It is almost certain in a job interview that you'll be asked the question 'why do you want to work for this company?'. And it's possible that you'll be asked the question 'what makes you suitable for this position/job?'.
When planning your answer for both, always focus on the positive. Before you do the job interview you should think about what you'd want to hear from a candidate if you were the interviewer.
For 'why do you want to work for this company?', do your homework about the company and make a list of good things about it. For 'what makes you suitable for this position/job?', focus your answer on your experience that makes you suitable for the job and how easily it will be for you to adapt to the position. Also, state how your skills make you the perfect candidate.
In this online exercise on 'job interview questions', we will look at professional English vocabulary for answering both questions in a job interview.
Read the following answers by a candidate in a job interview to two different questions from an interviewer on 'Why do you want to work for us?' and 'what makes you suitable for this position?'.
From the context, try to guess what the meaning of the words/phrases in bold are. Then do the quiz at the end to check if you are right.
Interviewer:'Why do you want to work for us?'
Candidate:'Well, first of all, I have been impressed with everything I have read and heard, from both the interview and what colleagues and friends have told me. Your company has a very good reputation in the industry. Not only for its products, but also its working culture.
From what I have heard here, it is a company that recognises and rewards talent. And I believe that in such an environment I will thrive. Your company is also a market leader in the industry. And with what you have told me about the planned expansion and diversification of the company, I feel that it provides people who have the right motivation and ambition, the opportunity to excel and progress.'
Interviewer:'So, what makes you suitable for this position?'
Candidate:'I feel I possess all the requirements and experience for the position. First of all, I have worked for over 5 years in a similar position, where I have exceeded all my targets year after year. Also, I am fully up to speed with all the industry standards and work practices that you use here. So, if I were selected for the vacancy, I could hit the ground running. I am also very adaptive and can pick up things very quickly. As I showed when the company I am currently working for, was bought out 3 years ago.
On a personal level, I feel I have the determination or drive which is fundamental for a position like this. This has been demonstrated with the promotions I have achieved throughout my career.
In addition, having worked in the same company for over 5 years, it shows that I am committed. And I also have the soft skills which a manager needs to have with both the people who report to him and clients. For example, I am an excellent communicator, but I can also listen.'
Match the words/phrases in bold from the above text to each of the definitions/descriptions below. Click on the "Check" button at the bottom of the quiz to check your answers.
When the answer is correct, two icons will appear below the answer. The "" icon contains extra information on the word/phrase. In the "" icon, you can listen to the pronunciation of the word/phrase.
Now that you understand the meaning of the words/phrases and when to use them, practise using them by creating your own sentences with them in English. Also click on the "" icon under each correct answer and listen how each is pronounced correctly.
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