Nov 24

"Best way to learn?" (What's the best way to learn new things, etc)

Things to consider

• "Best" is comparing (superlative) so you can talk about various possibilities, should discuss facts if possible, and show why you think so (critical thinking skills)
• Way - could talk about "what is a way" but this is probably the least impotant part of this question
• what is "learning" - is it different from memorizing, studying, practicing, etc? does this matter? Does it matter what we learn?
• Who are you talking about? NOT ONLY YOU! so you might want to talk about different ways for different people
• Implications of the question - does Your learning style suggest your character, or, do you try to make one answer fit everyone? Do you show flexibility?

Consider an answer like:

• Different people have different "best ways to learn." In the 21st century, things change so fast, that no one can afford to not be a good learner, so everyone needs to work through their strengths. It doesn't make sense to force people to learn in ways that don't work for them -- some people enjoy learning through a class, others want to read a training book, and others may just want to "pick it up and try." Me, I like to "play" with it, let me try with my intuition and a reference book to help me, first. When we are rewarded for successful learning, we will have a better attitude and should be more successful.

Be positive. Stick to the question. It is sometimes helpful to repeat, or paraphrase, the question in your answer. (It "wastes" 5 seconds, some people think, but shows the interviewer that you have heard the question, and can help you to stay on topic.)

Possible answers (see picture below, match colored lines to colored numbers, to explanation here)

1. the wrong way (start from "not the question" and end with "a strange answer"
2. Start is directly from the question, gets a little broad, ends with focus on the main concept ... this is not a bad way!
3. from broad to narrow. a general idea, going to a specific recommendation
4. from narrow to broad, start with a specific element of the question, go to a broad recommendation
5. a predictable and safe answer - from the exact question to a careful answer.

Numbers 2-5 are fine. Number 1 is a mistake, but it can happen when you are nervous or don't understand the question!

INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --

"If you could change 1 thing?" (one thing in your life)

(Don't be negative, don't talk about terrible things, but something you can adjust and are doing something about to make your life better. for example, did you choose the wrong major in school?)

Nov 19

"2020..."

(only 1 student today!)

This question can be asked in many ways:

(1) What will you have done....................................... (future perfect tense)

• by the year 2020?
• 10 years from now? (from today?)

(2)

• What have you been doing................ (present perfect progressive tense)
• ................................done....................... (present perfect tense)
• ................................................. the past ten years?
• ................................................. since graduating from university?

We want to match the tense from the question in our answer -- this is partly a grammar test! (If you make 4 or 5 sentences in your answer, at least the first two must match the tense.)

We want to show that we think ahead, we have some plan to our future, not just living day-to-day.

We show the company that we plan to stay with the company, not jump somewhere else.

We have ambition -- we are working for better things in our life. (Job promotion, marriage and children, nicer home, etc)

We have creativity and innovation. 10 years is a long time, the world will change (think about cellphones and computers!)

I gave an example of "talking on my watch video phone to my brother, who lives on Mars." Mars is silly, of course (laugh, laugh). But think about how much smaller cellphones are today than 10 years ago. You can already do video telephone calls on G3 cellphones. So, in 10 years, why not a wristwatch video cellphone? Even no push-buttons, just say "call home".

INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --

Tuesday, Nov 24: "What's the best way to learn?"

NO CLASS On Thursday, Nov 26 (Campus Day)

Nov 18

"Why should we hire YOU?"

Things the interviewers want to hear is based on

• which industry is this job in?
• which specific job are you applying for?
• what relevant skills and training do you?

You may also want to show that "I'm so good"!

• my talents and character (that make me special, unusual, and valuable)
• licenses and certificates (maybe not related to the job, but that show that I'm dilligent)
• other personal items, such as "I like to work in groups, with people" and/or "I'm a good leader, but I can also take orders"

This is not a time to describe your employment history, unless you have experience that is very much the same as the job. This is not a time to talk about your resume, but to talk about the things that are NOT on the resume.

INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --

2020... "What will you have done 10 years from now?" It could also be said "Today is the year 2020, what are you doing nowadays?" or other forms. It is a way for a company to see what your long-term plans are.

Nov 17

"What's your favorite food?"

Things we talked about --

• similar question - What's your favorite TV show?
• unrelated question, but related concept - What style will you wear your hair for your interview?

You create an image. Questions might be designed for them to find out "hidden details" about you, or you might tell them things that talk about you in ways you didn't think about. You want to think about what image you are creating. So we practice answers to all kinds of questions, so we can think about what message we are sending with our words.

What image do you want to create? Do you want to be sophisticated, or more like a "common man"? Will the City of Daegu want to hire someone who is rich and snobby? Probably not. Do you want to seem like an EWHA Women's University girl, or a farm girl, or somewhere in between? Decide this before you walk in to an interview.

What does your food say about you? Spaghetti is sloppy, that's the problem. Steak is a "real man's food." Big, strong, and a little expensive. Lobster sounds sophisticated (but is often very expensive). But you can talk about it so that it doesn't sound like you are a snob. Something like

Lobster is my first choice when I get to choose dinner. Lobster is a great
health food. High in protein, and if you don't use a lot of butter, low in
fats. It goes well with other healthy foods, like rice and fresh
vegetables. It also tastes great. I try to get out for lobster at
least once per month, but the problem is that it is a little expensive!

What am I trying to say here? I'm health concious, I understand that expensive things are not for everyday. "When I get to choose" means that I also don't expect to be the one who chooses all the time, I can accept other people as leaders too.

Use the same ideas for any question.

Don't lie, but choose the best answer for the question based on the image you want to create. You can talk about your second-most favorite, or third-most (don't tell them it's not your most-most favorite).

You should look for interview questions to practice. Maybe buy a book for jobs related to the field you want to work. I'll try to find a list for you too. Don't worry about the answers in a book, or a recording... you need to develop your own true answers.

By the way, I mentioned in class that you might try to tie your favorites to the company, but don't be too obvious. It is true that one of my favorite foods is McDonalds cheeseburgers. And that I really like 돼지국밥, which can make me look like a very common man. And while 골든벨 (Golden Bell) is one of my favorite TV shows in Korea, what makes Golden Bell especially good for an interview is the idea that

1. I watch it with my wife, children, and in-laws when we are all sitting around in-laws house relaxing
2. We enjoy the competition, especially when I, a foreigner, get one right
3. We love to cheer on the students who are trying for scholarships

These are all "good images."

INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --

Why should we hire YOU?

Nov 10

"What's the best way to learn?"

Things we talked about --

• similar question - how do you like to learn?

More than just me. today's question is not just about you... you have the chance to talk about how others like to learn. Show that you are not only thinking about yourself.

Like/don't like. nicer ways to say this -- "I don't care for" "I enjoy" "X works well for me" "I'm less comfortable with X"

Beyond the question. what is the hidden question here? is the employer thinking that your workstyle will be similar to your learning style?

No meetings Wed/Thurs this week.


INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --

What's your greatest strength?

Nov 4 - Education?

"Tell me about your education"

Things we talked about --

• Why did you choose this university?
• Why did you choose this major?
• What was your minor (or second major?)
• What subjects/classes did you enjoy the most/least?
• Extra-curricular activities?
• Why were your grades not so great? (GPA less than 3.2)

We want to try to include answers to these kinds of questions -- these could be questions asked of us, but if they ask a general question, we want to try to include these ideas.

Speaking --

• Positive (not humble, not negative)
• Active (not "prof gave me an A" but "I earned an A")
• Strong (loud and confident, not too quiet)

Remember that in a Type A (Korean based) interview you will be more like Korean culture, but in a Type B (Global based) interview you want to be "++" for these items. (In speaking Korean, you might be "-" for these three speaking items.

INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --
What's the best way to learn?

NOTICE: No Class Nov 11, 12 (Wed, Thurs)

I will be in Manila (Philippines) these days. Sorry, but no class meeting! (But if you want, you can meet with your friends and practice what we've been working on so far.)

Nov 4 - 2nd Meeting

There are two types of English Interviews. We can call these "type A" and "type B." Type A is very common in Korea and many other countries where English isn't really used for everday communication. This is just an English test, like a TOEIC Speaking Test. The Interviewers might not use English regularly themselves. There is often a great attention to grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. The interviewers might actually not care at all about WHAT you say, only HOW you say it. Often you should try to "think Korean" while speaking English, because the interviewers may not be very globalized. (There may be a separate interview, in Korean, where they actually worry about WHAT you say.) Type B interviews may have several native speakers of English, or local people who have spent a great deal of time overseas. These people think that English ability is measured more by the message than the language skills. They are looking for communication skills, and how well you can think and use English at the same time. There may not be a separate interview in Korean, or there may, it depends on the organization's management. So being well-prepared is important. Your age, your hometown, and the name of your middle school is probably not relevant (unless you know that the boss went to the same school!).

What is RELEVANT in a self-introduction? The things that can help the organization. Your education and training. Your interest in the job and the organization. Experience, both that which is related to the job, and experience that shows you are a good person, a good worker. Other skills, which may be demonstrated by licenses/certificates, training courses, or your activities (including hobbies). Saying "I'm outgoing" isn't bad, but showing how you demonstrate your people skills, such as being the "MC" for a show or active at a social welfare center, show this better.


INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --
Please tell us something about your university education.

Nov 3 - first meeting, first notes

This is the noteboard for the new "Interview English" special class.

We meet Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 6pm to 6:45 in room 238-2 in the Sociology Building (사회과학관).

First notes (first meeting, Nov 3, 2009):

A typical interview answer should be about 60 seconds (1 minute). Hopefully, you have more good things to say, so at about 50 or 55 seconds you can stop and say "Shall I continue?" Hopefully they will be happy with your ideas, and will say "Please continue." But if they ask you to stop, at least you've said the most important things already.

We talk only about RELEVANT things. Relevant to the interviewer -- things about the job, or how you will be a "good fit" for the job and the organization.


INTERVIEW QUESTION TO PREPARE for next meeting --
Please introduce yourself (please tell us a little about yourself)