INTERVIEW MISTAKES

Watch the video “10 Key Interview Mistakes to Avoid” by Career Addict.

PICTURE ROUND
Task 1: Look at the pictures of interviews, and describe what is happening in each one.

1. ____________________________________ 2. ______________________________________

3. ____________________________________ 4. ______________________________________

Task 2: Discuss the pictures using the questions below.

a. Give each picture a title based on what is happening in each one.

b. How do you feel before, during, and after an interview?
c. Do you prefer online or face-to-face interviews?
d. Have you ever been interviewed by three or more interviewers, like in picture 1?
e. In your industry, is it common to give a presentation at one of the interview stages?
f. Give a brief summary of a positive interview experience you had.
g. Give a brief summary of a negative interview experience you had.

ESL Pals 1 Business English

 TEN INTERVIEW MISTAKES TO AVOID
Watch the video, then complete each of the exercises detailed below.

Arriving late.

Task 1: Complete the quote by using the words from the box.

scheduled disastrous failure

“Arriving late to an interview can have disastrous consequences on your chances of

securing the job. You’ll leave a bad taste in the employer’s mouth before they’ve even met
you in person. So, make sure you don’t set yourself up for failure by arriving at your
interview location around 10 minutes earlier than your scheduled time.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

a. When should you arrive for your interview?
b. Name some disastrous consequences of arriving late.
c. What is the meaning of “leave a bad taste”? Can you use it in a sentence?
d. How can you ensure you arrive on time?
e. Would you not hire a person if they arrived late for an interview?

Not Being Prepared.

Task 1: There are three grammatical errors in the quote; can you find and correct them?
“Preparation is key in any work scenario, but it’s even more important when it comes to
your job interview. With information readily available at your fingertips, there’s no excuse
for not understanding who the company is or what they do.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

1. What does it mean to have “information readily available at your fingertips”? What
do you have readily available at your fingertips to help you prepare for an interview?
2. How did you prepare for your last interview?
3. What should you know about the company before an interview?
4. How can LinkedIn help you prepare for an interview?
5. What could happen if you don’t prepare for an interview?

ESL Pals 2 Business English

 Dressing inappropriately.

Task 1: Choose the correct word to complete the quote.

“Dressing for interview success is essential – with hiring managers making their decision in
the first five minutes of meeting you, you need to ensure that even your outfit suggests
you’re the best candidate. A professional and well-thought-out outfit will show that you
have great attention to detail and you are organised – just make sure that it ties in with the
company dress code and culture.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

a. Do you agree that hiring managers make their decision in the first five minutes of
meeting you?
b. In your industry, how do candidates commonly dress for an interview?
c. Do you dress differently for an online interview?
d. Describe your company’s dress code and culture.
e. Would you hire a candidate who dressed inappropriately for an interview?

Failing to make eye contact.

Task 1: Find synonyms in the text for the words in the box.

awkward / uncomfortable appropriate / right level

bond / a connection or trust establishes / builds

“Making eye contact builds trust and helps form a connection with the person that you’re
talking to. Therefore, if you fail to maintain eye contact, you could be suggesting that you
have something to hide. That said, there’s no need to hold an uncomfortable gaze, either.
The best cue is to follow your interviewer's lead when it comes to the right level of eye
contact.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

1. Why is making eye contact important during an interview?
2. What cue should you follow?
3. What is the difference between good eye contact and staring?
4. Does this advice apply to video interviews and presentations?
5. Would you hire someone who stared at you during the whole interview?

ESL Pals 3 Business English

 Poor communication.

Task 1: Complete the quote by using the words from the box.

confident showcase Interrupting

“Whether you’re excited to showcase your skills and experience or you simply want to
come across as confident, you must ensure that you have good communication skills.
Interrupting your interviewer or rambling on without actually understanding what the
question was to begin with will quickly ensure that you’re part of the ‘no’ pile.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

a. What is the meaning of “rambling on”? Can you use it as an example sentence?
b. What strategies can candidates use to avoid rambling?
c. What is the meaning of the “no pile”? Why do you want to avoid the no pile?
d. What are the potential consequences of interrupting an interviewer?
e. How can good communication skills help you showcase your skills and experience?

Bad-mouthing previous employers.

Task 1: There are three grammatical errors in the quote, can you find and correct them?

“Regardless of whether you have a bad boss or not, you should refrain from badmouthing
your former employer. It will show that you lack professionalism and you're untrustworthy,
and it will instantly harm your prospects of landing a new role.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

1. What is the meaning of “badmouthing”?

2. Give examples of how a candidate could bad mouth an employer in an interview.
3. Why should you not badmouth a previous employer?
4. What strategies can candidates use to discuss their previous employment
experiences without resorting to negative comments?
5. Would you hire a person who badmouths a former employer during an interview?

ESL Pals 4 Business English

 Being overconfident.

Task 1: Choose the correct word to complete the quote.

“Confidence is a winning ingredient of a successful interview; however, being overconfident

can come across as arrogance, and nobody wants to hire a know-it-all. So, be honest
during your interview, and don’t be afraid to show that you’re not perfect and that you’re
willing to learn and grow within the new role.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

a. What is a know-it-all? Can you use the phrase in an example sentence?

b. Do you agree that nobody wants to hire a know-it-all? Explain.
c. How can confidence positively influence the outcome of a job interview?
d. How can you show your willingness to learn during an interview?
e. Would you hire someone who was arrogant during an interview? Explain.

Sounding rehearsed.

Task 1: Find antonyms in the text for the words in the box.

stumble / flow naturally enable / prevent natural / rehearsed or stiff

“Doing hours of prep work is great, but just make sure that it doesn’t translate to rehearsed
and stiff answers. You want your conversation to flow naturally throughout your interview,
and replying with structured answers can prevent that from happening.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

1. What are some negative consequences of doing too much prep work?
2. Do you do hours of prep work before an interview?
3. Do you rehearse your answers before an interview?
4. Have you ever had a practice interview with a friend before an interview?
5. How can you ensure your answers do not sound rehearsed or stiff?

ESL Pals 5 Business English

 Forgetting names.

Task 1: Complete the quote by using the words from the box.

cue cards confuse information

“If you’ve got a number of interviews lined up, it’s easy to confuse or forget a name, but
there’s nothing worse than calling your interviewer ‘John’ when his name is actually ‘James’.
So, to ensure you’ve got all the information that you need, create some cue cards with all
the important company details and check them before you enter the building.”

Task 2: Discuss the following questions.

a. How do you feel when someone forgets your name?
b. What is the problem with confusing or forgetting an interviewer's name?
c. What can you do to ensure you remember important details?
d. Can you share any other strategies for staying organised and focused before going
into an interview?
e. Would you hire a person who repeatedly forgot your name during an interview?

Failing to ask any questions.

Task 1: Read the following quote, then complete the next task

“You’ve come to the end of the interview, and the hiring manager asks if you have any
questions, but you respond with, ‘No, I think you’ve covered everything!’. With this short
answer, you’ve just ruined your chance of getting the job. To show that you’re interested in
the role, ask questions that relate to progression or company culture.”

Task 2: Work in pairs. Create three good questions to ask an interviewer.

a. _________________________________________________________________________.

b. _________________________________________________________________________.

c. _________________________________________________________________________.

ESL Pals 6 Business English

 GIVING ADVICE
Task 1: Study the information below, on how to give advice or recommendations.

Giving Advice or Recommendations

Use "should" to offer advice or suggestions to someone.

Example: You should eat more fruits and vegetables for good health.

Task 2: Read the scenario below, then complete the following task.

Your friend has an interview next week. He asks for your advice on what to, and what
not to do before, during, and after an interview.

Task 3: Create a list of ten things he should do, and ten things he shouldn’t do in order
to do well in the interview. Create full sentences, using should and shouldn't.

1. __________________________________. 1. __________________________________.

2. __________________________________. 2. __________________________________.

3. __________________________________. 3. __________________________________.

4. __________________________________. 4. __________________________________.

5. __________________________________. 5. __________________________________.

6. __________________________________. 6. __________________________________.

7. __________________________________. 7. __________________________________.

8. __________________________________. 8. __________________________________.

9. __________________________________. 9. __________________________________.

10. _________________________________. 10. _________________________________.

ESL Pals 7 Business English

 LET’S DEBATE

Study the arguments. Decide if you agree or disagree with each person, explaining why.
Adapt the language from the table to use in your argument. Have fun!

Express an opinion Express disagreement

It seems to me that… I don’t agree with you about…
I feel that… I can’t accept your view that…
I’m absolutely convinced that… I have a different opinion…
In my opinion,… I’m not sure if…
I believe / suppose / feel (that)… I’m not convinced that…

Express pro’s and con’s Summarise

There are two sides to this point... So, in conclusion…
On the one hand…,on the other hand… To summarise..
An argument for / against is… Overall, it is clear that…
Some people think that…,others say that… As a result..
The advantages / disadvantages are... The bottom line is...

ESL Pals 8 Business English

HOMEWORK
TIPS FOR INTERVIEW SUCCESS
Task 1: Read the following article, then complete the question on the next page.

In today's competitive job market, getting example of a time when you solved a
your dream job can be a difficult task. The problem"), use the STAR method:
interview is your chance to prove that Situation, Task, Action, Result. This
you're perfect for the position. While structure helps you provide a clear and
interview nerves are common, a few easy structured response.
tips can help you with this crucial phase.
Ask Questions: At the end of the
Research: Start by gathering information interview, it's your turn to ask questions.
about the company. What are their Inquire about the company's future plans,
values, culture, and recent achievements? team structure, or any concerns you might
This knowledge will show your potential have. This shows your interest and
employer that you're genuinely interested proactive thinking.
in the role and the organisation.
Body Language: Maintain good eye
Dress Appropriately: Choose an outfit contact, offer a firm handshake, and sit up
that is suitable for the company's culture straight. Your body language speaks
and the position you're applying for. volumes about your confidence and
When in doubt, it's better to be slightly professionalism.
overdressed than underdressed.
Stay Positive: Avoid speaking negatively
Punctuality: Arriving late for an interview about your past employers or colleagues.
is a big red flag. Plan your journey in Focus on your accomplishments and how
advance, allowing extra time for they've shaped your skills and abilities.
unexpected delays. Being on time
demonstrates your respect for the Practice, Practice, Practice: Before the
interviewer's schedule. interview, rehearse with a friend or family
member. This will help you refine your
Prepare for Common Questions: Expect answers, reduce nervousness, and boost
questions like "Tell me about yourself," your confidence.
"Why do you want this job?" and "What
are your strengths and weaknesses?" Follow Up: After the interview, send a
Prepare concise, honest, and relevant thank-you email or note to the
answers to these questions. interviewer. Express your gratitude for the
opportunity and reiterate your interest in
The STAR Method: When answering the position.
behavioural questions (e.g., "Give an

ESL Pals 9 Business English

Task 2: Write detailed answers to the following questions.

a. What is the importance of doing research before going for a job interview?

b. How can knowing a company's values, culture, and recent achievements benefit you
in an interview?

c. Why is it important to choose an appropriate outfit for a job interview?

d. What does punctuality demonstrate to a potential employer during an interview?

e. What are some common interview questions that you should prepare for?

f. How can the STAR method help you answer behavioural questions in an interview?

g. What should you do at the end of an interview, and why is it important?

h. How can your body language influence the impression you make on the interviewer?

i. Why is it advisable to stay positive and avoid negative comments about past
employers or colleagues in an interview?

j. Why is practice essential before a job interview, and how can it benefit you?

k. What should you include in a thank-you email or note after an interview, and why is
it important to send one?

l. What is the significance of being slightly overdressed rather than underdressed for
a job interview, especially when in doubt?

ESL Pals 10 Business English