Job interviews in Australia: what to expect: English Podcast

Intermediate · B1–B2 Episode 13 · about 2 minutes · Hosts: Mel and Josh

1. Before you listen: key words

Press 🔊 to hear each word or phrase. You'll hear all of them in the conversation.

behavioural question a question about what you did in a real situation
STAR method Situation, Task, Action, Result
modest not talking much about your achievements
a nice touch a small thing that makes a good impression
typical day what a normal day is like
feedback comments about how well you did

2. Listen to the episode

Press Play. The line being spoken lights up so you can read along. Start with Slow if you're a beginner, then try Normal. For a challenge, hide the transcript the first time you listen.

3. Check your understanding

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4. Shadow the hosts

Shadowing means repeating a line straight after you hear it, copying the speed, stress and rhythm. Press 🔁 next to any line in the transcript, then press 🎤 and say it. Your browser shows what it heard. Try 3 to 5 lines a day.

5. Talk about it

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Listening Room, episode 13: Job interviews in Australia: what to expect

Intermediate (B1–B2) · englishcoaching.co

1. Vocabulary: write the meaning

behavioural question: ________________________
STAR method: ________________________
modest: ________________________
a nice touch: ________________________
typical day: ________________________
feedback: ________________________

2. Questions

How long should 'Tell me about yourself' take?
☐ About a minute ☐ Ten minutes ☐ Five seconds
What does STAR stand for?
☐ Situation, Task, Action, Result ☐ Skills, Training, Attitude, Results ☐ Start, Talk, Answer, Repeat
Which part of STAR do people often forget?
☐ The result ☐ The situation ☐ The task
How should you talk about your skills in Australia?
☐ Be confident and give examples ☐ Never mention them ☐ Say you're the best
What should you do when asked 'Do you have any questions?'
☐ Say no ☐ Ask one or two questions ☐ Ask about holidays first

3. Talk or write about it

Answer this question using STAR: 'Tell me about a time when you solved a problem.'

Transcript

Mel: Hi, I'm Mel, and welcome to the Listening Room.

Josh: I'm Josh. Today we're talking about job interviews in Australia.

Mel: First question you'll probably hear: 'Tell me a bit about yourself.'

Josh: And the mistake people make is telling their whole life story.

Mel: Exactly. Keep it to about a minute: your experience, your skills, and why you want this job.

Josh: Another very common question starts with 'Tell me about a time when…'

Mel: For example, 'Tell me about a time when you dealt with a difficult customer.'

Josh: That's a behavioural question. A good way to answer is the STAR method.

Mel: Situation, Task, Action, Result. What happened, what you needed to do, what you did, and how it ended.

Josh: And the result is the bit people forget. Always finish with a result.

Mel: Now, something cultural. In some countries, people are very modest in interviews. In others, people are very confident.

Josh: In Australia, it's somewhere in the middle. Be confident about your skills, but give examples instead of big claims.

Mel: So instead of 'I'm the best worker ever', say 'My manager asked me to train new staff because my customer feedback was always good.'

Josh: Much better. The example does the talking.

Mel: At the end, they'll ask, 'Do you have any questions for us?'

Josh: Always have one or two. 'What does a typical day look like?' or 'What training do you offer?'

Mel: And after the interview, a short thank-you email is a nice touch.

Josh: Good luck with your interviews, everyone!

Mel: See you next time!

Answers: 1. About a minute · 2. Situation, Task, Action, Result · 3. The result · 4. Be confident and give examples · 5. Ask one or two questions

Frequently asked questions

Is there a transcript for this English listening practice?

Yes. The full transcript is on this page and each line lights up as it's read. You can also print a worksheet with the transcript, questions and answers.

What English level is this episode?

Intermediate (about B1–B2). Beginners can use the Slow speed and read along.

Which words will I learn in this episode?

behavioural question, STAR method, modest, a nice touch, typical day, feedback. Each one has audio and a simple meaning.