Sarah had worked at the same company for eight years. She enjoyed her job at first, but lately she felt unfulfilled. The company had changed a lot since she started. Her boss had been replaced twice, and the new management had different priorities. Sarah realized it was time to look for something new. She updated her resume on a Saturday morning. Writing about her achievements made her feel proud of her career. She had led several successful projects and trained many new employees. Sarah created a profile on three different job websites. She spent hours browsing through job listings. Many positions required skills she already had. Some jobs offered higher salaries than her current position. Sarah applied to five companies in the first week. She wrote a different cover letter for each application. Customizing her applications took a lot of time, but it was worth it. Three days later, she received her first response. A technology company wanted to schedule a phone interview. Sarah felt nervous but excited. She researched the company thoroughly before the call. The phone interview lasted about thirty minutes. The recruiter asked about her experience and career goals. Sarah answered confidently and asked thoughtful questions. At the end of the call, the recruiter seemed impressed. She said they would contact Sarah for a second interview. A week passed without any news. Sarah began to worry that she had not been selected. Meanwhile, she continued applying to other positions. Finally, she received an email inviting her to an in-person interview. The interview was scheduled for the following Tuesday. Sarah prepared by practicing common interview questions. She asked her friend to do a mock interview with her. Her friend gave her useful feedback about her answers. On the day of the interview, Sarah chose her best professional outfit. She arrived at the office fifteen minutes early. The building was modern and had a welcoming atmosphere. A friendly receptionist offered her a cup of coffee. Sarah waited in the lobby, reviewing her notes. Soon, a woman came to greet her. She introduced herself as the hiring manager. They walked to a conference room on the third floor. Two other people were already waiting there. One was the team lead, and the other was from human resources. The interview began with introductions and small talk. Then they asked Sarah to describe her most challenging project. She explained how she had managed a difficult client situation. The team seemed interested in her problem-solving approach. They asked many follow-up questions about her methods. Sarah felt the conversation flowing naturally. After an hour, they gave her a tour of the office. She met some of the people who would be her potential colleagues. Everyone was friendly and seemed passionate about their work. Sarah could imagine herself working there. The hiring manager thanked her for coming and promised to be in touch soon. Sarah left the building feeling optimistic. She sent thank-you emails to everyone she had met. In each email, she mentioned something specific from their conversation. This showed that she had been paying attention. Two days later, she received a phone call. It was the hiring manager with good news. They wanted to offer her the position. Sarah could hardly believe it. The salary was better than she had expected. They also offered additional benefits like remote work options. Sarah asked for a few days to consider the offer. She wanted to review everything carefully before making a decision. The hiring manager agreed and sent her the formal offer letter. Sarah read through all the details several times. She discussed the opportunity with her family. Everyone encouraged her to accept the new job. The next morning, Sarah called to accept the offer. She gave her current employer two weeks' notice. Her colleagues were sad to see her go but wished her well. Sarah spent her final days training her replacement. She wrote detailed instructions for all her responsibilities. On her last day, the team organized a small farewell party. They gave her a card signed by everyone. Sarah felt grateful for the friendships she had made. Starting at a new company felt both exciting and scary. On her first day, Sarah arrived early, eager to begin. Her new manager welcomed her warmly. She was given a laptop and access to all necessary systems. The onboarding process was well-organized. Sarah spent the first week learning about the company culture. She attended several training sessions. Her new colleagues were helpful and patient with her questions. By the end of the month, Sarah felt comfortable in her new role. The work was challenging but rewarding. She appreciated having more responsibility than before. Sarah realized she had made the right decision. Sometimes change is exactly what we need to grow.
English Story (B1)Finding a New Job
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sarah has worked at the same company for eight years but feels unfulfilled with the changes in management. She decides to look for a new job, updates her resume, and applies to several companies. After a phone interview and an in-person meeting at a technology company, she receives a job offer with a better salary and remote work options. Sarah accepts, gives notice at her old job, and starts fresh at the new company where she quickly feels comfortable and realizes she made the right decision.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How long had Sarah worked at her company before deciding to look for a new job?
2
Who was present at Sarah's in-person interview besides the hiring manager?
3
What did Sarah do after each interview to show her appreciation?
4
What additional benefits did the new job offer besides a better salary?
Vocabulary
39 words from this story
