Practicing Employment Interviews

Listen to and read this conversation as this person applies for a job to work with a veterinarian.

Recording: Look for the Audacity icon   on your desktop.  Double click oit to record this conversation.

Listen to and read this conversation as this person applies for a job to work in a prison system.

Employer:   Good Morning. Nice to meet you. My name is John Stewart. I'm the supervisor here.
Applicant:   Nice to meet you. I'm Virginia Dare. Here is my resume.
Employer:   Why do you want to work here within the prison system?
Applicant:   Because I like to work with people. I'm a people person and I've always
                     been interested in counseling --- especially people who have some real problems.
Employer:   What skills do you have that would be good for this job?
Applicant:   I'm organized, creative, I can work well with a team. In the long term,
                     I feel I would be a good leader. I want to learn more about this field and I know I can learn quickly.
Employer:   Do you have any computer experience?
Applicant:   Yes, I do. I'm familiar with using the Internet and several Office programs.
Employer:   do you have any other questions for me?
Applicant:   What would my workday look like? What exactly would I be doing in this position?

Recording: Look for the Audacity icon   on your desktop.  Double click oit to record this conversation.

Listen to and read this conversation as this person applies for a job to work as an accountant.

Employer:   Hello. How are you? Please have a seat.
Applicant:   Thank you. My name is Alvaro Rio. Here is my resume.
Employer:   Which job are you applying for?
Applicant:   I'm applying for the accounting position.
Employer:   Good. How much experience do you have in this field?
Applicant:   I used to work as an accountant in Colombia.
Employer:   Can you tell me. . what are your strengths?
Applicant:   I'm honest, responsible, dependable and a hard worker.
Employer:   What do you see as your weaknesses?
Applicant:   I don't speak English perfectly. I read English better than I speak it,
                    but I'm studying English now through District 11 and I've been there
                    for 3 years. I'm very committed to improving my English.
Employer:   What are your long term goals?
Applicant:   My long term goal is the same as my immediate goal:
                    to work in a job within the accounting field.

Recording: Look for the Audacity icon   on your desktop.  Double click oit to record this conversation.

Listen to and read this conversation as this person applies for a job to work at a radio station.

Employer:   Hello. Please come in and have a seat. Are you applying for the position as a radio announcer?
Applicant:   Yes, I am. My name is Teresa Vigil.
Employer:   How did you learn about this position?
Applicant:   I saw it advertised on the Internet.
Employer:   Do you have experience in this field?
Applicant:   No, but I learn things quickly and I've been told that I have a good radio voice.
Employer:   How do you respond under stress?
Applicant:   I enjoy a challenge and am so enthusiastic about this job, that I think I could handle
                   anything.
Employer:   Would you consider working here as an intern first?
Applicant:   Do you mean as a volunteer? If that would give me the experience I need, certainly.

Recording: Look for the Audacity icon   on your desktop.  Double click oit to record this conversation.

Listen to and read this conversation as this person applies for a job to work at a hospital.

Employer:   Hello my name is Joe Smith. I'm the hospital staff supervisor.
Applicant:   Hi. My name is Sanjuana Velarde. I'm interested in the nursing position.
Employer:   Yes, we have 2 positions available. One is in the evening. One during the day.
                    Which would you be interested in?
Applicant:   The day position would work better for me.
Employer:   When could you start?
Applicant:   Right away. I could begin a day shift on Monday morning.
Employer:   Would you be willing to work overtime?
Applicant:   Sure, if I had advance warning. Would I be paid time and a half?
Employer:   Yes. Tell me. . what skills do you have that would be good for this job?
Applicant:   I'm organized, a self-starter. I am detail-oriented and work well with other people.
Employer:   Sounds good. Let me talk this over with my supervisor. I'll call you within a few days.

Recording: Look for the Audacity icon   on your desktop.  Double click oit to record this conversation.

Listen to and read this conversation as this person applies for a job to work as an investigator.

Applicant:   Hi. My name is Deisy Lopez. I am interested in the job you had posted
                    for private investigator.
Employer:   Great. Have a seat. Do you have specific questions about the job?
Applicant:   Yes, would I receive training and for how long?
Employer:   We have an intensive training program which would include some travel
                    to conferences in other cities. Would you consider traveling for this job?
Applicant:   Yes, that would be fine. Would it be for more than 2 weeks at a time.
Employer:   Usually not. Tell me about yourself. How do you get things done?
Applicant:   I'm a good self-starter. I like to take on responsibility and I'm good
                   at following instructions. If I have questions, I make sure to ask until
                   I understand correctly.
Employer:   Good. What do you see as your weaknesses?
Applicant:   I'm still learning how to speak English correctly. I'm currently studying
                   at Helen Hunt School. But it could be an advantage in some situations
                   that my first language is Spanish.
Employer:   Yes, definitely. I'll give you some material to read about the job
                   and you can ask me more questions later.

Recording: Look for the Audacity icon   on your desktop.  Double click oit to record this conversation.

Listen to and read this conversation as this person applies for a job to work in a school.

Employer:   Please have a seat. I'm the school principal. You are interested in the
                   kindergarten teacher position?
Applicant:   Yes, I'm very excited about the possibility of working with children that age?
Employer:   What experience have you had with children this age?
Applicant:   I come from a large family so I have often taken care of small children.
                   Plus I have three children of my own right now.
Employer:   Have you ever worked with children as a volunteer?
Applicant:   Yes, I usually help with my children in their schools.
Employer:   Good - so you have some idea of classroom procedure.
Applicant:   Yes, and I've loved the experience.
Employer:   What qualities do you have that are especially good with children?
Applicant:   Well, I love children, so I'm patient and I know how to respond to
                   their needs, to be firm when necessary and sensitive when appropriate.
Employer:   Sounds pretty good. Would you be ready for the beginning of this school year?
Applicant:   Certainly.

Recording: Look for the Audacity icon   on your desktop.  Double click oit to record this conversation.