Lesson 2.1 — Job interview basics (Spoken English A2)

Listen first

A candidate answers "Tell me about yourself." Notice she doesn't tell her life story — she gives her job, one strength, and one example, then stops.

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New vocabulary — tap to hear

Tell me about yourself/tɛl mi əˈbaʊt jɔːrˈsɛlf/ · the classic opening question 🔊

I'm good at/aɪm ˈɡʊd æt/ · always followed by a noun or -ing verb 🔊

a strength/ə ˈstrɛŋθ/ · something you do well — the interviewer's favourite word 🔊

I have experience in/aɪ hæv ɪkˈspɪriəns ɪn/ · signals your background 🔊

a team player/ə ˈtiːm ˌpleɪər/ · set phrase for someone who works well with others 🔊

I enjoy/aɪ ɪnˈdʒɔɪ/ · warmer than "I like" for talking about work 🔊

Now say it

Tap the phrase to hear it, then press the mic and repeat — we score your pronunciation for real (Chrome/Edge).

« I'm good at staying calm under pressure. » 🔊

Slow down and drop your pitch on "calm" — sounding calm as you say the word is half the message the interviewer hears.

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Pronunciation

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So, tell me a little about yourself. 🔊The standard interview opener

Sure. I'm a nurse with three years' experience, and I'm good at staying calm under pressure. 🔊Role plus one clear strength

Can you give me an example? 🔊Asks the candidate to prove it

Of course. Last year I handled a busy emergency shift, and everyone stayed safe. 🔊Backs the strength with a real situation

That's great to hear. You sound like a real team player. 🔊Positive close, reusing a key phrase

Grammar in focus · "good at" + -ing

After "good at" we use a noun or the -ing form of a verb: "good at cooking", "good at maths". The near-universal mistake is "I'm good at cook" or "good at to cook" — neither works. If a verb follows "at", it must wear the -ing ending. Same pattern with "interested in" and "experience in".

Full lesson: prepositions + -ing

Write it yourself

Write a three-sentence answer to "Tell me about yourself": your job, one strength, and a short example.

Your answer

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Tip for this task
Resist listing five strengths — one with a real example beats five bare adjectives. Interviewers remember the story, not the list.

Quick check

An adaptive quiz confirms you've got it and schedules the right words for review.

1. Which is correct?

2. The best answer to "Tell me about yourself" in an interview is…

3. "A team player" is someone who…

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