Conversation between 2 Professors Discussing the Various Aspects of Recruiting - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

IELTS Listening section comprises a total of 40 questions. Candidates get to hear the audio only once, and then answer 10 questions in each IELTS listening section. This topic - A conversation between 2 professors discussing the various aspects of recruiting is IELTS Listening part 3. The candidates need to answer the following IELTS listening question types:

• Sentence completion
• Identifying information

Audio Transcript:

You will hear a conversation between the professor, Sandra and Mike.

First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 30.

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 30.

Professors: Good morning. Now this term we've looked at various aspects of Recruitment and you can now see how much more there is to it than just putting applicants. Through a short interview while reading CVS. Now today's tutorial is just to recap some of the main points regarding recruitment. I'd like you to imagine that you are managers and we will discuss how different applicants would fit into the team or group they have to work with we'll look at some examples later. You can select someone even a friend who has all the right qualifications then you can also check that they have a lot of experience that they've done the sort of tasks that you want them to do in your company,

Sandra: but you need to know if they have the right character don't you?

Professor: Precisely Sandra if they start work and you realize that they just don't get along with everybody else.

Mike: You've got a problem?

Professor: Exactly Mike exactly. They might have contrasting views on how to do something. They might not be able to get on with other members of your team.

Sandra: Even adding one person to a team can change the whole group dynamic can't it?

Professor: Absolutely. This could be particularly true with someone who is particularly outgoing or outspoken

Sandra: Could company training reduce the possibility of this happening?

Professor: Possibly but company training tends to show new people how you do something at a particular company rather than changing a person's character to suit your company. There is also a question of ability particularly in a team situation. People have to believe in each other's ability to do the tasks the boss has given. They have to trust that everyone will do their part of the job.

Sandra: Right. But trying to find out what someone's personality is in a job interview is, well, is it possible? I mean, you won't find out what they're really like until they actually start work.

Professor: Well, is there any value in asking candidates questions about their hobbies, for example.

Sandra: I doubt it. What could that tell you?

Professor: I don't know. It could tell you something about their personality whether they are outgoing for example, most people involved in recruitment would argue that it does tell you something. More and more employers around the world are making use of personality questionnaires to help them select new staff.

Mike: Yes, you mentioned those in the last lecture. Do they work?

Professor: Well, most employers use them. But there is concern that they do not reveal the applicant’s true personality.

Sandra: Yes, some people might just write the answers that they think the employer wants.

Professor: that's true. Very often employers can weed out the applicants who do that by asking more detailed questions during the interview.

Mike: The fact that they have been used for so long and that they are so widely used makes me think that there must be something in them.

Sandra: Well, I'm not so sure just because they're used a lot that doesn't automatically mean that they are useful or worthwhile.

Professor: True. But these tests have been created by experts and they believe that the answers can provide indicators as to roughly the type of person that the applicant is.

Sandra: How about the idea of setting problems for applicants and seeing how they approach them?

Professor: I like that idea, but the problems need to be simple since there's not much time to prepare a full answer. In addition, the applicant doesn't have much background knowledge of the way that the company does things.

Sandra: It's a good idea, but may not always be practical. Usually it is though.

Professor: I'll need convincing. Let's move on to take a look at...

Section 3

Questions 21-30
Questions 21-26

Complete the sentences using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each gap.

21. The professor wants the students to pretend that they are ________________.

Answer: managers

Explanation: The conversation started with the professor wanting the students to pretend that they are managers in order to understand the scenario.

Also check:

22. Sandra points out that recruiters need to know if people have the right ____________________ not just qualifications and experience.

Answer: character

Explanation: While explaining, Sandra pointed out that apart from experiences and qualifications, the person’s character also needs to be considered while hiring.

23. Sandra also points out that a new person can change the _______________________.

Answer: (whole) group dynamic

Explanation: Sandra also pointed out that a single person’s addiction can cause changes in the whole group dynamic, especially if the person is outspoken and dynamic.

24. The professor says that ___________________ doesn’t usually have an effect on a person’s character.

Answer: company training

Explanation: The professor told that company training tends to show how a person needs to do their job rather than changing their character.

25. Mike says that in a __________________ employees have to trust each people to do their job.

Answer: team situation

Explanation: Mike said that during a team situation, the employees need to trust each other for doing the job their boss has assigned.

26. Mike thinks that asking people about their ___________________ can tell you something about them.

Answer: hobbies

Explanation: Mike states that a person’s hobbies can tell a lot about them, whether they are outgoing or an introvert, and more.

Questions 27-28

Choose the correct answer and write answers next 27-28 on your answer sheet.

Which two people are most in favor of personality questionnaires?

1. The professor
2. Sandra
3. Mike

Answer: A and C

Explanation: It is Mike and the professor who believes in personality questionnaires for selecting new employees.

Questions 29-30

Which two people are most in favor of setting the applicant’s problems?

1. The professor
2. Sandra
3. Mike

Answer: A and B

Explanation: Both the professor and Sandra believe in setting the applicant’s problems.