「CET6写作」Successful Interview

Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to read the following long passage about The Successful Interview and then write a summary of about 120-160 words. Remember to use your own words.

The Successful Interview

To be successful in job interview (or for that matter in almost any interview situation), you should demonstrate certain personal and professional qualities. You need to create a good image in the limited time available, usually from 30 to 45 minutes. Furthermore, you must make a positive impression which the interviewer will remember while he interviews other applicants. At all times, you should present your most attractive qualities during an interview.

You should, for example, take care to appear well-groomed and modestly dressed, avoiding the extremes of too elaborate or too casual attire. On the positive side, clothes may be a good leveller, putting you on a par with other applicants and requiring the interviewer to consider more important qualifications. On the other hand, clothes which are too informal may convey the impression that you are not serious about the job or that you may be casual about your work as well as your dress. Clothes which are too elaborate, too colourful, or too expensive suggest that you do not understand what behaviour is appropriate for the job or that you are snobbish or frivolous. The right clothes worn at the right time, however, gain the respect of the interviewer and his confidence in your judgement. It may not be true that ‘clothes make the man’, but the first and often lasting impression of you is determined by the clothes you wear.

Besides care for personal appearance, you should pay close attention to your manner of speaking. Since speech is a reflection of personality, you should reflect confidence by speaking in a clear voice, loud enough to be heard without being aggressive or overpowering. Your speech should not call attention to itself, but it should reveal the individuality and ability of the speaker. Obviously, you must speak without grammatical or dialect differences for which you might be criticised or which might cause embarrassment to the employer. Although there are cultural differences with respect to the formality of the job interview, your speech must show you to be a friendly and pleasant person.

Speaking without a subject worth talking about will not impress anyone. You should be prepared to talk knowledgeably about the requirements of the position for which you are applying in relation to your own professional experiences and interests. Knowing something about the position enables you to ask intelligent questions about the work and the requirements for the job. The interviewer can decide from the questions asked whether you are genuinely interested or knowledgeable. You can comment on your own training, experience, and other qualifications in relation to the specific tasks of the position. The interviewer can determine whether your background and potential seem to fit the position. The position for which you are applying is not only the safest topic for discussion, it is essential that you demonstrate your understanding of the requirements and your abilities in meeting these requirements.

Finally, to be really impressive you must convey a sense of self-confidence and enthusiasm for work. As already indicated, you demonstrate self-confidence by your manner of speech and dress. You further show it by being prepared for the interview with information and questions about the position. In addition, the way you enter the room, sit, look at the interviewer, and fill out application forms and other papers may express self-confidence. The eagerness with which you discuss the job rather than the salary may reveal your enthusiasm for work. You may express it also through your questions and comments about working conditions and facilities. And, of course, your previous experience and success will tell the interviewer about your enthusiasm for work. Both of these qualities—self-confidence and enthusiasm for work—are valued highly by all interviewers.

The appropriately dressed job applicant indicates his sound judgement. His manner of speaking suggests his friendliness and competence. His curiosity and information about the position he is seeking demonstrate his sincerity in the job. He exhibits self-confidence through his knowledge, and he shows his enthusiasm for work. If you display these characteristics, with just a little luck, you will certainly succeed in the typical personnel interview.

【范文】

The Successful Interview

To be successful in a job interview (or for that matter in almost any interview situation), the applicant① should demonstrate certain personal and professional qualities. In as much as② the first and often lasting impression of a person is determined by the clothes he wears, the job applicant should take care to appear well-groomed③ and modestly dressed, avoiding the extremes of too elaborate④ or too casual attire⑤. Besides care for personal appearance, he should pay close attention to his manner of speaking, which should be neither ostentatious⑥ nor familiar but rather straight forward, grammatically accurate⑦, and friendly. In addition, he should be prepared to talk knowledgeably about the requirements of the position for which he is applying in relation to⑧ his own professional experience and interests. And finally, the really impressive applicant must convey⑨ a sense of self-confidence and enthusiasm⑩ for work, factors which all interviewers value highly. The job seeker11 who displays these characteristics, with just a little luck, will certainly succeed in the typical personnel interview.

【注释】

①applicant: 申请者

②In as much as: 因为；由于

③well-groomed: 洗涮干净的；整理清洁的

④elaborate: 过于讲究的

⑤attire: 衣服；服饰；盛装

⑥ostentatious: 夸张的；虚饰的；招摇的

⑦accurate: 精确的；准确的

⑧in relation to: 关于

⑨convey: 表达；显示出

⑩enthusiasm: 热情

11 job seeker: 寻找工作的人

【简评】

本文是一篇缩写的范文。

作者根据原文的内容，按照缩写的要求，开门见山，直接指出：要想面试成功，应聘者应该展示出一些personal and professional qualities。接着，作者就从这两个方面进行阐述。Personal qualities主要指穿着大方得体。而谈到professional qualities时，作者把重点放在申请者的谈吐上——言谈举止要表现出自己的知识涵养。此外，作者也谈论了自信和对工作的热情的重要性。最后一句话对全文作了一个总结，并形成首尾呼应，使全文结构更加紧凑。

资料来源：新大学英语四、六级考点透视丛书：六级写作/李华田主编，武汉大学出版社，2006