Sample Answer
Do you work or study?
I’m currently working full-time as a programmer at Baidu; I’ve been working there for 5 years.
Do you like your job?
Yes, I am really happy with what I do. Most of the time, it’s very rewarding to be able to help people every day. Besides, it’s a really good company to work for. The pay is good and they even hand out bonuses twice a year!
What do you do to improve your productivity?
Whenever I feel like I’ve lost focus on work and started slacking, I take a 5-minute break and make a cup of instant coffee. It sounds simple but it works like a charm for me. After I’ve had some coffee, I feel pumped up and have more energy.
How long do your work every week?
Well, I usually work 40 hours a week because I have a typical nine-to-five job. But during a busy business season, I’ll typically be asked to work overtime like 10 more hours a week. But the rate of pay for overtime work in my company is one and a half times higher than the regular wage. I don’t mind working overtime so long as I get paid more.
Do you think your company needs to make some changes? Which part of your working environment needs improvement?
Well… As far as I’m concerned, I really wish my company wasn’t so strict about the dress code. It really bugs me to have to wear a uniform day in and day out. Plus, I have to be really careful keeping the uniform clean otherwise I might get fined at my workplace. It would be great if we could have a casual Friday.
What do you learn from work?
Well… The most valuable lesson I learned from work is how to collaborate with my coworkers. It’s not something that I really understood back in school. But in a real job, a ton of tasks need good teamwork and can’t be done on your own. For instance, when I coordinated a marketing event with my colleagues, it was of the essence to make sure everyone was on the same page, or else we might’ve messed up the whole thing.
Do you enjoy working in different cities?
Yes, I do. Honestly, I don’t like settling in one place, so being able to move around keeps things interesting. Working in different cities exposes you to all kinds of cultures, which I think is really beneficial. It’s good to expand your horizons and see lots of different sights.
Is this job a good opportunity? / Is it good for your future development?
Yes, it’s a wonderful job. Even though I’m swamped with the tasks at work sometimes and have to work overtime, overall, I believe it’s a good career for me. I’m very passionate about my job and I really know what to do. Plus, doing this job right now will definitely help me build my resume later, since it requires excellent workmanship.
Do you want to change your job?
No, I don’t want to hop my job right now. It’s mainly because the pay is not bad. I mean, it’s not way higher than others but I’m pretty comfortable with it. Plus, it’s not easy to find a proper job in today’s job market, is it? Sometimes, it’s better to appreciate what you have now.
Are nine-to-five jobs good?
I suppose nine-to-five jobs are pretty good! Even though they can feel pretty repetitive after a while, I think it’s important to have a stable job that pays you well. After all, money doesn’t grow on trees. Plus, you have the weekends free, which gives you a chance to kick back and relax.
Vocab Highlights
hand out: to give things to different people in a group
slack /slæk/ (v): decrease or reduce in intensity, quantity, or speed
work like a charm: to work exactly as you had hoped
pumped up /ˌpʌmpt ˈʌp/: very excited or enthusiastic about something
nine-to-five job: A nine-to-five job is one that you do during normal office hours, for example a job in a factory or an office.
dress code /ˈdres kəʊd/ (n) rules about what clothes people should wear at work, at school, in a restaurant or club, etc.
bug somebody: to annoy someone
day in and day out: If you say that something happens day in, day out or day in and day out, you mean that it happens regularly over a long period of time.
fine /fain/ (v): to charge someone an amount of money as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law
casual Friday: in some organizations, a day (often Friday) when employees can wear more informal clothes
collaborate with: work jointly on an activity, especially to produce or create something
of the essence: used to say that something is absolutely necessary in order for a particular action to be successful
be on the same page: understand and agree with someone
messed up /ˌmest ˈʌp/ (adj): unhappy and emotionally confused
settling in: If you settle in, you become used to living in a new place, doing a new job, or going to a new school.
expand/broaden one’s horizons/mind: to increase the range of one’s knowledge, understanding, or experience
swamp someone with something: to give someone too much to deal with at one time
work overtime: to spend time working at one’s job in addition to one’s normal working hours
passionate /ˈpæʃənət/ (adj): having or showing strong feelings of sexual love or of anger, etc.
résumé/resume /ˈrezəmeɪ/ (n): a written record of your education and the jobs you have done, that you send when you are applying for a job = curriculum vitae
workmanship /ˈwɜːrkmənʃɪp/ (n): the skill with which somebody makes something, especially when this affects the way it looks or works
hop my job: to change my jobs, esp frequently
a stable job: a position that employees can keep for long periods of time
money doesn’t grow on trees: said to warn someone to be careful how much money they spend, because there is only a limited amount
kick back: to stop doing things and relax or enjoy oneself