Job Interviewing – Key Vocabulary in Context
Due to the economic crisis, competition for jobs is intense in many parts of the world.
People are being laid off from their jobs. Therefore, when the opportunity for an
interview arises, it’s important to perform well. Interviews, however, are still a source
of anxiety for many people.
According to workplace experts Joyce Lain Kennedy and Rebecca Corfield, many job
seekers make the mistake of revealing too much negative information about themselves
without realizing it. Hasty answers to questions such as “Why are you out of work?”
can highlight your own weaknesses. Kennedy also suggests minimizing criticism about
former co-workers and bosses. Rather, she believes it’s better to say that you get along
with everyone. Showing interest in the position is also important. Job seekers can do this
by showing they’ve done adequate research before the interview and by asking questions
in the interview. In addition, experts recommend avoiding premature talk of salary
and perks (unless the interviewer brings it up). It’s best to focus on what you can offer the
employer, and not vice versa.
While most companies claim to be equal opportunity employers, inappropriate questions
are not uncommon in interviews. In the US, it is illegal to ask about nationality, religion,
age, marital status, military background, health, union membership, and even place
of residence. Of course, verbally punching an interviewer for asking a discriminatory
question will greatly reduce your prospects of getting hired. The key is to redirect the
question to a safer topic.
People go to great lengths to get hired. Some lie about their qualifications and
experience. This behaviour may be supported by the belief that getting a job is harder than
actually doing it.
Follow-Up Questions
1) According to the author, why is doing well in interviews now more important?
than ever?
2) What do the experts say you shouldn’t do in an interview?
3) Why do they say you should do?
4) What does the phrase equal opportunity employer mean (in your opinion)?
5) True or False: In the US, it’s illegal to ask, “Do you have a history of health
problems?”
6) What should you do if you are asked a discriminatory question?
7) Idiom: what does it mean to go to great lengths to do something?
Vocabulary Matching: Match the words with their meaning as used in the news
lesson.
intense Worry or fear about something
lay off sb (phrasal verb) Too early
anxiety Show or tell something that was hidden
reveal (verb) Negative talk about something or someone
hasty A necessary skill or experience for a job/activity
highlight (verb) Where you live
criticism Done quickly without enough thought
adequate Emphasise something, make something easy to see
premature Extreme; great; strong
perk Enough
residence An extra benefit you get from an employer
prospect Chance hope possibility
qualification End the employment of a worker
Vocabulary in context: Connect the below idea(s) to make a sentence.
government / uprising
competition / intense
anxiety / lay off
reveal / lying
hasty / answer
highlight / strengths
criticism / colleagues
perk / Lexus
qualifications / adequate
premature / decision
residence / new
prospect / unemployment
Answers
1 – It is more important than ever because of the economic downturn; there are fewer jobs
available.
2 – You should not: criticize yourself, criticize your ex-boss or co-workers, come unprepared,
or talk about money prematurely.
3 – You should come prepared, ask questions in the interview, say you get along well with
people, and focus on what you can offer.
4 – It should mean that the employer does not discriminate — it hires people of all
backgrounds and ages.
5 – Yes. (Particularly, I imagine, when the question is not related to the qualifications of the
particular position.)
6 – Try to redirect the question to another topic.
7 – The idiom means to make great effort in order to achieve something.
Answers
intense – extreme, great, strong
lay off sb – terminate the employment of sb
anxiety – worry or fear about sth
reveal (verb) – show or tell sth that was hidden/secret
hasty – done quickly without enough thought
highlight (verb) – emphasize sth; make sth easy to see
criticism – negative talk about sth/sb
adequate – enough
premature – too early
perk – an added benefit you get from an employer
residence – where you live
prospect – chance, hope, possibility
qualification – a necessary skill or experience you need for a job/activity