What springs to mind when you hear the word e mail

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First Impression

The first impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is often a «breaking the ice» (establish a rapport) type of question. Don’t be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like:

• How are you today?
• Did you have any trouble finding us?
• Isn’t this great weather we’re having?

This type of question is common because the interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). The best way to respond is in a short, friendly manner without going into too much detail. Here is some examples correct responses:

Interviewer: How are you today?

You: I’m fine, thank you. And you?

OR

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?

You: No, the office isn’t too difficult to find.

OR Interviewer: Isn’t this great weather we’re having?

You: Yes, it’s wonderful. I love this time of year.

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?

You: No, the office isn’t too difficult to find.
Here are some examples of incorrect responses:

How are you today?

So, so. I’m rather nervous actually.

OR

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?

You: As a matter of fact it was very difficult. I missed the exit and had to return via the highway. I was afraid I was going to be late for the interview.

OR Interviewer: Isn’t this great weather we’re having?

You: Yes, it’s wonderful. I can remember this time last year. Wasn’t it awful! I thought it would never stop raining!

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?

You: No, the office isn’t too difficult to find.

Getting Down to Business

Once the pleasant beginnings have finished, it’s time to begin the real interview. Here are a number of the most common questions that are asked during the interview. There are two examples of excellent replies given for each question. Following the examples, you will find a comment describing the type of question and important things to remember when answering that type of question.

Interviewer: Tell me about yourself.
Candidate: I was born and raised in Milan, Italy. I attended the University of Milan and received my master’s degree in Economics. I have worked for 12 years as a financial consultant in Milan for various companies including Rossi Consultants, Quasar Insurance and Sardi and Sons. I enjoy playing tennis in my free time and learning languages.

Candidate: I’ve just graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education.

Comment: This question is meant as an introduction. Do not focus too specifically on any one area. The above question will often be used to help the interviewer choose what h/she would like to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of who you are, make sure to concentrate on work related experience. Work related experience should alwaysbe the central focus of any interview (work experience is more important than education in most English speaking countries).

Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for?
Candidate: I’m interested in an entry level (beginning) position.
Candidate: I’m looking for a position in which I can utilize my experience.
Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify.

Comment: You should be willing to take an entry level position in an English speaking company as most of these companies expect non-nationals to begin with such a position. In the United States, most companies provide many opportunities for growth, so don’t be afraid to start from the beginning!

Interviewer: Are you interested in a full-time or part-time position?
Candidate: I am more interested in a full-time position. However, I would also consider a part-time position.

Comment: Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say you are willing to take any job, once the job has been offered you can always refuse if the job does not appeal (not interest) to you.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job?
Candidate: I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and catalogued the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the best possible package for the client. The clients were then presented with a summarized report on their financial activities that I formulated on a quarterly basis.

Comment: Notice the amount of detail necessary when you are talking about your experience. One of the most common mistakes made by foreigners when discussing their former employment is to speak too generally. The employer wants to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the more detail you can give the more the interviewer knows that you understand the type of work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when talking about your responsibilities. Also, do not begin every sentence with «I». Use the passive voice, or an introductory clause to help you add variety to your presentation

Interviewer: What is your greatest strength?
Candidate: I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline (a time by which the work must be finished), I can focus on the task at hand (current project) and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week when I had to get 6 new customer reports out by Friday at 5. I finished all the reports ahead of time without having to work overtime.

Candidate: I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome (difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk where we solved the problem together.

Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the hour.

Comment: This is not the time to be modest! Be confident and always give examples. Examples show that you are not only repeating words you have learned, but actually do possess that strength.

Interviewer: What is your greatest weakness?
Candidate: I am overzealous (work too hard) and become nervous when my co-workers are not pulling their weight (doing their job). However, I am aware of this problem, and before I say anything to anyone, I ask myself why the colleague is having difficulties.

Candidate: I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.

Comment: This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness that is actually a strength. Make sure that you always mention how you try to improve the weakness.

Interviewer: Why do you want to work for Smith and Sons?

Candidate: After following your firms progress for the last 3 years, I am convinced that Smith and Sons are becoming one of the market leaders and I would like to be part of the team.

Candidate: I am impressed by the quality of your products. I am sure that I would be a convincing salesman because I truly believe that the Atomizer is the best product on the market today.

Comment: Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about the company. The more detail you can give, the better you show the interviewer that you understand the company.

Interviewer: When can you begin?
Candidate: Immediately.
Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin.

Comment: Show your willingness to work!

The above questions represent some of the most basic questions asked on any job interview in English. Probably the most important aspect of interviewing in English is giving detail. As a speaker of English as a second language, you might be shy about saying complicated things. However, this is absolutely necessary as the employer is looking for an employee who knows his or her job. If you provide detail, the interviewer will know that you feel comfortable in that job. Don’t worry about making mistakes in English. It is much better to make simple grammar mistakes and provide detailed information about your experience than to say grammatically perfect sentences without any real content.

WOULD YOU GET ANGRY IF YOU GOT E-MAILS WITH LOTS OF CAPITAL LETTERS? A New Zealand _____ saw red after one of his employees used block capitals in e-mails to _____. Vicki Walker, an accountant in Auckland, was _____ after her co-workers complained about her _____ of caps. Members of staff at ProCare Health were angry with Ms. Walker for constantly filling her mails with sentences in capital letters, _____ and red text. They said they found the e-mails “confrontational”. Bosses at ProCare dismissed Ms Walker for _____ “disharmony” in the workplace. Walker took the company to court and _____ for unfair dismissal. She won the case and ProCare had to pay her US$11,500 in _____ and lost pay. According to the New Zealand Herald newspaper, Ms Walker is _____ not happy. She plans to _____ for further compensation. She also wants to speak out for greater protection for office workers when they are in _____ with big companies. Walker said too many white-collar workers feel _____ when large employers fire them. She says many people are not prepared to fight their bosses because of the financial and mental _____ involved. She used her own _____ as an example, saying: «I am a single woman with a mortgage, and I had to re-mortgage my home and _____ money to make it through. They nearly ruined my life.» Walker’s case _____ a widespread uncertainty regarding “netiquette” and e-mails.

C. AFTER LISTENING

Answer the following questions.

1) What did you think when you read the headline?

2) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘e-mail’?

3) What are your e-mail writing habits?

4) Which are better, e-mails or real letters?

5) What do you think of text with lots of capital letters?

6) What kinds of mails make you angry?

7) Have you ever sent an e-mail you regretted?

Do you understand why ProCare bosses fired Vicki Walker?

9) How could ProCare bosses have resolved this situation in a better way?

10) Do you think Ms Walker got the right amount of damages?

11) If you were Ms Walker, would you continue to fight in the courts?

12) Do you think workers are helpless against big companies?

13) What do you think of e-mails full of shortened English?

14) Are e-mails written in your language different from those written in English?

15) Do you know any “rules” when writing e-mails?

16) What questions would you like to ask Vicki Walker?

Match the following synonyms from the text.

1) to see red 2) to fire 3) constantly 4) to complain 5) pay 6) to appeal 7) further disputes 9) mortgage 10) to ruin

a) to protest b) to destroy c) salary d) arguments e) to get angry f) to dismiss g) housing loan h) to call i) always j) more

Match the following phrases from the text (sometimes more than one combination is possible).

1) A New Zealand boss saw 2) her co-workers complained about 3) filling her mails with sentences 4) took the company to court and sued 5) pay her US$11,500 in damages 6) She plans to appeal for 7) too many white-collar financial and mental 9) They nearly ruined 10) widespread uncertainty regarding “netiquette”

a) for unfair dismissal b) my life c) further compensation d) and e-mails e) red f) her use of caps g) stresses h) and lost pay i) workers feel helpless j) in capital letters

9. Write down different words you associate with the term ‘case’. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

10. Roleplay the dialogue between:

a) Vicki Walker and her boss at the moment of firin;

b) Vicki Walker’s boss and a journalist;

c) Vicki Walker, unhappy fired employee and a journalist.

Search the Internet and find more information about unfair dismissal in Russia and abroad. Talk about what you discover with your groupmates. If possible, try to make a presentation, because it will help you to present information in a way which contributes to better understanding and figures or different graphics which help to understand your report better. After presentations choose the best report.

12. Make a poster about how to write good e-mails. Include the do’s and don’ts of e-mail writing. Show your work to your groupmates. Did you all have similar things?

Write a magazine article about the unfair dismissal of Vicki Walker. Include imaginary interviews with Vicki, her boss and an unhappy colleague. Read what you wrote to your groupmates. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

Write a letter to Vicki Walker. Ask her three questions about her experience. Give her three suggestions about how white-collar workers can stand up against big employers. Read your letter to your groupmates. Your groupmates will answer your questions.

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