Job Interview Workshops

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A normal job interview can in some ways be likened to a play; it has a few actors who know why they are there, the questions they will ask and the normal set of answers they will receive. In such interviews the interviewer(s) ask questions in a certain way and expects answers in a certain way. This is also the same for the interviewee, who has probably gone through the answers again and again in their mind… Every actor knows their lines and the underlying rules.

So what happens when the lines and rules change? Questions are not the ones expected, answers are not understood and behaviour is puzzling. This is the intercultural interview and occurs when the interviewee and interviewer(s) are from different cultures. The worst-case scenario is that due to intercultural differences misunderstandings take place upon which decisions are made. Such decisions can unfortunately lead to interviewers wrongly rejecting candidates.

Kwintessential

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Job Interview Workshops is a collection of two short workshops for those in need of insight into a job interview in a specific other language and culture. Job Interview Workshops are given for those seeking to improve their interview skills in Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish. Other languages might be possible upon request.

• Week 1: Prior to the first job interview workshop (JIW), participants do a number of preparatory activities based on an actual job advertisement, such as researching cultural dimensions to job interviews for the specific target culture (and preparing to bring their insights to class), and preparing for an interview (10 min) in the target language (6 hours).
• Week 2: During the first JIW, participants will hold their interviews in the target language(s) under the guidance of a skilled facilitator. The interviews will be video recorded (2 hours).
• Week 3: After the first JIW, participants will review their initial interviews and prepare for the actual interview with a native speaker (6 hours).
• Week 4: During the second JIW, participants will be interviewed in the target language in a fish-bowl setting by the language instructor (2 hours).

Schedule

Rates

Min & Max numbers

Minimum number of participants per group is 8; maximum number of participants per group is 12. Once a group is full you will be placed on the waitlist for a new group. Placement in a group is on a first come, first serve basis, under the condition that you meet the audience specification.

Alternates
Also available in the form of a series of individual coaching sessions.

Language of Instruction               

The language of instruction during the courses will be English. Interviews will be held in the target language specified by the student. These can be English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish. Other languages might be possible upon request.

Nestor

You will also be using online course material in Nestor, the blackboard learning environment of the University of Groningen.

On Demand/Tailor-made Training

Standard courses for Students, Teachers, Staff and Professionals. with Open Registration courses are those that are planned (generally once a semester) and for which you can register directly online.

We can also fully develop a new course to your specifications, or we can adapt an existing course to your situation. On Demand or Tailor-made courses in Intercultural Competence can be given as one-to-one courses, for small groups or for entire organizations. They can be given in the form of presentations, short workshops, longer trainings or competence development trajectories. More information on On Demand and tailor-made courses