Unit 14: I'm very organized.
– Asking interview questions
– Describing strengths and weaknesses
Part 1
Vocabulary
What kind of person are you in a work environment? Check the words that describe you.
_______ detail oriented
_______ efficient
_______ organized
_______ a hard worker
_______ a self-starter
_______ a perfectionist
_______ a team player
_______ professional
_______ motivated
Teacher & Student:
Take turns asking and describing yourselves. Use the words above.
Example conversation
A: How would you describe yourself?
B: I'm very detail oriented. I pay attention to small things
Part 2
Conversation
Listen and answer 2 questions.
1. What are Kyle’s strengths and weaknesses?
2. Do you think he will get the job?
Woman: Olivia
Man: Kyle
Transcript
Olivia: All right, Kyle. Now I’d like to ask, what would you bring to our organization?
Kyle: Well, I’m very organized. I can keep track of a lot of different tasks at a time.
Olivia: I see.
Kyle: Also, I’m extremely efficient.
Olivia: That’s excellent. And what is your biggest weakness?
Kyle: Let me think. Sometimes I’m too detail-oriented, but that can be useful when I’m writing a report.
Olivia: And what is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced at work?
Kyle: Good question. Well, once I had to work with a team of 30 people. That was difficult, but I’m a good team player.
Example answer
- Kyle is good at organizing and doing many tasks at the same time. He works fast and well with others. His weakness is he focuses too much on details, but he thinks this helps when writing reports.
- Kyle might get the job. He has good skills, like working fast and being organized. He also works well in teams. Even though he said he has a weakness, he explained how it can be good sometimes.
Practice the conversation with teacher
Find the best places to add the sentences below to the conversation and practice it again.
We had to complete a big project in a week.
We need someone who is organized.
In other words, what are your greatest strengths?
I can do a lot of work in a short amount of time
Olivia: All right, Kyle. Now l’d like to ask, what would you bring to our organization? ____________________
Kyle: Well, l’m very organized. I can keep track of a lot of different tasks at a time.
OIivia: I see. ____________________
Kyle: Also, l’m extremely efficient. ____________________
Olivia: That’s excellent. And what is your biggest weakness?
Kyle: Let me think. Sometimes l’m too detail-oriented, but that can be useful when l’m writing a report.
Olivia: And what is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced at work? ___________________
Kyle: Good question. Well, once I had to work with a team of 30 people. ____________________. That was difficult, but I’m a good team player.
Answers
Olivia: All right, Kyle. Now I’d like to ask, what would you bring to our organization? (3) In other words, what are your greatest strengths?
Kyle: Well, I’m very organized. I can keep track of a lot of different tasks at a time.
Olivia: I see. (2) We need someone who organized.
Kyle: Also, I’m extremely efficient. (4) I can do a lot of work in a short amount of time.
Olivia: That’s excellent. And what is your biggest weakness?
Kyle: Let me think. Sometimes I’m too detail-oriented, but that can be useful when I’m writing a report.
Olivia: And what is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced at work?
Kyle: Good question. Well, once I had to work with a team of 30 people. (1) We had to complete a big project in a week. That was difficult, but I’m a good team player.
Part 3
Language Booster
Notice the way we ask interview questions and describe strengths and weaknesses.
Asking interview questions
- What would you bring to our organization?
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced at work?
Describing strengths and weaknesses
- Well, l’m very (organized).
- Let’s see. l’m a (hard worker).
- I have good (writing) skills.
- Sometimes l’m too (detail oriented).
- I used to/didn’t use to…, but now I….
- Let me think. Once I had to…
Practice asking and answering interview questions about strengths and weaknesses with your teacher.
Example conversation
A: What is your gteatest strength?
B: I think I'm organized, but people who look at my room don't think so. I know where things are, but they just see a mess.
A: So is that your biggest weakness, too?
Part 4
Listening
Listen to Lina and Gil discuss each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Check (✓) next to the correct person’s strengths and weaknesses below.
| Lina | Gil | |
| cooperative | ||
| detailed oriented | ||
| good people skills | ||
| organized | ||
| a perfectionist | ||
| a professional | ||
| responsible | ||
| a self-starter |
Answer
| Lina | Gil | ||
| cooperative | ✓ | ✓ | |
| detailed oriented | ✓ | ✓ | |
| good people skills | ✓ | ✓ | |
| organized | ✓ | ✓ | |
| a perfectionist | ✓ | ||
| a professional | ✓ | ||
| responsible | ✓ | ✓ | |
| a self-starter | ✓ | ||
Listen again.
What were Lina’s and Gil’s biggest challenges at work?
Transcript
Interviewer: So, Lina, tell me what would you bring to our organization?
Lina: Well, first of all, I’m a self-starter. If I see a job that needs to be done, I do it. I don’t wait for someone to ask me to do it.
Interviewer: That’s great. What are some of your other strengths?
Lina: I’m very professional and I have good people skills. I get along with people very well.
Interviewer: OK, that’s good. Now what is your biggest weakness?
Lina: Let me think. I would have to say that my biggest weakness is sometimes I’m a perfectionist, but that can be useful in certain situations. For example, last year when our accountant quit, I had to take over the accounting duties. I found several mistakes and saved my company over $1,000.
Interviewer: That’s very impressive. I have one more question for you. What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced at work?
Lina: That’s an interesting question. Once I had to give a presentation to a group of 50 employees. I had only one day to prepare. I was really nervous, but I prepared very carefully and my presentation went very well.
[PAUSE]
Interviewer: Your resume looks very impressive, Gil.
Gil: Thank you very much.
Interviewer: You have a lot of work experience, but what are some of your greatest strengths?
Gil: Let’s see. Well, I’m responsible. You can always count on me to get to the office on time and finish my work.
Interviewer: Good, that’s important. What other strengths would you bring to our organization?
Gil: Well, I’m very detail-oriented. My work is never sloppy. Also, I’m very cooperative and I work well with others.
Interviewer: I’m pleased to hear that. What is the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced at work?
Gil: Well, once I had to manage ten projects at one time because my company didn’t have enough managers. It was very difficult to keep all of the projects organized, but we finished all ten projects on time.
Interviewer: That’s great. What are your biggest weaknesses?
Gil: Actually, I used to be very disorganized, but I took a class on organization skills, and now being organized is one of my biggest strengths.
Answer
- Lina only had one day to prepare for a presentation for 50 employees.
- Gil managed ten projects at the same time.
Part 5
Speak with confidence
Complete the chart with your strengths, weaknesses, and biggest work-related challenges.
Greatest strengths
_______________
_______________
Biggest weaknesses
_______________
_______________
Biggest challenges
_______________
_______________
Discuss with your teacher about your strengths, weaknesses, and challenges.