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Teach lesson 21: Job interview basics

Classroom slides with recorded audio, teacher notes and a printable worksheet for Everyday English lesson 21 (Confident · B1). Goal: Answer common interview questions with short, clear examples.

By Team EnglishCoach · How we check our content · Updated 2026-11-10

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Classroom slides

Show these on a projector or TV. Use the arrow keys, or tap the right side of a slide to go forward and the left side to go back. Press ▶ to play the recording, F for full screen and P to play the slide's audio.

Everyday English · Lesson 21 · Confident · B1

Job interview basics

Answer common interview questions with short, clear examples.

Warm-up · talk with a partner

Have you had a job interview? What questions did they ask you?

Key phrase 1 of 8

Thanks for having me.

A friendly start to an interview.

Key phrase 2 of 8

I've got five years' experience in hospitality.

Talk about your experience.

Key phrase 3 of 8

In my last job, I was responsible for…

Describe your duties.

Key phrase 4 of 8

For example, one time…

Give a real example.

Key phrase 5 of 8

I work well in a team.

A common strength, but give an example.

Key phrase 6 of 8

I'm available to start in two weeks.

Say when you can start.

Key phrase 7 of 8

Could you tell me more about the roster?

Ask a question about the job.

Key phrase 8 of 8

Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

A polite ending.

Conversation

Interviewer and Daniel

Listen to the whole conversation first. Then we go line by line.

Conversation · line 1 of 8

Interviewer

Thanks for coming in, Daniel. Tell me a bit about yourself.

Conversation · line 2 of 8

Interviewer: Thanks for coming in, Daniel. Tell me a bit about yourself.

Daniel

Thanks for having me. I've got five years' experience in hospitality, mostly in busy cafés.

Conversation · line 3 of 8

Daniel: Thanks for having me. I've got five years' experience in hospitality, mostly in busy cafés.

Interviewer

Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer.

Conversation · line 4 of 8

Interviewer: Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer.

Daniel

One time, a customer's order was wrong and he was upset. I apologised, fixed it quickly and gave him a free coffee. He came back the next week.

Conversation · line 5 of 8

Daniel: One time, a customer's order was wrong and he was upset. I apologised, fixed it quickly and gave him a free coffee. He came back the next week.

Interviewer

Great example. When could you start?

Conversation · line 6 of 8

Interviewer: Great example. When could you start?

Daniel

I'm available to start in two weeks. Could you tell me more about the roster?

Conversation · line 7 of 8

Daniel: I'm available to start in two weeks. Could you tell me more about the roster?

Interviewer

It's mostly weekdays, with one weekend shift a fortnight.

Conversation · line 8 of 8

Interviewer: It's mostly weekdays, with one weekend shift a fortnight.

Daniel

That works well for me. Thanks for your time.

Your turn · role-play

Work with a partner

Student A is Interviewer. Student B is Daniel. Read the conversation together, then swap. Then try it again with your own details.

Your turn · say it 1 of 3

I've got … years' experience in …

Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.

Your turn · say it 2 of 3

One time, … I … and the result was …

Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.

Your turn · say it 3 of 3

Could you tell me more about …?

Use your own details where you see “…”. Say it to your partner, then listen to theirs.

Quiz · question 1 of 5

How should you answer 'Tell me about a time when…'?

  1. A Yes or no
  2. B With a short real story: what happened, what you did, the result
  3. C With a list of skills

✓ B: Interviewers want a real example with a result.

Quiz · question 2 of 5

Which is a good question to ask the interviewer?

  1. A How much holiday can I take straight away?
  2. B Could you tell me more about the team?
  3. C No questions.

✓ B: Ask about the job, team or training.

Quiz · question 3 of 5

What does 'roster' mean?

  1. A The list of who works which shifts
  2. B The pay rate
  3. C The uniform

✓ A: A roster shows shifts.

Quiz · question 4 of 5

What does 'a fortnight' mean?

  1. A One week
  2. B Two weeks
  3. C One month

✓ B: A fortnight is two weeks.

Quiz · question 5 of 5

Choose the best ending.

  1. A Bye.
  2. B Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
  3. C When do I get paid?

✓ B: Polite and professional.

Good to know in Australia 🇦🇺

Australian interviews are often friendly and informal, but interviewers still expect examples. Prepare three short stories about times you solved a problem, worked in a team and learned something new.

Well done!

Practise at home

The same lesson, free, no sign-up:
englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/job-interview-basics/

Free lessons at englishcoaching.au

englishcoaching.au

Teacher notes

Level: Confident · B1 · Time: about 60 minutes · You need: this page on a screen with sound, and one printed worksheet per learner.

Warm-up (5 minutes)

Show the warm-up slide and ask: "Have you had a job interview? What questions did they ask you?" Learners talk in pairs for two minutes, then a few share with the class.

Three steps

  1. Key phrases (15 minutes). Show each phrase, press ▶ and let learners listen once, then repeat together, then one by one. Check meaning with the note on the slide: "When would you say this?"
  2. The conversation (15 minutes). Play the whole conversation once with worksheets face down. Then go line by line while learners fill the gaps in part B of the worksheet. Check answers, then learners read it in pairs.
  3. Your turn and the quiz (20 minutes). Learners say the "Your turn" sentences with their own details, do the role-play below, then answer the quiz slides in pairs before you press "Show answer". Finish with part D of the worksheet (their own sentences).

Pair work

Student A is Interviewer and student B is Daniel. Pairs read the conversation, swap roles, then turn the worksheet over and do it again from memory, changing the details (names, times, places, prices). Stronger pairs add two lines of their own; newer learners can keep the worksheet in front of them.

Using the audio

  • Every phrase and conversation line is recorded with natural AI voices: Interviewer is read by Mel and Daniel by Josh. Press ▶ on a slide or press P.
  • Play each phrase twice: once to listen, once for the class to repeat. On the conversation slides, pause after each line so learners can repeat it.
  • Test the sound before class. If the internet is slow, open the slides a few minutes early and play the first phrase once.

Good to know in Australia

Australian interviews are often friendly and informal, but interviewers still expect examples. Prepare three short stories about times you solved a problem, worked in a team and learned something new.

After class

Printable worksheet

One A4 worksheet per learner: the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, and space for their own sentences. The answer key prints on a separate page.

Name: Date:

Everyday English · Lesson 21: Job interview basics

Answer common interview questions with short, clear examples.

A. Key phrases: fill the gaps

Word bank: available · example · forward · having · hospitality · responsible · roster · work

  1. Thanks for me. (A friendly start to an interview)
  2. I've got five years' experience in . (Talk about your experience)
  3. In my last job, I was for… (Describe your duties)
  4. For , one time… (Give a real example)
  5. I well in a team. (A common strength, but give an example)
  6. I'm to start in two weeks. (Say when you can start)
  7. Could you tell me more about the ? (Ask a question about the job)
  8. Thanks for your time. I look to hearing from you. (A polite ending)

B. Listen to the conversation and fill the gaps

  1. Interviewer: Thanks for coming in, Daniel. Tell me a bit about .
  2. Daniel: Thanks for having me. I've got five years' in hospitality, mostly in busy cafés.
  3. Interviewer: Tell me about a time you dealt with a customer.
  4. Daniel: One time, a customer's order was wrong and he was upset. I , fixed it quickly and gave him a free coffee. He came back the next week.
  5. Interviewer: Great example. When could you ?
  6. Daniel: I'm available to in two weeks. Could you tell me more about the roster?
  7. Interviewer: It's mostly weekdays, with one weekend shift a .
  8. Daniel: That well for me. Thanks for your time.

C. Quick quiz: circle the best answer

  1. How should you answer 'Tell me about a time when…'?

    a) Yes or nob) With a short real story: what happened, what you did, the resultc) With a list of skills

  2. Which is a good question to ask the interviewer?

    a) How much holiday can I take straight away?b) Could you tell me more about the team?c) No questions.

  3. What does 'roster' mean?

    a) The list of who works which shiftsb) The pay ratec) The uniform

  4. What does 'a fortnight' mean?

    a) One weekb) Two weeksc) One month

  5. Choose the best ending.

    a) Bye.b) Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.c) When do I get paid?

D. My sentences

Finish these with your own details. Then write two more sentences you can use this week.

  1. I've got years' experience in
  2. One time, I and the result was
  3. Could you tell me more about ?

Free lesson with audio: englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/job-interview-basics/ · Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.

Answer key · Lesson 21: Job interview basics

A. Key phrases

  1. Thanks for having me.
  2. I've got five years' experience in hospitality.
  3. In my last job, I was responsible for…
  4. For example, one time…
  5. I work well in a team.
  6. I'm available to start in two weeks.
  7. Could you tell me more about the roster?
  8. Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

B. Conversation gaps

  1. yourself
  2. experience
  3. difficult
  4. apologised
  5. start
  6. start
  7. fortnight
  8. works

C. Quiz

  1. b) With a short real story: what happened, what you did, the result
  2. b) Could you tell me more about the team?
  3. a) The list of who works which shifts
  4. b) Two weeks
  5. b) Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

englishcoaching.au/learn-english/everyday-english/job-interview-basics/

Free to use with your learners. Please keep the englishcoaching link on printed copies.

Frequently asked questions

How do I teach job interview basics to adult English learners?

Start with a warm-up question, present the 8 key phrases with the recorded audio, play the conversation line by line, let learners role-play it with their own details, and finish with the quiz. The teacher notes on this page give timings for a 60-minute class.

What level is this lesson?

Confident level, about CEFR B1. It is lesson 21 of 42 in our free Everyday English course, so you can follow the course week by week or pick the topics your learners need.

Do learners need an account?

No. Learners can do the same lesson at home for free, with no sign-up, at /learn-english/everyday-english/job-interview-basics/. Their progress is saved only on their own device.

Can I print the worksheet?

Yes. Press 'Print the worksheet' to print it or save it as a PDF on A4 paper. It has the key phrases and the conversation with gaps, the quiz, space for learners' own sentences and an answer key on a separate page.

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