Full video

0:08

Hi Sarah!

0:09

I’m Marcia Boardman – we spoke on the phone...

0:11

Oh yes, I remember – I was having a bad day!

0:14

...and this is Philip Hart, our CEO.

0:16

Hello!

0:17

Hello, it’s very nice to meet you both.

0:21

It says on your CV that you do voluntary work...

0:26

Well, when I have time, yes!

0:28

I do work at a centre for children with difficulties, yes...

0:31

That must be very interesting...

0:33

It’s rewarding and challenging.

0:36

Sarah, can you tell us a little bit about your current position?

0:39

Sarah: I’m assistant sales director for a chain of language schools.

0:43

So this post would be quite a change then...

0:46

I don’t think so honestly because the skills are the same, despite the product.

0:50

Why are you thinking of moving on?

0:53

Well I’ve come as far as I can in my current position, I feel and I’m 28 now and would

0:59

love to take on some more responsibility.

1:02

Ok, let’s move on to managing people.

1:05

Can you give us an example of when you had to deal with a particularly difficult managee?

1:09

Well, yes, I had two people working for me who didn’t get along at all – they had

1:16

no shared values, different temperaments – and they used to argue a lot, it looked like it

1:22

was impossible for them to work together.

1:24

So, I sat down with them, and we talked about their differences and their problems and after

1:31

that, things went much more smoothly!

1:33

How would you deal with a rapidly changing and uncertain global market?

1:38

Ok, that’s actually something I wanted to talk about in my presentation...but I’d

1:43

say to stay flexible and to diversify markets and sales strategies.

1:48

It says on your CV you speak French and Spanish.

1:52

Yes, I do.

1:53

I lived in both France and Spain for a while.

1:57

Any plans to learn other languages?

1:59

I’d love to try!

2:01

Ok, can you tell us about a time you had to close a particularly challenging deal?

2:06

Well, the biggest contract I won - and the thing I’m most proud of professionally - was

2:11

with a large university in India, to provide language training.

2:15

The contract was full of technicalities and the client was very picky!

2:20

– But I still pulled it off.

2:22

Ok – do you have any questions for us?

2:26

Yes - about your ethical policy and your carbon footprint...I was wondering whether you are

2:32

planning to reduce your carbon footprint and whether all your products are ethically sourced?

2:38

That’s a very good question...and that’s something we’re moving towards at the moment...

2:43

Ok, well, let’s move on to the presentation...