My name is Maria and I come____Spain. I am studying English ____a school ___London. I am not very good ___languages but I need English to work ___tourism. I am fond ___traveling and I like meeting people. Last Saturday, my neighbor invited me ___a party. It was kind ___him to invite me. I go ___the cinema quite often—it depends __the film. I am also interested ___art, so I often visit art galleries and museums. The people are very nice ___me here and they don’t make fun ___my accent. Perhaps my English is improving!

Filipinoisms

Take out--

CR–

Fetch me—

Free Size–

Line up—

On the way—

Bottomless—

Mineral water—

Aircon—

Ref—

For a while—

HOW TO ACE AN INTERVIEW

Women

Wear a suit

A blouse with jacket and skirt or slacks is best.

If you wear a skirt it should not be too tight or too short.

The colors of choice are Blue, Black, Gray or Brown.

Blouses should be of cotton or silk in a neutral color with long sleeves. They should fit comfortably (not too tight), not be wrinkled or too distracting due to loud colors.

A classic 34-inch square scarf that compliments the suit in color or pattern is good. Less color and less pattern is better – keep it simple.

Hair

Your hair should be short, pulled back or up.

Nails

You should have clean and polished nails; not too long.

The polish should be clear or neutral in color.

Do not have long nails with a wild color or design.

Shoes

Pumps with 1 ½ inch heel are standard.

Choose a color that compliments your suit and handbag - black, brown, burgundy or navy.

Avoid open toe shoes, high boots, stiletto heels and white shoes.

Be sure to have your shoes polished and shinned (rubbing-buffing with a clean cotton towel or soft bristled brush will put a quick shine on them) and your heels are in tact.

Wear leather shoes, avoid suede and light fabrics.

Stockings

If you wear a light colored suit, wear light colored stockings.

Do not wear contrasting colors.

Avoid opaque and printed stockings.

Jewelry and Perfume

Do not wear large hoop or dangling earrings.

Wear small studs or avoid wearing earrings.

Do not wear more than one pair of earrings and two finger rings, one watch or bracelet.

Remove all non-traditional jewelry e.g. nose rings, eyebrow rings and be sure to cover all tattoos.

Interview Attire

Men

Overall Outfit

Wear a suit or sporta coat and tie or at least a shirt and tie.

Wear dark colors: blue, brown, gray or black.

Shirts

Should be simple; no bright colors, French cuffs or monograms.

White, off white, pale blue in cotton are preferred.

Ties

Traditional silk no loud colors or patterns.

Your tie should coordinate with your attire and pulled snug to your neck.

Avoid ties with images or designer logos.

Socks

Choose a color that coordinates with your suit usually black, dark gray, dark brown or dark blue.

Make sure they are long enough as to not expose your skin when you sit down.

Shoes

Make sure they are polished and shined (rubbing-buffing with a clean cotton towel or soft bristled brush will put a quick shine on them).

Avoid wearing boots, stick to dress shoes that coordinates with your attire.

Jewelry and Cologne

Less is better.

Avoid wearing a lot of cologne and jewelry.

Do not wear more than one ring and multiple chains.

Make sure to remove earrings and cover tattoos.

Hair

Preferred short with no facial hair (keep sideburns trimmed).

What Not to Bring to the Interview

Gum

Cell phone

Ipod

Coffee or soda

If you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only, is a good rule)

Cover tattoos

WHAT TO DO DURING AN INTERVIEW

Don’t sit down unless told to do so

Speak Clearly

Ask the interviewer to rephrase the question if you don’t understand

Maintain eye contact

Don’t slouch

Don’t fidget or do unnecessary hand gestures

TOP 10 BLUNDERS

What shouldn't you do when being interviewed? Here are a selection of blunders, mistakes and errors a candidate for employment can make.MAKE SURE THESE DON’T HAPPEN TO YOU!

1. Don't PrepareNot being able to answer the question "What do you know about this company?" might just end your quest for employment. Background information including company history, locations, divisions, and a mission statement are available in an "About Us" section on most company web sites. Review it ahead of time, then print it out and read it over just before your interview to refresh your memory.

2. Dress InappropriatelyDressing inappropriately can work both ways. You will certainly want to wear a suit if you are interviewing for professional position. If you aren't sure what to wear, visit the organization and watch employees coming in and out of the office to see what they are wearing.

3. Poor Communication SkillsIt's important to communicate well with everyone you meet in your search for employment. It is, however, most important to positively connect with the person who might hire you. Shake hands, make eye contact, exude confidence, engage the person you are speaking with, and you will let the interviewer know that you are an excellent candidate for this position - before you even answer an interview question.

4. Too Much CommunicationBelieve it or not, a recent candidate for employment, who, by the way, didn't get the job, didn't hesitate to answer his cell phone when it rang during an interview. Leave the phone behind or at least turn it off before you enter the building. Same goes for coffee, food and anything else other than you, your resume, your job application, and your list of references. They don't belong at an interview.

5. Talk Too MuchThere is nothing much worse than interviewing someone who goes on and on and on... The interviewer really doesn't need to know your whole life story. Keep your answers succinct, to-the-point and focused and don't ramble - simply answer the question.

6. Don't Talk EnoughIt's really hard to communicate with someone who answers a question with a word or two. I remember a couple of interviews where I felt like I was pulling teeth to get any answers from the candidate. It wasn't pleasant. So, even though you shouldn't talk too much, you do want to be responsive and fully answer the question as best you can.

7. Fuzzy FactsEven if you have submitted a resume when you applied for the job, you may also be asked to fill out a job application. Make sure you know the information you will need to complete an application including dates of prior employment, graduation dates, and employer contact information.

8. Give the Wrong AnswerMake sure you listen to the question and take a moment to gather your thoughts before you respond. Like the following candidate, you'll knock yourself out of contention if you give the wrong answer.

The interviewer had completely described a sales and marketing position to the candidate. She emphasized that cold calling and prospecting were the most important skills and experiences needed for the position. The candidate responded to the question about what she did or didn't like to do in sales, with these words: "I hate to do cold calling and prospecting, and I'm not good at it." That response ensured that she wouldn't get the job!

9. Badmouthing Past EmployersYour last boss was an idiot? Everyone in the company was a jerk? You hated your job and couldn't wait to leave? Even if it's true don't say so.

It's sometimes a smaller world than you think and you don't know who your interviewer might know, including that boss who is an idiot... You also don't want the interviewer to think that you might speak that way about his or her company if you leave on terms that aren't the best.

10. Forget to Follow UpAfraid you didn't make the best impression? Are you sure that you aced the interviewed? Either way, be sure to follow up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position and the company.

Finally, even if you do flub the interview, don't take it to heart. I don't think there is anyone hasn't blown an interview or two. If it happens, look at it like it just wasn't meant to be, learn from your mistakes and move on to the next opportunity.

Traditional Interview vs. Behavioral Interview

In a traditional interview, you will be asked a series of questions which typically have straight forward answers like "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" or "What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?" or "Describe a typical work week."

In a behavioral interview, an employer has decided what skills are needed in the person they hire and will ask questions to find out if the candidate has those skills. Instead of asking how you would behave, they will ask how you did behave. The interviewer will want to know how you handled a situation, instead of what you might do in the future.

Questions in a Behavioral Interview

Behavioral interview questions will be more pointed, more probing and more specific than traditional interview questions:

Give an example of an occasion when you used logic to solve a problem.

Give an example of a goal you reached and tell me how you achieved it.

Describe a decision you made that was unpopular and how you handled implementing it.

Have you handled a difficult situation with a co-worker? How? Tell me about how you worked effectively under pressure.

Preparation for the Potential Behavioral Interview

What's the best way to prepare? It's important to remember that you won't know what type of interview will take place until you are sitting in the interview room. So, prepare answers to traditional interview questions.

Then, since you don't know exactly what situations you will be asked about if it's a behavioral interview, refresh your memory and consider some special situations you have dealt with or projects you have worked on. You may be able to use them to help frame responses. Prepare stories that illustrate times when you have successfully solved problems or performed memorably. The stories will be useful to help you respond meaningfully in a behavioral interview.

During the Behavioral Interview

During the interview, if you are not sure how to answer the question, ask for clarification. Then be sure to include these points in your answer:

A specific situation

The tasks that needed to be done

The action you took

The results i.e. what happened

Sample Interview Question

What is your greatest strength?

Sample Answer

My time management skills are excellent and I'm organized, efficient, and take pride in excelling at my work.

I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be difficult situations.

Sample Interview Question

Why do you want this job?

Sample Answer

I well understand that this is a company on the way up. Your Web site says the launch of several new products is imminent. I want to be a part of this business as it grows.

I'd fit right in as a counter clerk in your fine drycleaners. I have observed that the counter clerk position requires competence at handling several activities in quick order -- customer service, payments, bagging and phones. I like multitasking and, as a homemaker, I have a lot of practice in keeping all the balls in the air.

What is Your Greatest Weakness?

When you're asked what your greatest weakness is, try to turn a negative into a positive. For example, a sense of urgency to get projects completed or wanting to triple-check every item in a spreadsheet can be turned into a strength i.e. you are a candidate who will make sure that the project is done on time and your work will be close to perfect.

I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time checking it. However, I've come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure everything is done correctly the first time.

I would say that I can be too much of a perfectionist in my work. Sometimes, I spend more time than necessary on a task, or take on tasks personally that could easily be delegated to someone else. Although I've never missed a deadline, it is still an effort for me to know when to move on to the next task, and to be confident when assigning others work.

APPLICATION LETTER

HOW TO WRITE AN APPLICATION LETTER

Definition: A letter of application, also known as a cover letter, is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience.A letter of application typically provides detailed information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for. Effective application letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and identify your most relevant skills or experiences.

When writing an application letter you should include:

First Paragraph: Why you are writing - mention the job you are applying for and where you found the listing.

Middle Paragraph(s): What you have to offer the employer - mention why your skills and experience are a good fit for the job.

Last Paragraph: Say thank you to the hiring manager for considering you and note how you will follow up.

Sample Cover Letter - Customer Service

Your Name Your Address Your Phone Number Your Cell Phone Number Your Email

Date

Dear Hiring Manager,

In today's customer service oriented society, timely, friendly, proactive service is sought to enhance future business growth. Customer loyalty is always impacted when you employ the right service retail professional to represent you when assisting your valued customers.

My long term experience in the service industry has taught me how to meet and exceed each customer's expectations with service that sells! I have assisted all types of customers in all types of settings. I realize that acquiring and maintaining loyal repeat business as well as spreading the word of your business through these loyal patrons is of the utmost importance in every company. Positioning a company for better exposure and greater marketability is a task that I have performed with success many times.

I am an excellent trainer who achieves ongoing success with her teams by building morale, maintaining teams' self-confidence and training them to build the sale by improving their people skills.

It would be a pleasure to interview with you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Very Sincerely,

Your Signature

Your Typed Name

Writing a Resume

WHAT TO INCLUDE:

Contact Information-It's important to include all your contact information on your resume so employers can easily get in touch with you. Include your full name, street address, city, state, and zip, home phone number, cell phone number, and email address.

Resume Objective-If you include an objective on your resume, it's important to tailor your resume objective to match the job you are applying for. The more specific you are, the better chance you have of being considered for the job you are interested in.

Career Summary- it is an optional customized section of a resume that lists key achievements, skills, and experience relevant to the position for which you are applying

Experience Summary- this section of your resume includes your employment history. List the companies you’ve worked for (if any), dates of employment, the positions you help and bulleted lists of responsibilities and achievements.

Education Summary- in this section, list the schools you attended, the degrees you attained, and any special awards and honors you earned. Also include professional development coursework or certifications if you have had any.