A job interview
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation
Transcript
Interviewer: Hello, Maria. Thanks for coming in for the interview.
Maria: It's my pleasure. Thanks for inviting me.
Interviewer: Well, as you know, the company has been expanding and we have an opening in our HR department. We're creating a new role for someone to lead our training and development within the company.
Maria: Yes, I very much think that my skills and experience are a good fit for what you're looking for.
Interviewer: That sounds great. So, your CV looks strong, though it would be good if you could give us an overview, in your own words, of what you've been doing over the past four years or so.
Maria: Well, in my first job, four years ago, I was working for a small HR services provider which offered HR services, including L&D, to corporate clients.
Interviewer: OK, so it was only B2B?
Maria: Yes, we only offered services to other companies, not B2C.
Interviewer: Right, and it says here you then left that company about three years ago.
Maria: Yes, that's right. I was looking for a little more stability and also to be part of a larger organisation. So I joined a company with around one hundred staff and a small HR team. As there are only a few of us, we each deal with a range of HR topics. In addition to payroll, one of the areas I was responsible for was learning and development.
Interviewer: I see. And, so why do you want to change jobs now?
Maria: Well, I very much like the L&D side of my role and I've always had particularly good feedback for my work in this area. I believe I excel in that field. So, I'm looking to specialise, and as your company has around 2,000 people, right …?
Interviewer: Yes, that's right.
Maria: Well, an organisation of this size would give me the scope to specialise in L&D. I'm also a big follower of your brand and feel fully aligned with your image and values.
Interviewer: Well, that all sounds good. And I can see you have an L&D qualification.
Maria: Yes, I got a diploma two years ago. I am also currently working on a further diploma in psychology, with a specific focus on learning and performance management.
Interviewer: Very good. Well, it looks like you have the qualifications and experience we're looking for. What do you think will be the main challenges of coming to a much larger company?
Maria: I can see that it might be perceived as a weakness to not have experience in an organisation of this size, though I see that it could also be a benefit. I won't be bringing too many preconceived and possibly inflexible ideas with me to the role.
Interviewer: Yes, that would be a good thing.
Maria: Also, I'm used to taking a very personal approach to employee development. I realise that such an approach with 2,000 staff members will have to happen in a different way, but I bring many ideas with me that can be replicated on a larger scale.
Interviewer: I see what you mean. Right, so, do you have any questions for me?
Maria: Um, I think we've covered many of the areas I had wanted to address. I have two quick questions though.
Interviewer: Go on.
Maria: Who would I mostly work with on a daily basis?
Interviewer: Well, there's the HR manager who you would report to. And then the HR team, which currently has six people in it. There's usually an intern or two who you can get some support from also.
Maria: OK. Thanks. That's all really clear. And my other question is how performance in this role will be measured. What does success look like?
Interviewer: That's a good question. As you know, we have a performance management system in place, and from that we have identified some learning and development needs within the organisation. But we haven't devised a strategy. Your role would be to devise and then successfully implement this strategy.
Maria: Thank you. That sounds interesting.
Interviewer: Great. So, thanks again for coming in today. We'll be discussing all candidates next week and then I'll get back to you by the end of next week to let you know the outcome.
Maria: Thank you for your time. I'd welcome the opportunity to continue discussing this role with you.
Johanatan Valdez
I start by researching the company and the position, I am applying for. Review the job description and requirements, and think about how my skills and experiences align with them. Practice answering common interview questions such as " why do you want to work for this company?" or " what are your strengths and weaknesses?" .
In addition to preparing answers, I make sure about the outfit and plan to arrive early to the interview. My resume and any other materials requested by the employer.
First, I usually research the company and prepare an example answer for typical questions like:
“Why do you want to work at our company?” and “What do you know about our company?”
Then I read the job description more carefully and try to think of possible questions related to my experience with the technologies mentioned. For example:
“What is your experience with JavaScript?”
“On which projects have you used it?”
Finally, if something is not mentioned in the job description or I can’t find it during my research about the company, I prepare two or three questions to ask in the interview.
For example:
“What is a typical day like at this company?”
Normally, when I need to prepare for an interiew, I do researches about the company at first.
I try to gain as much information as I can about the company and it's history, organization, values, business model, competitors and of course details about the role and the department I would work in, if present.
Then, I analyse all points of contact between my professional profile and the desider profile one, to chek if there any missing points I can still cover with my knowledges and competences. If not, figure out I can still present my self as a good fit for that role and why they should hire me.
To prepare for an interview I first do a research about the company that I will apply for, so I can have knowledge of what they do, what are their needs and how can I contribute to the company. I practice the interview writing and answering the questions that I think they might ask, so I don´t hesitate to much during the interview. And the most important part, I read the resume and get prepare for answering questions about it.
To prepare for a job interview, I first read carefully the job description to prepare my questions, then I visit the company's website to learn about its values, news and history. I also check employee reviews, if possible, because a healthy work environment is crucial for me.
I have my own business, so I haven´t prepared for an interview, but I do have meetings with possible new clients (higher education). In those cases, I read about the person's role in the university, their CV, and gained some knowledge about the theme we were going to discuss.
How do I prepare for an interview?
When preparing for a job interview, I research the company to gain a deeper understanding of its mission, values, products, and services. Then, research on likely questions as contained in the job description and develop responses to common interview questions, highlighting relevant skills and experiences.
When preparing for an interview, I take a thoughtful and strategic approach to ensure I show up informed, confident, and ready to connect:
Prepare thoughtful questions – I come ready with 2–3 questions that show genuine interest in the role, such as asking about team dynamics, success metrics, or growth opportunities.
This preparation helps me walk into interviews feeling focused, authentic, and ready to make a strong impression.