Conversation Topics / Job Interviews
Job Interviews Conversation Questions for Adult ESL Classes
This topic covers the practical and cultural sides of job interviews. Part 1 focuses on personal experiences — preparing, performing, and learning from real interviews. Part 2 goes deeper into how culture, bias, and hiring systems shape the interview process.
Reviewed by Brando · 8 Aug 2026
Part 1
Your Interview Experiences
Focus: sharing experience, describing, comparing, and giving advice
Think of one thing you wear to an interview, one thing you bring with you, and one emotion you might feel.
Describe each word without saying it directly. Your teacher or partner must guess the word.
EXPERIENCE
Tell your partner about a job interview you have had. What went well, and what was difficult?
DESCRIBE
Describe the process of applying for a job in your country, from the application to the final decision.
ADVISE
A friend has a job interview tomorrow and is very nervous. What three pieces of advice would you give them?
COMPARE
How do you think interview expectations have changed compared to ten or twenty years ago?
PRIORITIZE
When you are looking for a new job, which factors matter most to you — salary, location, the team, the work itself, or something else?
PREFERENCE
Would you rather have a formal panel interview or an informal conversation over coffee with your potential manager?
PLAN
If you were preparing for an important interview next week, what specific steps would you take to get ready?
EVALUATE
Think about a time when you had to judge whether a job was right for you. What helped you make your decision?
ADAPT
Have you ever had to change your communication style for a professional situation? What did you do differently?
PROBLEM-SOLVE
You arrive at an interview and realise you know very little about the company. How would you handle the situation?
Part 2
Beyond the Questions
Focus: analysing, reflecting, connecting ideas, and creating solutions
In one minute, think of two qualities employers look for, two questions an interviewer might ask, two things you should research before an interview, and one thing you should never do in an interview.
ANALYZE
Why do you think many people find job interviews stressful, even when they are well qualified for the position?
CULTURE
How do cultural expectations about age, gender, or appearance affect hiring decisions in your country?
DISCUSS
Some companies remove names and photos from applications to reduce bias. Do you think this approach is effective?
REFLECT
Is the ability to perform well in an interview really connected to the ability to do a job well?
BALANCE
How should companies balance the need to find skilled workers quickly with the need to treat every candidate fairly?
DEFINE
What does 'professionalism' mean in your culture, and has its meaning changed in recent years?
IMPROVE
If you could redesign the way companies hire people, what would you change about the process?
DESIGN
Imagine you are creating a hiring process for a small company. What steps would you include, and what would you avoid?
CONNECT
How does a country's education system affect the way people prepare for job interviews and the job market?
CREATE
Describe an ideal job interview format that would be fair to candidates from any cultural background.