The organization of different departments or business units within a company is called corporate or company structure. This structure can differ significantly between companies depending on the industry and the company’s specific goals.

Company structure

Departments within a company usually perform a distinct function, while they are also collaborating with each other. Some of the most important departments usually include Accounting and Finance, IT, Human Resource, Marketing, Research and Development, and Production.

There are four general types of traditional organizational structures: functional, divisional, matrix, and flat. Nowadays with the emergence of the digital marketplace, decentralized and team-based structures are also becoming more widespread and important.

A functional company structure means that people are grouped together based on their specialty (such as finance, marketing, operations, top management, HR etc.). The specialty in this regard is a certain similarity in their skill sets, tasks and accountabilities. In a structure like this, group members can easily communicate and learn from each other, hopefully leading to an efficient decision-making process.

In a divisional structure, workers are grouped in teams based on the projects they work on. A common example is geographical structure, where divisions in different regions are built to operate in a specific location. A division is an autonomous section of the company where each section has its own top executive and its own structure. Small businesses rarely use a divisional structure.

A matrix structure is a more complex system, it combines elements of the divisional and functional models.  It groups people into functional departments of specialization, but further separates them into divisional projects. Team members are given more autonomy and responsibility in this type of structure, which increases productivity and supports creativity and innovation. A matrix structure, though, may have its own problem areas, since it is a more complex system that can also prove to be less efficient. A company that operates in various geographical regions with various products may profit from the matrix structure, because development teams and geographical interaction specialists may need to work together more closely.

A flat company structure is the opposite of the traditional top-down management system of most companies. To put it briefly, there is no “boss”, management is decentralized. Each employee is the boss of themselves communicating directly with others. This structure allows a more straightforward working relationship and it eliminates bureaucracy aiming to make the company quicker in decisions and more efficient in communication.

Tall and flat companies

Besides these models, there are also other factors that define the structure of an organization. The key term is the chain of command, the system by which instructions are passed from one person to another within the company. Depending on the chain of command, the structure could be either vertical or horizontal, as well as centralized or decentralized. Vertical structures usually have a CEO at the top of the company who delegates authority to mid-level and lower-level managers. Horizontal (or flat) companies do not have middle-managers and everyone gets involved in daily tasks. Within a centralized organizational structure, the decisions and the directions of the company are decided by one person. In decentralized organizational structures, people working at the company have a certain autonomy at each level; they may also join the decision-making process.  

Future trends

The digital era has had a great impact on corporate structure as well. The successful organizations of the future will be those that can adapt more quickly and embrace dynamic career demands. The trend seems to be towards a flatter, decentralized organizational structure. These transformations are very much influenced by technological changes, since they improve efficiency, change the job landscape, restructure departments and modify the requirements that certain position have within the company.

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Vállalati osztályok és pozíciók

Salary and wage

Generally speaking, people who get paid a “salary” get their money monthly. They get the same amount each month regardless of the number of hours they work in the given month. This fixed regular payment is often expressed as an annual sum: “She received a salary of £42,000.”

Wage, on the other hand, is a fixed regular payment that is earned for work or services. It is typically paid on a daily or weekly basis. The more hours the employee works, the more money they will make. “Wages” usually refers to the actual sum of money that a person makes, while “wage” is a more abstract idea: “What’s the minimum wage in the UK nowadays?”, “The company is considering cutting wages due to financial problems.”

Pay vocabulary

There are a number of compound words with the word “pay”. Back pay is money owed to the employee by the employer for work done which has not yet been paid. A pay cut is a reduction in the amount of money one is given, while a pay rise is an increase in pay.

Gross pay refers to all the money the employer pays before any deductions are taken out. Net pay is the amount the employee earns after deductions, such as social security, pensions, tax, health insurance etc. A pay scale is a range of different pay rates which people will receive depending on various factors, such as their grade in the company, the number of years they have spent at the company, their qualifications, the languages they speak etc.

Equal pay means that men and women get the same pay for doing the same job. Equal pay is a concept of labour rights. It is used to bridge the gender pay gap, the average difference between a man’s and a woman’s remuneration. Equal pay relates to the full range of benefits and payments.

Employees usually receive an itemized pay statement at the beginning or end of each month. It contains a detailed breakdown of the pay they have earned and the deductions taken from it. It usually also contains used and remaining vacation days and sick days. 

Performance-related pay (PRP) means that the amount paid depends on the quality and quantity of the work. PRP systems are designed to motivate employees and to align their effort more closely with the aims of the organization. The pay is either financial, or non-financial, such as gift cards or vouchers. 

On Sale

Komplett angol nyelvtan rendszerező videókurzus

39,900Ft Original price was: 39,900Ft.29,900FtCurrent price is: 29,900Ft.

Kosárba teszem

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On Sale

ANGOL Nyelvtan+Szókincs – átfogó 40 részes videókurzus, középfokra készülőknek is

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Kosárba

Quick ViewCompareAdded

On Sale

Kezdő szintről középfokra (Level 1-2-3-4-5)

95,500Ft Original price was: 95,500Ft.45,400FtCurrent price is: 45,400Ft.

Kosárba

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Salary vocabulary

A person who gets a salary is a salaried employee. Having a competitive salary means that it is a good one for that particular job. A salary scale is the range of salaries available. When someone starts working, they are usually at the bottom of the salary scale. When someone starts a job, they will receive their initial salary, an amount that is expected to rise later. If the employee needs money, they can ask for a salary advance. The basic salary is the salary before any extras and bonuses. 

To sum up

Pay is a general word to refer to the money one gets from their employer for doing their job. Manual workers are paid wages, or a wage. The plural is used when we are talking about the cash someone receives. Wages are usually paid as a weekly sum. Professional people and office workers receive a salary. It is paid monthly, but we use the annual figure when talking about someone’s salary. The income is all the money received from all sources.

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1. Arriving Late or Too Early

Punctuality is, of course, essential when attending a job interview. Arriving on time not only demonstrates your reliability, but it is also courteous and ensures that you get adequate time to make a good impression. On the flip side, though, arriving too early can be equally damaging to your prospects because it can interrupt the interviewer’s schedule.

2. Not Doing Your Homework

If you arrive unprepared for a job, it will seem like you don’t care if you get the position or not. So, research the company before an interview, and familiarize yourself with the role and what it entails. The questions you ask at an interview should fill in the gaps and not the questions that a serious contender for the position would already have answered for themselves.

3. Dressing Inappropriately

Interviews should not be fashion parades and, arguably, appearance is not as vital as skills and qualifications. Nevertheless, interviewers are only human and make snap judgments based on what they see. The way you dress says a lot about your professionalism and desire to get the job. Consequently, it is best to play it safe when dressing for a job interview. Dress smartly and conservatively and in a manner appropriate for the role.

4. Failing to Bring the Appropriate Materials

As a minimum, you should take a copy of your resume to a job interview. Depending on the role you are applying for, a portfolio of your work, written references, and copies of qualifications might also be helpful. Having all the documents and materials that an employer might ask for with you shows initiative on your part. It also enables you to answer all the interviewer’s questions, with backup, immediately.

5. Displaying Lack of Enthusiasm

It will be hard for an interviewer to be enthusiastic about you if you fail to show any enthusiasm for the job. So, try to avoid sitting with slumped shoulders looking like you’d rather be somewhere else. Sit up, make eye contact, pay attention to what the interviewer says. And ask questions at the appropriate points but avoid interrupting.

6. Talking Too Much About Yourself

You will, of course, be keen to sell your abilities to prospective employers. However, it is vital to remember that the interviewer is only interested in how you and your skills will benefit the company. Therefore, it is best to avoid providing information about yourself that is irrelevant to the role or spending too much time explaining why you want the job. Instead, focus on the benefits that you will bring to the company.

7. Getting Too Personal

Coming across as a friendly and approachable person will improve your chances of landing the job. However, it is best to keep the proceedings professional and avoid getting too personal. Avoid asking personal questions and avoid being overly familiar with the interviewer. Instead, restrict your questions and comments to company and work-related topics.

8. Not Expanding on Answers

If you get nervous, you might resort to giving simple yes or no answers to questions. If you do this, you will miss opportunities to sell your suitability for the role. It would not be helpful to monopolize the conversation with long, rambling answers. Still, it will reinforce your case if you give some background to your answers that emphasize your suitability for the position.

9. Not Preparing Answers to the Standard Questions

Some standard questions are likely to be asked in a job interview. For example, “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your strengths?” and “what are your weaknesses?”. Questions like these are overused and may even be annoying. Still, preparing original and compelling responses to the standard interview questions provides an opportunity to outshine other applicants.

On Sale

Komplett angol nyelvtan rendszerező videókurzus

39,900Ft Original price was: 39,900Ft.29,900FtCurrent price is: 29,900Ft.

On Sale

TEMATIKUS ANGOL SZÓKINCSFEJLESZTŐ videókurzus

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Általános üzleti/munkahelyi angol videókurzus

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10. Not Asking Any Questions

Interviewers invariably end interviews by offering you the opportunity to ask them questions. It would be a big mistake not to ask any because this is your final opportunity to impress. You might have queries arising from what has been said during the interview. If not, you could ask about company culture, why the interviewer likes working for the company, or what new initiatives are on the horizon for the business. The crucial thing is to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position by wanting to know more.

To sum up, do your research, prepare for the interview, and try to come across as enthusiastic but not overly familiar. And don’t forget to wrap up the discussion by thanking the interviewer for their time. Also, one final mistake to avoid is not following up after an interview confirming your interest in the job and thanking the interviewer once again for their time.

1.to be/stay ahead of the pack 
to be more successful than the others who are trying to achieve the same
sikeresebbnek lenni, mint a konkurencia / az élen járni

2.back to square one
to start something over again because a previous attempt failed
Valamit előről kezdeni, mert az előző próbálkozás nem sikerült.

3.ballpark figure/number
an estimate
hasraütés szerű becslés

4.big picture 
everything that is involved with a particular situation
A nagy képet tekintve

5.by the book 
this means to do things exactly according to the rules or a law
jogszerűen/Előírásoknak megfelelően eljárni

6.corner the market 
this means to dominate a particular market
dominálni a piacon

7.cutthroat
a very aggressive and most of the time merciless competition
agresszív konkurens

8.game plan
a strategy or a plan for achieving success
egy stratégia/”játékterv”

9.get down to business 
to stop making small talk to start talking about serious business topics
tárgyra térni

10.get something off the grounds 
to start something for example a project or a business
elkezdeni valamit

11.go down the drain 
something is wasted or lost
hiába való volt

12.go the extra mile 
to do more than what people expect
megtenni az extra kilométert

13.hands are tied 
not being free to behave or act in the way that you would like
Meg van kötve a keze

14.in full swing 
this means at a stage when the level of activity is at its highest
Teljes erőbedobással

15.keep one’s eye on the ball 
to give something your full attention and not lose focus
Valamire maximálisan figyelni

source: 50 Business Idioms in American English, Teacher Karla, consteach, Cambridge Dictionary

A következő interaktív tesztben ezeket a kifejezéseket gyakorolhatjátok.

1. to learn the ropes
            learn the basics of something for example a new job
            beletanulni valamibe
2. no strings attached
   something is given without involving special demands or limits
   kikötések nélkül/ellenszolgáltatás nélkül 
3. not going to fly
   something isn’t expected to work out
   valami nem fog működni 
4. on the same page
   to be in agreement about something
   egyetérteni valamiben 
5. out in the open
   something that is public knowledge and not secret anymore
   valami nem publikus 
6. put all one’s eggs in one basket
   to rely on only one thing to bring you success
   mindent egy lapra feltenni 
7. to put the cart before the horse
   to do or think about things in the wrong order
   rossz sorrendben/fordítva ülni meg a lovat 
8. raise the bar
   to set standards or expectations higher
   emelni az elvárásokat 
9. red tape
   the official rules and processes that seem excessive and unnecessary
   bürokrácia 
10. rock the boat
    to do or say something that will upset people or cause problems
    bonyodalmat okozni 
11. safe bet
    something that is certain to happen
    biztosan meg fog történni 
12. to be in the same boat
    to be in the same difficult situation as someone else
    egy csónakban evezni 
13. see eye to eye
    to agree with somebody
    egyetérteni valakivel 
14. see something through
    to continue until something is finished
    végig vinni 
15. sever ties
    to end a relationship
    megszakítani a kapcsolatot
16. source: 50 Business Idioms in American English, Teacher Karla, consteach, Cambridge Dictionary

Nowadays a CV has become an important tool of seeking a job or even finding a better one – if you are building a carreer. With a little effort, you can create a CV that will make you stand out from the other candidates. Here are some tips how to reshape your CV to make it an effective tool for your job-hunt.

1. Know who it’s for!

Be clear about who you are creating your CV for. Know what the role is, who the employer is, exactly what they are looking for. The more you can learn about your target, the better you can tailor your CV specifically for them.

2. Be short and relevant!

Keep your CV short and sharp. Put in relevant information only and use it to highlight the best bits of information about you. Make it a document which causes people to want more.

A beautifully designed and formatted paper CV can make a great impact if handed over in a meeting with prospective employers, recruiters and networking contacts. A shorter (one-page) CV can be more appropriate at industry events – such as conferences – when you might want to give only a brief overview of your career and stand-out achievements. And although a traditional CV and cover letter combination is still the standard job application method, the growing popularity of social networks has made a supplementary, online presence vital in many industries. So, don’t neglect your online presence!

3. Align your online and offline CVs!

Think about your online profile as well as your paper CV. A personal blog or online portfolio is a good way to provide extra information about your background and links to your work. Platforms such as LinkedIn also allow you to embed information via slideshare presentations, files, and multimedia content. These days people search online to find out about you and will expect to see a LinkedIn profile. This is also a great way to be headhunted and found directly by organisations so don’t miss out on this opportunity.

4. Be genuine!

Never lie in your CV. Be true to who you are and what you have done otherwise you risk being caught out and people can usually see through a made-up CV. Make sure that you really want this job and that you know you can do it!

5. Highlight your strengths!

Think about what you are good at and how you can articulate these things in your CV. Stick with your strengths and do not highlight what you feel you may be lacking, weak in or missing out on.

Man: Have you heard? The boss fancies his new assistant.
Woman: Really? How do you know?
Man: Last night I overheard them in the pub. They were planning to meet at the weekend.
Woman: Wow. Good for them. I’m not surprised. She seems to be a nice girl.
Man: A nice girl? Are you kidding? I can spot a gold digger a mile off.
Woman: I wouldn’t be so quick to judge people.
Man: She must be at least 20 years younger!
Woman: They are probably closer in age than you’d imagine. I happen to know that she is divorced with two big kids.
Man: No!
Woman: Yes, and whatever they do at the weekend is none of our business. Live and let live.
Man: You’re probably right. It’s just that I was really shocked. She looks so young. Do you think it’s plastic surgery?
Woman: Jim! She looks younger than she is but stop spreading rumours. You know what people are like, they blow up everything. Don’t you remember what happened after the Christmas party?
Man: How could I forget, with Donna trying to kill me the following day.
Woman: So you’d better drop the subject.

IMPORTANT PHRASES

Have you heard?–  Hallottad?  
How do you know? – Honnan tudod?
Good for them. – Jó nekik.
Are you kidding? – Viccelsz?
I can spot a gold digger a mile off. – Messziről észreveszem, ha valaki csak érdekkapcsolatot akar.
I happen to know …. . – Történetesen tudom, hogy … .
It’s none of our business.– Semmi közünk hozzá.
Live and let live.– Élni és élni hagyni.
You know what people are like. – Tudod, milyenek az emberek.
How could I forget! – Hogy is felejthetném el!
Drop the subject!– Ne foglalkozz vele! Ejtsd a témát!

Many foreign workers start out as shopassistants or cashiers and work in supermarkets, department stores, or other smaller shops, like florist’s or baker’s. Basically employersrange from village corner shops to multi-national department stores.

Serving customers and taking payments are the key responsibilities of shop assistants. Depending on the type of shop they work in, they may also advise customers, help them find goods, give information on products, order stock, stock shelves, notify customers of sales and special offers, and sometimes they also keep the shop clean. 

Shop assistants and cashiers may be required to work long hours, holidays, overtime or on weekends, including Sundays. More and more males are working in this sector even though it is dominated by females.

Most cashiers and shop assistants receive training on the job. Your training may be difficult if you don’t understand what your supervisor says.

to start out as – valahogy kezdeni
cashier – pénztáros
department store – áruház
employer – munkaadó
to range from – terjed, sorakozik
to serve customers – kiszolgálni a vásárlókat/ügyfeleket
payment – fizetés
key responsibility  – kulcsfontosságú feladat
to depend on  – valamitől függ
to advice customers – tanácsot ad a vevőknek/ügyfeleknek
goods – áru/árucikkek
to order stock – árukészletet rendelni
to stock shelves – feltölteni a polcokat
to notify somebody of something – értesíteni valakit valamiről
to be required to do something – megkérve lenni valamire
overtime – túlóra, túlórázás
to be dominated by – valami/valaki által dominálva lenni
to receive training – képzést kapni
on the job – a munkahelyen
supervisor – felügyelő, felettes

age restricted items korhatáros termékek	bag szatyor	bar code vonalkód
bill/receipt számla/blokk	cash register pénztárgép	coupon kupon
discount/sale árleszállítás/vásár	gift certificate/gift card ajándékkártya	price tag árcédula
loyalty card/club card törzsvásárlói kártya	shopping basket bevásárlókosár	shopping trolley bevásárlókocsi

Nowadays supermarkets are self-service, which means that you do not really have to ask for anything while shopping (except meat and fish, as they are usually measured and wrapped by butchers’ and fishmongers inside the shop). You find the different products in different aisles in the supermarket which makes shopping easier. If you buy your grocery at a smaller shop you may be assisted by a shop assistant or the shopkeeper. When you’ve collected everything you need, you have to go to the checkout to pay for your groceries. The cashier will scan the barcodes of the items you’ve bought and will deactivate the security device of certain items (like clothes, CDs, DVDs, etc.).

Sometimes the cash register runs out of register tape, which means the cashier can’t print out receipts. In this case the cashier has to insert a new one. It may take some minutes. When all your items are registered, the cashier tells you how much you’ll have to pay. She or he may also ask how you would like to pay (in cash or by bank card/credit card). If the shop has loyalty card programmes the cashier will ask you whether you have one so that you can get discounts or collects points. If you don’t have any shopping bags with you, you may purchase some at the checkout, but they are usually not for free, the cashier will charge a small amount for them. 

self-service – önkiszolgáló
to be measured – megmérve lenni
to be wrapped – becsomagolva lenni
aisle – sor (áruházban, szupermarketben)
to be assisted by – kiszolgálva lenni valaki által
checkout – pénztár
groceries – élelmiszeráru, bevásárlás
to scan the barcodes – leolvasni a vonalkódokat
to deactivate the security device – hatástalanítani a biztonsági eszközt
cash register – pénztárgép
to run out of – kifogyni valamiből
register tape – pénztárgép szalag
to print out – kinyomtatni
receipt – blokk, számla
to pay in cash – készpénzzel fizetni
to pay by credit card/bank card – bankkártyával fizetni
loyalty card – törzsvásárlói kártya/klubkártya
to get a discount – kedvezményt kapni
to collect points – pontokat gyűjteni
to purchase something – megvásárolni valamit
for free – ingyenesen
to charge something for something – valamit felszámolni valamiért
small amount – kis összeg

MUNKAHELYI ANGOL – VIDEÓKURZUS ÖRÖKÖS HASZNÁLATTAL ÉS LETÖLTHETŐ ANYAGOKKAL

A JOB INTERVIEW – A PART-TIME JOB

Man: Hello, Maureen, nice to meet you.
Woman: Hello Mr. Radfield, nice to meet you.
Man: So you’re interested in working as a waitress. Why should I hire you?
Woman: I had a summer job as a waitress the past two years in our local café and I believe I did well. I put the owner, Mrs Fox down in the references section on my CV.
Man: How many hours would you like to work?
Woman: The position you advertised is an evening part-time job. I would be happy to work Monday to Friday.
Man: Restaurants are at their busiest Friday and Saturday nights. Could you do Saturdays?
Woman: I’m sure I can manage Saturdays during the summer but I’ll be at college starting from September. Is there any chance of swapping two workdays for Saturday? I’m sure you’ll understand that I also need to do some coursework and that would be impossible if I have to work 6 evenings out of 7.
Man: I’ll have to think this over. Now tell me about a major problem you recently handled.
Woman: Last year we had a difficult client who sent back a perfectly good pizza for some reason. I offered him a tea and a biscuit on the house while he was waiting for the new pizza. Luckily, that calmed him down, as I hoped.
Man: Did you ask the manager if you were allowed to offer anything on the house?
Woman: There was no time, he was just about to start shouting. But it turned out to be the right decision.

So you’re interested in working as a waitress. – Szóval pincérnőként szeretne dolgozni.
Why should I hire you? – Miért kellene felvennem (pont Önt)?
I put the owner, Mrs Fox down in the references section on my CV. – Az önéletrajzomban a referenciák közé beírtam a tulajdonost, Mrs. Foxot.
The position you advertised is an evening part-time job. – A meghirdetett állás egy esti részmunkaidős állás.
I’ll have to think this over.  – Ezt még át kell gondolnom.
Now tell me about a major problem you recently handled. – Most pedig meséljen egy nagyobb problémáról, amit nemrégiben kellett megoldania.

A JOB INTERVIEW – A FULL-TIME JOB

Woman: Hello Jim, I’m glad you could come at such short notice.
Man: Hello Ms Diaz. Luckily, I was in town today – sorry I’m not dressed appropriately, I wasn’t expecting an interview. I’m completely aware of office dress codes.
Woman: No problem, I understand. After your internship last summer we were really glad to receive your application.
Man: I really enjoyed working here last year and now I have my degree I’m looking for a proper job.
Woman: Based on your previous experience we can offer you a full-time position starting the first of next month.
Man: I had a taste of how this company works last year. What are the responsibilities of this position?
Woman: For the month of August you’d be doing the same job as last year. You can take over during the month of September from Claire, the Finance Department secretary. You do remember her, don’t you? She’s going on maternity leave.
Man: Is overtime expected?
Woman: Not at all, except during the yearly budget review.
Man: I am definitely interested. Can I have some more details, please?

I’m glad you could come at such short notice. – Örülök, hogy ilyen rövid időn belül el tudott jönni.
I’m completely aware of office dress codes. – Teljesen tisztában vagyok az irodai öltözködési szabályokkal.
After your internship last summer we were really glad to receive your application. – A tavaly nyári szakmai gyakorlata után nagyon örültünk a jelentkezésének.
I really enjoyed working here last year and now I have my degree I’m looking for a proper job.  – Tavaly nagyon szerettem itt dolgozni, és most, hogy megvan a diplomám, keresek egy rendes állást.
Based on your previous experience we can offer you a full-time position starting the first of next month. – Az eddigi tapasztalatai alapján teljes munkaidős állást tudunk felajánlani Önnek a jövő hónap első napjától.
What are the responsibilities of this position? – Milyen feladatok vannak ebben a pozícióban?
Is overtime expected? – Várható túlóra?
Not at all, except during the yearly budget review. – Egyáltalán nem, kivéve az éves költségvetés felülvizsgálata során.

It’s not necessarily your fault, various circumstances can lead to it. In this Covid-stricken world, these are usually economic circumstances. If you work in tourism, or in the entertainment or hospitality industry you probably go through difficult times and have to reconsider your options. We don’t know when or if things get back to near normal. Until then people have to survive somehow in the economic sense of the word, too. If you find yourself without income or with just a fraction of your previous income to live on it may be sensible to try to find a different job option for the time being. It’s not a tragedy if it’s not something you’ve trained for and have done all your life. Unusual times call for unusual methods and sometimes it can be beneficial to try something new even if you hadn’t planned on a change.

The first step to find a new job is usually sending in your CV and then comes a job interview. Under normal circumstances, it’s a face-to-face interview but currently, most of the job interviews take place online on zoom or other similar platforms. To make a good impression on your potential employer you have to be prepared. Research the field and the company and know exactly why you would like to work for them. It’s worth investing time into clarifying your best selling points and merits, and stating what makes you the best candidate for the job. Be as enthusiastic as you possibly can. The interviewer should see that you’re really interested in the job. There are always more candidates for positions than there are openings, so interviewers look for ways to screen people out. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself why they might not want to hire you. Then prepare your defence and try to prove to them that you’re indeed the best possible candidate.

Prepare for common interview questions so that you won’t be easily surprised. Think about what kind of questions you’re most likely to encounter, then prepare your answers so you won’t have to fumble for them during the actual interview. Go to the interview with a few intelligent questions to demonstrate for the interviewer your knowledge of the company as well as your serious intent. Interviewers always ask if you have any questions, and you should have one or two ready. If you say, “No, not really,” the interviewer may conclude that you’re not all that interested in the job or the company.

Try to speak confidently and convincingly and make eye contact. Rehearse it before the interview to see how you’ll manage. Record your performance and then play it back to see where you need to improve.

A job interview is a communication process in which both parties have their say. Don’t make the mistake of just sitting there waiting for the interviewer to ask you the questions. Be polite but assertive. It’s your responsibility to make sure the interviewer gets to know about you as much as he or she possibly can.

As for what to wear, most job interviews call for professional, or business attire. For men, this is a suit jacket and trousers with a shirt and tie. For women, a blouse and dress pants or a skirt or a modest dress is appropriate. What you should not wear to a job interview is casual clothing, sandals or flip-flops, poorly fitting clothes, flashy clothes or jewellery, stained or wrinkled clothing, too much makeup and heavy perfume or cologne.

Try to close your interview on a positive note and smile. Even if you feel that your interview didn’t go so well, don’t give up and don’t let it show on you. Finding a job may not be easy but practice makes perfect. The next job interview – if needed – will definitely be a better and a more rewarding experience.