How To Prepare For An Interview & Setting Up Your Own Business - IELTS Reading Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 11 General Training Reading Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 15–27
Reading Passage
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 15-21. ====
How to prepare for an interview
Why prepare?
There are three main reasons.
One: Although you can’t guess every question you might be asked, if you are prepared you can tailor your answers to fit.
Two: If you’re well prepared, you will have more confidence and this will affect the way you come across.
Three: Attitude matters. Prospective employers will choose a not-quite-perfect but willing candidate over a brilliant one who obviously isn’t bothered.
What to prepare?
Find out about the organisation
• Visit the website and read any materials that you have been sent. If nothing has been sent, phone the company to ask for any reading matter they may have.
• Talk to anyone you know who works there already.
Find out about the job
• Ask for a job description or specification. This will tell you the duties that go with the job.
• Talk to anyone you know who is familiar with the work you may be doing.
Find out what the employer is looking for
• Make a list of the skills specified in the job advertisement.
• Think of examples to back up claims that you have these skills.
You can then answer most of the questions that will come up, such as ‘Tell me more about how you work in a team’.
Add in a few ‘lessons learned’ — what you did and how you might have done it better. You can also outline any voluntary work you have done for a charity, or any experience of paid work in an unrelated sector.
Preparing for other kinds of questions
Interviewers are also looking for someone who is likely to stay with the organisation and progress within it. Prepare to answer questions about your ambitions for the future.
You may also be asked to account for gaps in your career history, if you have any. Be positive and accentuate the learning or experience you gained during these periods.
Preparing your own questions
• Do ask technical questions about software, systems and structures and how things are done.
• Do ask about possibilities for training.
• Don’t ask about salary unless you have been offered the job.
When you’ve prepared as much as this, you’ve got a good chance of success.
Good luck!
==== Read the text below and answer Questions 22-27. ====
Setting up your own business
Here are some ideas about how you should start:
Know your market
So you know what you want to sell — the most important thing is that it should be something that people want to buy. Start by thinking about who your target customers are. Arc they people who live locally? Are they a particular group of people?
Now look at your competitors. What is different about what you will be doing and how will you persuade people to come to you instead of going to someone who is already established?
How will you reach the customers?
Will you promote your product by phoning people, or visiting local traders, or advertising in magazines or online? Will your delivery system be direct or through shops?
How will your business work?
Now think about what your business needs to succeed. Do you need to look for premises or can you work from home? Do you need to invest in manufacturing equipment to start with?
Is the business something that you can do on your own, or if you get more work will you be looking to recruit staff? If so, what skills would they need?
Whether you’re a sole operator or are looking to recruit a team, effective management is essential.
The law regulates how companies are run and you need to set aside the time to ace that this is done properly, in relation to issues like accounting, insurance and tax.
The money!
As you are working out the prices for your products, you need to make sure you build in all your costs. Remember you will probably need help from an accountant at least once a year, so build that in too, and do a forecast of how much money you think will flow in and out of the business. Look at what you expect to happen over the next three years — and work out what you need to do to break even, as well as the turnover that you hope to achieve to give you a profit. If you think you will need to find some funding to help get the business off the ground, how much will you need and who will you approach to get it?
Your business plan
Now write it all up and call it a business plan
Questions
Questions 15–21 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
- By preparing for your interview, you will gain 15 which will help you present yourself well.
- Read through any documents you have received about the company and also go to their 16
- Check the job description to find out what 17 are involved in the post you have applied for.
- Interviewers may be interested to hear about any unpaid help you have given to a 18
- Be ready to talk about your 19 for the development of your career.
- Explain any 20 that there are in your work record and clarify how you used the time to improve your skills.
- Questions about 21 should be delayed until a later stage.
Questions 22–27 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes on your answer sheet.
Step 1:
Decide who you are going to sell to and compare yourself with the 22 you are going to have.
Step 2:
Consider how you will market your product and your method of 23
Step 3:
Decide if you will have to find 24 to work in, or buy equipment.
Step 4:
Think whether you will need to take on staff as your business grows.
Step 5:
Make sure you deal with the accounts and other essentials in accordance with the 25
Step 6:
Calculate all the 26 involved in your business when deciding how much to charge.
Step 7:
Calculate the turnover you are aiming for in order to make a profit in the first three years.
Step 8:
Consider if you require any 27 to start your business, and where to find it.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q15 | confidence | if you're well prepared, you will have more confidence and this will affect the way you come across | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that when you prepare well, you will feel more sure of yourself, and this will help you make a good impression. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'confidence'. This means feeling sure about yourself. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'confidence' because the passage explains that if you are well prepared for your interview, you will feel more confident. This confidence helps you to present yourself in a good way. When you have confidence, it affects how others see you in the interview. |
| Q16 | website | Visit the website and read any materials that you have been sent. | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage talks about preparing for an interview. It suggests that you should visit the company's website to find information and read any materials they sent you. Answer Explanation: The answer 'website' means the online page or site where a company shares information about itself. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'website' because the excerpt specifically says to visit the 'website' to gather information about the company. This is important to prepare well for your interview. |
| Q17 | duties | Ask for a job description or specification. This will tell you the duties that go with the job | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says to ask for a job description. This description will explain the tasks you need to do if you get the job. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'duties'. This means the things you have to do for a job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'duties' because the text tells you to check the job description to find out what tasks or responsibilities are involved in the job you applied for. 'Duties' is a word that describes these tasks. |
| Q18 | charity | You can also outline any voluntary work you have done for a charity, or any experience of paid work in an unrelated sector | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you should mention any voluntary work for a charity. This means you should tell them about any unpaid work you did to help others, which shows your willingness and experience. Answer Explanation: The answer 'charity' means a group that helps people in need, often with money or support. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'charity' because the passage mentions that you should be ready to talk about unpaid help you have given. This unpaid help is usually done for charities, which are organizations that help others without making a profit. |
| Q19 | ambitions | Interviewers are also looking for someone who is likely to stay with the organisation and progress within it. Prepare to answer questions about your ambitions for the future | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that interviewers want to find someone who will stay at the company and grow, and they will ask about your ambitions, which means your future goals. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'ambitions'. This means your goals or hopes for your future career. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ambitions' because the passage talks about preparing to answer questions about your future goals, which are called your ambitions. It explains that interviewers want to know if you have plans for your career and how you want to grow in your job. |
| Q20 | gaps | You may also be asked to account for gaps in your career history, if you have any | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you might need to explain gaps in your work history. This means talking about times when you were not working and what you learned during those times. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'gaps'. It means spaces or holes in your work history, like times when you didn't work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'gaps' because the passage mentions that you may be asked to explain gaps in your career history. It suggests being positive about what you learned during those times. |
| Q21 | salary | Don't ask about salary unless you have been offered the job | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you should not talk about money you earn until you are sure that you got the job. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'salary'. This means the money you earn from your job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'salary' because the passage says, 'Don't ask about salary unless you have been offered the job.' This means asking about how much money you will earn should wait until later, after you get a job offer. |
| Q22 | competitors | Now look at your competitors. What is different about what you will be doing and how will you persuade people to come to you instead of going to someone who is already established | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you should see who your competitors are. This means finding out about other businesses that sell what you want to sell and figuring out how your business is different. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'competitors'. This means other businesses that sell similar things. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'competitors' because the passage talks about looking at other businesses that are selling the same product or service you want to sell. It asks you to think about what makes your business different and how you can attract customers away from those competitors. |
| Q23 | delivery | Will your delivery system be direct or through shops | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage asks if you will send your products directly to customers or use shops to help you. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'delivery'. It means how you will bring your product to the customers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'delivery' because the passage talks about different ways to reach customers. This includes how you will send or bring the products to them, which is what 'delivery' refers to. |
| Q24 | premises | Do you need to look for premises or can you work from home | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage is asking if you need to find a location or if you can work from your own home. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'premises.' This means the place where a business operates. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'premises' because the passage talks about deciding if you need a place to work for your business. It asks you to think if you need to look for a premises or if you can work from home. |
| Q25 | law | The law regulates how companies are run and you need to set aside the time to ace that this is done properly, in relation to issues like accounting, insurance and tax | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage means that there are official rules (law) that tell companies how to operate correctly, especially about money matters like accounting and taxes. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'law.' This means the rules that companies must follow. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'law' because the passage says that there are rules that companies have to follow, including accounting, insurance, and tax. These rules help to manage how a business operates. |
| Q26 | costs | you need to make sure you build in all your costs | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says that you must think about all the money you will spend. Answer Explanation: The answer means the money you need to spend to run your business. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'costs' because in the passage, it talks about how important it is to calculate all the money you will spend when deciding how much to charge for your products. This shows that 'costs' are a necessary part of starting and managing a business. |
| Q27 | funding | If you think you will need to find some funding to help get the business off the ground, how much will you need and who will you approach to get it | Excerpt/Passage Explanation: The passage says you might need to find money to help your business begin. It asks how much money you need and who you will ask for it. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'funding', which means money you need to start your business. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'funding' because the passage talks about needing money to get your business started. It mentions that you should consider how much money you will need and who will provide it. This shows that funding is important for starting a business. |