Hello and welcome back to the skills 360 podcast.
各位好，歡迎回到技能360播客。
I'm your host Tim Simmons. And today I want to look at how to prepare for an interview in English.
我是主持人蒂姆•西蒙斯。今天，我們來看看如何準備英語面試。
When I say 「prepare」 I'm not talking about making an appointment at the hair salon or picking out a clean shirt. I'm talking about doing some research anticipating what you'll be asked and practicing how to respond.
當我說「準備」時，並不是說安排美髮沙龍，或者挑選一件乾淨的襯衫。我說的是進行一些研究，預測將會被問到什麼，並練習如何響應。
Yeah. I know I'm always going on about preparation, but this time it's not just a suggestion, it's essential. If you do it right, you'll be able to head into the interview feeling relaxed and confident .And that will increase your chances of landing the job.
是的。我知道我一直在進行準備工作，這次不僅僅是建議，而是必不可少的。如果做得對，你將能夠輕鬆而自信地參加面試，並提高你得到工作的機會。
Now. Here's the thing. Most interviews cover the same basic territory. Sure you might get a couple of curveballs, but for the most part, you can predict what questions you'll be asked. And that means you can plan your answers. I don't mean script your answers. It’s pretty tough to appear authentic and natural while delivering a memorized response. But you can outline your answers and practice your delivery.
現在，言歸正傳。大多數面試，都會涵蓋相同的基本領域。當然，你可能會遇到很多麻煩。不過，在大多數情況下，你可以預測自己會被問到什麼問題。這意味著，你可以對答案進行規劃。我不是要撰寫問題的答案。傳遞死記硬背的回答時，要想顯得真實自然確實是很困難的。不過，你可以概述答案，並進行練習。
So how do we go about doing that?
那麼，我們如何去做呢？
Well, let's start by talking about how to introduce yourself in an interview in English. The old 「tell me about yourself」 question, it's a amazing how many people are thrown by this question or fumble through an awkward response as they wait for the real interview questions. But first impressions are important, and you need a good answer for 「tell me about yourself」. My advice is to keep it succinct instead of rambling on, keep it professional but show passion, and keep it positive.
好吧，讓我們從談論如何用英語進行自我介紹開始。「介紹下你自己」這一問題是老生常談的了，令人驚訝的是，有多少人在等待真正的面試問題時被這個問題所困，或者因尷尬的回答而顯得笨嘴拙舌。不過，第一印象是很重要的，你需要一個很好的答案回答「介紹下你自己」。我的建議是：保持簡潔，而不是漫不經心，要專業且充滿激情，並保持積極向上。
And if you need a formula, try Present- Past-Future. How does that work?
如果需要一個公式，請嘗試使用「現在-過去-將來」。怎麼操作呢？
Check out this example.
我們看個例子。
I'm currently a marketing manager with a medium-sized software firm. Since I was young, I've loved writing and design and all things tech. So in university, marketing felt like the perfect fit. And I went straight from college to IBM where I worked for five years. I'm happy with what I've accomplished, but I'm really looking for a new challenge now, and I love what you guys are doing.
我目前是一家中型軟體公司的市場經理。從年輕時起，我就喜歡寫作、設計和所有技術相關的。因此，在大學裡，市場營銷感覺就是最合適的。我大學畢業後，直接到IBM工作了5年。我對自己的成就感到滿意，現在我真的在尋找新的挑戰，我喜歡你們正在做的事情。
In that example, you heard me mention my current position, my educational and work background, and the change I want in the future. If you master your 「tell me about yourself」 pitch, you can practice responding to the next most common English interview question-「what are your strengths」.
在以上例子中，你聽到我提到了我目前職位、教育和工作背景，以及將來想要的改變。如果你掌握了「介紹下你自己」的方法，則可以練習回答下一個最常見的英語面試問題：「你的優勢是什麼」。
First, a DON't. Don’t give them a laundry list of random skills, like 「well, I'm good at communication, organizing, teamwork and I take the initiative all the time.」 That’s totally forgettable. Instead, choose two or three important strengths that relate directly to the position you're applying for. Choose ones that will set you apart from others, and give some evidence. So if you're applying for a marketing manager position, you might say 「people tell me that I'm a creative manager. I can motivate a team and make people feel appreciated. For example, our team recently tackled a tough project for a really demanding client.」
首先，「不要」。不要給他們一個隨機的技能清單，例如：「嗯，我擅長溝通、組織與團隊合作，並且我一直積極主動。」真的很容易被人遺忘。相反，請選擇與你所申請職位直接相關的2、3個重要的優勢。選擇那些會讓你與眾不同的回答，並提供一些證據。因此，如果要申請營銷經理職位，你可能會說「人們告訴我，我是一位有創意的經理。我可以激勵團隊，讓人們感到受到重視。例如，我們的團隊最近為一個苛刻的客戶解決了一個艱巨的項目。」
And did you notice that I said 「people tell me that I'm a creative manager」? It’s not just your opinion. You’re telling them that other people think so too.
你是否注意到我說過的「人們告訴我，我是一位有創意的經理」？這不只是你的觀點。你是在告訴面試官，別人也這麼認為的。
Now I wouldn't necessarily take the same approach to the next type of question you're bound to face. And which you probably dread answering the 「what are your weaknesses」 question. Yes, you're sure to get this question in a job interview. So you'd better be ready for it.
現在，我不必對你將要面對的下一類型的問題採用相同的方法。你可能會害怕回答「你的劣勢是什麼」這個問題。是的，你一定會在工作面試中遇到這個問題。因此，你最好為此做好準備。
Three bits of advice:
以下是三點建議：
First, don't choose something that's actually a strength. I'm talking about the old 「well, sometimes I'm too much of a perfectionist.」 They've heard that before. It doesn't fly anymore.
首先，不要選擇實際上是優勢的回答。我說的是老掉牙的「嗯，有時候我太完美了。」他們以前聽說過。這個回答不會再成功了。
Secondly, choose something that isn't central to the position you're applying for.
其次，選擇與所申請的職位無關緊要的劣勢。
Thirdly, talk about how you've worked to improve this weakness.
第三，談談你是如何努力改善這一劣勢的。
Let’s say you're applying for a marketing manager position. And you're asked about a weakness you might try something like this: 「In the past, I've struggled with public speaking. Giving presentations to large groups of people at a conference for example is a real challenge. That said: I've joined Toastmasters and I've been working hard to develop more confidence with this.」
假設你要申請營銷經理職位。有人問你有什麼劣勢，你可以嘗試這樣的回答：「以前，我一直在公開演講方面苦苦掙扎。例如，在會議上向大群人做演講，是一個真正的挑戰。我已經加入國際演講協會，並且我一直在努力提高這方面的信心。」
Other good weaknesses to talk about?
還有其他缺點要談嗎？
Being patient when working on a team. Delegating responsibilities. Giving feedback. Or analyzing data. If one of those isn't central to the role, it could be a good one to mention.
在團隊中工作時，要有耐心。授權。提供反饋。分析數據。如果其中之一不是該角色的核心，那可能是一個很好的回答的點。
All right. How about a quick recap of these tips?
好吧。我們來快速回顧一下這些技巧吧？
First, practice a good response – 「tell me about yourself.」
首先，練習一個好的回答-「介紹下你自己」。
That’s professional, passionate positive and succinct.
那是專業的、熱情的、積極的，以及簡潔的。
Second, talk about strengths that are related to the job and set you apart from others.
其次，談論與工作相關的優勢，使你與眾不同。
And third, talk about a weakness that doesn't blow up your chances of getting the position. And that you've worked to improve.
第三，談談不會削弱你獲得職位的工作機會且你一直在努力改善的弱點。
That's all for today.
今天的內容就是這些。