SAMPLE DIALOGUE OF AN INTERVIEW
Mr. Liu: Ah - Miss Chan - Miss Catherine Chan isn't it? Well, now let me see. You're a graduate of CUHK
aren't you? In Marketing? So why do you want to work in Publishing? Wouldn't an Arts degree have given you
a more suitable background? Is this really your kind of job?
Catherine Chan: I think the job of Marketing Executive in a company of this sort is very much my sort of job.
I'm not a graduate yet, though, my final exams begin in June.
Mr. Liu: Yes, well all right. How much do you know about what we do I mean - publishing business books?
Any experience of that at all? It doesn't look like it from what you say in your letter. What sort of place was it
that you worked in last summer as a - what did you say? a sales lady?
Catherine: It was a department store. I said so in my letter.
Mr. Liu: Oh yes - I see - well, what part of the store? Books? Stationery?
Catherine: Well no. Nothing like that. Most of the time I was in the basement where they sell kitchen-ware and
small electrical appliances - toasters and irons, and things like that.
Mr. Liu: Were you good at selling?
Catherine: I can't really tell from having done that. People know what they want when they come into that sort
of department. Eith-either you have it or you don't - and if you haven't, you can't persuade them to buy
something else instead, can you? I mean - somebody who finds you haven't got the right sort of kettle isn't going
to buy suction cleaner instead.
Mr. Liu: Mm. OK OK Let's try again. Now you said you worked in this advertising agency. Now you say you
learned how the company operated. Tell me how you did that and what that that you learnt was.
Catherine: Well, I was in the General Office. I did some word processing, and made tea and answered the
telephone - I was a sort of office Junior really. And once when the people, when the person who was usually in
Reception was away, I...
Mr. Liu: Did you attend any Meetings?
Catherine: No meetings.
Mr. Liu: Did you work at all closely with anyone who had responsibility to company decision making?
Catherine: Well no. - No I I don't think so. Not really.
Mr. Liu: Well, I don't see how you could have found out how erm much about the company and how it operate.
Catherine: Well but... I talked to ...I tried to.
Mr. Liu: You say you learn quickly. So what evidence can you give me that you do?
Catherine: Well... when I was in Secondary School - and still more in Primary... - I was always near the top of
the class... I always wondered why teachers were saying things so, so many times...
Mr. Liu: Yes, very well, but recently, recently, have you learned anything on your own - right outside the
University syllabus? Like mm, language? Have you learned to swim? Can you play an instrument? Erm can you
drive a car? So what are you good at?
Catherine: No, I-I can't swim. Yes, I do drive a car - but that was why I was late - I couldn't find anywhere to
park it - but isn't driving more useful than swimming? I mean to you, I mean... I still think I learn quite fast,
compared with most people, I seem to...
Mr. Liu: Well OK, Let's get back to the matter in hand. So you're a graduate - or you soon will be as you said.
You want to be a Management Trainee in our company. You say you want to work overseas. If you worked for
us, you might have to do it - no choice about it. You say you respond well to pressure. Not much Uh, evidence
of that, I have to say. Well, I'm going to offer you this job though. Low salary. Six months probation. Out after
that if you don't make the grade. If you do, we'll raise it and send you to Korea.
Catherine: I'm not at all sure I would want...
Mr. Liu: Oh my goodness nor am I. Go and have your lunch and think about it, and I'll go and have mine. Now
you can ring me tomorrow morning before 11am please. Miss Wong - see Miss Chan out please - oh, and please
go down and show her where the car park is please.
SOURCE:
http://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/job/dialogue4/dialogue/dialogue.html