THAT · THIS · WHICH · WHAT
Recruitment Interviews & Candidate Evaluation
GrammarReference & cohesion
ContextInterviews
SpeakingCandidate + recruiter
OutcomeC1 evaluation
🧭 Grammar Map
THAT
Нужная информация о noun + that-clause.
The experience that changed me...
I think that she is ready.
WHICH
Things / non-defining clauses / комментарий ко всей предыдущей мысли.
He changed his answer, which raised concerns.
WHAT
What = the thing that.
What impressed me most was...
THIS
Подхватывает предыдущую ситуацию.
This suggests that...
C1 goal: использовать эти слова как инструменты логики и профессионального анализа.
1 · Function Detective
Functions: A = refers to a noun · B = comments on the whole previous idea · C = means “the thing that” · D = refers back to the previous situation.
1. What concerns me is the lack of measurable results.
2. The candidate arrived 20 minutes late, which immediately affected the first impression.
3. The role that we are hiring for requires strong negotiation skills.
4. She managed an international team. This gave her significant cross-cultural experience.
5. The assessment centre, which takes four hours, includes a presentation.
2 · THAT or WHICH?
1. The skills ___ are essential for this role include negotiation and stakeholder management.
2. The final interview, ___ normally lasts about one hour, is conducted by the CEO.
3. The candidate gave a vague answer, ___ made it difficult to evaluate her actual contribution.
4. The examples ___ he provided were highly relevant.
5. Our hiring process, ___ was redesigned this year, now includes a case study.
6. The information ___ we received from the reference check confirmed our concerns.
3 · WHAT or THAT?
1. ___ I found most convincing was the candidate’s ability to quantify results.
2. The experience ___ she described involved managing a major conflict.
3. ___ the interviewer wanted to understand was how the candidate handled pressure.
4. The competencies ___ we are assessing include leadership and adaptability.
5. ___ I would like to explore further is his reason for leaving.
6. The example ___ he gave was too general.
4 · Rewrite with WHAT
1. The most important thing for us is evidence of leadership.
2. The thing I noticed first was her confidence.
3. The main thing we need to clarify is his availability.
4. The most difficult part was evaluating his actual contribution.
5. The thing that impressed me was how clearly she structured her answers.
6. The main issue is the lack of specific examples.
5 · Rewrite with WHICH
1. She gave very detailed examples. This made the interview easier to evaluate.
2. He avoided answering the salary question directly. This created some uncertainty.
3. The candidate had researched the company thoroughly. This made a strong impression.
4. She interrupted the interviewer repeatedly. This affected the overall impression.
5. He changed his availability after the final interview. This delayed the hiring decision.
6 · Build C1 Candidate Answers
What I learned from that experience was...
What I would do differently now is...
The project that taught me the most was...
I had to manage a difficult stakeholder, which...
This experience helped me...
What makes me a strong candidate for this role is...
7 · Recruiter Evaluation Language
What concerns me about this candidate is...
The experience that seems most relevant is...
She gave several strong examples, which...
This suggests that...
What I would like to verify in the next interview is...
The answer that I found least convincing was...
He demonstrated strong ownership, which...
This could become a problem if...
8 · Error Hunt
Incorrect: The candidate which we interviewed yesterday was very strong.
Incorrect: What experience that impressed me most was her international project.
Incorrect: She could not explain her contribution, that made the answer weak.
Incorrect: Our interview process, that includes three stages, usually takes two weeks.
Incorrect: The thing what concerns me is her lack of management experience.
Incorrect: He changed jobs four times in three years. Which makes me question his motivation.
Incorrect: This what I found particularly interesting was his approach to conflict.
Incorrect: The candidate which answers were the most structured received the highest score.
9 · Interview Response Upgrade
Upgrade pattern: basic statement → WHICH consequence → THIS reflection → WHAT lesson.
Model: I managed a difficult project involving several conflicting stakeholders, which forced me to improve my communication style. This experience taught me to address disagreements earlier. What I learned most clearly was the importance of setting expectations from the beginning.
1. I worked with a difficult manager. I learned how to communicate better.
2. I missed a deadline. I changed the way I plan projects.
3. I hired the wrong person once. I learned to ask better interview questions.
4. My team had a conflict. I solved it.
10 · Candidate Interview Role-play
Recruiter
- Tell me about an experience that changed how you work.
- What did you learn from it?
- Tell me about a mistake that you made.
- How did you respond to it, and what happened next?
- Describe a situation in which communication failed.
- What did you do, which improved the situation?
- What is one professional habit that you are trying to improve?
Candidate target
Use at least:
- that × 2
- which × 2
- what × 2
- this × 2
03:00
11 · Recruiter Debrief Game
What impressed me most was...
The example that seemed strongest was...
The candidate mentioned..., which...
This suggests that...
What still concerns me is...
The question that I would ask next is...
Каждый студент даёт 45–60 секунд feedback о кандидате. Следующий продолжает, не повторяя предыдущую мысль.
12 · WHICH Changes Everything
1. The candidate refused to answer the question...
2. The candidate arrived without preparing...
3. She gave very specific metrics...
4. He criticised his previous manager...
5. She admitted that she had made a mistake...
6. He asked several detailed questions about the team...
7. She could not explain her role in the project...
13 · WHAT Matters?
What makes a candidate memorable?
What makes an interview answer convincing?
What do recruiters sometimes misunderstand about candidates?
What do candidates often misunderstand about recruiters?
What makes someone a strong team leader?
What makes you trust a candidate?
What makes you reject a candidate?
What is difficult to evaluate during an interview?
Каждый ответ должен начинаться с What... и длиться 20–30 секунд.
14 · THIS / WHICH Chain
Student 1: The candidate has changed jobs three times in two years.
Student 2: This could suggest that he has difficulty staying in one role.
Student 3: He explained that two companies had closed, which changes the situation.
Student 4: This makes his career history easier to understand.
Student 2: This could suggest that he has difficulty staying in one role.
Student 3: He explained that two companies had closed, which changes the situation.
Student 4: This makes his career history easier to understand.
Продолжайте 3–4 минуты. Каждая новая реплика должна начинаться с This... или заканчиваться через , which....
15 · Final C1 Candidate Evaluation
Speak for 1.5–2 minutes. Use at least: that ×2 · which ×2 · what ×2 · this ×2.
What impressed me most was...
The experience that seemed most relevant was...
The candidate explained that...
She also mentioned..., which...
This suggests that...
What concerns me slightly is...
The example that I would like to explore further is...
Overall, this candidate...
Teacher focus: check not only grammar accuracy but also reference clarity.