"Job interview with a cat" by Brian Bilston

JOB INTERVIEW WITH A CAT

BRIAN BILSTON

Multiple Choice

"PANTS" means:

• underpants / knickers

• trousers

• Both answers are correct

Tell me, what is it about this position that interests you?
The warmth, perhaps? The security?
Or the power you must feel by rendering me useless?
Feel free to expand if you wish. 

I see you have had experience of similar positions.
Can you talk about a time when you got someone’s tongue?
Or were set amongst the pigeons?
Have you ever found yourself in a bag only then to be let out of it?  

(informal) said to somebody, especially a child, who stays silent when expected to speak, for example after being asked a question

• What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?

​

(has the) cat got your tongue?

(British English) to say or do something that is likely to cause trouble

• Then she told them she was dropping out of college. That really set the cat among the pigeons.

​

put/set the cat among the pigeons

to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake

• I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.

​

let the cat out of the bag

Tell me, how would you feel if you had to walk on hot bricks?
What about a tin roof of similar temperature?
With reference to any of your past lives,
has curiosity ever killed you? 

very nervous

• She was like a cat on a hot tin roof before her driving test.

​

like a cat on a hot tin roof / on hot bricks

(saying) used to tell somebody not to ask questions or try to find out about things that do not involve them

​

curiosity killed the cat

Finally, where do you see yourself in five years?
In the same position? Or higher up to catch the sunlight?
Or would you like to be where I am now?
Oh, it appears you already are.

Poll

Did you like the poem?

• Yes

• No

Open Ended

Explain why you liked or didn't like it.

Open Ended

How would you feel during a job interview? What job would you apply for? What are your interests? And, finally, what would you like to do in your future?