Intermediate Listening Practice

Colleen: Okay, let's try again. Tell me about yourself. And this time, keep it short.

Clark: Right. Okay. My name is Clark, I have a degree in business administration, and I've been working in retail for the last three years. I'm looking for a position where I can use my skills in a more, I don't know, professional setting.

Colleen: Better. Much better. But drop the "I don't know." If you say that in an interview, it sounds like you're not sure what you want.

Clark: I am sure. I just get nervous and fill the gaps with stuff like that.

Colleen: Then practise not filling them. A pause is fine. A pause makes you look like you're thinking. "I don't know" makes you look like you're guessing.

Clark: Okay. Pause. Don't guess. Got it. What's next?

Colleen: Why do you want this job?

Clark: Because it's a good company and the salary is better than what I'm making now.

Colleen: That might be true, but you can't say that. Nobody wants to hear "I'm here because you pay more." Tell them something about the company. What do they do? Why does it interest you?

Clark: They do project management for construction companies. And I like the idea of being involved in something you can actually see, like a building going up.

Colleen: See, that's good. That's a real answer. Say that.

Clark: But is it enough? I don't have any experience in construction.

Colleen: They're not hiring you to build anything. The job posting said they want someone organized, good with schedules, comfortable with clients. You've done all of that in retail. You just need to connect the two.

Clark: I guess. I managed the stock room schedule for two years. And I dealt with suppliers almost every day.

Colleen: There you go. If they ask about experience, talk about that. Don't apologize for where the experience came from. Just describe what you did and let them see it fits.

Clark: What if they ask about weaknesses? I hate that question.

Colleen: Everyone hates that question. Just pick something real but small. Something you've already worked on. Like, "I used to struggle with delegating tasks, but I've gotten better at trusting my team." Don't say "I'm a perfectionist." That's not a weakness, it's a cliché.

Clark: I was literally going to say I'm a perfectionist.

Colleen: I know. That's why we're doing this.

Clark: Honestly, Colleen, I'm not sure I'm qualified enough. The posting said three to five years of experience and I've got three, but all in retail. They probably want someone who's already done this exact job.

Colleen: You don't know that. They called you in for an interview, which means your resume was good enough to get you in the room. That's half the work done. Now you just need to show them you can do the job, and I think you can. You're organized, you're reliable, and you're good with people. That's not nothing.

Clark: You make it sound simple.

Colleen: It's not simple. But you've done harder things than sitting in a chair and answering questions for forty-five minutes. You'll be fine.

Clark: Should I wear the blue shirt or the white one?

Colleen: Blue. It looks more professional but not too formal. And iron it tonight, don't do it in the morning when you're rushed.

Clark: What time should I get there?

Colleen: Fifteen minutes early. Not more. If you're too early, just wait in the car or walk around the block. And bring two copies of your resume, one for you and one in case they don't have theirs.

Clark: Two copies. Blue shirt. Fifteen minutes early.

Colleen: And no "I'm a perfectionist."

Clark: And no "I'm a perfectionist." Got it.