Job Interviews: How to Answer Authentically to the Toughest Questions
February 13, 2018
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“Strong waves make strong sailors.” – English proverb Why do so many hiring managers ask open-ended questions in job interviews? What possibilities – and perils…
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Job Interviews: Why Authentic Conversation is Key to Success
February 6, 2018
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“Hiring is a manager’s most important job.” – Peter F. Drucker (1909-2005), American management consultant and author How do many job seekers self-sabotage during interviews?…
Read MoreBridging the Gap: How English for Professionals courses aid international engineers
June 27, 2016
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As both lecturer and master lecturer, respectively, in the Engineering Writing Program and American Language Institute, I have worked with many international engineering students at…
Read MoreTeaching Matters: Explaining the concept of skill in relation to the workplace
March 24, 2016
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“In business for yourself, not by yourself.” ~Ray Kroc (1902-1984), McDonald’s founder How do people get jobs in the United States? Internship season is almost upon…
Read MoreResources: Dissecting an Advertisement
March 22, 2016
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“If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.” ~Dr. Laurence J. Peter (1919-1990), Canadian-American educator When looking for…
Read MoreResources: Links for ESL Teachers About Informational Interviews
January 8, 2016
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“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” ~Vidal Sassoon (1928-2012), British hairstylist and businessman Late last year, we published…
Read MorePracticing Interview Skills, Staging a Mock Job Interview and Self Evaluation
November 20, 2015
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Finding work is not always an easy thing, particularly in an uncertain economy such as that of the United States. But how does one get a…
Read MoreChanging Work Titles & Greater Equality
November 6, 2015
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“Habits change into character.” ~Ovid (43 BCE-17 CE), Ancient Roman poet Which is correct: fireman or firefighter? The answer is both! But one has been…
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English language learners should beware of saying ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’
July 23, 2014
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a popular indie band, but “Yeah, yeah, yeah” is a problematic response to job interview questions. “In common use almost every…
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Do Informational Interviews Have a Place in Business English Programs?
December 15, 2011
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Speaking skills – especially in stressful situations – matter. Most quality Business English and VESL (Vocational English as a Second Language) programs provide extensive training…
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