English for Freelancers: Upskilling

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MODULE 1: SELF-STUDY 1 Difficult questions

In this module, we’ll be looking in detail at formal job interviews.

If you apply for traditional jobs, you will have a formal interview. You may also have difficult interviews as a freelancer. Also, some of the questions you’ll see are similar to the Additional Questions in job posts that you saw in Module 4.

Here are some typical interview questions. Which one is the most difficult?

You don’t need to prepare or practise answering easy interview questions.

Job interviewers, sometimes called recruiters, will usually move on to the hard questions next. One group of difficult questions is called behavioural questions.

At the beginning of this lesson you saw this question: Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it? This is an example of a behavioural question because it is about something you did – in other words, your behaviour.

Here are some example behavioural questions for you to think about. You can make notes of your ideas for answering them on the next slide if you want to. You’ll learn how to answer them in Self-study 3 in this module. What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years and how did you come to that decision? Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict at work. What was the last project you led, and what was its outcome? Can you describe a time when your work was criticised? Tell me about a time you disagreed with a decision. What did you do?

MODULE 1: SELF-STUDY 2 Language for buying time and avoiding negatives

In which two questions does the interviewee buy time by saying That’s an interesting/a good question? Go back and watch the video again if you need to.

Don’t forget to use difficult questions to show something positive about yourself. Employers ask questions like What are your weaknesses? or Tell me about a time you failed at something or Have you ever had any complaints? But, instead of showing yourself in a negative way, tell them about a time you learned something or turned a bad situation into a good one. Watch the video again if you want to see how the interviewee does this for question 3: Has a client ever complained or not paid you?

MODULE 1: SELF-STUDY 3 What is the STAR interview technique?

You have heard examples of difficult questions, especially behavioural questions. You’ve also learned some strategies to give yourself time to think or avoid directly answering a question. Now it’s time to learn how to give good answers to difficult questions.

What is the STAR technique?

Which four words make up the STAR technique?

Which five verbs are power verbs you can use for describing your actions?

MODULE 1: PRACTICE Are you ready to review this module?

Use what you learned this module to answer questions in an interview for a new project.

You submitted a proposal to work on a project. The company has asked to meet you before they make a decision.

You agree to attend an online interview.

You'll need to: buy time answer behavioural questions use the STAR technique

OK. You're not sure how to answer.

Buy a little more time...

OK. You have all the elements of a good answer. But you can structure the answer better.

Take a sip of water to think about it...

MODULE 2: SELF-STUDY 1 Lifelong learning

You’ve almost finished this course. The course was a general, short introduction to being a freelancer. But finishing the course doesn’t mean you’ll stop learning.

Lifelong learning is an important part of career development. Next, you’ll look at upskilling and networking. These things will be part of your journey as a lifelong learner.

First you’re going to watch a video of Martin, an employer, and Runna, a freelancer. They're talking about how to **keep improving **after you begin your freelance career. As you watch, think about the answer to this question: What ideas do they mention?

Which two ideas do they talk about?

Martin thinks you should learn how social media platforms work because …

MODULE 2: SELF-STUDY 2 Introduction to LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a professional social media platform. It has several functions: It is a place where you can create a public profile of who you are, what you do and your work history, like a CV. Employers post job ads on it. It is a place to share content about your industry and your work. It is a place to build a professional network by making ‘connections’.

What do you already know about LinkedIn? Select three answers.

When you create an account on LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to let it sync to your email address book.

There are a few ways to be active on LinkedIn. Being active is a good way of promoting yourself and what you do. LinkedIn is a good place to be active because millions of LinkedIn users are executives. Some of them are responsible for hiring workers.

LinkedIn has a ‘feed’ similar to other social media sites. You'll find it on the ‘Home’ tab of your LinkedIn. You can share status updates about what you’re doing and articles. You can find articles online for good ideas of things to post.

You can search for and join groups that match your professional interests. You can share interesting articles, comment on things that other people share and have public conversations. It isn’t a good idea to promote yourself or your services directly in the groups. But other people in the group might see and remember you, so it is another way of networking.

MODULE 2: SELF-STUDY 3 Elevator pitches

Imagine you step into an elevator (a lift in British English) and inside is someone important. Perhaps a CEO of a company that you’d like to work with, or an investor, or a potential client.

As the elevator doors close, you have a short time to introduce yourself before this important person reaches their floor and is gone forever. This introduction is called an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch doesn’t have to be in an elevator, of course! It means a short presentation of yourself in any kind of networking situation.

What are the two things an elevator pitch should be or do?

Record yourself giving an elevator pitch like Nour's. Use the same problem-solution structure. Make notes first, and practise your pitch. When you’re able to do it confidently and without making mistakes, record yourself on your phone. Make sure that your camera is in the right position and that there is enough light, just like you learned in Module 9.

Peter gives a lot more information about himself and exactly what he does for work. As a result, it’s more like a** classic introduction **and less like a sales pitch. Both Nour and Peter’s approaches are possible and you can even mix the two. For example, Nour could add more details about what she does. Peter could add some problem-solution ideas to his. Now try recording another elevator pitch in the style of Peter’s.

Peter’s introduction is very useful in a face-to-face situation. However, it is very direct and most similar to the way Americans introduce themselves. He gives his name straight away and other information about himself. To other cultures, it may seem too direct.

Even many British people, who can be quite similar to Americans in many ways, would find it hard to be so direct. British people often prefer to leave their name out of the conversation completely. At the end they may say ‘Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.’ as a way of exchanging names.

Introducing yourself in the right way face-to-face can be something different cultures have very different ideas about.

It’s good to introduce yourself to someone by saying something nice about them, or describing how you know them.

MODULE 2: PRACTICE Are you ready to review this module?

Use what you learned this module to solve freelance challenges.

This is Kassim. He's just become a freelancer. He asks you for advice.