Job Interview Basics — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

A: Today: your first job interview in English.

B: How to introduce yourself, talk about your experience, answer the tough questions, and finish well.

A: Listen for these: Tell me about yourself, I have experience in…, strengths and weaknesses, Why should we hire you?, and I look forward to hearing from you.

B: We’ll review them all at the end.

A: Practice today’s phrases in Recursio — link in the description.

B: Let’s start with the morning before the interview.

Before the interview

A: So it’s nine in the morning, my interview is at ten, and my hands are cold. How do I describe that?

B: You say, “I’m nervous.” To be nervous means you feel worried before something important.

A: “I’m nervous.” Or “I’m a little nervous.”

B: Exactly. And it’s a good word to know, because you can even say it in the room: “Sorry, I’m a little nervous.”

A: You can say that out loud? In an interview?

B: You can. People understand. It sounds human, and everyone in that room has been nervous too.

A: That’s comforting. And what’s the goal in the first minute?

B: To make a good impression. It means they like you from the first minute.

A: “To make a good impression.” How do you do that in English?

B: Three simple things. Arrive a few minutes early. Smile and say, “Nice to meet you.” And speak slowly.

A: Slowly? Not fast, to sound fluent?

B: Slowly. Fast English with mistakes is harder to follow than slow English that’s clear.

A: That’s good advice, and it takes the pressure off.

B: It does. Most interviewers care much more about understanding you than about perfect grammar.

Tell me about yourself

A: Okay, I’m in the room. What’s the first question?

B: One of the most common opening questions: “Tell me about yourself.”

A: “Tell me about yourself.” That’s such a big question. Where do I start?

B: Not with your childhood! They want a short professional answer — about a minute.

A: So what goes in that minute?

B: Three parts. What you do now, what you did before, and why you’re here today.

A: Can I hear an example?

B: “I’m a graphic designer. I’ve worked at a small studio for three years, mostly on websites. Now I’d like to work with a bigger team, and that’s why I’m here.”

A: That’s short. And it sounds confident, not like showing off.

B: That’s the balance you want. And there are two phrases that make it easy.

A: Let’s hear them.

B: “I have experience in…” and “I’m good at…”

A: “I have experience in web design.” “I have experience in customer service.”

B: Perfect. And notice the little word after it. Experience IN something. Experience WITH a tool.

A: “I have experience with Excel.” Good. And the second one?

B: “I’m good at…” and then a verb ending in -ing. “I’m good at working with clients.”

A: “I’m good at solving problems.” “I’m good at learning new tools.”

B: Exactly. Those two phrases will carry half your interview.

A: And can I say “I’m the best”?

B: I’d avoid it. In English, quiet confidence sounds stronger than big words.

Strengths and weaknesses

A: Now the famous question. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

B: Yes. A strength is something you do well. A weakness is something you find difficult.

A: “Strengths and weaknesses.” They’re hard words to say, too.

B: They are. Practice them slowly — strengths, weaknesses.

A: So for a strength, I use the phrases we just learned?

B: Exactly. “One of my strengths is that I’m good at organizing my work.”

A: And a weakness? That question always scares me.

B: Choose something real, then say what you do about it. That second part is the whole answer.

A: Can I hear one?

B: “I used to take on too much work at once. Now I plan my week on Monday morning, and it’s much better.”

A: So the message is: I know myself, and I’m working on it.

B: Exactly. Never say “I have no weaknesses” — it sounds strange in any language.

A: And if you want to remember these phrases, save them in Recursio, and it will bring them back before you forget.

B: Now, two more questions people worry about.

The tough questions

A: Okay. Give me the hardest one.

B: “Why should we hire you?” To hire someone means to take them on — to give them the job.

A: “Why should we hire you?” That’s direct.

B: It is. But the answer is simple: connect what they need with what you have.

A: For example?

B: “You’re looking for someone who can work with clients directly. I’ve done that for three years, and I enjoy it.”

A: So you repeat their words back, with your experience.

B: That’s the trick. Read the job description before the interview, and use its words.

A: Smart. What’s the other one?

B: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

A: Ah. I never know what to say to that.

B: Nobody does! They’re not asking for a plan. They want to understand your goals, and whether this role fits them.

A: So a safe answer?

B: “I’d like to be more experienced in this field, and maybe lead a small team.”

A: That’s honest and open. Not “I want your job.”

B: Not that one, no.

A: What if I don’t understand a question?

B: Then you ask. “Sorry, could you repeat that?” Or, “Could you say that again, please?”

A: And that’s not a problem?

B: It’s much better than answering the wrong question. Asking is normal, even for native speakers.

Your turn to ask

A: At the end, they always say one thing.

B: “Do you have any questions?” And it’s usually worth saying yes.

A: Even if I already know a lot about the job?

B: Even then. A flat “no” can sound like you’re not that interested. One or two questions are plenty.

A: Which ones are safe?

B: “What would my first month look like?” That’s a great one.

A: I like that. What else?

B: “How big is the team?” Or, “What do you enjoy about working here?”

A: That last one is nice. People like talking about their own work.

B: They do. And it turns the interview into a conversation.

A: Should I ask about money?

B: It depends on the country and the company — in some places it comes up right away, in others it waits until later.

A: So what’s the safe move?

B: If they bring it up, answer. If they don’t, “What’s the range for this role?” is a normal question, and the recruiter is usually the easiest person to ask.

After the interview

A: The interview is over. How do I leave the room?

B: “Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.”

A: “I look forward to hearing from you.” That sounds very professional.

B: It is, and you can write the same line in an email the next day.

A: And after that — waiting.

B: Waiting. And then, hopefully, you get the job.

A: “To get the job.” “I got the job!”

B: The best four words in any language.

A: And the day before, what do your friends say?

B: “Fingers crossed!” It means “I hope it goes well.”

A: “Fingers crossed.” I like that one.

B: And when they ask how it went, you can say, “I think it went well,” or “It was okay.”

A: And if it wasn’t good?

B: “It didn’t go great, but I learned a lot.” Nothing is wasted — the next one is easier.

A short interview

A: Let’s hear a short interview, from hello to goodbye. I’ll be the interviewer, you be the candidate.

B: Ready when you are.

A: Good morning, come in. Nice to meet you.

B: Nice to meet you too. Thanks for having me.

A: So, tell me about yourself.

B: I’m a graphic designer. I’ve worked at a small studio for three years, mostly on websites. I’m good at working with clients, and I’d like to join a bigger team.

A: Why should we hire you?

B: You’re looking for someone who can talk to clients directly. I have three years of experience doing that, and I enjoy it.

A: And your weaknesses?

B: I used to take on too much at once. Now I plan my week on Monday, and it works much better.

A: Do you have any questions?

B: Yes. What would my first month look like?

A: Good question. We’ll start you on one small project, with a lot of support.

B: That sounds great. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

A: And that’s a whole interview, and every sentence was simple.

B: Every sentence. That’s the point — you don’t need difficult English. You need clear English.

Following up

A: One more thing. What do I write the next day?

B: A short email. Three sentences, nothing more. Listen.

A: I’m listening.

B: “Dear Ms. Carter, thank you for your time this morning. I enjoyed hearing about the team, and I’m very interested in the role. I look forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Anna.”

A: That’s it? That’s shorter than my usual “hello.”

B: That’s it. Short, warm, and it puts your name back on their screen.

A: And if I don’t hear anything for a week?

B: Then you write one more line: “I’m just following up on our conversation last Tuesday.”

A: “To follow up.” So it means to check again, politely.

B: Exactly. One follow-up is normal. Three in a week is not.

A: Good to know. And then, one day, the phone rings. I’ll be the company this time.

B: Ready.

A: “Hi, is that Anna? This is Tom from Northline.”

B: “Yes, speaking. Hello!”

A: “I’m calling about your interview on Tuesday. We’d like to offer you the position.”

B: “That’s wonderful news. Thank you. Could you send me the details by email?”

A: And that’s the call everybody is waiting for.

B: It is. “We’d like to offer you the position” — that’s the sentence to listen for.

A: And I like that answer. You say thank you, and you still get to read the details first.

B: Exactly. You don’t have to say yes on the phone.

Quick review

A: Let’s do a quick review. I’ll ask, and you can answer in your head first. Ready?

B: Ready!

A: You feel worried before something important. How do you say it?

B: I’m nervous.

A: The first question in almost every interview. What is it?

B: Tell me about yourself.

A: You want to say you’ve done this work before. What phrase do you use?

B: I have experience in customer service.

A: The things you do well, and the things you find difficult. What are they called?

B: Strengths and weaknesses.

A: You’re leaving the room, and you want to sound professional. What do you say?

B: I look forward to hearing from you.

A: And your friend wishes you luck. What do they say?

B: Fingers crossed.

A: Perfect. You’ve got them all.

Outro

B: So today we learned the English you need for a job interview.

A: To be nervous. To make a good impression. Tell me about yourself.

B: I have experience in… I’m good at… And strengths and weaknesses.

A: Why should we hire you? Where do you see yourself in five years? Could you repeat that, please?

B: Do you have any questions? I look forward to hearing from you. To get the job. And fingers crossed.

A: If you want to review these phrases and remember them, open the link below and practice them in Recursio.

B: Thank you so much for listening. And if you have an interview soon — fingers crossed.

A: You’ll do better than you think. See you in the next episode.