Job Interviews (Part 1)

Assertive personalities, charisma, and careful evaluations — job interviews reveal more than just qualifications. In this unit, you’ll learn vocabulary to describe personality traits in professional settings and use it confidently in speaking, writing, listening, and reading. Start practising!

Learning Flow in This Unit:

1. Understand – listen to a dialogue and learn key vocabulary
2. Practice – complete vocabulary exercises
3. Use – apply the vocabulary in speaking and writing tasks
4. Check – see the answers below the exercises

📖 Stage 1 – Understand the Vocabulary

1️⃣ Listening for the main idea

Read and listen to the dialogue below and answer the questions.

1. How does Tom describe Mark’s personality during the discussion with Sophia?

2. What concerns does Tom express about Mark’s suitability for the role?

3. What action does Sophia suggest taking to further evaluate Mark’s suitability for the position?

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Tom: Hi Sophia, thanks for taking the time to meet with me. I wanted to get your thoughts on Mark’s interview earlier today.

Sophia: Of course, Tom. I was quite intrigued by Mark. What did you make of him?

Tom: Well, he certainly is a real character. He’s quick-witted and shrewd, which could be beneficial in certain aspects of the role. However, he did come across as a bit pushy at times.

Sophia: I noticed that too. He seems to be assertive, but we need to ensure he’s also conscientious and trustworthy. Did you sense any of that during the interview?

Tom: I agree. He exudes charisma, but I’m not entirely convinced about his level of conscientiousness. He’s assertive, but I wonder if he might be a bit vain. That could potentially get up someone’s nose in a team environment.

Sophia: That’s a valid concern. We definitely need someone who can balance assertiveness with humility. I’ll delve deeper into his references and see if we can get a clearer picture of his work ethic and how he interacts with others.

Tom: Sounds like a plan. Let’s make sure we’re thorough in our evaluation before making a decision.

2️⃣ Listening for details

Listen to the dialogue again and decide if the statements below are True or False.

This time, listen carefully for specific information, such as reasons, opinions, or examples mentioned by the speakers.

1. Tom and Sophia are discussing Mark after his interview.

2. Tom describes Mark as someone who thinks quickly and intelligently.

3. Tom believes Mark was very shy during the interview.

4. Sophia thinks it is important that Mark is both conscientious and trustworthy.

5. Tom is completely convinced that Mark is very conscientious.

6. Tom suggests that Mark might sometimes appear vain.

7. Sophia believes assertiveness alone is enough for the role.

8. Sophia plans to check Mark’s references before making a final decision.

3️⃣ Vocabulary matching

Match the words or expressions with their correct definitions.

Read each word carefully and choose the definition that best explains its meaning in the context of the topic.

1. Get one’s thoughts on	A. able to think and respond quickly and intelligently
2. What did you make of smb/ sth*?	B. showing determination and confidence when expressing opinions or needs
3. A real character	C. someone who has an unusual or strong personality
4. quick-witted	D. to ask someone for their opinion about something
5. Shrewd	E. the ability to attract, influence, and impress people
6. pushy	F. careful, responsible, and hardworking
7. assertive	G. behaving in a way that is too aggressive when trying to get something
8. Conscientious	H. the habit of working hard and being responsible about your job
9. trustworthy	I. to express a quality or feeling strongly so that others notice it
10. Exude	J. deserving trust; reliable and honest
11. charisma	K. modesty and the ability to recognize that you are not more important than others
12. Vain	L. very practical and good at making decisions, especially in business
13. humility	M. too proud of your appearance or achievements
14. Work ethic	N. to communicate or work with other people
15. Interact with	O. to do something very carefully and completely
16. Thorough	P. to ask someone what they thought or felt about something

*smb = somebody / sth = something

 

✏️ Stage 2 – Practice the Vocabulary

4️⃣ Gap fill 

Complete the sentences using the words from the list.

Use each word once. Choose the word that best fits the meaning and grammar of the sentence.

passionate about • spontaneous • happy-go-lucky • down-to-earth • chatterbox • a good fit • eager • to give it a go • within reason • considerate • affectionate • authenticity • pretentiousness • attribute • genuine • frugal

1. During the interview, Mark appeared very __________ and answered difficult questions quickly and intelligently.

2. A good manager should be __________ enough to make smart decisions in challenging situations.

3. Some candidates may appear confident, but if they are too __________, they might annoy their colleagues.

4. Being __________ is important because it helps employees express their ideas clearly and confidently.

5. The company is looking for someone who is __________ and always completes tasks carefully and responsibly.

6. In many workplaces, being __________ is essential because colleagues must be able to rely on each other.

7. The speaker had so much __________ that everyone in the room paid close attention.

8. Some people become __________ when they receive too much praise for their appearance or achievements.

9. Good leaders show __________ and are willing to listen to others’ ideas.

10. Employers often value a strong __________ because it shows dedication and responsibility.

11. In most jobs, employees need to __________ clients and colleagues regularly.

12. Before hiring someone, companies usually conduct a __________ review of the candidate’s experience and references.

13. The candidate seemed confident and continued to __________ positive energy during the conversation.

14. Everyone in the office says the new colleague is __________ — he has a very unusual and entertaining personality.

5️⃣ Collocations exercise

Some words often appear together in natural English. Choose the word that forms the correct expression.

thoughts • make • quick-witted • shrewd • pushy • assertive • strong • interact

1. get someone’s __________ on something

2. what did you __________ of the candidate?

3. a __________ decision

4. a __________ person

5. a bit too __________ during the discussion

6. an __________ communication style

7. a __________ work ethic

8. __________ with colleagues and clients

6️⃣ Word forms exercise

Complete the table with the correct word forms.

Fill in the missing verb, noun, adjective, or adverb forms of the words.

Verb	Adverb	Adjective	Noun
Trust
Assert
Interact
Be vain
Humble

7️⃣ Paraphrasing / sentence transformation

Rewrite the sentences using the word in brackets.

Keep the same meaning, but change the structure of the sentence.

This exercise helps you learn different ways to express the same idea.

1. A good leader must be __________ so that employees feel comfortable sharing ideas.
(trust)

2. During the interview, the candidate answered the questions __________.
(assert)

3. Positive __________ between colleagues improves teamwork and productivity.
(interact)

4. His excessive pride and __________ made him difficult to work with.
(vain)

5. The manager spoke __________ and clearly explained the company’s expectations.
(assert)

6. Many successful leaders show __________ and are willing to learn from others.
(humble)

7. Clients prefer to work with companies that are reliable and __________.
(trust)

8. Modern workplaces encourage collaboration and frequent __________ among team members.
(interact)

8️⃣ Error correction

Each sentence contains one mistake. Find the mistake and correct it.

This exercise helps you improve accuracy and natural vocabulary use.

1. Tom wanted to get Sophia’s thought on Mark’s interview.

2. Mark is very quick witted and answered all questions cleverly.

3. Sophia said that we need someone conscientious and trustable.

4. He exudes charisma and is sometimes to vain.

5. The candidate spoke very assertively and humble during the meeting.

6. Tom asked, “What did you make from his personality?”

7. It’s important to have a strong work ethics in any job.

8. Mark needs to interact with colleagues thorough to succeed in the team.

🗣️ Stage 3 – Use the Vocabulary

9️⃣ IELTS Speaking tasks.

Practice using new vocabulary in IELTS Speaking Parts 1-2-3:

Answer the questions using vocabulary from this unit.

Part 1 (4-5 minutes):

1. What is your name? /give your full name: first name and last name/
2. What shall I call you?
3. Can I see your ID, please?

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1. Do you work or study?*
2. Where do you work/ study?
3. Why did you choose this job/ this field of studies?
4. What was your first day like?

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Let’s talk about flowers. 

1. Do you like flowers? Why/ why not?
2. What is your favourite flower?
3. Why do you think women usually like flowers more than men? 
4. When was the last time someone gave you flowers?

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Let’s talk about leisure time. 

1. Do you have a lot of free time? Why or why not?
2. What is your favourite free time activity? 
3. Do you prefer to spend your leisure time alone or with people? Why?
4. When you were a child, what was your favourite leisure activity?

Part 2 (2-3 minutes):

Describe a person you know who has a strong personality.

You should say:

• Who this person is
• How you know them
• What personality traits they have
• How these traits affect the way they work or interact with others

And explain:

• Why you think these traits are positive or negative in a workplace setting

You have 1 minute to take notes. You should speak for 2 minutes.

Part 3 (5-6 minutes):

Answer the following questions. Give reasons and examples.

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Let’s now discuss how personality may affect a workplace.

1. Which personality traits are most important for working effectively in a team?

2. Can someone who is very charismatic but sometimes vain be a good team member?

3. How can a leader balance assertiveness with humility when managing employees?

4. How do personality differences affect communication in a professional environment?

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Finally, let’s talk about personality traits in job interviews and career development.

1. How can employers assess a candidate’s personality during an interview?
2. Is being quick-witted or shrewd more important for certain types of jobs?
3. Do personal qualities like trustworthiness and strong work ethic matter more than skills?

🔟 IELTS Writing tasks

Task 1: Write at least 150 words. You have 20 minutes to plan – write – proofread your task. 

A company surveyed employees to find out which personal qualities they think are most important for workplace success. The results are shown below. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Personal Quality	% of Employees
Conscientious	30%
Assertive	20%
Quick-witted	15%
Charismatic	15%
Trustworthy	10%
Vain	5%
Humble	5%

Task 2: Write at least 250 words. You have 40 minutes to plan – write – proofread your task. 

Some people believe that personal qualities, such as being conscientious, trustworthy, and assertive, are more important for career success than formal qualifications. Others argue that skills and academic qualifications matter more than personality.

Suggested Approach:

Introduction: Paraphrase the topic and introduce the two views.

Paragraph 1 (View 1 – Personality): Compare the advantages of strong personal qualities in the workplace (e.g., teamwork, charisma, work ethic).

Paragraph 2 (View 2 – Qualifications/Skills): Compare the advantages of formal skills and qualifications (e.g., expertise, technical knowledge, efficiency).

Paragraph 3 (Comparison / Your Opinion): Highlight similarities or differences and explain which is more important in your view.

Conclusion: Summarize the comparison and restate your opinion.

ANSWERS 

EXERCISE 1:

1. How does Tom describe Mark’s personality during the discussion with Sophia?
Tom describes Mark as quick-witted and shrewd, suggesting that he is intelligent and able to think quickly. He also says that Mark exudes charisma and is assertive, which could be useful for the role. However, Tom also notes that Mark sometimes came across as a bit pushy.

2. What concerns does Tom express about Mark’s suitability for the role?
Tom is concerned about whether Mark is conscientious enough for the position. Although Mark appears confident and charismatic, Tom is not fully convinced about his level of conscientiousness. He also worries that Mark might be a bit vain, which could annoy other team members and create problems in a team environment.

3. What action does Sophia suggest taking to further evaluate Mark’s suitability for the position?
Sophia suggests looking more closely at Mark’s references. She says she will delve deeper into his references to better understand his work ethic and how he interacts with others, which will help them make a more informed decision about hiring him.

EXERCISE 2:

1. True
Tom says, “I wanted to get your thoughts on Mark’s interview earlier today.”

2. True
Tom describes Mark as “quick-witted and shrewd.”, which means he thinks quickly and intelligently.

3. False
Tom actually says Mark “came across as a bit pushy at times.”, not shy.

4. True
Sophia says, “we need to ensure he’s also conscientious and trustworthy.”

5. False
Tom says he is “not entirely convinced about his level of conscientiousness.”

6. True
Tom says, “I wonder if he might be a bit vain.”

7. False
Sophia says they need someone who can “balance assertiveness with humility.”, meaning assertiveness alone is not enough.

8. True
Sophia says, “I’ll delve deeper into his references.” before making a decision.

EXERCISE 3:

1 — D 2 — P 3 — C 4 — A 5 — L 6 — G 7 — B 8 — F 9 — J 10 — I 11 — E  12 — M 13 — K 14 — H 15 — N

16 — O

EXERCISE 4:

1. quick-witted 2. shrewd 3. pushy 4. assertive 5. conscientious 6. trustworthy 7. charisma 8. vain

9. humility 10. work ethic 11. interact with 12. thorough 13. exude 14. a real character

EXERCISE 5:

1. get someone’s thoughts on something

2. what did you make of the candidate?

3. a shrewd decision

4. a quick-witted person

5. a bit too pushy during the discussion

6. an assertive communication style

7. a strong work ethic

8. interact with colleagues and clients

EXERCISE 6:

Verb	Adverb	Adjective	Noun
Trust	Trustfully	trustworthy	trust
Assert	Assertively	Assertive	assertion
Interact	interactively	interactive	interaction
Be vain	vainly	vain	vanity
Humble	humbly	humble	Humility

EXERCISE 7:

trustworthy 2. assertively 3. interaction 4. vanity 5. assertively 6. humility 7. trustworthy 8. interaction

EXERCISE 8:

1. Tom wanted to get Sophia’s thoughts on Mark’s interview.
(Incorrect form: “thought” → plural “thoughts”)

2. Mark is very quick-witted and answered all questions cleverly.
(Missing hyphen in “quick-witted”)

3. Sophia said that we need someone conscientious and trustworthy.
(Incorrect word: “trustable” → “trustworthy”)

4. He exudes charisma and is sometimes too vain.
(Incorrect word: “to” → “too”)

5. The candidate spoke very assertively and humbly during the meeting.
(Incorrect word form: “humble” → adverb “humbly”)

6. Tom asked, “What did you make of his personality?”
(Incorrect preposition: “from” → “of”)

7. It’s important to have a strong work ethic in any job.
(Incorrect plural: “work ethics” → singular “work ethic”)

8. Mark needs to interact with colleagues thoroughly to succeed in the team.
(Incorrect word form: “thorough” → adverb “thoroughly”)