How to Interview for a Job in American English, part 4/5

You’re hired! Two words everyone loves to hear. But before we hear those words comes

(dun dun duuuuhn!) the interview. Today’s video is part four in a series that’s all

about preparing for a job interview.

This is part four of a five-part series on preparing for an interview. Interviewing for

a new job can be a huge source of stress and anxiety. And if you’re interviewing for

a job in a non-native language, the stress can be even higher. In this video you’ll

see me interview for a job. Throughout the interview, we’ll discuss some of the most

common interview questions and how to answer them. You’ll also learn some basic information

to get you started creating your own answers to these questions. Let’s pick up where

we left off in the previous video.

TK: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Common Question: Where do you see yourself in five years? This is a chance to share your

goals for the future. You want to demonstrate that you understand what is realistically

achievable over a certain period of time. You’ll also be letting the interviewer know

how ambitious you are with this answer. If you haven’t thought about this question

at all, it can be a great idea to think about this before your interview. Also, think about

answers to two variations: where do you see yourself in one year, where do you see yourself

in 10 years.

You start this response by saying:

In five years I would like to be ___.

Practice answering this question out loud as you prepare for your interview. If you

only practice your answers in your head, it will be much more stressful when you’re

in the room with the interviewer, speaking out loud for the first time. Record yourself.

Critique your own speech. What was unclear? How you can you clarify, or say more concisely,

your thoughts?

TK: Where do you see yourself in five years? RS: As I mentioned before, I’m interested

in growth. In five years I would like to be a part of a company growing its business on

a regular and consistent basis. I’d like to be in a Vice President position with a

focus on development. And while I know that would require much more public speaking, in

five years I plan on being ready for it. TK: Okay, well, I have everything I need,

but do you have any questions for me, about the company or the position?

Common Question: Do you have any questions for me? So far, the interview has been about

whether or not you would be a good fit for the company. With the question “Do you have

any questions for me?”, it’s your turn to find out if the company is a good fit for

you. The questions you ask will also show how well you know their company and the requirements

of the position.

Before the interview, write down any questions you have about the position, the company,

or the work environment. Then practice those questions out loud. Chances are, you won’t

need to ask all of them. Some might be answered during the earlier parts of the interview.

TK: Okay, well, I have everything I need, but do you have any questions for me, about

the company or the position? RS: Yes. Imagine you're looking back on this

hiring decision in a year. The person you hired has exceeded your expectations. What

did he or she do that impressed you most? TK: That’s a great question. I think in

one year the person would have come in and spent some time learning from the team and

people that have been here a while. Then, she or he will start making changes in an

informed way. In one year I want this person’s team to be a well-oiled machine. I want them

to be bouncing ideas off each other, coming up with new designs and making headway into

new markets. RS: That’s helpful. It’s good to know

what the expectations are. Can you tell me about the team that I would be working with?

TK: Sure. I believe all of them have been with the company for over five years and know

the ropes. I would say there’s a little bit of frustration currently because of our

lack of growth. This will be the third time we’ve brought in a new team leader in four

years. RS: Do you know what’s causing that kind

of rapid turn over? T: To be honest, the last three team leaders

have been hired from within the company. And sometimes it’s hard to think outside the

box when you’ve been inside the box for awhile. We’re hoping to bring in some new

ideas and energy and get our development team back on track.

RS: That makes sense. I really appreciate that you’re considering me for the position.

I’d love to be a part of the company achieving its goals.

TK: Very good. Okay. That’s great, thanks so much for coming in, Rachel. It’s great

to meet you. I’ll give you a call in the next three days.

RS: Sounds good, I look forward to it. Thanks again.

TK: My pleasure.

Notice that the interview ends with another handshake. You may have some more small talk

at the end of the interview as well. Hopefully by the end of the interview you feel more

comfortable and confident than you did when you arrived.

There’s just one video left in this series. In that video, we’ll talk about things like

body language, humor, and expression and how to use them to your advantage in an interview.

If you have interview related-questions or stories, please post them in the comments

below. I’d love to hear them.

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That’s it, and thanks so much for using Rachel’s English.