Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation
Transcript
Interviewer: Hello, Maria. Thanks for coming in for the interview.
Maria: It's my pleasure. Thanks for inviting me.
Interviewer: Well, as you know, the company has been expanding and we have an opening in our HR department. We're creating a new role for someone to lead our training and development within the company.
Maria: Yes, I very much think that my skills and experience are a good fit for what you're looking for.
Interviewer: That sounds great. So, your CV looks strong, though it would be good if you could give us an overview, in your own words, of what you've been doing over the past four years or so.
Maria: Well, in my first job, four years ago, I was working for a small HR services provider which offered HR services, including L&D, to corporate clients.
Interviewer: OK, so it was only B2B?
Maria: Yes, we only offered services to other companies, not B2C.
Interviewer: Right, and it says here you then left that company about three years ago.
Maria: Yes, that's right. I was looking for a little more stability and also to be part of a larger organisation. So I joined a company with around one hundred staff and a small HR team. As there are only a few of us, we each deal with a range of HR topics. In addition to payroll, one of the areas I was responsible for was learning and development.
Interviewer: I see. And, so why do you want to change jobs now?
Maria: Well, I very much like the L&D side of my role and I've always had particularly good feedback for my work in this area. I believe I excel in that field. So, I'm looking to specialise, and as your company has around 2,000 people, right …?
Interviewer: Yes, that's right.
Maria: Well, an organisation of this size would give me the scope to specialise in L&D. I'm also a big follower of your brand and feel fully aligned with your image and values.
Interviewer: Well, that all sounds good. And I can see you have an L&D qualification.
Maria: Yes, I got a diploma two years ago. I am also currently working on a further diploma in psychology, with a specific focus on learning and performance management.
Interviewer: Very good. Well, it looks like you have the qualifications and experience we're looking for. What do you think will be the main challenges of coming to a much larger company?
Maria: I can see that it might be perceived as a weakness to not have experience in an organisation of this size, though I see that it could also be a benefit. I won't be bringing too many preconceived and possibly inflexible ideas with me to the role.
Interviewer: Yes, that would be a good thing.
Maria: Also, I'm used to taking a very personal approach to employee development. I realise that such an approach with 2,000 staff members will have to happen in a different way, but I bring many ideas with me that can be replicated on a larger scale.
Interviewer: I see what you mean. Right, so, do you have any questions for me?
Maria: Um, I think we've covered many of the areas I had wanted to address. I have two quick questions though.
Interviewer: Go on.
Maria: Who would I mostly work with on a daily basis?
Interviewer: Well, there's the HR manager who you would report to. And then the HR team, which currently has six people in it. There's usually an intern or two who you can get some support from also.
Maria: OK. Thanks. That's all really clear. And my other question is how performance in this role will be measured. What does success look like?
Interviewer: That's a good question. As you know, we have a performance management system in place, and from that we have identified some learning and development needs within the organisation. But we haven't devised a strategy. Your role would be to devise and then successfully implement this strategy.
Maria: Thank you. That sounds interesting.
Interviewer: Great. So, thanks again for coming in today. We'll be discussing all candidates next week and then I'll get back to you by the end of next week to let you know the outcome.
Maria: Thank you for your time. I'd welcome the opportunity to continue discussing this role with you.
Thank you for your time, Krirk.
What confuses me is the sentence " personal approach to employee development"
Thank you for your help!
Hello Thuy Ta,
To be honest, I don't know much about human resources, but I expect Maria means that she prefers to see employees as individuals with different combinations of skills, interests and needs. Rather than thinking that all employees in a certain department should do a certain training, she might, for example, prefer to find out what individual employees need.
Does that make sense?
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
I see. Thank you Krik :)
Wishing you happiness and health in the new year!
I first search about the company I want to to be employed in it and then search and study topics about the field that I will be interviewed for that.
First of all I read the job description and required skills carefully, because interviewer will definitely ask about correlation of my skills with job description.
Then I check company's history and services they provide.
And Finally I watch some mock job interviews to get familiar with specific questions for the job position.
I worked as a boiler specialist until 2012. After that I applied for a position of an English teacher and I was hired. Since then I have been working as a teacher for 10 years now. I have finished C2 Proficiency course recently and I am elated and overjoyed very much. I am going to continue mastering my English at C2 level.
When I’m looking for a new job or a change in my line of work, I usually start researching about the companies I would like to work in or in which I have a friend of mine working in, so I could have some real reference about the work environment and the benefits they offer to their employees, but
nowadays If I have to change my actual job to another one I’ll probably start to work as a freelance worker rather than take another employee dependent job like the one I actually have.
Thanks for the episode.
Great site!
After having failed some interviews, I dedicate time to preparation. Usually, companies ask approximately the same questions but depend on what company it is. I prepare answers for the question that I might be asked. However, the greatest thing to do is just, to be honest with information about yourself. My goals, expectations, skills, etc. So, write down answers beforehand to all possible questions, and prepare a full and concrete presentation about myself.
I think one the most important thing that you have to do it if you've got an interview is just to read about the history of this company and you have to know all details about it as well.so, if you wanna be more confident and less fair you must practice alot .
Any job interview is quite nerve wracking especially if it consist of panel.First, I prepare for an interview by reading about the job scope they are looking in order for me to correlate my experience. Second, I practice answering possible questions. Lastly, I make sure to be presentable and confident in answering questions. There is this saying,"First impression last."