Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to advanced English lessons with Harry, where
I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language. If you're preparing for
proficiency exams, or indeed, if you're preparing for an all-important job interview, or if you just
want to simply improve your spoken English conversation English business English, well,
then you've come to the right place, we're here to help you. So we will help you with your grammar,
your pronunciation, general use of English, how to use phrasal verbs when to use them, and also
give you various expressions that will help you to improve the quality of the English that you use.
And in the advanced English lesson today, we're going to look at expressions for job interview.
So I've split them into different sections, I'll go through them one by one. So this is an advanced
English lesson. And it's useful speaking phrases for job interviews. Okay, so let's
get started. As I said, we're going to look at it in different sections. So five different sections,
how to agree with somebody, so expressions to use when you're agreeing with somebody,
how to disagree with somebody. So expressions you'll use when disagreeing with somebody
asking for clarification, or you want somebody to repeat something,
if you want to buy yourself some time. And then also to give yourself time to think, and then
finally saying something in another way, okay, so they're the different sections that we'll use,
I'll give you a few expressions in each of those, and then give you the ending and how you might
complete it. Okay, so you'll, you'll get the hang of it, you'll have to practice them, of course,
but they are very useful. As I said, particularly when you're going for a job interview,
it can always be a nervous time, particularly if English is not your first language. And therefore,
if you've got some assistance, some expressions that you can use. It'll make you feel a little bit
more confident, a little less nervous when you're sitting in front of the interviewer. Okay, now.
So the first section is when you want to agree with somebody, so it's always nice to have
good positive body language, okay, sort of nod your head and make notes like that. Hmm I see,
I see, these are nice ways to agree. But if you want to use some expression, so here they are,
I can't help thinking the same. So when you want to agree with what somebody said, I can't help
thinking the same Yes, I think it would be a great idea to improve the marketing by doing
this or this or something else. So I can't help thinking the same means. Yeah, I agree with what
you have said. Or just very simply true enough. So when somebody says something, I believe that our
target market are the people under the age of 30. And all of those people spend most of their time
on the internet. True enough. So you're agreeing with somebody saying the statement is true,
true enough. Or just simply Yeah, that's right. That's what they do. They spend most of the time
on the internet. So if we want to get at them, then we have to advertise or we have to have a
presence on the Internet, or we have to be aware of how they spend the time. Yeah, that's right.
Or if you really want to emphasise that you agree with the what the person has said. I couldn't
agree more. So it means Yeah, that's absolutely hit the nail on the head. I couldn't agree more.
Or, yeah, that's just what I was thinking. Yeah. So you're in agreement. That's just
what I was thinking. So what do you think about this idea? Do you think
we should write or do you think we should take a permanent position on the internet?
Do you think we should invite people to do this? Yeah, that's a good idea.
That's just what I was thinking. Okay, so five expressions, I can't help thinking the same.
True enough. That's right. I couldn't agree more. And finally, that's just what I was thinking. So
or simple ways, quite formal, rather than the, you know. Hmmm, Yeah, that's right. Yeah. So it's
quite formal, and shows and demonstrates that you're on the same page or the same wavelength,
as we'd like to say, as the person interviewing you or the person that you're talking to. Okay.
Now, if you want to disagree with somebody. Now, this is very dangerous territory, as we say,
you could be in a little bit of thin ice in an interview if you disagree in a hard way. So you
have to really make sure that it's polite way to disagree, and also a pleasant way to disagree.
So you can use expressions like this. I'm not sure about that. So you might have your doubts,
but I'm not sure about that. Perhaps any time to think about it. I'm not sure about that. Hmm,
I see things rather differently myself, but I understand where you're coming from. So I see
things rather differently. So we can both have different opinions. You can have a different
opinion on religion. You could have a different opinion on geographical politics or geopolitics,
as it's called, different views on finance, whatever it might be. So it doesn't mean
you're right and the other person is wrong, or they're right, and you're wrong, but you can just
have different opinions. So I see things rather differently myself, well, you know, my upbringing
or my background, would mean that I would look at things a little bit differently than you do your
I see things rather differently myself. So it's polite. It's a nice polite way of showing that
you disagree with somebody, or I don't entirely agree with you. So it doesn't mean I think you're
completely wrong. I don't entirely agree with you. There are parts of what you've said, that
are okay. Or that I could agree with. But I don't entirely means not completely, not 100%. Or just
simply Well, actually, in my opinion, actually. I think, actually, what has happened recently, yeah,
so actually, is a sort of a way of stopping somebody saying, Well, I don't think that's,
that's correct. Actually, I think we should do it this way. Okay. So when we want to disagree
with somebody, we need to do it politely, we need to do it in a way that we respect their views,
and we're not going to put them down completely. And particularly in a job interview, you need to
be really, really careful not to be seen to be belligerent in any way, or difficult or stubborn.
So use these expressions. I'm not sure about that. I see things rather differently myself.
I don't entirely agree with you and put the stress on entirely. I don't entirely agree with you. Or,
actu ally, yeah, actually. So this indicates that you're about to disagree. Well, actually.
Now, at an interview, is, it's really important to listen, sometimes we don't always understand
what the other person has asked us. And we might need to get some clarification. Or we might ask
somebody to repeat, as it can be a bit of a nervous time. And we might be focusing on how
we present ourselves, and we don't listen as clearly as much as we should. So these
are the ways in which you can ask somebody to repeat or if you're looking for clarification,
simply, Would you mind repeating that? So I didn't really understand it fully. Would you
mind repeating that? Or simply pardon? Yeah. What was that? Pardon? Particularly if you're doing
the interview by over the internet, or you're doing it via Zoom or in some other platform.
You might not hear it clearly. Or there may be some interruption on the line. So you could say,
Would you mind repeating that, please? Or pardon? I'm afraid I didn't catch that, I didn't quite
catch that means I didn't understand it. So with those three expressions, it does buy you
a little bit of time, because it gives you time to think okay, so would you mind repeating that?
Pardon? I'm afraid I didn't quite catch it. Or I'm afraid I didn't catch that. And then finally,
if you want to just clarify something that somebody has said, so perhaps they're going
to outline the job position to you or some terms about the job. So if you want to make sure that
you understood it, then you can say, Well, okay, let me get this right. This is what you said,
let me get this right, if I could clarify it. And perhaps you could tell me if I'm right or
wrong. So you repeat what the person has said. So this job will be a manager's position, I will have
responsible mobility for this office and a few regional offices. I have 10 people to report in
to me, my main line manager is going to be whoever Yeah, so let me get this right. So you repeat it.
Not verbatim word for word, but if you summarise and then the other person, the interview will say
yet yeah, that's it. Yeah, you've got it. That's that's a clear understanding. So if you want to be
clear, you want to clarify it, then that statement is a really good way to do it. So let me get this
right. Or let me just repeat that so that you can tell me, am I right? Or am I wrong? Okay. So
asking for clarification or repetition expressions like would you mind repeating that, please?
Pardon? I'm afraid I didn't quite catch that. Let me get this right. Okay.
Now, if you want to say something in another way, so perhaps somebody hasn't made a statement,
the interviewer and you want to repeat it, or put you want to use different words, and again, it's
a way of getting clarification so you could use these expressions. What I'm trying to say is this,
or what I'd like to say is this. What I mean is in other words, what you want me to do is this...
How can I best say this? Perhaps I should make that clear by saying, Okay, so there's expressions
where you might want to say something in another way. So let me give them to you again. What I'm
trying to say is, I really liked the job. I really liked the description, but I need to have some
clarification in relation to my responsibilities. Okay. What I mean is, well, what I mean is, could
you just tell me exactly how many people will be reporting to me, who my reporting line will be,
etc. Okay. In other words, in other words, I'd be responsible for all of those offices
outside the the main office, or all of the branches outside of the main office. Okay?
How can I best say this. So you're, you want to use this expression, when you want to be really,
really clear. You don't want anybody to be to be under any misunderstanding, but you also want to
be polite. How can I best say this, what I would actually like is a little bit of time to consider
your offer a little bit of time to compare it to what my objectives are, and then come back
to you in a couple of days. So how can I best say this. So you've set out exactly what you want to
say you're not rejecting the offer, but you're not accepting it, immediately you want time to
consider. Or the final example how, or perhaps I should make this clear by saying. So if you
if somebody is a little bit of doubt about what you're saying, or you can see some expression on
the face that they're, they look a little bit confused, then you might say something like,
perhaps I should make that clear by saying, yeah, and then you just make say it in very
simple terms. Perhaps I should make that clear by saying what I'm actually looking for is a job
with a bit more responsibility, opportunities for a good career path, but also the opportunity to
take on some extra learning some courses, or indeed, and MBA or masters or something like
that. So I should make that clear by saying so you're set out exactly what your objectives are,
why you're considering leaving your current position, why you wanted learn, join this new
company. So you're really making it very, very clear from the very beginning why. Okay, so
saying something in another way, what I'm trying to say is, what I mean is, in other words,
how can I best say this, perhaps I should make that clear by saying. All right.
And then the final section is giving yourself time to think and this is really,
really critical in an interview situation, because sometimes you're prepared,
but sometimes you're not as prepared as you might be, or indeed, they might throw you a curveball,
as I say, by asking you a question completely out of the blue, you know, because there's a standard
set of questions that interviewers usually ask, but occasionally, particularly in the IT sector,
they might ask something a little bit left field, something that will catch you off guard,
so you want a few minutes, or seconds to gather your thoughts. So it's a nice way to be able to
buy yourself some time. So give yourself some time to think so these expressions are handy.
May I think about that for a moment before I answer. Or before I answer, just let me gather
my thoughts. So you're actually asking for a few minutes to consider it. Let me see. Okay, let me
see. So you think about it, and then you gather your thoughts quickly, and then you reply. Or
how can I put this? Then you give yourself a few seconds to think then you get into your response.
Or something like I guess so, I believe, it is my understanding. Yeah, the way I see it. So lots of
different ways in which you can give yourself time to think and those few seconds, they're only a few
seconds, 10 seconds. 15 seconds are really, really important. They may not sound like a lot of time,
but it should be enough time for you to gather your thoughts if you're well prepared. Okay,
so giving yourself time to think use these expressions. May I think about
that for a moment? Or would you mind if I just thought about that for a few seconds?
Let me see. So that's usually we use that in response to a question. Let me see how will I
put it? How can I put this? I guess, where... I think, I believe and it is my understanding,
the way I see it. So lots of other ways in which you can just buy those vital few seconds to give
yourself have time to breathe and time to think because in interviews, it's can be a little bit
of a panic situation, particularly if a question comes to you that you hadn't expected. You know,
somebody asks you, how many basketballs would you fit into a British telephone box?
Well, that's not something you can prepare for, unless you've been standing outside a telephone
box. So it's something to just catch you off guard to see how you react. Would you need time to think
about that? Or how many Smarty sweets can you get into a tube of Smarties? Again, you know,
it's something that you could never prepare for. But they want to see how you react to questions
like that. So you need to buy yourself some time. So they ask you, how many basketballs
can you fit into the average telephone box, you might say:
Well, I guess you'd have to consider the size of the basketballs. I guess you'd have to work out
the average size of the telephone box, the space between the basketballs, so you're buying yourself
a little bit of time, and then you can give your answer in a more cohesive or structured way.
Okay, so there are the different expressions that will be helpful advanced English expressions used
in a job interviews, and they're really really important and helpful in your preparation. And
as always, you know the drill by now if you need some extra help, some extra suggestions, then just
drop me a line www.englishlessonviaskype.com Very happy to help you out. As always,
if you liked this particular lesson, then please please like the video and if you
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thank you for listening. Thank you for watching. As always, join me for the next lesson.