Shadowing Practice: Learn English for Job Interviews – Common Questions You MUST Know - Learn English Speaking with Video
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328 sentences
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Hello everyone and welcome back to Mr. English Channel,
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where learning English is easy and fun.
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I'm Emily.
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And I'm Paul.
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Hello, hello.
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Emily, how are you today?
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Are you feeling good?
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I am doing great, Paul.
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Thank you for asking.
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The sun is shining and I'm ready to talk about something super important for everyone learning English.
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How about you?
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Are you good?
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I'm fantastic, Emily.
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Absolutely fantastic.
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I love sunny days and I love talking about English, especially when it helps our wonderful listeners.
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So what exciting topic do we have today?
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I'm curious.
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Well, Paul, today we are going to talk about something that can be a little bit scary for some people,
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but it doesn't have to be.
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We're talking about job interview questions in English.
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Oh, wow.
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That's a very, very helpful topic, Emily.
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Many people want to get a good job, and sometimes the interview is in English, that can be a challenge.
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Yes, exactly.
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But we want to make it easy.
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We will talk about some common questions and how to answer them simply.
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Before we start, please, please, please remember to like this video, subscribe to Mr. English Channel,
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and share it with your friends.
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It helps us a lot.
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Yes, please do.
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Give us a like and subscribe.
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It's very important for us to grow and help more people.
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Okay, Emily, I'm ready.
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What's the first common question people hear in a job interview?
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Okay, the very first one, and it's almost always the first one, is tell me about yourself.
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Hmm.
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Tell me about yourself.
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That sounds easy, but maybe it's tricky.
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What should people say?
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Should they talk about their family?
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Their hobbies?
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That's a good question, Paul.
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It's tricky because it's open.
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But for a job interview, you should focus on your work life.
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Talk about your experience, your skills, and why you are a good fit for this job.
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Ah, so not about my cat Mittens or my favorite food Pizza.
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Got it.
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Focus on work.
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So maybe something like, I am a marketing assistant and I have three years of experience in creating social media campaigns.
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Is that good?
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Yes, Paul, that's perfect.
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Short, clear, and focused on work.
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You can also add something about your education if it's related.
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For example, I studied business at university.
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Okay, so keep it short, positive, and about work.
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Got it.
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What's the next common question, Emily?
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I'm ready for it.
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The next one is also very common.
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Why do you want to work here?
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Hmm, why do you want to work here?
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This one means I need to know about the company, right?
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Yes, exactly, Paul.
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You need to do a little bit of research before the interview.
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Look at the company website.
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What do they do?
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What are their goals?
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Then, say why you like their company.
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So, I shouldn't say because I need money, even if it's true?
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Well, Paul, it's true for everyone but it's not the best answer for an interview.
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You can say something like, I am very interested in your company because you help people with technology and I love technology.
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Or I like your company's mission to protect the environment.
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Ah, so connect my interests or values with the company's work.
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That makes sense.
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It shows I care about their company, not just any company.
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Good tip.
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What's next on our list?
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Okay, the third common question is, what are your strengths?
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Strengths.
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That means things I am good at, right?
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Like, I am good at cooking.
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Yes, Paul.
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Things you are good at.
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But again, try to think about your work strengths.
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Are you a good communicator?
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Are you organized?
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Are you good at solving problems?
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Oh, so like, my strength is that I am very organized and I always finish my tasks on time.
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Is that a good one?
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Yes, that's excellent, Paul.
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Or, I am a good team player.
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I like to work with others.
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Or, I am very good at learning new things quickly.
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Choose one or two strengths that are important for the job.
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Okay, so focus on work -related strengths and don't list ten things.
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Just one or two strong points.
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Got it.
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What about the opposite question, Emily?
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Do they ask about weaknesses?
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They often do, Paul.
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The next question is, what are your weaknesses?
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Oh, weaknesses.
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Things I am not good at.
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This one feels a little scary.
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Should I say I'm lazy?
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No, Paul.
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Please don't say you're lazy.
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This question is tricky, but it's a chance to show you are self -aware and that you are working to improve.
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So don't say a weakness that is very bad for the job.
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Hmm.
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So how can I answer this without sounding bad?
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You can choose a small weakness and then say how you are working to make it better.
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For example, sometimes I am too critical of my own work, but I am learning to trust my decisions more.
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Or, I used to be shy, but I am practicing speaking more in meetings.
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Ah, so it's not just I'm bad at this, but I'm working on it.
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That's smart.
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So, So, a weakness that isn't a big problem for the job, and then say how you are improving.
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Great advice.
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What's next, Emily?
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The next one is also very common.
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
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Five years?
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That's a long time.
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What if I don't know?
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It's okay if you don't have a very specific plan, Paul.
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But the interviewer wants to see that you have goals and that you are thinking about your career.
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You can say something related to growing in the company.
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So not on a beach in Hawaii?
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Probably not the best answer for this question.
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You can say, I hope to be a valuable member of your team and take on more responsibility.
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Or, I want to continue learning and growing in my field.
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Ah, so show that I want to stay with the company and develop my skills.
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That makes sense.
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It shows loyalty and ambition.
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Good, good.
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What's the next important question?
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Okay, this one is about your past work.
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Why did you leave your last job?
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Or, why are you leaving your current job?
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Why did you leave your last job?
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This one can be sensitive.
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What if I didn't like my old boss?
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Yes, it can be sensitive.
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It's very important to be positive and professional.
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Never, ever speak badly about your old boss or company.
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Always focus on positive reasons for leaving.
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So, no complaints.
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Even if I had them.
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Okay, so what are good positive reasons?
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You can say, I am looking for new challenges and opportunities to grow.
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Or, I want to work for a company where I can use my skills more effectively.
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Or, I am looking for a company with a better culture fit.
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So always focus on what you want next and what is positive about the new opportunity.
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Never talk negatively about the past.
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That's a very important rule for interviews.
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Got it.
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Okay, Paul.
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We've covered some really important questions so far.
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Let's recap them quickly.
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We have, tell me about yourself.
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Why do you want to work here?
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What are your strengths?
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What are your weaknesses?
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
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And why did you leave your last job?
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That's a good list.
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Wow.
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Yes, Emily.
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That's a very helpful list for anyone preparing for an interview.
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It's like a cheat sheet for success.
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What's next?
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Are there more common questions?
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Oh, yes.
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There are always a few more common ones.
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The next one is about problem solving.
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Describe a time you faced a challenge at work, and how you overcame it.
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Describe a time you faced a challenge.
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Hmm.
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So, they want to hear a story, right?
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A short story about a problem and a solution.
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Yes, exactly.
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They want to see how you think and how you solve problems.
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Choose a real example, even a small one, then tell them, what was the problem,
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what did you do, and what was the result?
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Okay, so, like, one time a customer was very angry.
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I listened carefully to their problem, and then I offered a solution.
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The customer was happy in the end.
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Is that good?
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Yes, Paul.
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That's a perfect example.
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It shows you can handle difficult situations.
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Or you can say, my team had a deadline and we had a small problem.
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I found a new way to do the task and we finished on time.
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I see.
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So focus on my action and the positive outcome.
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This is good.
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It shows my skills in action.
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What's the next one, Emily?
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I'm learning so much today.
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Emily Hanks, Great, Paul.
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I'm happy to hear that.
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The next question is often about teamwork.
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Are you a team player?
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Or do you prefer to work alone or in a team?
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Paul Jay, Are you a team player?
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For many jobs, working with others is very important.
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So the answer should be yes, right?
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Emily Hanks, Yes, absolutely, Paul.
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Paul, most companies want people who can work well with others.
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You can say, Yes, I am a strong team player.
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I enjoy collaborating with colleagues.
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Or, I like working in a team because we can achieve more together.
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Okay, so emphasize working with others.
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Can I also say that I can work alone when needed?
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Sometimes I need to focus by myself.
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Yes, that's a very good point, Paul.
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You can add that.
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For example, I am a strong team player, but I am also able to work independently when needed.
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This shows flexibility.
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That's a great addition.
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Perfect.
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Flexibility is a good quality.
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What's another question, Emily?
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Keep them coming.
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This one is very important, Paul.
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Do you have any questions for us?
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Do you have any questions for us?
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Oh, yes, at the end of the interview.
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Should I say, no thank you?
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No, Paul, never say no thank you.
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This is your chance to show you are interested in the job and the company.
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Always, always have one or two questions ready.
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Oh, so it's a test.
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What kind of questions should I ask?
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Not, when do I get paid?
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Right?
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Definitely not.
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When do I get paid?
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Good questions are about the team, the daily tasks or future plans for the company.
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For example, what does a typical day look like in this role?
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Or what are the next steps in the hiring process?
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Oh, those are good questions.
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They show I'm thinking about the job and the future.
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So always ask a question, even if it's a simple one.
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Don't waste this opportunity.
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That's a very important tip.
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We are doing great, Paul.
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We've covered many common questions.
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Let's think about a few more that might come up.
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How about this one?
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What are your salary expectations?
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Salary expectations.
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This means how much money I want to make, right?
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This one could be difficult.
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What if I say too much or too little?
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Yes, it can be tricky, Paul.
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It's a good idea to do a little research before the interview about the typical salary for that job in that city.
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You can give a range instead of a fixed number.
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Or you can say, I am open to discussing salary based on the full compensation package.
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So, I can say something like, I expect a salary between X and Y dollars.
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depending on the benefits or just say I'm flexible.
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Okay, that makes it less scary.
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Good advice.
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Exactly.
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It shows you are flexible and reasonable.
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Another common question is, how do you handle pressure or stress?
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How do you handle pressure?
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Hmm.
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Do they want me to say I never have stress?
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That's not true.
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No, Paul.
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Everyone has stress sometimes.
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They want to know how you manage it.
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You can say, I try to stay calm and focus on one task at a time.
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Or, I make a list of priorities to manage my tasks.
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Ah, so focus on the strategies I use to manage pressure, not just saying I don't have it.
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That's smart it shows problem solving skills again i like
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that what else emily another one is often why are you
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the best candidate for this job why are you the best candidate
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this is my chance to shine right to tell them all my good qualities yes paul exactly
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this is your moment to connect your skills and experience directly to the job description.
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Think about what they are looking for and show them you have it.
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So I can say, I am the best candidate
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because I have X years of experience and I am very good at Y, which is important for this job.
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Is that it?
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Yes, perfect.
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You can also mention your passion for the work or your positive attitude.
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For For example, I am very enthusiastic about this role, and I believe my skills in customer service and problem solving make me a strong fit.
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Excellent!
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So combine my skills, my experience, and my positive attitude.
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Make it clear why I am the right person.
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Great!
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We've covered so many important questions, Paul.
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I think our listeners are getting a very good idea of what to expect.
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Yes, Emily, this has been incredibly helpful.
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I feel more confident just listening to our conversation.
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It makes job interviews seem much less scary.
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That's the goal, Paul.
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We want to make English learning and using English in real life easy and fun for everyone.
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Remember, practice makes perfect.
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So practice answering these questions out loud.
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Yes, practice, practice, practice.
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And remember to always be positive, professional, and honest.
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Even if you're a little nervous, try to smile.
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Yes, a smile goes a long way.
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And remember to listen carefully to the questions.
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If you don't understand, it's okay to ask, could you please repeat the question?
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That's a very good point, Emily.
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Don't be afraid to ask for clarity.
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It's better than answering the wrong question.
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Exactly.
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So that wraps up our episode on common job interview questions in English.
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We hope this helps all of you feel more prepared and confident.
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Yes, we really do.
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And before we go, please remember to subscribe to Mr. English Channel if you haven't already.
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It helps us a lot to make more episodes for you.
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Yes, please subscribe and give us a like on this video.
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Also, we love to hear from you.
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So, please leave a comment below and tell us, what is one job skill you are proud of?
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We would love to read your answers.
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Yes, tell us about your skills in the comments.
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We love reading them.
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Thank you so much for joining us today on Mr. English Channel.
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Thanks everyone and we will see you next time for more easy and fun English learning.
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Bye for now.
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Bye bye everyone.
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Take care.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Learn English for Job Interviews – Common Questions You MUST Know”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: paul, emily, English, interview, common. This video has 328 sentences and 2520 words to shadow. The speech runs for 18:59. The speaker talks at a steady 133 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 77 of its 328 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| weakness noun | /ˈwik.nɪs/ | The condition of being weak. |
| solve verb | /sɒlv/ | To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out. |
| salary noun | /ˈsæləɹi/ | A fixed amount of money paid to a worker, usually calculated on a monthly or annual basis, not hourly, as wages. Implies a degree of professionalism and/or… |
| scary adjective | /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ | Causing fear or anxiety |
| subscribe verb | /səbˈskɹaɪb/ | To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name). |
| tricky adjective | /ˈtɹɪk.i/ | Hard to deal with, complicated. |
| helpful adjective | /ˈhɛlp.fl̩/ | Furnishing help; giving aid; useful. |
| distress noun | /dɪˈstɹɛs/ | Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature. |
| topic noun | /ˈtɑpɪk/ | A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| sensitive adjective | /ˈsɛn.sɪt.ɪv/ | Having the faculty of sensation; pertaining to the senses. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| lazy adjective | /ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ | Unwilling to do work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion. |
| shine verb | /ʃaɪn/ | To emit or reflect light so as to glow. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
| wrap up verb | To cover or enclose (something) by folding and securing a covering entirely around it. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Emily, how are you today?
- What's next on our list?
- Should I say I'm lazy?
- What if I don't know?
- What if I didn't like my old boss?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | We've covered · has been |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should people say · Should they talk · should focus |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | love talking · enjoy collaborating · practice answering |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 34 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, we've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shine /ʃaɪn/, expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, passion /ˈpæʃən/, sheet /ʃit/, compensation /ˌkɑm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: flexibility /ˌflɛksɪˈbɪlɪti/, expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, priority /pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti/, incredibly /ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbli/, compensation /ˌkɑm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like skill, weakness, solve.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.