The Interview Mishap
You've been shortlisted for your dream job, but nothing goes quite as planned. Your decisions will determine whether you land the role or become a cautionary tale at the office water cooler.
A free Story Adventure for Adults at CEFR B2 level. Topic: The job interview.
Story
- You receive an email confirming that you've been shortlisted for an interview at TechVision Solutions, a company you've admired for years. The hiring manager, Sarah Chen, has invited you to meet on Friday at 2 PM. As you prepare, you realize the job description emphasizes collaboration and taking…
- You settle into the sleek lobby of TechVision Solutions and review your notes with laser focus. As you're practicing your answer about a time you took initiative on a failed project, you overhear Sarah Chen on her phone in the corridor nearby. She's telling someone that the team has been struggling…
- The café downstairs is busier than you expected, and by the time you get your coffee, you're running exactly on time—not early. As you ride the elevator up, you spill a few drops of latte on your sleeve. It's barely noticeable, but you're acutely aware of it. You enter the reception area slightly…
- You walk into Sarah's office with a newfound confidence, having decided to be genuine. When she asks about your strengths and weaknesses, you give a thoughtful, honest answer: you excel at collaborating across teams and taking initiative on projects, but you sometimes struggle with perfectionism,…
- You enter the interview room and deliver your prepared answers with precision. Every response is polished, every anecdote is perfectly timed, and you sound like you've practiced this a hundred times—because you have. Sarah listens politely but seems to be checking boxes rather than genuinely…
- You laugh lightly and say, 'Well, I suppose I've just demonstrated how I handle pressure—not always perfectly, but with a sense of humor!' Sarah laughs genuinely, and the tension in the room dissolves. She appreciates your self-awareness and candor. From that point forward, the conversation flows…
- You decide not to mention the spill and instead focus intently on answering Sarah's questions about your competencies. You provide solid answers about collaboration and your ability to meet deadlines, but there's a slight guardedness in your tone. Sarah notices and seems to interpret it as either…
- Your question demonstrates that you've been listening carefully and thinking strategically about the role. Sarah is visibly impressed. She explains that the role requires strong competencies in project management and the ability to collaborate across departments, especially during the probationary…
Vocabulary
- shortlisted
- candidate
- competencies
- strengths and weaknesses
- probationary period
- remuneration
- notice period
- references
- collaboration
- collaborate
- initiative
- deadlines
- deadline
Printable worksheet
This Story Adventure comes with a free printable worksheet: 2 parts for students to do after the game, and an answer key for the teacher. It prints at three levels (Support, Core and Challenge); this is the Challenge sheet. Sign in free to print the whole sheet.
What's on the worksheet
- Remember the story · Answer in a full sentence.
- A new ending · Write a new ending for the story. Use three story words.
Part 1: Remember the story
Answer in a full sentence.
- Why is the candidate nervous about the interview?
- What does Sarah Chen seem to be looking for in the ideal candidate?
- What does Sarah Chen seem to be testing by mentioning staying calm under pressure?