Grammar for Resumes and Interviews

Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/interview-basics-1210228

 

It is important to use the correct verb tenses on your resume and in a job interview to describe your past and present work, and what you hope to do in the future. This article has more information about how to use different verb tenses in your job search. 

Tense: Present Simple (Use for current job about activities you do all the time)

• Example: I collect data from all of our branches and analyze the information on a weekly basis.
• Explanation: Use the present simple to describe your daily responsibilities. This is the most common tense to use when speaking about your current position.

Tense: Past Simple (Use for past jobs)

• Example: I developed an in-house database for the personnel department.
• Explanation: Use the past simple to describe your daily responsibilities in a former position. This is the most common tense to use when speaking about past jobs.

Tense: Present Continuous (Use for current job about a special project or activity you are working on right now)

• Example: Currently, we are expanding our sales division to include South America.
• Example: Currently, I am designing a new layout for our local branch. I am usually responsible for staff organization, but they asked me to help out with design this time. 
• Explanation: Use the present continuous to speak about current projects that are happening at that moment in time. These projects are limited in time and should not be confused with daily responsibilities. 

Tense: Present Perfect (Use to summarize things you have done up until now)

• Example: I've researched over 300 cases until now.
• Example: I've developed a number of databases using Microsoft Access. Just last week I finished a database for our warehouse.
• Explanation: Use the present perfect to generally describe projects or accomplishments that you have made up to the present moment in time. Remember not to include specific past time references which should be used with the past simple.

Tense: Future Simple (Use for future plans/goals)

• Example: I will be the manager of a medium sized retail outlet.
• Explanation: Use the future simple to discuss your plans for the future. This tense is only used when the interviewer asks you what you plan to do in the future.

There are many more tenses you can use when you're ready, but these five will be a great way to start!

Getting Ready for a Job Fair

One way to learn about many jobs at one time is to attend a job or career fair. These events have many different employers with different types of jobs all together in person or online. You should be ready to share your resume and talk to employers when you attend the fair.

Want to practice or have questions? Contact Rachel, Career Navigator, at rsbuczynski@fcps.edu.

Watch this video for more information on virtual job fairs: https://youtu.be/VyJ-ksaAsFo

Here are more tips for how to attend a job fair.

Job Fair Tips

• Research the companies who will be at the job fair before the event. Think about which ones you would like to talk to. You might not have time to talk to everyone, so make sure to talk to your favorites first. 
• Wear professional clothes, but make sure you are comfortable. If it is in-person, you will be walking around meeting different people. If the job fair is virtual, you will be sitting for a long time.
• Have your resume ready. If you are in-person, bring copies to hand to employers. If you are online, have the file clearly labeled with your name and ready to email. (Need help making a resume? Contact Rachel, Career Navigator, at rsbuczynski@fcps.edu!) 
• Practice what you will say when you meet an employer. Think about how you will introduce yourself and what kind of job you are looking for. 
• For example: "Hi, my name is Rachel, and I am looking for a sales position." Or, "Hi! I have many years of experience in sales and would like to work with your company - do you have any positions open?" 
• Practice interview questions before you attend the fair. You probably won't be asked many questions, since there will be lots of people, but you might get asked things like:
• What kind of job are you looking for?
• What experience do you have?
• When could you start?
• Are you looking for a part-time job or a full-time job?
• Do you have training/education? 
• Take notes! If you speak to many employers, you might forget who said what. Take notes after you speak to each person so you can look at them later.
• If you are attending a virtual/online fair, make sure and log on early to check that your technology is working. Make sure your background is clear and you have good lighting. 
• Remember to act confident and friendly! Make sure to smile and ask questions about the company. 
• After the job fair, email anyone you talked to and say thank you for their time and ask any questions you have.

Sources: TopResume.com, Indeed.com 

 

Where are the Jobs?

There are many ways to look for a job, even while we are staying safe at home. Here are some ideas for
searching for jobs.

1. Do you know which company you would like to work for? You can go directly to that company's website to find jobs. (Hint: Careers are usually under 'About Us' or at the bottom of the webpage). For example, if you want to work for Fairfax County Public Schools, you can go to www.fcps.edu/careers to find the latest job postings. You can make an account and easily apply to many jobs. 
2. Ask your friends and family if their employer is hiring. Knowing someone at a company that is hiring is a great way to get connected for an interview!
   
3. Use social media. If you have a LinkedIn account, you can look at recommended jobs and connect with employers. Some small or local businesses post job openings on their Facebook pages. You can follow local businesses on social media to see when they have job openings.
4. Search the job boards! There are many different websites that have many jobs listed in one place. You can choose location, salary, and more to help your search. Popular sites are www.indeed.com and www.simplyhired.com. A good website for nonprofit/charity jobs is www.idealist.org. There are also many websites provided by local government offices:
   

• Alexandria City’s Job Board: https://wdc.alexandriava.gov/
• Find jobs through the Virginia Workforce Connection: https://www.vawc.virginia.gov
• Arlington County’s Job Board: https://jobboard.arlingtonva.us/ 
• Fairfax, Prince William, and Loudon Counties (VA): https://vcwnorthern.com/ 
• Montgomery County (MD): https://worksourcemontgomery.com/
• Prince George’s County (MD): https://www.employpg.org/
• Department of Employment Services (DC): https://does.dc.gov/

Common Job Interview Questions for ESL Learners

Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/example-interview-questions-1210229 

By Kenneth Beare | Updated August 13, 2018

The first impression you make on the interviewer can decide the rest of the interview. It is important that you introduce yourself, shake hands, and be friendly and polite. The first question is often a
"breaking the ice" (establish a rapport) type of question. Don't be surprised if the interviewer asks you something like: 

• How are you today?
• Did you have any trouble finding us?
• Isn't this great weather we're having?

This type of question is common because the interviewer wants to put you at ease (help you relax). The best way to respond is in a short, friendly manner without going into too much detail. Here are some examples of correct responses:

Common Interview Questions - First Impressions

Interviewer: How are you today?
You: I'm fine, thank you. And you?

OR

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.

OR

Interviewer: Isn't this great weather we're having?
You: Yes, it's wonderful. I love this time of year.

OR 

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.

Here are some examples of incorrect responses:

Interviewer: How are you today?
You: So, so. I'm rather nervous actually.

OR

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: As a matter of fact, it was very difficult. I missed the exit and had to return via the highway. I was afraid I was going to be late for the interview.

OR

Interviewer: Isn't this great weather we're having?
​You: Yes, it's wonderful. I can remember this time last year. Wasn't it awful! I thought it would never stop raining!

OR

Interviewer: Did you have any trouble finding us?
You: No, the office isn't too difficult to find.

Getting Down to Business

Once the pleasant beginnings have finished, it's time to begin the real interview. Here are a number of the most common questions that are asked during the interview. There are two examples of excellent replies given for each question. Following the examples, you will find a comment describing the type of question and important things to remember when answering that type of question.

Interviewer: Tell me about yourself.
Candidate: I was born and raised in Milan, Italy. I attended the University of Milan and received my master's degree in Economics. I have worked for 12 years as a financial consultant in Milan for various companies including Rossi Consultants, Quasar Insurance and Sardi and Sons. I enjoy playing tennis in my free time and learning languages. 

Candidate: I've just graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education.

Comment: This question is meant as an introduction. Do not focus too specifically on any one area. The above question will often be used to help the interviewer choose what h/she would like to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of who you are, make sure to concentrate on work-related experience. Work related experience should always be the central focus of any interview (work experience is more important than education in most English-speaking countries).

Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for?
Candidate: I'm interested in an entry-level (beginning) position.
Candidate: I'm looking for a position in which I can utilize my experience.
Candidate: I would like any position for which I qualify. 

Comment: You should be willing to take an entry-level position in an English speaking company as most of these companies expect non-nationals to begin with such a position. In the United States, most companies provide many opportunities for growth, so don't be afraid to start from the beginning!

Interviewer: Are you interested in a full-time or part-time position?
Candidate: I am more interested in a full-time position. However, I would also consider a part-time position.

Comment: Make sure to leave open as many possibilities as possible. Say you are willing to take any job, once the job has been offered you can always refuse if the job does not appeal (not interest) to you.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job?
Candidate: I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and cataloged the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the best possible package for the client. The clients were then presented with a summarized report on their financial activities that I formulated on a quarterly basis.

Comment: Notice the amount of detail necessary when you are talking about your experience. One of the most common mistakes made by foreigners when discussing their former employment is to speak too generally. The employer wants to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the more detail you can give the more the interviewer knows that you understand the type of work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when talking about your responsibilities. Also, do not begin every sentence with "I". Use the passive voice, or an introductory clause to help you add variety to your presentation

Interviewer: What is your greatest strength?
Candidate: I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline (a time by which the work must be finished), I can focus on the task at hand (current project) and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week when I had to get 6 new customer reports out by Friday at 5. I finished all the reports ahead of time without having to work overtime.

Candidate: I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome (difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk where we solved the problem together.

Candidate: I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the LAN server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the LAN back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the LAN was up and running (working) within the hour.

Comment: This is not the time to be modest! Be confident and always give examples. Examples show that you are not only repeating words you have learned, but actually do possess that strength.

Interviewer: What is your greatest weakness?
Candidate: I am overzealous (work too hard) and become nervous when my co-workers are not pulling their weight (doing their job). However, I am aware of this problem, and before I say anything to anyone, I ask myself why the colleague is having difficulties.

Candidate: I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.

Comment: This is a difficult question. You need to mention a weakness that is actually a strength. Make sure that you always mention how you try to improve the weakness.

Interviewer: Why do you want to work for Smith and Sons?
Candidate: After following your firm's progress for the last 3 years, I am convinced that Smith and Sons are becoming one of the market leaders and I would like to be part of the team.

Candidate: I am impressed by the quality of your products. I am sure that I would be a convincing salesman because I truly believe that the Atomizer is the best product on the market today.

Comment: Prepare yourself for this question by becoming informed about the company. The more detail you can give, the better you show the interviewer that you understand the company.

Interviewer: When can you begin?
Candidate: Immediately.
Candidate: As soon as you would like me to begin.

Comment: Show your willingness to work!

The above questions represent some of the most basic questions asked on any job interview in English. Probably the most important aspect of interviewing in English is giving detail. As a speaker of English as a second language, you might be shy about saying complicated things. However, this is absolutely necessary as the employer is looking for an employee who knows his or her job. If you provide detail, the interviewer will know that you feel comfortable in that job. Don't worry about making mistakes in English. It is much better to make simple grammar mistakes and provide detailed information about your experience than to say grammatically perfect sentences without any real content.

Health Care Vocabulary

During November and December, many employers let their employees sign up for health care coverage
for the next year. Health care has also been in the news as politicians talk about the Affordable Care Act and national insurance programs. 

Here are some words you might hear when talking about health care:

• Health insurance: Plan that helps you pay for the cost of health care.
  
• Dental care plan: Plan that helps pay for the services of a dentist.
  
• Preferred provider network: Group of doctors and hospitals that a health insurance plan uses; this is usually cheaper than going to a doctor who is not in the network.
  
• Dependent: someone who lives with you - usually your spouse and children. You can usually get insurance for them with your own plan.
  
• Copay: Part of the cost of health care that you pay; insurance pays for the rest of the cost.
  
• Vision care plan: Plan that helps pay for eye exams and glasses.
  
• Premium: the money you pay for insurance. Sometimes employers help pay this cost.
  
• Prescription medicine plan: Plan that helps you pay for medicine. 

Practice 1

What benefit should they use? (Answers are below)

A. Health insurance        B. Vision care plan        C. Prescription medicine plan       D. Dental care plan

_______ 1. Marta Verdun's daughter is having trouble seeing the board at school.
_______ 2. Todd just visited his doctor. The doctor wants him to start taking a new medicine.
_______ 3. Diane Baker feels terrible. She has a high fever and a sore throat. She needs to see a doctor. 
_______ 4. Millie Wong was eating peanuts and broke a tooth. Her tooth really hurts. 

More Information

This video explains how health care works in the United States: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-58VD3z7ZiQ

Here are some more vocabulary words you might need: https://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/vocabulary/esl-for-immigrants-health-care-insurance.html

Practice 1 answers: B, C, A, D

 

Tell Me About Yourself!

It is common for job interviews to start with the interviewer saying, “Tell me about yourself.” (They might also say: "Tell me about your background.") What should you say? Here are some tips:

- This is a time for you to state your skills, experience, and education that make you great for the job - but don't repeat your resume. 

- Don't include personal information, such as information about your family or hobbies that aren't related to the job. 

- The answer should only be a few sentences so that your answer is about one minute long.

- You can change your answer for each job interview so that it is the best answer for that job. 

- Practice! You can write out your answer and then practice saying it and time yourself. Practice with a friend or classmate to make sure it sounds great!

Here are some examples of good answers:

"I have worked as a cashier for two years and I really enjoy working with customers. Before I moved to the U.S., I worked as a receptionist at a busy real estate office, where I kept the office organized while helping clients. I am looking for a position where I can use both my office and people skills.”

"Hi, my name is Maria Jobs and I am a Certified Nursing Assistant. I have 10 years of experience in nursing in the U.S. and in my home country. I am looking for a position as a home health aide. I'm bilingual in Spanish and English; this helps me connect with more of our patients. I really enjoy working with families to help them understand the treatment for their family member."

This video will help you create your own answer to this question:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5kR7TPAkSw

Want to practice this and other interview questions? Make an appointment with Rachel, the ESOL Career Navigator, at rsbuczynski@fcps.edu! 

 

Spooky Jobs

Halloween is here and scary things are everywhere! However, there are some professionals who work spooky jobs all year round. In the spirit of Halloween, let's learn about some of the spookiest jobs around.

Gravedigger

Gravediggers dig graves in cemeteries for burials. It sounds creepy, but this is an essential role in American life (and death). Technology and construction equipment make the job both efficient and quicker than individual shoveling, allowing gravediggers to spend time mowing grass, pruning plants, setting grave markers, and making cemeteries beautiful places for loved ones to grieve their losses.

Undertaker

While morbid, undertakers always have a job. Undertakers arrange for removal of the deceased’s body, offer counsel and comfort to families of the deceased and file death certificates and other legal documents. The spooky factor comes in when undertakers have to transport human remains and oversee cremation.

Coroner

The key job responsibility of a coroner or medical examiner is to determine the manners and causes of death, often by performing autopsies. During autopsies, coroners inspect the body of a deceased person to identify marks or other evidence that indicates how he or she died. The scariness factor soars when there is a particularly gruesome murder or a body is found in a lake for example. Weather, the elements, and the kind of death make this job one of the spookiest around.  

Forensic scientist

The gun that killed JFK. The fingerprints left behind by bank robber John Dillinger. Each of these were examined by forensic scientists. Whether working in a lab or on a crime scene, forensic scientists help criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. 

Crime scene cleaner

There is no certification required to become a crime scene cleaner, but the government requires any employee that has the potential of being exposed to blood to complete training. Someone in this role could clean up a bloody crime scene one day, a hoarders’ home filled with roaches another day, and finish the week with an unattended body clean up. No day is the same! 

Embalmer

In a funeral home, the embalmer is responsible for embalming and preparing the bodies of the deceased for funeral services as well as burials or cremations. This may involve removing blood and replacing it with embalming fluid, performing reconstruction to disguise damage, and applying makeup to provide a peaceful, relaxing appearance. Embalmers must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This may mean working during a holiday or special event.