Welcome back to Business English Pod for today’s lesson on discussing your previous experience during a job interview in English.

Job interviews in English can be incredibly stressful. It’s not something you do regularly, so you may not have a lot of practice with it. And if you’re like many people, it may simply feel uncomfortable to try to sell yourself. But instead of trying to sell yourself, just relax and have a conversation in which the focus is on you.

One topic that is bound to come up is your previous experience, so be ready for this. And remember that they already have your resume, which gives the basic information about your experience. So in the interview, it’s not simply about listing what you did and when you did it. It’s really about explaining why your experience matters.

Your experience matters if you can explain how you actually benefited from it. That might also involve talking about how your experience helped you develop as a person or professional. Also remember that it’s good to highlight practical experiences and to be prepared to explain any gaps in your resume.

In today’s dialog, we’ll join a conversation between Sherry and an interviewer. Sherry is applying for a job as an accountant. The interviewer is asking her to explain her past experience. We’ll hear how Sherry handles this.

Listening Questions

1. How does Sherry respond to the interviewer’s question about how she is doing?
2. What practical experience did Sherry get during her internship?
3. What reason does Sherry give for having a two-year gap in her resume?

Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post BEP 83c – Interview in English: Previous Experience first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we continue our look at emotional intelligence and how it helps people work effectively with others.

Emotions can sometimes seem like barriers to productivity, leading people to ignore or hide their feelings. However, understanding emotions is important for building strong relationships and working well in teams. Emotional intelligence involves managing both personal emotions and understanding the emotions of others.

A key part of this process is empathy. Unlike sympathy, which recognizes another person’s feelings while keeping some emotional distance, empathy involves trying to understand their perspective and emotional state. This means listening carefully, avoiding judgment, and showing that their feelings are understood.

Active listening is another important skill. It requires giving someone full attention, avoiding interruptions, and asking questions instead of making assumptions. By listening carefully and trying to understand others before responding, professionals can build trust and improve communication.

Trust is essential for effective teamwork. Although disagreements can sometimes create problems, they can also lead to new ideas and better solutions. When people respect different opinions and manage conflict well, teams can benefit from a wider range of perspectives. Emotional intelligence helps people handle disagreements, repair damaged relationships, and maintain trust.

Emotional intelligence also helps professionals adapt their communication style to different people and situations. They can recognize when to speak directly, when to listen, and how to guide others effectively. These skills are valuable for both team members and managers.

All in all, emotional intelligence improves empathy, active listening, trust, and conflict management. By understanding others and adapting to different situations, professionals can become more effective team members and leaders, build stronger relationships, and influence others in positive ways.

Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Emotional Intelligence (2) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at emotional intelligence.

Ask most people what skills or attributes you need to succeed in business, and they’ll likely name a set of crucial hard skills. Things like financial acumen, analytical abilities, problem-solving, digital competence, and strategic thinking. And yes, these skills are important. But the road to success is littered with people who had all these skills but lacked emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence helps people understand and manage their emotions, build stronger relationships, and respond better to challenges. It can also improve teamwork, increase innovation, and reduce conflict in the workplace.

An important part of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. This means recognizing and naming emotions such as anger, frustration, fear, and excitement. Understanding these feelings helps people see how their emotions affect their thoughts and actions. It also allows them to identify situations that trigger strong emotional responses and find ways to manage them.

Self-awareness also involves understanding personal strengths and weaknesses. Although many people believe they know themselves well, they may have blind spots or find it difficult to admit their weaknesses. A more honest view of their abilities helps them focus on their strengths, improve weaker areas, and delegate tasks when necessary.

Another key benefit of emotional intelligence is better self-management. People who understand their emotions are often better at handling stress, staying focused on goals, and maintaining a positive attitude. They can also respond more calmly to difficult situations and work more effectively with others.

Emotional intelligence is especially important in today’s changing business environment. As technology and artificial intelligence take over more tasks, human skills such as communication, adaptability, and relationship management become increasingly valuable.

Developing emotional intelligence helps people manage their emotions, understand themselves, and work better with others. By developing these soft skills, professionals can become more adaptable, effective, and successful in the workplace.

Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Emotional Intelligence (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.