Career in I.T. (English for Job Interviews)

CAREER IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (ENGLISH FOR JOB INTERVIEWS ).  An activity meant for B2/C1 level students. Some of the vocabulary in this interview includes GEEK – ON THE MOVE – RIGHT OFF THE BAT – MULTITASKER – THOROUGH – COMPUTER FREAK – HARDWARE – INTRANET – REENGINEERING

I – CAREER IN I.T. (LISTENING INPUT)

Click the link below to listen to the job interview Career in Information Technology.

II – LANGUAGE CHECK – EXERCISE
Listen to the interview again and try to find words or expressions that mean the same as:

a. Immediately: ________________________
b. Be proud of: ________________________
c. Outstanding; remarkable: ________________________
d. I’ve always enjoyed a lot computers: ______________________
e. An enthusiast or expert in computers (informal): ____________
f. Someone who is extremely interested in computers (informal): ______________________
g. Natural or acquired proficiency in a particular activity; ability; skill: ______________
h. Computer programs: _________________
i. The physical and electronic parts of a computer: _____________________
j. Recreate and work out the details of: _______________________
k. Completely; entirely: _____________________
l. Detailed; complete: _________________
m. Exactly: ________________
n. Change of structure of an activity so that it performs better: ___________________
o. Later in the future; eventually: ____________________
p. Make something move or happen faster: ______________________
q. A computer network used for exchanging information within a company: __________________
r. Imagine or expect as a likely or desirable possibility in the future; have a mental picture of: _________________
s. Involving or working less than customary or standard hours: __________________
t. Working independently for different companies rather than as an employee of a particular one: _______________
u. Absolutely; doubtlessly: _______________
v. A person who does several things at the same time: ______________________
w. Busy and active; traveling from one place to another: ___________________
x. Arrange a meeting; schedule a meeting: ____________________

III – KEY TO EXERCISE

a. Right off the bat   b. Take pride in   c. Impressive   d. I´ve always been into computers   e. Geek
f. Computer freak   g. Expertise   h. Software   i. Hardware   j. Redesign   k. Altogether   l. Thorough
m. Precisely   n. Reengineering   o. In the long run   p. Speed up   q. Intranet   r. Envisage   s. Part-time
t. Freelance   u. Definitely   v. Multitasker   w. On the move   x. Set up a meeting

IV – INTERVIEW SCRIPT

Career in Information Technology

Interviewer: Come on in! Thank you so much for coming!
Interviewee: My pleasure! Thanks for having me! I must say right off the bat that I’ve only heard good things about your company.
Interviewer: Thank you! We do take pride in the way we do things here. I’ve read in your résumé that you’ve had lots of experience in the IT area. As a matter of fact you have a pretty impressive résumé.
Interviewee: Thanks. I’ve been in the IT area for quite a long time.
Interviewer: And what made you decide to study IT at college?
Interviewee: Well, I’ve always been into computers. I started using them when I was just 6 years old and haven’t stopped since then. I would spend hours surfing the web as a kid. My nickname at high school was the geek, you know, the computer geek. I guess I could really define myself as a computer freak, if you will.
Interviewer: Interesting. To be honest, computers have never been my strength and I don’t really know much about information technology, but I admire people who do. So, how do you think you could use all your expertise in the area to help our company?
Interviewee: Well, for a start I’d have to get to know in detail how you do things in your company so I could figure out how I.T. would be at best service. I’m talking about all the computer systems and software you are currently using and hardware as well. Do you know how many different systems you have in the company?
Interviewer: We have basically one system for each of the departments, that is, marketing and sales, administrative, financial and human resources. Four of them, I guess, but we can talk to our I.T. manager to check that out later. If I understood you correctly you mean you would redesign our IT department altogether after a thorough evaluation?
Interviewee: That’s precisely it!
Interviewer: And would that mean we’d be saving money with all this reengineering in the long run?
Interviewee: That’s quite possible. I’ve done that in two companies I worked for in the past, but that would not be all. You would certainly speed up many of your processes in the company as well.
Interviewer: That sounds really interesting. Would that imply a big investment in hardware and software?
Interviewee: Not necessarily. In many cases we can upgrade some of your current programs and improve others as well. By the way, do you have an intranet?
Interviewer: No, we don’t. We thought about having one, though. But tell me, how do you envisage working with us? Would you consider working as a part-time freelance consultant?
Interviewee: Oh, definitely. I like being in touch with different companies and jobs at the same time. I’m pretty much a multitasker and like to be on the move.
Interviewer: Very good. I believe we should now set up a meeting with the presence of our I.T. manager so we could go into details about the department.
Interviewee: That would be perfect! Thank you.

“English for Job Interviews” –  Authors: José Roberto A. Igreja and Robert C. Young / Disal Editora.