. At university I never handed my assignments in late.
BBC UK: I always try to complete my work on time. At university I never handed my assignments in late.
30. Paul
That's good to hear. We like punctuality here...
BBC UK: That's good to hear. We like punctuality here…
31. Denise
Excuse me Paul. Sorry it's a bit late - but I thought you might like a cookie with your tea.
BBC UK: Excuse me Paul. Sorry it's a bit late – but I thought you might like a biscuit with your tea.
32. Paul
Hmm thanks....oh lovely, custard creams... mmm. Now Hannah, finally I wanted to ask you what exactly made you apply for this job at this company?
BBC UK: Hmm thanks….oh lovely, custard creams… mmm. Now Hannah, finally I wanted to ask you what exactly made you apply for this job at this company?
33. Anna
Errrr... ooo... well. The reason I applied is....
BBC UK: Errrr… ooo… well. The reason I applied is….
34. Narrator
Yes, yes, yes Anna? Do you need a bit more time to think?
BBC UK: Yes, yes, yes Anna? Do you need a bit more time to think?
35. Anna
Errr...mmm...
BBC UK: Errr…mmm…
36. Narrator
What's she going to say? How would you answer that? Join us next time to find out. Before we go, here's a reminder of some of the great lines Anna's used today... A good example that comes to mind I'm particularly proud of. Punctuality is important to me. Until next time, bye bye!
BBC UK: What's she going to say? How would you answer that? Join us next time to find out. Before we go, here's a reminder of some of the great lines Anna's used today… A good example that comes to mind I'm particularly proud of. Timekeeping is important to me. Until next time, bye bye!
Question
What was Anna's role in the university debating society?
Answer
She was treasurer.