Here you can find some questions you can be asked during job interview:

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1. What was your biggest success during your career?

Don’t be modest . If you were successful during your working career, say it. If you were not, you may say that you still wait for your biggest success and you are determined to achieve it.

2. What was your biggest failure during your career?

Don’t lie by saying that you’ve never experienced any failure. All people make mistakes and it is important to be able to admit them.

3. What is your main goal in your career?

The possible answers: satisfaction, self-fulfillment , new knowledge, a lot of experience, etc. ‘Making a lot of money’ is not the best answer!

4. Who are you going to be in 10 years?

The possible answer: ‘I would like to be a person who is happy about life, self-sufficient and satisfied with what I’ve achieved at work.’ People usually have no idea of what they’d like to do in the future, so it is a good way to deal with the problematic question. But if you may have some specific ideas about your future career, tell about them, provided they don’t seem too ambitious!

5. What is the most important in your life?

‘My job’, ‘lifelong learning’ should not be the only answers. You won’t make a good impression if you seem too ambitious. The following answer seems to be appropriate: ‘It is the most important to keep the work-life balance , to feel satisfied with both, my career and my private life.’

6. Do you prefer working individually or in a group?

Remember that your new job may involve both individual and group activities, so be diplomatic! If you prefer one of these more than the other, you may say that you prefer working individually (in a group), but you are aware of the fact that some activities are more efficient when performed with the others (alone) and that you are ready for that.

7. What do you know about our company?

It is essential that you find out as much as possible about your potential future workplace before the job interview.

8. How could you contribute to our company’s success?

Think about your strengths (e.g. creativity, self-confidence , communication skills, flexibility or determination?) mention them and explain why they are important and helpful at work.

9. What is your experience?

Your experience should already be noted in your curriculum vitae, so mention it again and tell something more about what you were doing there and what you’ve learnt.

10. What do you consider the most satisfying in your career?

The possible answer: I get a strong satisfaction from gaining new knowledge and experience, making efforts that bring good results.

11. How much would you like to earn:
     - during the probation
     - after the probation
     - after 1 year?

It is essential that you find out about the average amount of salary in the job that you apply for. Your expectations shouldn’t be too high and too low, otherwise you may seem greedy or desperate to find a job. You may also say that you expect your salary to be commensurate with your efforts and results at work.

12. How would you react if you were denied something that really matters to you (by a subordinate or a co-worker)?

You should explain patiently why the thing is important to you, give a good reason. Listen carefully to your interlocutor’s arguments (to show them that you don’t ignore their opinion), present contra-arguments if you disagree and try to reach a consensus.

Here you can find some questions you can ask your partner during conversation about job interview:

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1. Do you have a job?

2. How did you get it?

3. Did you have to attend a job interview?

4. What requirements did you have to fulfill to be invited to the job interview?

5. What documents did you have to send before to be invited to the job interview?

6. How did you prepare for your job interview?

7. How did you dress for the job interview?

8. What questions may be expected during a job interview?

9. What questions were you asked in the job interview?

10. Was the job interview a stressful experience?

11. How did you succeed in getting the job?

12. How many job interviews have you attended?

13. What was the worst job interview you have ever had?

14. Have you ever failed to answer any questions during a job interview?

15. What should you not do during the job interview?

16. What should women and men wear during a job interview?

17. Would you employ a person with a lot of experience or with a good education?

18. Does a typical job interview provide enough information about a candidate?

modest (level: intermediate)
quiet about own achievements, success
She was too modest to boast about her promotion. It was her husband who told us about her success.

self-fulfillment (level: upper intermediate)
a pleasant feeling that you’ve achieved what you wanted
She’s finally found self-fulfillment in teaching children.

self-sufficient (level: upper intermediate)
able to provide everything you need every day for yourself
Some countries cannot be self-sufficient in food and water and they need the other’s help.

work-life balance (level: upper intermediate)
being satisfied with both your career and your private life
Some managers find it impossible to achieve work-life balance – their job takes too much time.

self-confidence (level: upper intermediate)
being calm because you are certain of your knowledge, experience, abilities
You should be self-confident if you want to achieve success.

flexibility (level: intermediate)
ability to change depending on the situation
Flexibility is desired by many workers who are keen on changes.

greedy (level: advanced)
wanting more than you need
I’m fed up with my boss who is extremely greedy for money.

commensurate with (level: advanced)
in a suitable amount compared to something
My effort was not commensurate with the money I earned.

interlocutor (level: advanced)
a person that you talk with
Peter is not a very nice interlocutor. He keeps interrupting when you’re speaking or doesn’t listen to you at all.

curriculum vitae (level: intermediate)
a document that informs about a person’s life, education, qualifications
Curriculum vitae is the first and the most important step when seeking employment, because it makes your potential employer think of you as a good candidate or not.

cover letter (level: upper intermediate)
letter of motivation, a letter that you attach to other documents, such as an application form or curriculum vitae
It is essential to write in your cover letter why you are suitable for the job and why you’d like to get it.

job application form (level: upper intermediate)
A form that you may be asked to fill in when you want to apply for a job. It usually includes education, experience, expected salary, etc.
It’s important to complete the job application form in details to give your potential employer enough information about yourself.

reference (level: upper intermediate)
information written by somebody that knows you (an employer, a principal, a teacher, etc.) describing you, your work, efforts, achievements and whether you are suitable for a job, training, course, etc.
My last employer gave me a very good reference, which helped me a lot to get my current job.

marital status (level: upper intermediate)
whether you are married or not
Women’s marital status is often the key information for employers, who consider a possible pregnancy a big problem.

smart casual (level: upper intermediate)
a defined dress code, a combination of convenient but elegant clothes
Smart casual is the most popular dress code among young working people.

business casual (level: upper intermediate)
a popular, elegant dress code of people who work in offices and other white-collar workplaces
He didn’t get this job, because he refused to accept wearing business casual instead of his loose-fitting clothes.