EF podEnglish - 35 Job Interview (Pre Intermediate)

Summary

This EF English podcast episode focuses on teaching polite ways to ask questions during job interviews. Through a sample interview with a volunteer program applicant, learners are introduced to phrases like 'What do you consider…?', 'May I ask…?', and 'Could you tell me…?' to gather information respectfully. The episode demonstrates how to inquire about strengths, weaknesses, achievements, and career motivations while maintaining politeness. Interactive segments and quizzes help reinforce the use of these expressions in real-world contexts. By the end, viewers understand how to frame questions politely and professionally, improving their communication skills for interviews and professional interactions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Polite questions in interviews make the conversation more professional and courteous.
• 😀 Use 'What do you consider…?' to ask about strengths, achievements, or important aspects politely.
• 😀 Use 'May I ask…?' to politely inquire about sensitive or detailed information.
• 😀 Use 'Could you tell me…?' as another polite alternative to request information.
• 😀 In long questions with 'May I ask,' the main verb (e.g., 'is') comes at the end of the sentence.
• 😀 Examples of polite questions include: 'What do you consider your greatest strength?' and 'May I ask what your greatest weakness is?'
• 😀 Practicing these polite structures helps build confidence for real job interviews.
• 😀 Asking about a candidate's experience, motivation, and achievements can be done politely using the taught phrases.
• 😀 Providing examples of your work and volunteering experience can strengthen your interview responses.
• 😀 Short quizzes and practice exercises in the lesson help learners form polite questions correctly.
• 😀 Combining politeness with natural conversation flow makes interviews more effective and professional.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the EF English podcast episode?

The episode focuses on teaching how to ask polite questions in job interviews using phrases like 'What do you consider…?', 'May I ask…?', and 'Could you tell me…?'.

Why is 'What do you consider your greatest strength?' considered more polite than 'What is your greatest strength?'

Using 'What do you consider…?' makes the question less direct and more respectful, allowing the interviewee to express their opinion rather than feeling pressured to give a fixed answer.

How does the phrase 'May I ask…?' change word order in longer questions?

In long questions, the verb 'is' comes at the end, for example: 'May I ask you what your greatest weakness is.' This is the polite way to ask without sounding abrupt.

What are some examples of polite ways to ask about someone's achievements?

Examples include 'May I ask you what your greatest achievement is?' and 'Could you tell me about your last job?'.

How did Vivian describe her volunteering experience?

Vivian has been volunteering for 15 years, starting at age 13, and has participated in art camp, band camp, sports camp, and science camp.

What weakness did Vivian admit during the interview?

Vivian admitted that she has difficulty saying no, often works overtime, and sometimes forgets the company's normal working hours.

How does using 'Could you tell me…?' differ from 'May I ask…?'

'Could you tell me…?' is used to request information politely, often focusing on factual answers, while 'May I ask…?' introduces a question politely, often regarding opinions or personal reflections.

What motivates Vivian to work for the organization?

Vivian wants to work for the organization because it is internationally successful, and she hopes to gain experience working for an international company.

What polite questions were suggested for learners to practice in the podcast?

The podcast suggested practicing questions like 'May I ask if you are married?', 'What do you consider to be the best thing about your job?', and 'Could you tell me about your last job?'.

What is the importance of asking polite questions in job interviews?

Polite questions create a respectful and professional atmosphere, encourage open and honest answers, and help the interviewer gather information without making the interviewee uncomfortable.

What achievement does Vivian consider her greatest?

Vivian's greatest achievement was organizing the entire art camp to create clay pots when she was 18 years old.