Sarah walked into the office building with her portfolio under her arm. She was nervous but excited about the job interview. She had been preparing for this moment for two weeks. The receptionist greeted her with a warm smile. 'Good morning! You must be Sarah Johnson,' the receptionist said. 'Yes, I am here for the marketing manager position,' Sarah replied. 'Please have a seat. Mr. Thompson will be with you shortly.' Sarah sat down and reviewed her notes one last time. She had researched the company thoroughly and felt confident. After ten minutes, a tall man in a gray suit approached her. 'Hello, Sarah. I am Robert Thompson, the HR director.' Sarah stood up and shook his hand firmly. 'It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Thompson,' she said. 'Please follow me to the conference room,' he said. They walked down a long corridor with glass walls. Sarah noticed the modern office design and the friendly atmosphere. In the conference room, a woman with short brown hair was waiting. 'This is Lisa Martinez, our marketing director,' Mr. Thompson said. Sarah greeted her and they all sat down at the large table. 'So, Sarah, tell us about yourself,' Ms. Martinez began. 'I graduated from the University of London with a degree in marketing,' Sarah said. 'For the past five years, I have been working at a digital marketing agency.' 'What attracted you to our company?' Mr. Thompson asked. 'I have been following your company for several years,' Sarah explained. 'I admire your innovative approach to sustainable business practices.' Ms. Martinez nodded approvingly and looked at her notes. 'Can you describe a challenging project you have worked on?' she asked. Sarah thought for a moment before responding. 'Last year, we had a client who wanted to completely rebrand their company.' 'The deadline was very tight, and the budget was limited.' 'How did you handle that situation?' Mr. Thompson inquired. 'I organized daily meetings with my team to track our progress.' 'We prioritized the most important tasks and found creative solutions.' 'The project was completed on time, and the client was very satisfied.' Both interviewers seemed impressed by her answer. 'What do you consider your greatest strength?' Ms. Martinez asked. 'I believe my ability to communicate clearly with different teams is my strength.' 'And what about your weaknesses?' Mr. Thompson continued. Sarah appreciated the honesty this question required. 'Sometimes I focus too much on details and lose sight of the bigger picture.' 'However, I have been working on this by setting regular checkpoints.' Mr. Thompson wrote something down in his notebook. 'Where do you see yourself in five years?' he asked. 'I hope to have grown into a leadership role within the marketing department.' 'I want to contribute to the company's growth while developing my skills.' Ms. Martinez smiled and glanced at her colleague. 'How do you handle stress and pressure at work?' she asked. 'I find that staying organized helps me manage stress effectively.' 'I also make sure to take short breaks to clear my mind.' The interview continued for another twenty minutes. They discussed salary expectations, work hours, and company culture. 'Do you have any questions for us?' Mr. Thompson asked finally. Sarah had prepared several questions in advance. 'What does a typical day look like in this role?' she asked. Ms. Martinez explained the daily responsibilities and team structure. 'What opportunities for professional development does the company offer?' Sarah continued. 'We have regular training programs and mentorship opportunities,' Mr. Thompson replied. Sarah felt that the interview had gone very well. They all stood up and shook hands. 'Thank you for coming in today, Sarah,' Ms. Martinez said. 'We will be in touch within the next week.' 'Thank you both for this opportunity,' Sarah replied. 'I look forward to hearing from you.' Mr. Thompson walked her back to the reception area. Sarah left the building feeling confident and hopeful. She thought about the questions they had asked and her answers. She believed she had made a good impression. The following days passed slowly as she waited for a response. Finally, on Friday afternoon, her phone rang. It was Mr. Thompson with good news. 'Congratulations, Sarah! We would like to offer you the position.' Sarah could hardly believe what she was hearing. 'Thank you so much! I am thrilled to accept!' she exclaimed. They discussed the start date and other details. Sarah would begin her new job in two weeks. After the call, she immediately called her mother to share the news. 'Mom, I got the job!' Sarah said with excitement. 'I am so proud of you, dear,' her mother replied. Sarah spent the weekend celebrating with her friends and family. She was grateful for all the preparation she had done. The interview experience had taught her many valuable lessons. She learned that being honest about weaknesses shows maturity. Researching the company thoroughly had helped her stand out. Asking good questions showed genuine interest in the role. Sarah was ready to start this new chapter in her career.
English Story (B1)Interview Questions
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 attends a job interview for a marketing manager position. She answers questions about her experience, strengths, weaknesses, and career goals. The interview goes well, and she receives a job offer at the end of the week.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What position was Sarah interviewing for?
2
What challenging project did Sarah describe during the interview?
3
What did Sarah say was her greatest weakness?
4
How long did Sarah have to wait before she received the job offer?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
