This lesson demonstrates natural job interview dialogue, which can be great for learning conversational English.
Video lesson
Words & phrases
"Why do you want to work for a company like ours?"
Do you recognize this question? Definitely yes. It's a job interview, and it's our topic today. Hello everyone, I'm Kai, let's watch and learn together.
Let's talk about this classic interview question. This isn't just small talk - it's a serious moment where the employer wants to understand your motivation. When you're in a job interview, they're not just looking for someone who needs a job, but someone who genuinely wants to work with THEIR specific company.
Pro tip: Always prepare a specific answer. Don't just say, "I need money." Instead, show you've researched the company and explain why you're truly interested.
"I saw your advert in the paper."
A slightly old-fashioned way of saying, "I saw your job advertisement in the newspaper". "Advert" is a very British way of saying "advertisement". In American English, you'd more likely hear "job listing", "job posting", or "job advertisement".
"Your CV's a bit patchy"
Ever heard the term "CV"? It stands for "Curriculum Vitae". Sounds mysterious, right? It is basically a fancy term for your professional life story on paper, a job application document. This word changes depending on where you are. In the United Kingdom, they'll proudly say "CV", but in the United States, you'll hear "resume" instead. And in Australia they're pretty relaxed - they'll use both terms.
"Patchy" is a fantastic descriptive word! It means something is fragmented, only existing or happening in some parts, with gaps or disconnects. In a job context, it suggests your work history has unexplained breaks.
Hence the languages.
"Hence" is one of those nice connecting words that means "because of this", "as a result", or "that is the reason". In our scene, the interviewer is making a direct connection between the Daisy's time abroad and her language skills. It's like saying, "You've been out of the country, SO of course you've picked up some languages!" Pro tip: "Hence" is a more formal way of saying "that's why" or "because of this". It's perfect for professional conversations and adds a touch of sophistication to your English!
"Educated up to university level"
It's something you might hear in job interviews, or professional settings. But what's the real story behind it?
Imagine education like a ladder. Each step represents a different level of learning:
Primary school: Your first steps
Secondary school: Building more complex knowledge
University level: The highest rung on the basic education ladder!
When an interviewer says "educated up to university level", it means they are looking for a candidate with the educational background that qualifies them for more advanced work.
"As much as one might try and hide them"
Listen to how the interviewer speaks - very formal, almost poetic, instead of simply saying "even if you want to keep it secret", or "no matter how hard you try to hide them". This demonstrates how professional English can use more complex, sophisticated language structures.
"you turned it down"
"Turned it down" is like saying "NO" to an opportunity, but with way more style! It means rejecting an offer, invitation, or opportunity. In our scene, the interviewer was curious about why Daisy turned down a scholarship to Cambridge University.
That's it for short lesson, thanks for watching, hope it was helpful, see you next time.