Speaking: Specific Purposes B1 - Lesson 1: Answering Common Job Interview Questions (About yourself, skills)

Speaking: Specific Purposes B1

Answering Common Job Interview Questions

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will learn and practice two key formulas to confidently answer the most common job interview questions in English.

Scenario: A Job Interview 💼

Listen to this role-play. A candidate named Rina is interviewing for a "Hotel Receptionist" position. Notice how she gives clear, structured answers.

Interviewer: "Good morning, Rina. Thank you for coming. To start, could you please tell me about yourself?"

Rina: "Certainly. I am currently a student at the University of Puthisastra, studying hospitality and tourism. For the last year, I have been working part-time as a cashier at a cafe, where I am responsible for customer service and handling payments. I was very excited to see this receptionist role because I want to start my career in the hotel industry."

Interviewer: "I see. And what would you say is your greatest strength?"

Rina: "I believe my main strength is my communication skill. For example, in my cashier job, I often have to help tourists who don't speak Khmer. I am good at listening patiently and explaining things clearly in English. I am confident this skill would be very useful when welcoming guests to the hotel."

Formulas for Fluent Answers 📝

Preparing answers for common questions is the best way to feel confident. Use these simple formulas to structure your answers.

"Tell me about yourself."

1. Present: Who are you now?
e.g., "I am currently a student studying..."

2. Past: What relevant experience do you have?
e.g., "For the last year, I have been working as a..."

3. Future: Why do you want this job?
e.g., "I was interested in this role because..."

"What are your strengths?"

1. Claim: State your strength clearly.
e.g., "I believe my main strength is my communication skill."

2. Example: Give one specific, short example.
e.g., "For example, in my cashier job, I often help tourists..."

3. Connect: Explain why the skill is useful for *this* job.
e.g., "I am confident this skill would be very useful for..."

Interview Success Tips 💡

More Tips for a Great Interview

1. Be Professional and Polite: Use formal greetings like "Good morning." Use the interviewer's name (e.g., "Thank you, Mr. Sophal"). Dress professionally.

2. Research the Company: Before the interview, spend 10 minutes looking at the company's website or Facebook page. Knowing what they do shows you are genuinely interested.

3. Prepare a Question for Them: Always have one question ready to ask at the end. It makes you seem engaged and curious. For example: "What does a typical day look like in this role?"

Practice Your Skills 🎯

Practice Quiz: Match the Formula

Read the two answers below. Which formula does each answer use?

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"I am very good at working in a team. For instance, in my marketing course, I worked with three other students to create a successful advertising campaign. This experience taught me how to collaborate, so I know I can be a valuable member of your marketing team."

→ Formula Used: Claim - Example - Connect

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"I currently work in sales at a mobile phone shop. Before that, I studied business administration. I am applying for this Sales Executive position because I want to grow my career."

→ Formula Used: Present - Past - Future

Vocabulary Glossary

• Candidate (Noun) | បេក្ខជន
  A person who is applying for a job.
• Responsible for (Phrase) | ទទួលខុសត្រូវលើ
  To have a duty or job to do something.
• Role (Noun) | តួនាទី
  The position or function that someone has in an organization.
• Strength (Noun) | ចំណុចខ្លាំង
  A good quality or ability that gives someone an advantage.
• Skill (Noun) | ជំនាញ
  The ability to do an activity or job well.

Your Mission ⭐

Your mission is to prepare for your next job interview, even if it's just for practice.

1. Find a real job advertisement you are interested in or imagine your dream job.
2. Write your answer to "Tell me about yourself" using the "Present - Past - Future" formula.
3. Write your answer to "What are your strengths?" for ONE strength, using the "Claim - Example - Connect" formula.
4. Practice saying your answers out loud until they sound natural and you feel confident. This is the most important step!