What a Hiring Director Actually Hears
Grammar: Hedging language contrasted with direct/assertive register
A Business English English lesson exploring work.
What's in this lesson
A Business English ESL lesson on work, practising hedging language contrasted with direct/assertive register. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: What a Hiring Director Actually Hears
"I can usually tell in the first ten minutes," says Tim Sackett, president of HRU Technical Resources and a long-time voice in talent acquisition circles. "Not from the answers. From the gaps between them." Sackett has written and spoken publicly for over a decade about hiring, and he is blunt about one thing: most candidates over-hedge when they should be direct, and bluff confidence when they should admit doubt.
Vocabulary
- back up
- dig deeper
- go on
- open up
- cultural fit
- read between the lines
- red flag
- track record
- voice
Grammar
- Hedging softener
- I might have handled that differently. — softens a claim, avoids full responsibility
- Direct admission
- I got that wrong, and here's what I changed. — owns the mistake, builds trust
Discussion questions
- Have you noticed how some people sound confident even when they're wrong?
- Why do you think employers ask about your weaknesses?
- Have you ever changed your mind about someone after one conversation?
What a Hiring Director Actually Hears
Grammar: Hedging language contrasted with direct/assertive register
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
Sign up to access full lesson plans
Start with a free trial — 5 lesson generations included
Get Started Free