Interview Questions Answered Flashcards
1
Q
to major in
A
– to study something as one’s main subject area in a college or University
- He’s majoring in business and German because he wants to work for an international business based in Berlin.
- I majored in english at Riga Technical University.
2
Q
to enter a field
A
– to begin to work in a specific industry or field
* She wants to enter the field of medicine and is taking a lot of biology courses and volunteering at the hospital.
3
Q
to excel
A
– to do very well; to be very good; to receive excellent grades
- She excels in her foreign language courses and her professors have recommended that she become a translator.
- When I was in college, I excelled in watching television and not studying.
4
Q
Internship
A
– a short-term position with a company that allows a student to get work experience in his or her chosen field
* Jacob did so well in his internship that the company offered him a job when he graduated the following year.
5
Q
to formulate
A
– to think of something; to create something step by step
* Many organizations are trying to formulate a plan to reduce poverty in developing countries.
6
Q
to be focused
A
– to be concentrated; with clear goals; not easily distracted
- She is very focused on becoming an actress. She’s always taking acting classes and going to the theater.
- “I’m very focused” - I can ignore everything around me and do my job effectively.
7
Q
product-oriented
A
– thinking about products; focused on products; being most concerned about the results of the work
- Sometimes Henry gets so interested in the day-to-day work that he forgets what we are trying to create. I wish he were more product-oriented.
- You could also say, “I am result-oriented” - I’m really trying to get the results that I’m supposed to get
8
Q
to see (something) to completion
A
– to make sure that a project gets finished; to
be involved in all stages of a project, from start to finish
That’s something that companies will want
from you, that you can actually get things accomplished - get things completed.
* Even though Abdullah was excited about his promotion, he was disappointed because it meant that he wouldn’t be able to see his old project to completion.
9
Q
to follow through
A
– to finish what one has started (Using it as a noun, it means to be able to finish what you are starting)
* After sending my resume to a company, I always follow through by calling to request an interview.
10
Q
Forefront
A
– the leading position in an industry or field
- His ideas are at the forefront of cancer research and many people believe he will find a cure soon.
- Your company is a leader in Online hotel reservation and is in the forefront of new ideas in the field.
11
Q
to be challenged
A
– to be presented with difficult, interesting tasks that require using one’s skills and abilities
To be challenged means that someone gives you a problem that you can solve.
* I don’t like working as a receptionist. I want to be challenged, but all I do is answer the phones all day.
* I want to work in a company where I can be challenged and where I can make a contribution.
12
Q
Contribution
A
– something that one does or gives to help a project, organization, or society
* He received an award in honor of his contributions to world peace.
13
Q
Extrovert
A
– an outgoing person who enjoys spending time with other people; not shy
- My sister is an extrovert and is always going out with her friends, but I prefer to spend most of my time alone.
- I am an extrovert. In a sales position you need to be friendly and outgoing in order to get people to buy something from you.
14
Q
Persistence
A
– determination; willingness to continue trying to do something even when it is difficult; never giving up
* That author’s persistence is amazing. Even though 30 publishers have rejected her novel, she’s still trying to find a publisher.
15
Q
Top
A
– best; highest-ranking
* Selecting the top five candidates for interviews was difficult, because they had received more than 100 applications for the position.
16
Q
Creativity
A
– ability to think of new, unique ideas; ability to create something new
* The company wants to hire a graphic designer with a lot of creativity who can make its website better than it is now.
* I want to work in public relations because it
is an area where I can use my creativity together with my knowledge of advertising and sales.
17
Q
Proven
A
– tested; shown to be true; having evidence that something is real
- According to this article, it is a proven fact that people lose weight when they eat more fruits and vegetables.
- I have a proven ability to work well with people and I can develop good long-term relationships with clients.
18
Q
in particular
A
– especially; specifically; particularly
- I hope that all of my friends come to the party, but in particular, I hope that Jason comes because I haven’t seen him for months.
- I want to work for your company in particular because you work primarily with Internet-based companies, which is an area that is growing at the rate of 40% a year. This makes your company a leader in the industry and I’d like to be part of that.
19
Q
to qualify
A
– to meet a minimum level of skills or abilities to a job
* Jack is the most qualified to do the job, because he has 15 years of experience in this area.
20
Q
to oversee
A
– to supervise; to have responsibility for a project or for someone else’s work
*I completed training that qualifies me to oversee other types of projects than the ones I work on now at Lotadoe.
21
Q
to more fully
A
– to better;
* Roger speaks four languages, but in his current job he only needs to know English. He’d like to find a new job that would more fully use his talents.
22
Q
to utilize
A
– to use
That’s why I’m now looking for a company that will allow me to more fully utilize my new skills and where I can take on new challenges.
23
Q
advancement
A
– promotion; - getting a better job
“What I see in this” company “is also the opportunity for
growth and advancement.”
24
Q
a good match
A
suitable; something that combines well
I think that my skills and abilities are a good match for this job
25
Needs
– the things that a person or a company requires; the things that a person or company doesn’t have right now
*I think that my current skills and abilities are a good match with the current needs of this company.
26
Restructuring
– a period of time when a company is reorganizing within the company, usually to become more efficient
The primary reason I left Convergys was because the company went through a restructuring and my position was eliminated.
27
to eliminate
– to get rid of; to remove; to destroy
* I’ve heard that eating nothing but fruit for three days will eliminate bad chemicals from the human body, but I’m not sure I believe it.
28
up to that point
– until then; prior to that moment; before that point in time
Up to that point, however, I had a very good track record and received positive employee evaluations each of the three years I worked there.
29
track record
– one’s history of doing something well or poorly
| "I have a good track record at sales,"
30
employee evaluation
– a written assessment or official opinion of an employee’s performance in a job
* Employee evaluations are often used to determine whether employees should receive raises.
31
career change
– to switch from a career in one field to a career in another field
Leaving Michmuney actually allowed me to make a career change that I had been thinking about for some time and that is more aligned with my career goals.
32
to be aligned
– to be in line with - to combine things so that
there's a good match.
*that is more aligned with my career goals.
33
career goals
– what one wants to do professionally; what one wants to do professionally in the future
* I know you want to be a doctor, but what are your specific career goals? Do you want to have your own office, work for a hospital, or do medical research?
34
responsibility
– the duty and expectation to take care of someone or something
This position would also give me more responsibility than I had at my last company and more promotion opportunities.
35
promotion opportunity
– opportunity for advancement; opportunity to begin
working in a higher-ranking position
This position would also give me more responsibility than I had at my last company and more promotion opportunities.
36
industry leader
– a company that is the best (strongest and wealthiest) in its industry
* This company is an industry leader and is at the forefront of exciting new developments in this field.
37
at the forefront of
– in the leading or first position in an industry or field
| *This company is an industry leader and is at the forefront of exciting new developments in this field.
38
Mission
– purpose
* Its mission to change the way consumers get and send information is, I believe, where the biggest areas of growth are in the industry
39
growth
– increase or expansion
* Its mission to change the way consumers get and send information is, I believe, where the biggest areas of growth are in the industry
40
financials
the numbers showing what the company spends and earns
*Based on the company’s financials and its general performance in the past year, Lotadoe is poised to take over as one of the top suppliers of online service in the world.
41
performance
– how well or how poorly an organization, company, or person does something
*Based on the company’s financials and its general performance in the past year, Lotadoe is poised to take over as one of the top suppliers of online service in the world.
42
to be poised to
– to be in a position to do something; to be ready to do something
*Based on the company’s financials and its general performance in the past year, Lotadoe is poised to take over as one of the top suppliers of online service in the world.
43
innovative
– new, unique, and creative *
| They received the Nobel Prize in Mathematics for their innovative ideas.
44
along the same lines as
– similar to; related to
- - You may be talking to someone and you say, "Well, along these same lines, I want to mention something else," meaning this is related to the same topic.
* In the past several years, I have led a number of innovative projects along the same lines as the current direction of this company.
45
foothold
| Точка опоры
– a hold on something; a position in an industry or field; a place to enter something
* When the soccer team’s star player broke his leg, the team lost its foothold in the competition.
By doing this, I was able to help my current company get a foothold in the market.
46
to be impressed
– to have a favorable impression; to be pleasantly surprised
* Weren’t you impressed with his resume? He went to the best schools in the country and he has been published in ten academic journals.
* I was impressed with the backgrounds of the founders and their vision for this company.
47
founder
– a person who starts something, usually an organization, school, or company
* The university’s library is named after the university’s founder.
48
vision
– an idea or picture in one’s mind about what one wants for the future
* I think that we all agree on the organization’s vision: to create a world without hunger or poverty.
49
in line with
– compatible with; similar to; the same as; like
* Their noisy conversations aren’t in line with what I would expect to hear from librarians during work hours
Their innovative thinking is, I believe, in line with the best thinking in the field right now.
50
corporate responsibility
– a company’s duty to make positive contributions to the local community
* Shannon manages the company’s corporate responsibility programs, encouraging employees to volunteer and donating money to local schools.
51
growth potential
– a company’s or a person’s opportunity or ability to expand and develop in the future
* The computer industry has huge growth potential because almost everyone wants to buy a newer, faster, and better computer every few years.
As I learned more about the company and its growth potential, it became clear to me that I may be able to make a significant contribution to its goals.
52
to put (something) to use
– to use something; to be able to use something for a purpose
* She loves cooking, painting, and finance, and she would like to put her interests to use in one job, but she hasn’t found anything yet.
* This is the company I've been looking for, a place where my background, experience, and skills can be put to use to make things happen.
53
Managerial
– related to a manager or management; related to a high-ranking
supervisory position within a company
My goal is that in five years, I will be working in a managerial position in this
company.
54
to run (something)
– to manage something; to be in charge of something;
* Since Beatrice started running the department, sales have doubled.
• I see the next few years here at Convergys as an opportunity to gain the
skills and knowledge to run one of the departments in this company.
55
Senior
– high-ranking; superior; someone who has worked in an organization for
a longer period of time than the other employees
*If I continue working in the department where this position is, I hope to be a senior manager with a hand in shaping the strategic plans for development in this area of technology.
56
to shape (something)
– to develop something; to have influence over how
something is made or done
* That company’s robots are shaping the future of how cars are made.
57
Strategic
– ideas and ways for achieving a long-term goal or purpose
* The board of directors is looking for strategic projects that will make the
company better than its competitors.
58
to transfer
– to begin working in a different office or department within the same
company
* Another possibility in five years is to transfer to one of the regional offices, where I would oversee local operations.
59
Operations
– the activity and work that is done in an office or by a company
* What do you think of the company’s decision to move its call center operations
overseas, where labor is cheaper?
60
Ultimately
– in the end; eventually
* Whether I can afford to study for a master’s degree will depend ultimately on
whether I receive a good scholarship.
61
Priority
something that is more or less important than something else
*Ultimately, the direction I would take in this company depends on many factors,
such as the changing priorities of the market, the expertise I will have gained at
the end of the five years, and the changing needs of the company.
62
Expertise
– specialized knowledge and experience about something
* How did you gain your expertise in finance? Was it by studying finance at the
university, or by reading articles and working in the finance industry?
63
to wear different hats
– to do different types of jobs; to have many different types of duties
*I have worn different hats in the company I’m working for now, and my flexibility has allowed
me fill the needs of that company.
64
Ambition
– a desire to achieve something; a professional desire for something;
wanting to have or to be something
* Her greatest ambition is to write a best-selling book.
Working for this company is an ambition for many people in this field, and I’m no
different.
65
to cultivate
– to care for something so that it develops and grows; to try to get
someone to like you or to think of you favorably
* Finding new customers is important, but cultivating relationships with old
customers is the key to maintaining high sales.
66
to break new ground
– to expand into a new field or area; to try something new
* The company broke new ground when it developed a car that ran on solar
energy.
By doing this, I hope to break new ground for this company and to expand its
influence in the marketplace.
67
long term
– for a long time; not temporary
* In the short term, going to school at night while working full-time is very
stressful, but in the long term, it’ll improve my chances of making more money.
*I see being here at this company long term, not only to continue to build my
expertise, but to influence the direction that this company will take in the next ten
years.
68
Role
– position; function; job
I could do this in any number of official roles in the company, such as
managing a region or heading one of the main offices.
69
to take advantage of (something)
– to use an opportunity as much as possible
to one’s benefit
* As you can see from my resume, I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity to
complete training to develop my technical knowledge in this field.
70
planning skills
– ability to plan; ability to make arrangements for events or projects in an organized way
*To head this team effectively, I used my planning skills to make sure that the team was on task and on time, at all times.
71
management skills
– ability to manage; ability to control and guide a business,
project, or team
*My management skills came in handy to get the most out of each person on the team.
72
to get the most
– to get as much as possible; to get the maximum
* I think Michael got the most out of his study-abroad experience because he
tried very hard to learn the language and to spend time with his host family.
73
sought-after
– desired; wanted; something that others would like to have
The word sought is from the words seek, "seek," which means to look for or to search for something. Sought is the past participle of that verb, as well as the past tense of the verb.
* After many years of trying, he was finally able to get a bottle of the most sought-after wine from France.
74
to delegate
– to give responsibility to someone else; to give someone else responsibility for something
*By the end, we had 16. That means that I needed to go from working one-on-one with each team member to having to delegate responsibility as the project grew.
75
to shift gears
– to quickly and smoothly move from doing one thing to doing
another
*This was possible because of the trust I had built up within the team and my ability to shift gears when the project changed over time.
76
communication skills
– ability to communicate; ability to write, speak, and
present ideas clearly
*One of my biggest strengths is my communication skills.
77
Determination
– a mental decision to continue to do something that is difficult or frustrating
Through hard work and determination, I was able to get the rest of the department to make important changes that moved us in the same direction as the project.
78
analytical skills
– ability to analyze something; ability to examine and
understand something
* A financial analyst uses his or her analytical skills to understand a company’s past performance and likely future performance.
79
top of (one’s) class
– the highest-ranking graduate of a school or program; the
graduating student with the best grades
*I graduated at the top of my class, and now, I make use of the skills I learned there everyday.
80
Attitude
approach to life
| *I have a positive attitude.
81
Punctual
– on time; not late
| *I’m dependable and punctual.
82
to prioritize
– to put things in order of importance
| *I’m able to prioritize.
83
self-confidence
– a belief in one’s own ability to succeed
| *I believe in myself and have self-confidence.
84
eam player (failures)
– someone who works well with a group of people
* I’m able to handle failures and learn from my mistakes.
* I’m a team player
85
interpersonal skills
ability to interact well with other people
| *I have good interpersonal skills.
86
public speaking
– speaking in front of an audience;
| *A weakness that I have is that I don’t like to do public speaking
87
to overcome
– to deal with or control something so that it is no longer a problem
*I want to overcome this fear so that when the time comes, I’ll be prepared.
88
when the time comes
– at the right time
* Rosie has been saving her money for years, so when the time comes to buy a
house, she will have enough money in the bank.
89
to identify
– to recognize something or someone
It’s important to me to identify any shortcomings that may affect
my job performance.
90
shortcoming
– something about oneself that isn’t as good as it should be; a defect
* One of her greatest shortcoming is that she’s always late.
91
to combat
– to fight and win; to overcome
| * The United Nations has programs that are working to combat world hunger.
92
constructive criticism
– negative feedback (comments) about one’s
performance that is intended to help someone improve
*I give speeches in front of other members and I get constructive criticism about my performance.
93
Confident
– believing that one can do something;
*I’m confident that in a very short time, I’ll be an even better and more
effective speaker
94
to put into practice
to use information or knowledge in a real-life situation
| *I am looking for opportunities to put into practice what I’ve learned.
95
Stress
– worry about one’s personal or professional problems
*I found that procrastinating put me under unnecessary
stress, and this hurt my enjoyment of the job.
96
to manage (one’s) time
– to schedule one’s activities so that one can finish
everything that needs to be done
* If I learned to manage my time better, I wouldn’t have to study all night before
an exam.
97
Benchmark
– a goal; a standard; the time or place when one’s performance and
progress can be measured and evaluated against what is expected
* The company tests all of its new employees and uses the results as a
benchmark for their performance on the same test the next year.
98
to lose patience
– to lose control because something is happening too slowly
* Jeff isn’t a good teacher because he often loses patience when his
students ask him to repeat an explanation.
99
to set an expectation
– to establish the type of behavior or performance that is
acceptable
* Our boss sets high expectations for all of the employees in the office and
doesn’t accept any complaints about the work being too difficult.
100
Mindset
– a combination of attitudes and opinions about something
* The reason Jeff and I don’t get along is because he has a very traditional
mindset, believing that women shouldn’t work outside of the home.
