A Job Interview
W: Yes, I've been enjoying listening to you and learning more about your background. Your experience is impressive, and it’s obvious that you do good work.
M: Thanks. What you're trying to do here interests me. I think there's a lot of potential. As I said, I'm ready to leave my present job if the opportunity is attractive enough.
W: Great. As I’m sure you are aware, it won’t be easy. That’s a lot of uncertainty. We need a strong, committed team.
M: Sure, I understand.
Exercise:
For him, the attractive opportunity is one that has good potential and provide adequate salary and benefits.
W: As for what we can offer you. First, I want to stress again that we are a startup. The people we have working here now are on reduced salaries.
M: I understand. I’m willing to take less than what I’m being paid now; but I have two children, so I’ve got to consider that too. I'll need to at least cover our basic living expenses.
Exercise:
1. The purpose of this exchange is to establish reasonable expectations about salary and benefits.
2. I’m willing to take less than what I’m being paid now; but I have two children, so I’ve got to consider that too. I'll need to at least cover our basic living expenses.
Repeat Sentences:
1. We need a strong, committed team.
2. I think there's a lot of potential.
3. Your experience is impressive, and it’s obvious that you do good work.
4. He needs to earn at least enough to pay for his family's basic living expenses.
5. He's ready to leave his job if the opportunity is attractive enough.
W: OK. We have two ways we can do this. Both of them have you starting at a reduced salary. One will give you a bonus after each round of financing. With the other, you can start with a higher salary, but the bonus will be smaller, or none at all.
M: What is the time frame for the financing?
W: That depends on a lot of things. We're hoping to get the next round of financing within 6 to 9 months. We don’t want to go to our investors too early because we want to be in a strong position. And for that, we are only to perform. For now, we have enough cash to cover us for about a year.
Question:
— When does the company hope to get the next round of financing?
— They're hoping to get it within 6 to 9 months.
Put the sentences below in order:
(1) With the other, you can start with a higher salary, but the bonus will be smaller, or none at all.
(2) Both of them have you starting at a reduced salary.
(3) OK. We have two ways we can do this.
(4) One will give you a bonus after each round of financing.
Correct Order: (3) (2) (4) (1)
M: Okay, that makes sense. Well, I’ll talk to my wife and see what she says.
W: Right. You need to cover your expenses, but not enough to have savings. The less you ask for now, the greater your bonus is as you move forward. That’s the idea.
M: Got it. I'll get back to you tomorrow.
Question:
— What's the relationship between salary and bonus?
— a smaller salary means a large bonus
Repeat Sentences:
图片发自App1. I'll get back to you tomorrow.
2. What is the time frame for the financing?
3. We're hoping to get the next round of financing within 6 to 9 months.
W: Well, what do you think?
C: He’s impressive. I think he’s someone who can strengthen our team.
W: I think so too. If he can accept a low enough salary, we should hire him. That will show that he believes enough in our plan to take on the risk.
Put the sentences below in order:
(1) Well, what do you think?
(2) That will show that he believes enough in our plan to take on the risk.
(3) He’s impressive. I think he’s someone who can strengthen our team.
(4) I think so too. If he can accept a low enough salary, we should hire him.
Correct Order: (1) (3) (4) (2)
M: What if he asks for more than we can afford?
W: In that case we can see if he'll consider working on a short-term project first. That way he could keep his present job, and we could try to bring him in later. It would lower his risk.
M: I doubt if he would consider that, but it’s worth a try.
W: Yeah, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Whatever, we should try to avoid losing him completely.
Fill in the blanks:
What if he asks for more than we can afford? In that case we can see if he'll consider working on a short-term project first. That way he could keep his present job, and we could try to bring him in later. It would lower his risk.
Repeat Sentences:
1. I doubt if he would consider that, but it’s worth a try.
2. I think he’s someone who can strengthen our team.
3. Whatever, we should try to avoid losing him completely.
C: Well, I’m optimistic. I think he will decide to join us. He’s the kind of guy who likes a challenge.
W: From what I could tell, we certainly won’t have to push him to get things done.
C: Exactly. He'll feel the pressure just like the rest of us. Haha …
Question:
— What's the opposite of optimistic?
— The opposite of optimistic is pessimistic.
Repeat Sentences:
1. He’s the kind of guy who likes a challenge.
2. As I said, I'm ready to leave my present job if the opportunity is attractive enough.
3. The opposite of optimistic is pessimistic.
4. Their alternative plan is to see if he'll consider working on a short-term project.
5. For them to strengthen their position, their employees need to perform well.
6. If they want a bonus, they shouldn't ask for more than needed to cover their expenses.
7. They're optimistic because they think he'll join their company.