Business English - Asking Insightful Questions: Showing Your Engagement

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

Think about this: Have you ever looked for a job online? What are some websites people use to find jobs? What can be tricky about applying for jobs on the internet?

Activity 2: New Words (Vocabulary)

Here are some new English words. These words will help us talk about asking good questions in a job interview.

Smart (Insightful - for questions): A question that shows you think well and understand things clearly.

Example: Asking a smart question at the end of an interview can impress the interviewer.

Interest (Engagement): Showing that you care about the job and the company, and that you are paying attention.

Example: Asking good questions is a great way to show your interest in the role.

Clarify (verb): To ask for more information about something to make it easier to understand.

Example: You can ask the interviewer to clarify something about the job if you are not sure.

Culture (noun - company culture): The way people normally work and act in a company; the company's atmosphere.

Example: Ask about the company culture to see if it is a good place for you to work.

Chance (Opportunity): A good time or situation for you to do something good, like learn new skills or grow in your job.

Example: It's good to ask if there is a chance to learn new skills in the job.

Next Steps: What will happen after the interview is finished, like when they will make a decision.

Example: Always ask about the next steps in the hiring process before you leave the interview.

Activity 3 (Reading)

Let's read about Carlos. He is in a job interview and it's his turn to ask questions.

Carlos just finished answering all the interviewer's questions about his skills and experience. Now, the interviewer smiles and asks, "Do you have any questions for me, Carlos?" Carlos was prepared for this moment! He knows that asking good, smart questions is important to show his interest in the job and the company. He doesn't want to ask about salary or holidays right now.

First, he wants to clarify something about the daily tasks. He asks, "Can you tell me a bit more about what a typical day looks like in this role? What are the main things I would be doing?" Next, Carlos asks about the company culture. He says, "What do you enjoy most about working here at this company?" He thinks this will give him a better idea of the work environment. He also wants to know about chances to grow in the job, so he asks the interviewer, "Is there a chance for employees here to learn new skills or take part in training programs?" Finally, before the interview ends, Carlos politely asks about the next steps. He says, "What is the general timeline for making a decision about this position?" The interviewer answers all his questions. Carlos feels good because asking these questions showed he was serious about the job and had listened carefully during the interview.

Think about the story:

Why was it important for Carlos to ask smart questions and show his interest?
What question did Carlos ask to clarify his understanding of the job?
What did Carlos ask about to understand the company culture and his chance to grow? What did he ask about the next steps?

Activity 4: Role Play

Read this dialogue with a partner. One person is Priya (who is preparing for an interview), and the other is Ben (her friend giving advice).

Priya: Ben, I have a job interview tomorrow! At the end, the interviewer will probably ask if I have questions. What should I ask them?

Ben: That's a very important part, Priya! Asking good questions really shows your interest in the job. Try to ask some smart questions.

Priya: Like what kind of questions? I don't want to ask something silly or something I should already know from the job ad.

Ben: Good point. You can ask them to clarify something about the job duties if you want to understand more. For example, 'Could you tell me more about the team I would work with?'

Priya: Okay, that's a good idea, to ask for more details. What about asking about the company itself?

Ben: Yes, definitely! You can ask about the company culture. For example, 'What do employees enjoy most about working here?'

Priya: I also want to know if I can learn new things and grow if I get the job.

Ben: Perfect question! Ask them if there is a chance for training or learning new skills in that role. It shows you want to develop.

Priya: And at the very end of the interview, what's a good and polite question to ask before I leave?

Ben: It's always a good idea to ask about the next steps in their decision-making process, so you know what to expect after the interview.

After reading, discuss: Why is it usually better to ask questions about the job, the team, or the company, rather than asking about salary or vacation time in the very first interview?

Activity 5: Let's Practice

Objective: Practice using the new vocabulary about asking questions in an interview.

Scenario: Maria (the learner) is telling her friend, David, about the questions she plans to ask at her upcoming job interview.

David: So Maria, you're all set for your big interview? Do you have some good questions ready to ask them at the end?

Maria: Yes! I want to ask some really questions to show that I'm thinking carefully about this job opportunity.

David: That's good. What's one thing you want to know more about, perhaps to understand the job better?

Maria: Well, I want them to what the main projects or tasks will be in the first few months, just to make it clearer for me.

David: Good idea to ask for details. What else will you ask to show your real excitement and engagement with the company?

Maria: I really want to show my in the role, so I thought I would ask about the team I would be working with every day.

David: That's a good way to learn about the work environment. What about the company itself, its atmosphere?

Maria: I plan to ask a question about the company , like what makes it a really good and positive place to work for employees.

David: And are you going to ask about how you can grow or develop in the job if you get it?

Maria: Yes, I will ask if there's a to take on more responsibility later on, or to learn new things.

David: And finally, what very important question will you ask before you leave the interview room?

Maria: I will definitely ask about the so I have an idea of when they might make a decision about the job.

Try to fill in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from this lesson!