Do you want to work in an English-speaking company? What words do we use to talk about finding a job? Learn some of these words and practise your listening in this free English lesson from Oxford Online English. This lesson is for elementary learners.
Some of the vocabulary in this lesson is from pre-intermediate level. Try the exercises below to see if you can understand it. There are also exercises to practise your grammar and pronunciation.
Listen to the full dialogue here:
A: I’m calling from the recruitment agency. I can offer you an interview on Friday.
B: Great, thanks, what’s it for?
A: It’s at a local doctor’s surgery. They’re looking for a part-time receptionist.
B: Um … but my degree was in history and politics. I don’t have any medical qualifications.
A: You don’t need any. They’re just looking for someone with professional experience … you told me you’ve done some work as an office assistant.
B: Yes, in the university holidays, in the council department where my mum works.
A: So, you’ve had some responsibilities then?
B: Yes, I … I ordered in the supplies when they ran out.
A: Well, that’s relevant then. The interview’s at 10.30. I suggest you get there at about quarter past. Can you make it?
B: Yes, I guess so … so where is it?
Talking Jobs – exercise 1
Vocabulary: words connected to work
The conversation includes words related to the process of finding work. They are pre-intermediate or intermediate words. Can you work out what they mean?
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Question 1 of 3
1. Question
1. First, put the five words in the order that you hear them.
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‘interview’
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‘experience’
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‘responsibilities’
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‘qualifications’
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‘recruitment’
View Answers:
Correct 5 / 5 PointsIncorrect / 5 Points -
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Question 2 of 3
2. Question
2. Two of the words describe part of the process of looking for a job.
Move the words into the boxes to match them with the definitions.
Sort elements
- 'recruitment'
- 'interview'
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the process of looking for people to work for a company
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a formal conversation between someone at a company (e.g. a manager) and someone who would like to work there
Correct 2 / 2 PointsIncorrect / 2 Points -
Question 3 of 3
3. Question
3. The other three words are things that you might talk about during a job interview.
Match them with their meanings.
Sort elements
- 'qualifications'
- 'responsibilities'
- 'experience'
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the results of a period of official study, e.g. at school or university
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specific things that you do as part of your job
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things that you did in the past which show that you know how to do something now
Correct 3 / 3 PointsIncorrect / 3 Points
Talking Jobs – exercise 2
Comprehension: understanding the situation
Where are the speakers and what are they talking about?
Listen to the full dialogue and answer the questions.
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Question 1 of 5
1. Question
1. Where is the man calling from?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 5
2. Question
For the next four questions, decide if the statements are true, false or not known.
2. You can only get this job if you have studied medicine.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 5
3. Question
3. The woman’s mother works for the council.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 4 of 5
4. Question
4. At the woman’s previous job, she had too much to do.
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 5 of 5
5. Question
5. The woman is not free at the time of the interview.
CorrectIncorrect
Talking Jobs – exercise 3
Grammar: present verb forms
Listen to five sentences from the conversation and look at the underlined verb forms.
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Question 1 of 5
1. Question
1. “I’m calling from the recruitment agency.”
Why do we use the present continuous (subject + ‘be’ + -ing form)?
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Question 2 of 5
2. Question
2. “I can offer you an interview on Friday.”
Why do we use the modal verb ‘can’ (+ infinitive) in sentences like this?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 5
3. Question
3. “I don’t have any medical qualifications.”
Why do we use the negative form of the present simple here?
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Question 4 of 5
4. Question
4. “You’ve done some work as an office assistant.”
Why do we use the present perfect (‘have’/’has’ + past participle) in sentences like this?
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Question 5 of 5
5. Question
5. “The interview’s at 10.30.”
This sentence includes a contraction of ‘is’ – the present simple form of ‘be’.
When can you use the present simple to talk about the future?
CorrectIncorrect
Talking Jobs – exercise 4
Pronunciation: adding sounds between words
When one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word starts with a vowel, many speakers add a consonant sound between the words.
This is called ‘liaison’.
Listen to some examples and decide which sound is added.
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Question 1 of 5
1. Question
1. “I can offer you an interview on Friday.”
What consonant sound is added in both underlined places?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 2 of 5
2. Question
2. “My degree was in history and politics.”
Liaison only happens when one word ends with a vowel sound, and the next word starts with a vowel sound.
What consonant sound is added this time?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 3 of 5
3. Question
3. “They’re looking for a part-time receptionist.”
In standard British English, speakers don’t make any /r/ sound after the vowel in words like ‘for’, so the last sound in this word is a vowel.
But when the next word starts with a vowel sound, you get liaison! So, which sound is added?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 4 of 5
4. Question
4. “I ordered in the supplies when they ran out.”
You’ve heard the three types of liaison. Only /r/, /w/ and /j/ can be added between vowels. The added sound depends on the vowel at the end of the first word.
Which one is added here?
CorrectIncorrect -
Question 5 of 5
5. Question
5. “I suggest you get there at about quarter past.”
What consonant sound is added in the underlined place?
CorrectIncorrect
To learn more about pronunciation, try our Pronunciation Course in the Members section at the top of the page.
