Congenial vs. Genial

Congenial vs. Genial â€Å"Congenial† vs. â€Å"Genial† â€Å"Congenial† vs. â€Å"Genial† By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between congenial and genial? They both derive from that Latin term that also developed into genius, but their meanings are mostly distinct. Genial means â€Å"friendly† or â€Å"sympathetic,† or â€Å"mild†; it also describes someone who displays or is marked by genius, but that is a rare usage. Genial can refer to a person (â€Å"She has a genial personality†) or to an inanimate object or phenomenon (â€Å"The weather was genial yesterday†). Although congenial can be synonymous with genial, the connotation is usually one of having a pleasant and/or sociable attitude (â€Å"He is a congenial host†) or being harmonious or of a kindred spirit (â€Å"Their congenial interest in the matter may help them cooperate†). Writers must take care not to introduce an extraneous letter to produce one of two words that, though distantly related to genial and congenial, have nothing to do with the terms or with each other: Genital refers to the sexual organs, and congenital usually refers to diseases or unhealthy psychological features. A congenital physical condition is one that dates or exists from birth or is acquired during gestation and not through heredity; one can also describe someone as having a congenital fear of or obsession about something. People are also sometimes described as being congenital in some aspect of their nature for example, a congenital liar is someone who is habitually deceitful. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Royal Order of Adjectives 40 Fish IdiomsPersonification vs. Anthropomorphism

How To Answer “Why Do You Want To Work Here”

How To Answer â€Å"Why Do You Want To Work Here† This question comes up in so many job interviews. Surprisingly, most people are unprepared to answer it well. Think of this question as another valuable opportunity to show you’ve done your homework on a company, and to show that your ideals and goals are in lockstep with those of the company you’re interviewing with. Don’t just blather on about how they value whatever their mission statement says they value, or praise whatever company culture you’ve been able to glean from their brochures. Have something distinctive to say.Try these strategies and you’ll be in much better shape.1. Word of MouthHave you heard from current or past employees? Now might be the time to mention that you’ve got several contacts who worked there in the past, or friends of friends who work there now. It’s fine to say that you’ve received glowing reports; it makes your interviewer feel good, and it shows you did a bit of sleuthing around!2. Social MediaD oes this company have a particularly winning social media platform? Consider mentioning their engaging use of Facebook, or their badass presence on Twitter. This also shows that you’re engaged,   and with it  enough to be all up on social media.3. CommonalityIf you’ve done your digging and found contacts you know who work there on LinkedIn, for example, and you’ve noticed a particular pattern- something that most employees of that company seem to have in common- then mention it! Show that you’ve taken the time to figure out what the common thread is and then explain how you fit right in with it.4. LeadershipIt’s obviously good to speak favorably about the product or service the company puts out, but it’s even better to comment on their leadership- either within the industry or globally. Talk about their community involvement or philanthropy.5. UniquenessAcknowledge first and foremost what makes the company so unique. Show that youâ€℠¢ve looked into them enough to really understand what it is they’re going for- then compliment them on their success. All the while showing how their uniqueness matches yours perfectly!6. Its Past/FutureTalk about the company’s origins and past achievements†¦ or fast forward to show how well you can think ahead and envision the company’s goals being realized in an ever-changing industry. Show that you’re already invested in the future of the company.7. Get PersonalIf all else fails, tie your appreciation of the company to some aspect of yourself. Be as specific as possible. Have you had a personal interaction with anyone at the company? Now’s the time to start chatting about that. Remember, there’s no right way to answer this, only a few extra bonus points you can score if you answer it well.