Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 548
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST 548 – PASSAGE – 2
IELTS GENERAL READING TEST – 548
READING PASSAGE – 2
How to succeed at an online interview
Nowadays, more and more employers are saving money and time by interviewing prospective staff online. Just when jobseekers thought they knew how to ace an interview, the rules changed. This is our guide to landing your dream job, even if the interview is online.
Dress for success
Wear professional attire, unless you are sure the company has a casual dress policy. Even if that is the case, it is better to err on the side of caution. If employees usually wear jeans and T-shirts to work, it is still risky to do so at an interview as it gives the impression that you have not made an effort. It might not be necessary for men to wear a tie with a suit, but don’t go more casual than that.
IELTS General Reading Test
Check the technology
Even if you have used the video call platform many times before, check the link sent by the company interviewing you as soon as possible. This will give you time to contact them if there is anything wrong. Don’t forget to check your microphone and camera are in good working order and your internet connection is reliable. If in doubt, ask a friend or family member with good internet if you can use their device or Wi-Fi connection.
Practise answering questions
It is a good idea to look up common interview questions for the field you work in and develop answers for them. Nowadays, ‘tell us about a time when… questions are popular because they elicit very specific examples from candidates. These are the toughest ones to handle without preparation. Think about some key events from your career which demonstrate teamwork, customer service, time management, goal orientation or whatever skills and competencies you are likely to be asked to show evidence of. Certain projects or accomplishments could be tailored to several different tell us about…’ questions.
The advantage of being online is that you can discreetly refer to notes, so make the most of this opportunity and have screen notes or a notebook to hand.
IELTS General Reading Test
Be and appear relaxed
Interviews are rarely relaxed situations but if your interview is online, it is easier to create a relaxed atmosphere. Try lighting some fragranced candles, for example, or surround yourself with family photos. Make yourself a cup of herbal tea and use cushions to ensure you are comfortable and sitting up straight. At home, you will be able to take deep breaths before you begin without being observed. Whether online or in person, smiling, breathing steadily and speaking slowly are all good ways to avoid seeming nervous.
Be aware of your body language
Even in an online interview, body language matters. Look into the camera and make eye contact with the interviewer. It may be a good idea to have a trial run with a friend so that you identify the best part of the screen to focus on. Practise active listening when the interviewer is talking, by nodding and smiling when appropriate.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 15-20
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the text for each answer.
15. Don’t dress casually-avoid ………………..
16. Make sure equipment such as ……………….. are functioning.
17. Prepare to share some ……………….. of achievements in your career to answer ‘tell us about…’ questions.
18. Establish a ……………….. at home so that you don’t feel or appear anxious.
19. It might take practice to know how to maintain ……………….. during online conversations.
20. Demonstrate ……………….. by nodding and smiling at the speaker.
IELTS General Reading Test
Read the text below and answer questions 21-27.
Jinadasa Electrics-Employee Code of Conduct
Dress code
Customer facing roles require formal office attire. This means a suit and tie for men and a skirt/trouser suit or similar smart dress for women. Jackets and ties may be removed when not in contact with customers.
Employees in back-office roles may wear smart casual attire if preferred. However, the following items are not permitted: ripped jeans, shorts, slogan T-shirts, flip-flops.
Use of technology
This policy applies to all employees (including temporary employees) who use company devices and IT systems (‘users’).
The company provides technology to users for the purpose of fulfilling their job responsibilities. Users are expected to exercise good judgment and professionalism in the use of all company technology.
Occasional personal use of company technology is permissible as long as it does not interfere with workplace productivity. Workers must not:
IELTS General Reading Test
– download films, games, or music
– access illegal sites
– use the company’s technology for commercial purposes
– send unsolicited emails
Users should be aware that all use of company technology is subject to monitoring. Users have no right to privacy with respect to their use of technology belonging to the company.
All members of staff must ensure that laptops, mobile devices, and desktop computers are protected by lock screen passwords of between 8 and 12 characters in length and that screens are set to lock within 10 minutes of inactivity.
Company laptops, phones or other devices must be kept securely and not shared with anyone outside the company, including family members.
IELTS General Reading Test
Break policy
The company operates a flexible break policy. On a normal day, staff may take an hour for lunch and leave at 5pm or half an hour early if they wish to leave at 4.30. In exceptional circumstances, staff may finish at 4pm provided they make up the time
Staff using computers are encouraged to take a short screen break every hour.
Tea/coffee breaks may be taken at the employee’s discretion. The company believes that it is beneficial for staff to informally interact with each other to build rapport and create a relaxed working environment. As such, breaks are generally not monitored by management, except in the case of trainees. Those on the graduate scheme, however, are exempt.
IELTS General Reading Test
Questions 21-27
Use NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the text for each answer.
21. What kind of clothes should employees who interact with the public wear?
22. What kind of footwear is banned in the workplace?
23. What is the minimum length of an employee’s password?
24. How long can a computer be out of use before the password needs to be re-entered?
25. What is the earliest employees can leave on a regular basis?
26. How often should computer operators spend a little time away from their device?
27. What kind of employees have their break times checked by senior staff?
IELTS General Reading Test
ANSWERS
15. JEANS AND T-SHIRTS
16. MICROPHONE AND CAMERA
17. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
18. RELAXED ATMOSPHERE
19. EYE CONTACT
20. ACTIVE LISTENING
21. (FORMAL) OFFICE ATTIRE
22. FLIP-FLOPS
23. 8 / EIGHT CHARACTERS
24. 10 / TEN MINUTES
25. 4.30 (PM) / HALF-PAST FOUR
26. EVERY HOUR
27. TRAINEES