Episode 0262

My name is Catherine and if you've been following along with us recently, you'll know that we have a series about interviewing in English. And so today we have the very last episode of that series.

That's right. Today is the last part of our interview series and we're basically just saying goodbye and uh we're doing some other things when you're leaving an interview. It's very important the things that you say.

That's right, because this is the last thing that you're going to do in the interview, so it's what your interviewer will remember. So let's take a listen to today's dialogue and we'll be back in a moment.

Well, Rebecca, is there anything else you need to know for now?

I don't think so, Mr. Parsons. I think you have covered all the main points for me.

Okay, well, listen, here's my business card with my mobile number. If any other questions spring to mind, don't hesitate to contact me.

Of course, you can also call Miss Childs too.

Great. Um, when can I expect to hear from you?

Well, we are finishing the short list interviews tomorrow, so we will certainly have a decision made by early next week.

Miss Childs will call you to discuss more on Monday or Tuesday. How does that sound?

I hope to hear from you very soon.

All right, great. So really good things from Rebecca. She said some very interesting things, key things there. So why don't we take a look at those on language takeaway.

At the beginning of the end of the interview, Rebecca says, listen, I think you have covered all the main points for me. So this is after Mr. Parsons asks her if she has questions. And uh this word 'covered' is very important.

That's right. So if we talk about cover to cover the main points or to cover a topic, it means to discuss it thoroughly or to have it finished.

Right. So if if I still have questions, we have not covered everything.

But if I did ask all the questions that I have, then we've covered everything. So the verb here is to cover.

That's right. Okay. And Mr. Parsons says, well, you know what? Here's my business card with my mobile number. So this word 'business card', key element of any interview or any business situation.

As you say, a key part of any business interaction. So a business card is a very small card, usually thick, and it has a person's name, job, phone number, and sometimes email address now on the card. So the information can change, but it's a contact card basically for one person.

That's right. So this is very important to have around, especially in situations like this.

Okay. And moving on, he also told her that, uh, if she has any other questions, to not hesitate and to contact him.

This is a very common phrase. Don't hesitate to contact me or don't hesitate to ask.

That's right. So to hesitate means to be nervous about something or to maybe not do it because you're uncomfortable. So, you know,

Marco, I want to ask you something, but I'm not sure if I want to ask you. Maybe you'll be angry or So I'm hesitating.

Okay, the verb here is to hesitate.

You have doubts.

I have doubts. And so he says, don't hesitate to contact me. That means any questions, any issues, please call me.

Okay, very good. And Mr. Parsons said that they are finishing the short list of interviews tomorrow. So what does it mean a short list?

Well, a short list is something we talk about during the interview process because the interviewer, so in this case, Mr. Parsons, will have a long list of people who want the job. And maybe after the first interview, he will cut the list down to a very small number of people, 10 or 15. And that is called the short list. So those are the people who did well on the first interview, but who maybe should come back for a second or third interview.

That's right. Okay. Very good. So a lot of great things there. Why don't we take a break? Let's go back and listen to the dialogue. Let's see what Mr. Parsons and Rebecca said, and we'll be back with some really good phrases that you can close off an interview with.

Well, Rebecca, is there anything else you need to know for now?

I don't think so, Mr. Parsons. I think you have covered all the main points for me.

Okay, well, listen, here's my business card with my mobile number. If any other questions spring to mind, don't hesitate to contact me.

Of course, you can also call Miss Childs too.

Great. Um, when can I expect to hear from you?

Well, we are finishing the short list interviews tomorrow, so we will certainly have a decision made by early next week.

Miss Childs will call you to discuss more on Monday or Tuesday. How does that sound?

I hope to hear from you very soon.

All right, we're back. So now let's take a look at those phrases we mentioned on fluency builder.

So let's go back to the beginning where Mr. Parsons is talking about, uh, questions that Rebecca might have. And so Mr. Parsons says, if any other questions spring to mind, don't hesitate to contact me. So this phrase 'spring to mind' is very interesting. What does this mean?

Well, basically, if something springs to your mind or springs to mind, it means that it comes very suddenly and quickly into your mind. It just pops into your head.

Wow. So to spring or springs in this case is like jumping.

So something hits your mind very quickly, it comes into your mind very quickly. So, oh, I don't really have any ideas, Marco, for that party next week, but, you know, if anything springs to mind, you should let me know.

Okay. So if you have any sudden ideas or any anything you suddenly remember, that's what it means to spring to mind.

Okay, so taking a look at these expressions, uh that Rebecca used when she's leaving, uh for example, you know that you finished the interview and a typical question that you want to make is, when can I expect to hear from you?

This is a great question at the end of an interview because it's basically a way of saying, listen, I'm interested in this job. Um, when will you call me about it? And so the phrase 'when can I expect to hear from you' means when will you tell me your decision?

That's right. But it's a lot more polite and formal and better than saying, when are you going to call me?

Yeah, you would never say that in an interview because it makes you sound desperate, like you really need the job. In this case, you know, when can I expect to hear from you? It's like, oh, well, you know, I hope I hope that you'll get in touch with me.

Okay. And well, he explained that they're shortlisting everything and uh that they will be in touch with her very soon. And she said, wow, that sounds perfect. Thank you very much for taking the time to speak to me.

Okay. So this phrase, thank you very much for taking the time to speak to me, is very long. But you know what thank you very much means. The key here is for taking the time to do something. Now, what does this mean? What's another way we can use this?

It's basically saying thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to talk to you. I know you're very busy and I know you don't have a lot of time. So thank you very much for taking the time to speak to me.

Right. So you could even use this with a teacher at school. You know, you have a question, your teacher is busy, but your teacher makes some time to meet with you. You say, hey, listen, professor, or listen, teacher, thank you so much for taking the time to speak to me.

You're just demonstrating that you appreciate the effort and the time.

And you're you're being very polite.

That's right. Okay. And now the last phrase when Rebecca is leaving the room, they're shaking hands maybe and Rebecca says, I hope to hear from you very soon.

You can say, I hope to hear from you soon. But in this case, she's saying, listen, I really want this job. Uh, she doesn't want to say, call me, you know, call me tomorrow. She says, I hope to hear from you soon. I hope that this works out, that I get the job.

Right. So she's basically demonstrating a lot of interest saying, well, I really like the job and I really would like for you to call me and give me good news. So I hope to hear from you soon.

Exactly. So, let's listen to today's dialogue one more time and we'll be back in a moment to talk a little bit more about how to end an interview.

Well, Rebecca, is there anything else you need to know for now?

I don't think so, Mr. Parsons. I think you have covered all the main points for me.

Okay, well, listen, here's my business card with my mobile number. If any other questions spring to mind, don't hesitate to contact me.

Of course, you can also call Miss Childs too.

Great. Um, when can I expect to hear from you?

Well, we are finishing the short list interviews tomorrow, so we will certainly have a decision made by early next week.

Miss Childs will call you to discuss more on Monday or Tuesday. How does that sound?

I hope to hear from you very soon.

So this is a great way of ending an interview. Rebecca did a really good job. And I think there are a couple of um suggestions or tips that you would like to give our users.

Yeah, well, one of them is uh don't at the end of the interview ask the person if you have the job.

Uh they'll say we will be in touch or thank you so much for coming in. Um, but if they don't say, we would really like to have you join this company, then you you probably shouldn't ask. You should say, you know, I when can I expect to hear from you? That's more polite.

Um, because I think a lot of times, if you didn't get the job, it makes the interviewer feel very uncomfortable. Um, but also it's just a polite thing to do. So, be careful with that. And I've also been told, um, from people in business that if you do receive a job offer, don't accept right away. Say, I will think about it and I'll get back in touch with you.

Oh, okay. Kind of like a strategy maybe to better negotiate the terms and conditions.

Exactly. So you want to you want to take those that information, you want to go home, you want to think about it, talk about it with your wife or your husband and decide, is this something I want? And then you can contact the employer.

Right. Yeah, I think this is a very good idea. And also, um, I think it's not a wise thing to call or contact the employer asking if you've got the job or asking if they have any news yet, because I think that can be a little bit annoying.

But if they say, we will be in touch on Tuesday and it's a week later and they never got back to you, send a follow-up.

Of course. A follow-up.

A follow-up is an email or a letter or even a phone call where you say, listen, I'm really glad I got to meet you today. Uh I hope that we have the opportunity to work together in the future. Please be in touch, sincerely and then your name.

Kind of like a reminder.

It's a reminder, like I I want the job, here's my information. Uh let's let's do this or at least if I didn't get the job, let me know that I didn't get it. Yeah, exactly.

All right, so a lot of great advice here, great things coming. And we'll be back again uh with another series. We're going to have a presentation series, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. And if you have any other questions or comments, we're always at englishpod.com where you can find us.

The English part audio review.

Listen to the meaning, then say the vocabulary word.

Be remembered, comes to mind.

Spring to mind.

To stop before you do something.

Hestitate.

Think something will probably happen.

Expect.

List of people or items most likely to be chosen.

Shortlist.

Does that seem good to you?

How does that sound?

Let's try that faster.

Think something will probably happen.

Expect.

Be remembered, comes to mind.

Spring to mind.

To stop before you do something.

Hestitate.

Does that seem good to you?

How does that sound?

List of people or items most likely to be chosen.

Shortlist.

Now say the word and hear it in a sentence.

Spring to mind.

I'd love to help you with an idea for the ad campaign, but nothing springs to mind.

Spring to mind.

Now, this is a brainstorming session, so just call out whatever springs to mind.

Spring to mind.

If any further comments or suggestions spring to mind, please do give me a call.

Hestitate.

If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask.

Hestitate.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me if I can be of any assistance.

Hestitate.

George was about to say something else, but he hesitated and the opportunity passed.

Expect.

Expect.

John, can I expect to see the finished report by Friday?

Expect.

When can we expect to hear your decision, Miss Walsh?

Shortlist.

We've shortlisted three candidates for the position.

Shortlist.

Well, I made the shortlist, but I still have to add two more interviews if I want the job.

Shortlist.

The Russian dancer was shortlisted for the role, but in the end, they chose someone else.

Let's go over the Anderson account first, then move on to the Jones account. How does that sound?

I suggest we start our trip in Beijing, then travel to Tianjin, and from there to Qingdao. How does that sound to you?