JOB INTERVIEW SIMULATION - DEVELOPING ESP STUDENTS’ COMMUNICATION SKILLS
JOB INTERVIEW SIMULATION - DEVELOPING ESP STUDENTS’ COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Summary/Abstract: It is common knowledge that a CV or a résumé reflects an applicant’s education, skills,relevant experience and volunteer work. It could make a good impression or a bad one as it does notreflect that person’s genuine enthusiasm, positive attitude, talent or other qualities that might behighly sought by employers. If it catches the eye of recruiters, the next step is getting an interviewinvite. Attending an in-person interview could be a dreadful experience for undergraduates seekingemployment or even for new graduates since most of them are familiar neither with the requirementsof the labour market nor with the eligibility criteria. Moreover, since communication skills have beenheld in high regard in today’s business environment, students should learn how to develop these skillsin order to better “sell” their abilities and thus to improve their chances of success. The presentpaper is part of a broader project on oral presentations which will materialize in a course bookdesigned for ESP students in general and for Business English students in particular. It basically aimsat improving their communication skills, on the one hand, and at increasing their self-confidence, onthe other. The section presented in this paper intends to develop ESP students’ communication skillsby involving them in a job interview simulation activity. Its main purpose is to familiarize studentswith the main steps (collecting job-related data, understanding job description and job specifications,supporting documentation, how to research the companies they wish to get employed at, etc.), thespecial requirements of a job interview (including proper job interview etiquette) and the basics ofnegotiation tactics in order to be better prepared and to make a good impression on a realemployment interview.

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