Job Interviews (Part 2)
Spontaneous chats, happy-go-lucky smiles, genuine teamwork, considerate colleagues — personality shows everywhere. In this unit, you’ll learn the vocabulary to describe personal qualities and workplace traits, and use it confidently in speaking, writing, listening, and reading. Start practising!
Learning Flow in This Unit:
- Understand – listen to a dialogue and learn key vocabulary
- Practice – complete vocabulary exercises
- Use – apply the vocabulary in speaking and writing tasks
- 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. What personal qualities does Mark describe about himself during the dialogue?
2. How does Mark express his approach to trying new things and communicating with others?
3. What aspect of the role does Tom emphasize as important in the context of Mark’s personal attributes?
Tom: Hi Mark, thanks for coming in today. I’m excited to discuss your application for the position.
Mark: Hi Tom, thanks for having me. I’m really interested in learning more about the role.
Tom: Great to hear. Before we dive in, tell me a bit about yourself and what you’re passionate about.
Mark: Sure thing. Well, I’m a pretty spontaneous person, always up for trying new things. I’d say I’m quite happy-go-lucky and down-to-earth. I love meeting new people and can sometimes be a bit of a chatterbox.
Tom: Interesting. Those are valuable qualities. This role requires someone who’s passionate about our industry. Do you think you’d be a good fit?
Mark: Absolutely! I’m always eager to learn and give it a go, within reason of course. I’m considerate of others and I’d say I’m quite affectionate when it comes to teamwork.
Tom: That’s good to hear. One thing we prioritize here is authenticity. We’re not big fans of pretentiousness. How would you attribute your communication style in professional settings?
Mark: I strive to be genuine and straightforward. I believe in being frugal with my words and focusing on clear, meaningful communication.
Tom: Excellent. Based on what you’ve said, I think you could be a good fit for the team. Let’s discuss further how your attributes align with the responsibilities of the position.
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. Mark describes himself as someone who likes planning everything in advance.
2. Mark says he enjoys meeting new people.
3. Tom thinks Mark’s personality traits could be useful for the job.
4. Mark says he prefers to work alone rather than in a team.
5. Tom says the company values authenticity.
6. Tom says the company appreciates pretentious behavior.
7. Mark tries to communicate clearly and directly in professional situations.
8. Mark believes in speaking a lot in order to explain his ideas well.
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. Passionate about | A. showing love, warmth, or fondness toward others |
| 2. Spontaneous | B. very interested in and enthusiastic about something |
| 3. Happy-go-lucky | C. someone who talks a lot |
| 4. Down-to-earth, | D. behaving in a simple, practical, and realistic way |
| 5. A Chatterbox | E. not fake; sincere and honest |
| 6. A good fit | F. not spending more money or resources than necessary |
| 7. Eager to give it a go | G. a quality or characteristic that someone has |
| 8. Within reason | H. willing and excited to try something |
| 9. considerate | I. doing something naturally without planning in advance |
| 10. Affectionate | J. someone who is cheerful and not easily worried |
| 11. Authenticity | K. suitable or appropriate for a particular role or situation |
| 12. pretentiosness | L. behaving in a way that tries to impress others by appearing more important or sophisticated than you really are |
| 13. attribute | M. thinking about the feelings and needs of others |
| 14. genuine | N. the quality of being real and true to yourself |
| 15. Frugal | O. only to a sensible or acceptable degree |
✏️ 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. The company is looking for someone who is truly __________ the industry and motivated to grow professionally.
2. Sarah is very __________ and often makes plans at the last minute.
3. Even during stressful situations, he remains calm and __________.
4. Despite his success, the manager is very __________ and easy to talk to.
5. My little sister is such a __________; she can talk for hours without stopping.
6. After the interview, the manager said Mark seemed like __________ for the team.
7. I’m not sure if I’ll succeed, but I’m __________ and see what happens.
8. You can express your opinions freely, but you should always do so __________.
9. It was very __________ of her to help her colleague finish the project.
10. The puppy is very __________ and loves being close to people.
11. The company values __________ and encourages employees to be themselves.
12. His constant attempts to appear superior were seen as __________ by the team.
13. Creativity is an important __________ for this position.
14. Her apology sounded sincere and completely __________.
15. He is quite __________ and prefers saving money rather than spending it on unnecessary things.
5️⃣ Collocations exercise
Some words often appear together in natural English. Choose the word that forms the correct expression.
passionate • spontaneous • good • give • within • affectionate • genuine • frugal
1. __________ about your work
2. a __________ fit for the role
3. eager to __________ it a go
4. __________ within reason
5. a __________ decision
6. show __________ behavior toward teammates
7. be __________ in communication
8. live a __________ lifestyle
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.
Then complete the sentences using the correct word form.
| Verb | Adverb | Adjective | Noun |
| Consider | |||
| Attribute | |||
| Pretend | |||
| Authenticate | |||
| Affect |
Categorize the Words
Place the vocabulary words into the correct category.
Some words describe positive personal qualities, some describe negative traits, and some describe general characteristics or concepts used in professional discussions.
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
Positive Personal Qualities
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Negative Traits
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Neutral / Professional Concepts
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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. Mark is very enthusiastic about the industry.
(passionate)
2. Mark often does things without planning them in advance.
(spontaneous)
3. He is cheerful and doesn’t worry too much about problems.
(happy-go-lucky)
4. The manager said Mark would probably work well in the team.
(fit)
5. Mark said he is willing to try new things.
(give)
6. The company values employees who are honest and sincere.
(genuine)
7. Mark always thinks about the feelings of others.
(considerate)
8. The company does not like people who try too hard to impress others.
(pretentious)
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. Mark said he is very passion about working in the industry.
2. She is a very down-to-earthly person and easy to talk to.
3. The manager thinks Mark is good fit for the position.
4. He always tries to be genuine and speak very clearlyly.
5. Being considerate to others is important when working in a team.
6. The company values authentic and encourages employees to be themselves.
7. Mark said he is eager giving it a go and learning new things.
8. His pretentious made some colleagues uncomfortable.
🗣️ 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):
- What is your name?
- What shall I call you?
- Can I see your ID, please?
- Where is your hometown?
- Do you like your hometown? Why or why not?
- Do you often visit your hometown? Why or why not?
- What is the oldest place in your hometown?
Let’s talk about daily routine.
- When do you get up in the morning?
- Do you follow the same routine?
- Do you sometimes change your routine?
- Do you think it’s important to have a routine? Why or why not?
Let’s talk about personality.
1. How would you describe your personality? Are you more spontaneous or someone who likes planning things carefully?
2. Do you think you are a chatterbox, or do you usually prefer listening to others?
3. What are you most passionate about in your life right now?
4. Do you think it is important to be considerate when working or studying with other people?
Part 2 (2-3 minutes):
Describe a person you know who has a great personality.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know them
- what personality traits they have
- why you think they are a good fit for their job or social circle
You should speak for 2 minutes.
Part 3 (5-6 minutes):
Answer the following questions. Give reasons and examples.
Let’s discuss how personality may affect the workplace.
1. Which personality attributes are most important for success in the workplace?
2. Do you think companies should look for people who are passionate about their work, or is it enough for employees to simply do their job well?
3. Why do some people behave in a pretentious way in professional situations?
4. Do you think authenticity is becoming more important in modern workplaces?
Finally, let’s discuss positive personality traits.
1. In your opinion, is it better to be spontaneous or careful and organized when making decisions?
2. Do you think people should always be honest and genuine, even if it might upset others?
🔟 IELTS Writing tasks
Task 1: Write at least 150 words. You have 20 minutes to plan – write – proofread your task.
A company conducted a survey to find out which personal qualities employees believe are most important for workplace success. The table above shows the results of a survey about personal qualities that employees think are important for workplace success.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
| Personal Quality | % of Employees |
| Being passionate | 35% |
| Being considerate | 25% |
| Being genuine | 20% |
| Being spontaneous | 10% |
| Being frugal | 5% |
| Being pretentious | 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 considerate, genuine, and passionate are more important for career success than formal qualifications. Others think that qualifications and skills matter more than personality.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
ANSWERS
EXERCISE 1:
1. What personal qualities does Mark describe about himself during the dialogue?
Mark describes himself as spontaneous, happy-go-lucky, and down-to-earth. He says he enjoys trying new things and meeting new people, and admits that he can sometimes be a chatterbox. He also describes himself as considerate and affectionate in teamwork, showing that he values positive relationships with colleagues.
2. How does Mark express his approach to trying new things and communicating with others?
Mark says he is always eager to learn and willing to give things a try, as long as it is within reason. When it comes to communication, he explains that he tries to be genuine and straightforward, and that he is frugal with his words, meaning he prefers clear and meaningful communication rather than speaking excessively.
3. What aspect of the role does Tom emphasize as important in the context of Mark’s personal attributes?
Tom emphasizes that the role requires someone who is passionate about the industry. He also highlights that the company values authenticity and does not appreciate pretentiousness, suggesting that being genuine and sincere is important for the position.
EXERCISE 2:
1. False
Mark says he is “a pretty spontaneous person, always up for trying new things.”
This suggests he does not focus on careful planning.
2. True
Mark says “I love meeting new people.”
3. True
Tom responds: “Those are valuable qualities.”
This shows he believes Mark’s traits are useful for the role.
4. False
Mark says he is “affectionate when it comes to teamwork.”
This indicates he values working with others.
5. True
Tom clearly says: “One thing we prioritize here is authenticity.”
6. False
Tom says “We’re not big fans of pretentiousness.”
This means the company does not like pretentious behavior.
7. True
Mark says “I strive to be genuine and straightforward.”
8. False
Mark says he is “frugal with my words.”
This means he prefers to speak briefly and clearly, not a lot.
EXERCISE 3:
1 — B 2 — I 3 — J 4 — D 5 — C 6 — K 7 — H 8 — O 9 — M 10 — A 11 — N 12 — L 13 — G 14 — E 15 — F
EXERCISE 4:
- passionate about 2. spontaneous 3. happy-go-lucky 4. down-to-earth 5. chatterbox 6. a good fit 7. eager to give it a go 8. within reason 9. considerate 10. affectionate 11. authenticity 12. pretentiousness 13. attribute 14. genuine 15. frugal
EXERCISE 5:
- passionate about your work 2. a good fit for the role 3. eager to give it a go 4. within reason 5. a spontaneous decision 6. show affectionate behavior toward teammates 7. be genuine in communication 8. live a frugal lifestyle
EXERCISE 6:
| Verb | Adverb | Adjective | Noun |
| Consider | considerately | Considerate | consideration |
| Attribute | attributably | Attributable | Attribute |
| Pretend | pretentiously | pretentious | pretence / pretense |
| Authenticate | authentically | authentic | authenticity |
| Affect | affectionately | affectionate | affection |
Positive Personal Qualities
- passionate about
- spontaneous
- happy-go-lucky
- down-to-earth
- eager to give it a go
- considerate
- affectionate
- genuine
- frugal
Negative Traits
- chatterbox
- pretentiousness
Neutral / Professional Concepts
- a good fit
- within reason
- authenticity
- attribute
EXERCISE 7:
1. Mark is passionate about the industry.
2. Mark is a spontaneous person.
3. He has a happy-go-lucky personality.
4. The manager said Mark would be a good fit for the team.
5.Mark said he is eager to give it a go.
6. The company values genuine employees.
7. Mark is considerate of others.
8. The company does not like pretentious people.
EXERCISE 8:
1. Mark said he is very passionate about working in the industry.
(Incorrect word form: passion → passionate)
2. She is a very down-to-earth person and easy to talk to.
(Incorrect form: down-to-earthly → down-to-earth)
3. The manager thinks Mark is a good fit for the position.
(Missing article)
4. He always tries to be genuine and speak very clearly.
(Incorrect adverb form: clearlyly → clearly)
5. Being considerate of others is important when working in a team.
(Incorrect preposition: considerate to → considerate of)
6. The company values authenticity and encourages employees to be themselves.
(Incorrect word form: authentic → authenticity)
7. Mark said he is eager to give it a go and learn new things.
(Incorrect verb structure)
8. His pretentiousness made some colleagues uncomfortable.
(Incorrect noun form: pretentious → pretentiousness)
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