1Hello. Is this the Triple A Employment agency?
2Yes.
3Hi. I rang before. My name's Andrew. Andrew Peterson.
4I rang you earlier and gave you my personal details.
5If you remember, I'm that student looking for work during the summer holidays.
6Oh, sure. Actually, I have your file right here.
7But... we still need to add some further information.
8Yeah, that's what they told me, and that's why I'm ringing.
9What do you need to know?
10Well, we have to know your main level of education. It's a degree, I suppose.
11Yes, but I'm still doing it, in engineering. It's quite interesting.
12Some of my friends are studying computing though, so I'm interested in that, also.
13Well, I'll just write in your main degree subject. Engineering.
14We usually have a demand in computing though.
15Have you worked with computers before?
16No. I just do some programming for fun at the university,
17but I almost got a job as a computer designer once.
18Actually, the only job I've ever had was as a car salesman, believe it or not.
19Well, at least you've had experience dealing with customers.
20What about hobbies though?
21Sometimes they can help develop useful skills.
22Ummm... in my free time I don't do much - mostly study.
23I play chess occasionally at the university chess club.
24That's right next to the tennis courts,
25but I'm not interested in that.
26Chess helps develop analytical skills, so I'll put that down.
27Of course, it's your main skills that employers want to know about
28What would you say they are?
29Well, I'm in my third year now, studying electrical machines and generating systems,
30but I'd say electronics is my best skill
31much better than, say, my machine skills, which aren't so good, actually.
32Okay... machine skills are in demand, but so too are electronic ones,
33so we might be able to find you a part-time job in that field.
34But what sort of money do you expect to get?
35Oh, anything really.
36I'd want the standard payment, let's say.
37What's normal? 1,000 a month? 1,500?
38I'll just put $1,200, okay?
39That's fine by me.
40When can you start? Say, within two days?
41Easily! Actually, less.
42In fact, just give me a ring, and I'll be able to start immediately,
43although I admit it'll take me a few days to get used to getting up early in the morning.
44Okay! That's just about it,
45unless you'd like to add anything else which may help with your application?
46Ah, not really.
47I ride a motorbike, but that's unimportant.
48I'm friendly, but every applicant claims that, right?
49I can speak another language.
50Ah, that might be useful, depending on the language.
51Is it Chinese? A Chinese speaker would go down well.
52Spanish, I'm afraid.
53You see, I grew up with some friends who came from South America.
54Okay, I'll write that down, but I don't think it will help that much, sorry to say.
55Well, thanks for your help, and hopefully I'll get a job soon,
56but can I just ask one more question?
57Sure!
58What, basically, are employers looking for when they interview someone?
59Oh, many things.
60Being hardworking, diligent, and focused on your job is good,
61but surprisingly, it often means you can't see the bigger picture,
62or provide suggestions which help the company move forward.
63That requires thinking for yourself, outside the box as they say,
64and being free of the standard ways of approaching tasks.
65Employers certainly value that.
66I guess experience must help, though?
67It depends. If it involved a routine job, one which didn't exercise your mind,
68it might not mean that much at all.
69But since companies are basically composed of people,
70it is important to be able to get along with others.
71There's no point in hiring someone whom the other employees don't like, right?
72That just causes problems,
73in fact, I would say that being friendly and approachable ranks far more highly than your academic qualifications.
74Okay, and that's all assessed at the interview, right?
75Yes, and your qualifications, experience, and approach to the job,
76such as whether you can do different things, work overtime, or do long hours as needed.
77But those latter qualities are pretty much standard.
78What may be more important is based on the fact that things inevitably go wrong.
79Mistakes are made, and someone's got to fix them in a way that creates the least disturbance.
80People with demonstrated abilities to do this are certainly regarded highly.
81I see. That's very interesting!