Describe A Meeting You Remember Going To At Work, College or School
Sample AnswerI remember when I went in for my first day at work, and it felt like no one was there. Thankfully the office manager came in shortly after I did and gave me a tour. There were three other employees in the office when she took me to meet them, two assistants, and an intern just getting started with their placement here.
The initial meeting was about one hour and memorable because there were only four people present at the meeting and no tech managers. Not what I expected for the headquarters of a wireless tech company! The office manager told me that the company has two tech managers who travel wherever needed. From my understanding, these techs do not work full-time at this particular location but rather visit on an as-needed basis. So it can be challenging to start working with someone right away.
After that initial meeting, most other meetings were held online via Google Hangouts or Zoom. Online meetings proved beneficial for all parties because there was no need to wait weeks for the next meeting. We could also access the video sessions from anywhere, which furthered my experience with their technology.
The training that I received was straightforward and very necessary because it offered me an up-to-date perspective on how they manage their hardware and software in a large multinational company. Every new full time employee must go through this training, so even though it took several weeks to complete, once completed, you can troubleshoot any issues along with your peers or superiors. One of the best parts about this training is that it is online.
The L&H Internship was what they said it would be: three months of learning how everything works at L&H Wireless Technologies (L&H). The training came with some frustration because you wait weeks before meeting anyone directly related to your job description.
Also, my exit interview/meeting was memorable because it was the first time someone asked what I thought of my experience at L&H. The review was honest and respectful. Even though I felt like they were trying to get more dirt on the company, it also seemed genuine.
The L&H Internship Program is no joke; you are thrown into the workforce immediately! They expect you to know what you're doing and how everything works inside the website, which can be overwhelming quickly if you don't pay attention in training sessions. Some interns come back every year so keep that in mind when choosing this internship. I would recommend this internship to anyone who likes working hard towards something greater than yourself!
This IELTS speaking cue card question asks you to describe a meeting you remeber going to at work, college or school. You should aim to talk about the topic for one to two minutes.
Describe a meeting you remember going to at work, college or school
- where and when did the meeting take place?- who attended the meeting?
- what was the purpose of the meeting?
and explain why the meeting was memorable.
Candidate Task Card - IDP Education Australia & British Council
Describe a meeting you remember going to at work, college or school
IELTS Cue Card Sample AnswerI remember a meeting I went to about 3 months ago in particular, because it was a very long one and a lot of people were getting stressed out during it.
The meeting took place at work, in the conference room. We all gathered to discuss some possible difficulties with a very important project we were working on.
There were several people present at the meeting; higher executives, the head designer, company accountant, project manager and me and my boss, one of the main project engineers.
Basically, one of the projects we had been working on faced some serious issues. The project was overdue and had exceeded the initial budget agreed because of issues with material suppliers and sub-contractors assigned to do some of the work.
The worst thing about that particular project was that it was for our most important client.
I think that’s why the directors were present at the meeting, because it was causing problems for potential new projects that we were trying to obtain from the same client.
So, the consequences of not delivering the project as promised could have had serious long term effect for the company as a whole.
The meeting started with an update of what had been completed so far and the unexpected problems encountered and already solved.
The project manager and design engineer presented some information about some existing problems and some possible ways of how they could be solved.
The accountant took her turn to explain various aspects of the budget and how costs had exceeded the project budget so far, and the final part of the meeting was all about forming an action plan to get the project back on track and hopefully recover some of the overspending in the final stages of the project.
As I said, I remember it very well because I don’t think anyone really enjoyed that meeting.
Most people present at the meeting seemed very nervous. Some of them even tried to shift the blame from themselves to other people and departments for the delay in delivering the project to the client and budget overruns.
It was one of the worst meetings I’ve ever attended. However, eventually we solved many of the oustanding issues so it was certainly productive even though the meeting lasted for over 5 hours.
I think if we hadn’t organized it so that everyone at meeting talked together and finally hashed out all the problems, the entire project might have been a disaster.
I don’t normally like meetings, but going to this meeting was one example of just how important it can be to get everyone involved in something together at least once to discuss all the different aspects and reach a decision point to come up with workable solutions which can then be actioned.
How would you answer this interview question about a meeting you remember going to at work, college or school?
Follw-up Questions About Meetings
Why can it sometimes be important to go to meetings?
Model Answer:
There can be several reasons why attending a meeting can be important.
For example, if you are a team member, attending team meetings can help ensure that you are up-to-date on the team goals and progress.
Additionally, meetings can provide an opportunity to give input and feedback on various projects.
Lastly, meetings can be a chance to socialize and build relationships with colleagues.
What are some ways of organising meetings?
Model Answer:
There are a few different ways of organising meetings.
One way is to have everyone in the meeting agree on a final agenda for the meeting beforehand. This way, everyone knows what they need to discuss and can come prepared with questions or comments.
Another way of organising a meeting is to have a moderator who keeps track of time and ensures that everyone gets a chance to speak. A moderator can be especially helpful in large meetings or when several people with different viewpoints are present.
Finally, it’s also important to consider logistics when organising a meeting, such as finding a suitable location and making sure that everyone has the necessary materials.
Have you ever been called to a sudden meeting?
Model Answer:
I have, and sudden meetings can be frustrating if you're unprepared. Whether an impromptu meeting with your boss or a last-minute conference call, being caught off guard can make it difficult to contribute to the discussion.
What factors influence greatly a positive outcome from a meeting?
Answer:
Preparation is key to any successful meeting, whether it's planned or a meeting held without warning.
Knowing the purpose of the meeting, who will be in attendance, and what topics will be discussed allows you to contribute effectively to the conversation.
Having an agenda for the meeting can also help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the discussion stays focused.
Have you ever attended a meeting that greatly influenced you?
Sample Answer:
Yes, I have attended several meetings that positively impacted me. One important meeting, in particular, was a meeting with my boss to discuss my career goals. This meeting helped clarify what I wanted to do with my life and how to achieve my goals. It also showed me the importance of planning and preparation for meetings.
What are some things that help make effective meeting agendas?
Answer:
Several things can help create an effective final agenda for a meeting.
First, have a clear purpose for the meeting to ensure everyone is on the same page and stays focused.
Second, have a list of topics to cover during the meeting. A list will help keep things organized and on track.
Finally, allow time for each person to share their ideas and input. Doing so ensures that everyone feels like they are being heard and their ideas considered.
Questions About Arranging Meetings
- How do you make sure everyone can attend an important meeting?
- Do you need to take minutes during a meeting?
- What is the best way to keep everyone on track during a meeting?
- How do you make sure that meetings are productive and not a waste of time when they are a quite frequent event at work?
- What online collaborative tools can people use when arranging meetings?
Questions about international meetings
- How do you account for time differences when arranging international meetings?
- Do you need to consider language barriers when arranging an international meeting?
- What other cultural considerations should international leaders or world leaders take into account when arranging an international meeting?
FAQs
How to describe a meeting?
At a meeting, people come together to discuss issues or make decisions. There are many different types of meetings, but they all have one thing in common: the participants share a common purpose. Meetings can be formal or informal and may take place in person or virtually. Whether planning a small team meeting or a large conference, it's vital to understand the different types of meetings and how to run them effectively.
Different types of meetings include:
- Status meetings: These meetings are held to update everyone on the current status of a project or initiative.
- Progress meetings: Similar to status meetings, these meetings are held to track progress and discuss any issues that have arisen.
- Brainstorming sessions: These meetings are held to generate new ideas or solve problems.
- Planning meetings: These meetings are held to develop plans or strategies.
- Review meetings: These meetings are held to assess progress and provide feedback.
To run an effective meeting, you need to do three things: prepare in advance, manage the time effectively, and keep everyone focused on the task at hand.
How to describe a conference?
A conference is a large meeting of people who share a common interest. Conferences are typically held to allow attendees to network, learn about new developments in their field, and hear from experts. Conference sizes can vary from a few dozen people to several thousand, and they can be in-person or online events.
Some examples of different types of conferences:
- Academic conferences: Typically held by universities or professional organizations to allow scholars to share their research with others in their field.
- Business conferences: Businesses use conferences as a way to promote their products or services, network with other businesses, and learn about industry trends.
- Trade shows: Trade shows are similar to business conferences, but they focus specifically on buying and selling products.
- Fan conventions: Fans of TV shows, movies, books, or video games often hold conventions where they can meet other fans and discuss their interests.
Can you talk about the time you led an important meeting?
Once, I was in a meeting where I had to lead and it was really important. The meeting went great, and I was able to communicate effectively with the other participants. I made sure that everyone was on the same page and that we were all able to accomplish our goals.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the progress of a project that we were working on. I made sure to go over the goals that we had set and to update everyone on the progress that we had made. I also took questions from the other participants and addressed any concerns that they had.
Overall, it was a successful meeting and we were able to move forward with the project with a better vision of the desired outcome.