You should always prepare for an interview whether you are about to face a traditional question-and-answer interview or a behavioral interview. There are things you can do before a behavioral interview that will put you at ease,make you feel and look more confident and make you stand out from the competition.

The first thing you must try to do is determine what competencies（技能）the prospective employer is looking for in a candidate（申请者）. Carefully read through the job announcement even  if you've already done this. It usually includes clues about the type of candidate the employers are seeking. This information may simply be listed under job requirements or it may be hidden within the list of job duties. If it's the latter,you will have to figure out what competencies are needed to perform those duties.

Another way to learn what competencies the employer desires is to talk to a recruiter（招聘人员） if you get through one. You should also use your network to connect with people who know about the prospective employer and you will know what qualities he most values.

If you cant get definitive answers about the particular position for which you are applying, try to make some educated guesses about the qualities needed for similar jobs.

You can consult job announcements for similar positions to find out what qualities other employers are seeking.

Once you have figured out what competencies the employer wants, you will have to come up with specific examples of how you used them. Try to answer some of the sample questions that follow. Do not be unclear in your responses. You will have to give enough information to prove that you possess a particular competency.

   My stay in America was a unique opportunity for me to expose myself to the American culture and see the diversity of people’s lives there.

Blacks, whites, Latinos, and Asians all are in one country, all are equal, and all know it is their home, where they have found or are still seeking for their American Dream. It was amazing to be part of the culture though for one year. It was interesting to learn that the North of America is different from the South and that the West varies from the East, such as the difference in people, in their perception of life and in their attitude toward each other, the respect for the family and their roots, and of course the history of their lands. Being in about nine states in the US, from the East to the West, I could see and learn the difference first-hand.

Before going to the US, I didn’t know much about the difference between the northern states and the southern ones. I didn’t know that the majority of the population living in California are Latinos, and that every second person that one sees speaks Spanish. I didn’t know that understanding the native speaker in New York is going to be harder than understanding someone from Atlanta, Georgia, either.

When people ask me about the US, I say, “You wouldn’t know. My America is different from that in the Hollywood movies. The America I was in is quiet, small, peaceful, supportive, and unique. ”

I have made a lot of friends in America, not only from the country itself, but also from many other countries. I never had a chance to be bored and never lacked an opportunity to learn about people’s cultures.

America unites a variety of people on its land. It is like music bringing people together on the dance floor.

I'm glad to share my experience of being a volunteer teacher for the Rural Education Support Project.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours,

Li Hua

   All of my friends had jobs but I didn’t. That’s because they had a “hook up”. At times, I wished I had a hook up! If I did, I wouldn’t have to go through all those nervous interviews, or waste my ink on those applications that probably got thrown.

One day I asked my grandmother, “Why does no one want to hire me?” She said it was because I didn’t have any experience. How was I supposed to have experience when I’d never had a job before? Even McDonald’s wouldn’t hire me. I applied there so many times. It was a shame.

The Gap was one of the hardest places to apply. Once you filled out an application, the managers would interview you right on the spot. It made me so nervous that I couldn’t talk right. The first question they asked was, “Why do you want to work for the Gap?” Your mind was telling you to say, “For the money.” But you didn’t want to say that because you didn’t want to make yourself sound greedy, even if it’s the truth. So I said, “Because I’m familiar with what the company does, which is selling clothes.”

However, not for long there was another question that always seemed to get me every time, “What can you bring to this company?” I didn’t know, maybe more customers? By the time I got ready to pick it up, I heard them say, “If we don’t contact you in 24 hours, you don’t get the job.”

But if I was asked that question now, I would say, “I’m a hard worker and a very reliable person, and with these kinds of abilities I cannot only do a good job, but I can influence other employees to do so too.”

Despite all the bad luck I seemed to have, I didn’t give up. Eventually, I finally found a summer job.

There are basically two ways to get work 【小题1】 (finish). One is to work individually. In this way, people can decide for 【小题2】 (them) when to start work and how to do it. What’s more, they will be able to learn how 【小题3】 (solve) problems on their own.

People may also choose to work in a team, 【小题4】 they can learn from each other 【小题5】 help each other. Besides, they may work 【小题6】 better ways to get work done by 【小题7】 (discuss).

Personally, I prefer to work in a team rather than work individually, which 【小题8】 (offer) me a chance to learn how to get along with others and to share my experience with them. As the work can 【小题9】 (divide) among several people, it can be done 【小题10】 (efficient). As the old saying goes, unity is strength.