Shadowing Practice: Speak English in a Job Interview (Easy Conversation Practice) | A1–B1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B1
Tom, the job interview went really well.
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Tom, the job interview went really well.
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I knew it would go well.
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Congratulations.
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What did they ask?
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Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
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Great job, Lily.
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We should definitely meet.
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Welcome back to Daily English Talk,
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the podcast where we help you speak English every single day,
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one conversation at a time.
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I'm Lily.
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And I'm Tom.
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And hey, if you are watching this for the first time,
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welcome to the family.
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We are so glad you are here.
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We upload a brand new English lesson every single day,
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so if you want to improve your English fast,
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hit that subscribe button right now.
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It is completely free and it helps us so much.
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Today's lesson is a big one.
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We are talking about job interviews in English.
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Yes, this is the lesson so many of you have been asking for.
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How do you answer questions in English at a job interview?
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What do you say?
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How do you sound confident?
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We are going to teach you real phrases,
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real answers, and real confidence today.
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From A1 to B1 level,
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we've got something for everyone.
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Let's go!
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But first, before we get into today's lesson,
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I have a question for you.
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Ooh!
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Is the question about me again?
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Do you think so?
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Last week, Tom had a very important meeting,
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and he made one very embarrassing mistake at the beginning of it.
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Something he said made everyone in the room go completely silent.
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Oh no. Don't tell them.
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I'm not telling you yet.
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You have to wait until the end of the episode.
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One day it will be my turn too, Lily.
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Leave your answer in the comments below and stay until the end to find out if you were right.
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Drop your guesses down there.
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We love reading your comments, every single one.
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Okay, Tom, before we teach everyone the phrases,
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let's talk about job interviews a little bit first.
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Oh, job interviews.
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My favorite topic, said no one ever.
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Right?
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They are so stressful, even in your first language.
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Exactly.
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And in English, for someone who is still learning,
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it can feel like climbing a mountain.
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But it does not have to be that scary.
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Tom, have you ever had a job interview that went really badly?
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Oh, Lily, yes.
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Yes, I have.
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I remember my very first job interview.
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I was 19 years old.
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What happened?
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So they asked me, tell me about yourself, and I panicked completely.
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I just said, um, I am Tom.
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I like football?
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You said you like football?
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I was so nervous.
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My brain just stopped working.
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I had no idea what to say.
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I had not prepared at all.
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Did you get the job?
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What do you think?
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No. No, absolutely not.
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They smiled very politely and said they would be in touch.
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They were never in touch.
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Aw, Tom, that is so painful but so relatable.
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But here's the thing.
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I learned from that experience,
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and now I actually enjoy job interviews because I prepared,
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I practiced, and I had the right phrases.
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And that is exactly what we are going to give everyone today, the right phrases.
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So nobody has to say,
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I like football ever again.
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Unless you really love football, then go for it.
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Now, Tom, have you ever had a good interview,
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one that went really well?
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Actually, yes.
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A few years ago, I interviewed for a podcast hosting job,
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and I walked in so prepared.
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I had practiced my answers at home.
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I knew exactly what I was going to say.
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And?
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And I got the job.
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And here we are.
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Aw, I love that story.
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Preparation is everything, people.
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Everything.
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Okay, before we get into the phrases,
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let's talk about one grammar point that is super important in job interviews.
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Yes, this is going to help your answers sound so much more natural.
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In job interviews, we use two tenses a lot,
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the present simple and the present perfect.
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Can you give us an example, Lily?
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Of course.
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Present simple is for things that are true right now,
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or things you do regularly do regularly.
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For example, I work in customer service.
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I speak two languages.
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I am a hard worker.
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Simple, right?
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You are describing who you are right now.
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Exactly.
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And then the present perfect is for talking about your experience,
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things you have done in your life that connect to the present.
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For example, I have worked in a restaurant for three years.
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I have used Microsoft Excel in my previous job i have
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studied english for two years see the difference present simple tells
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them who you are present perfect tells them what you have done
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and in a job interview you need both you need to say who you are
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and what you have done let's practice quickly repeat after me
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ready repeat time let's go i am a very organized person your turn say it Great!
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Now try this one.
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I have five years of experience in sales.
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Say it.
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Perfect!
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You are already sounding like a job interview pro.
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One more.
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I have always been passionate about helping people.
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Say that one again.
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Beautiful.
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Excellent work, everyone.
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Seriously, that was great.
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Okay, now let's get into the real lesson,
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the most common job interview questions and how to answer them confidently.
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We are going to go through six big questions today.
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For each one, we will give you vocabulary,
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example answers, and some tips.
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Let's start with question number one.
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This is almost always the first question in any job interview,
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and it is also the one that scares people the most.
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Because it is so open!
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There are so many things you could say.
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Where do you even start?
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Here is a simple formula.
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Three sentences.
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That is all you need for a basic answer.
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Sentence 1.
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Who are you and what do you do?
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Sentence 2.
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Your experience.
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Sentence 3.
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Why you want this job.
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Let me show you.
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A1 level answer.
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My name is Maria.
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I am a student.
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I am studying business.
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I want to work here because I want to learn.
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Short, clear, confident.
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That is a perfect A1 answer.
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Now let's level it up.
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B1 answer.
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Hi, my name is Maria.
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I am currently finishing my business degree and I have been working part-time in retail for the past two years.
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I'm really excited about this opportunity because I want to use my customer service skills in a more professional environment.
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Amazing!
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Much better!
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More detail, more confidence, more natural.
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Key vocabulary for this question.
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Currently, it means right now.
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I am currently studying.
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Experience, the things you have done.
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I have experience in customer service.
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Opportunity, a chance i'm excited about this opportunity passionate about you
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really love something i'm passionate about helping people let's drill it
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repeat after me i am currently working as a teacher say
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it i am currently working as a teacher one more time
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i am currently working as a teacher excellent you are doing
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so well question number two what are your strengths this means
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what are you good at i remember the first time someone
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asked me this in english i completely froze what did you say i said i am very nice
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and then i smiled very hopefully oh lily i know i
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know nice is not a strength do not say you are nice.
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Here is a list of strong adjectives for this question.
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Organized.
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You plan things well.
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Reliable.
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People can trust you.
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Hardworking.
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You work a lot and seriously.
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Creative.
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You have good new ideas.
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A good communicator.
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You talk and listen well.
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Detail-oriented.
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You pay attention into small things.
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A fast learner.
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You learn new things quickly.
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And here is a very important tip.
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Do not just say the word.
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Give a small example.
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For example, do not say, I am organized.
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Full stop.
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Silence.
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Instead, say, I am a very organized person.
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For example, in my last job,
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I always finished my tasks before the deadline.
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The example makes it real.
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It makes the interviewer believe you.
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Let's try a B1 level answer together.
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One of my main strengths is that I am a reliable and detail-oriented person.
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In my previous role, my manager often asked me to check important documents before they were sent
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because she knew I would catch any mistakes.
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I take a lot of pride in doing things carefully and correctly.
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That is a fantastic answer.
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Repeat key phrases after me.
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One of my main strengths is...
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Your turn.
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For example, in my last job...
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Your turn.
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I take pride in doing things carefully.
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Your turn.
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Beautiful.
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Keep going.
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Okay, this is the one everyone hates.
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Including me.
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What is your weakness?
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It means, what are you not good at?
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What do you find difficult?
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And the trick here is very important.
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You must be honest, but you must also show that you are working on it.
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Never say, I have no weaknesses.
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That sounds fake.
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Nobody believes you.
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And never say something too big like,
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I always arrive late or I get very angry easily.
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Keep it professional and safe.
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Here are some safe, smart weaknesses to use.
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Sometimes I work too hard and forget to take breaks.
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This actually sounds like a strength.
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I used to struggle with public speaking,
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but I have been practicing and I am getting much better.
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I find it difficult to ask for help,
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but I am learning that teamwork is important.
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See the pattern?
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Weakness, then but, then improvement.
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The word used to is very helpful here.
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I used to have this problem,
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but now I am better.
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Let's try a full B1 answer.
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Honestly, one area I have been working on is my confidence in public speaking.
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In the past, I felt quite nervous presenting in front of groups.
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But over the last year,
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I joined a small speaking club at my university,
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and I have noticed a real improvement.
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I actually gave a presentation to 30 people last month,
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and it went really well.
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That is a perfect answer.
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It's honest, it shows growth,
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and it ends on a positive note.
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Key phrases.
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One area I have been working on is… In the past,
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I felt… but over the last year,
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I… I have noticed a real improvement.
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One area I have been working on is… Repeat.
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But I have been working hard to improve.
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Say it!
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Question 4.
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Why do you want this job?
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Tom, please do not say, because I need money.
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Even though it is true for many of us.
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Very true.
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But in a job interview,
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you must connect your answer to the company.
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Show that you know something about them.
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Here is a simple A1 answer.
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I want this job because I am interested in this field.
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I think your company is very good.
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I want to learn and grow here.
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Simple but honest.
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That works for A1.
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Now a stronger B1 answer.
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I want this position because I have always been interested in marketing,
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and your company has a great reputation for creative campaigns.
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I also love that you focus on teamwork and professional development.
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I think this is the perfect environment for me to grow and contribute.
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So much better.
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You mentioned the company.
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Specifically, you mentioned their values.
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Key phrases for this question.
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I have always been interested in this.
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Your company has a great reputation for this.
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I love that you focus on this.
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I believe this is the perfect environment for me to this.
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I have always been interested in this field.
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Say it.
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Your company has a great reputation.
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Repeat.
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I believe this is the perfect environment for me to grow.
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Yes, say it with confidence.
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This question, every interview, every single time.
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It never goes away.
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
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They want to know, are you ambitious?
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Do you have goals?
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Are you going to stay with our company?
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The key is to show ambition, but also loyalty.
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You do not want to say,
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in five years I plan to start my own company and leave,
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even if that is true.
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Please do not say that.
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A good B1 answer.
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In five years, I hope to have developed strong skills in this industry and taken on more responsibility within the company.
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I am very eager to learn from the team here,
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and I would love to eventually move into a leadership role.
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I see this position as the perfect starting point for a long-term career here.
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Key words.
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Developed strong skills.
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You have grown professionally taking on more responsibility you want to
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do more bigger things eager to learn you are excited
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and ready long-term career you are not leaving soon i hope
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to have developed strong skills your turn i am very eager
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to learn from your team say it i see this as the perfect starting point excellent keep
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that energy and now you know how to walk into any job interview or meeting with real confident English phrases,
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not just a fist pump.
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Although a small fist pump never hurts.
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Alright everyone, that is it for today's episode of Daily English Talk.
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If you enjoyed this lesson,
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please subscribe to our channel,
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because we upload a brand new English lesson every single day.
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Every single day.
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There's always something new to learn here,
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so hit that subscribe button and join our family.
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We will see you tomorrow for another episode.
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Until then, keep practicing, keep speaking,
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and keep going you've got this bye everyone see you tomorrow
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About This Lesson
In this engaging lesson, learners will focus on crucial elements of speaking English during job interviews. This is a valuable opportunity to practice real English conversation skills at levels A1 to B1. Whether you’re preparing for your first job interview or looking to refine your skills, this lesson covers essential phrases, strategies for answering common interview questions, and tips for sounding confident. You’ll also learn how to articulate your career aspirations clearly, a vital aspect of many interviews, particularly the question: "Where do you see yourself in the next five years?" By the end of this lesson, you’ll feel more prepared to tackle real-world job interviews with ease.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Job interview: A formal meeting where an employer assesses a candidate’s skills and suitability for a role.
- Career aspirations: Goals related to one’s professional life, often discussed in interviews.
- Confident: Having a strong belief in oneself, especially important when responding to interview questions.
- Common interview questions: Frequently asked inquiries during interviews, such as “Tell me about yourself” or “What are your strengths?”
- Real phrases: Authentic expressions that are commonly used in conversations, especially relevant for beginners and intermediate speakers.
- Practice: To repeatedly perform an action to improve skill, vital for mastering interview communication.
- Silence: A period of no speech, which can occur during awkward moments in conversations, particularly in interviews.
Practice Tips
To maximize your learning from this lesson, consider employing shadow speech techniques. This involves listening attentively to the conversation and repeating phrases immediately after hearing them. The speed and tone of the conversation in this lesson provide a suitable challenge for learners at A1 to B1 levels. Start by watching the video without pausing, then play it back and mimic the speakers as closely as possible. This shadowing site technique can significantly enhance your speaking confidence and pronunciation. Incorporate the IELTS speaking practice approach by recording yourself to monitor your progress over time. Pay attention to your intonation and rhythm, just as the speakers do, to create a natural flow in your speech. By shadow speaking regularly, you'll not only improve your interview skills but also gain proficiency in everyday conversation contexts.
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.
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