Job Hunting – B1 English Listening Exercise

1 Answer: (B) There are no opportunities for career advancement.

• Explanation: Mark clearly states that there is “no room to move up” and they don’t promote from within. This is a paraphrase of “no opportunities for career advancement”. Option (A) is The Trap: Sarah mentions “salary” and “pay”, but Mark rejects this by saying “the compensation is quite decent”. Option (C) is plausible but never mentioned in the audio.

2 Answer: (C) Search for a position at a different company.

• Explanation: Mark says he is “actively looking for a new role”. Option (A) is The Trap: Sarah asks if he is going to “take a break for a while” (time off to relax), but Mark explicitly rejects this by saying “I can’t afford to just stop working”. Option (B) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (B) Inform him about potential job vacancies at her workplace.

• Explanation: Mark asks Sarah to let him know if “any positions open up” at her company. Sarah agrees and says she will “keep my ears open and send you any details” (inform him about vacancies). Option (A) and (C) mention things related to job hunting (manager, resume) but she does not promise to do these specific actions.

Mark: Hey, Sarah. Do you have a minute?

Sarah: Sure, Mark. You look a bit stressed. Is everything okay?

Mark: Well, to be honest, I’m thinking about handing in my notice at the agency.

Sarah: Really? I thought you liked working there. Is it because of the pay? I know they don’t offer the best salary in the industry.

Mark: Um, actually, the compensation is quite decent. The real issue is that I’ve been in the exact same position for three years, and there’s just no room to move up. Management keeps hiring external people for senior roles instead of promoting from within.

Sarah: Ah, I see. That must be incredibly frustrating. So, what’s your plan? Are you going to take a break for a while?

Mark: I can’t afford to just stop working. I’m actively looking for a new role right now. I need an environment where I can develop my professional skills. Listen, your company is in the same field, right? Could you let me know if any positions open up?

Sarah: Of course! Actually, we might be expanding our marketing team next month. I’ll keep my ears open and send you any details.

Mark: Thanks, Sarah. That really means a lot.

1 Answer: (B) He is currently working independently but wants a permanent job.

• Explanation: In the text, Nam says: “I’ve been doing some freelance work, but I’m looking for something more stable.”
• Trap: Answer (A) is wrong because he has left his job at the marketing firm (“I left them”). Answer (C) is wrong because he is still working freelance, not that he is unemployed.

2 Answer: (C) It is very productive and has a positive atmosphere despite the heavy workload.

• Explanation: Lan uses the phrases “working overtime” and “exhausting” (equivalent to heavy workload), but claims “the environment is great” (positive atmosphere).
• Trap: Answer (A) mentions working overtime but says the employees are “unhappy,” which is incorrect. Answer (B) is the complete opposite of the information “started the new international project.”

3 Answer: (B) She will submit his resume directly to the person in charge of hiring.

• Explanation: Lan promised to “send it directly to his desk” (i.e., the hiring manager). Here, synonyms are used: “CV” = “resume”, “hiring manager” = “person in charge of hiring”.
• Trap: Answer (A) is not mentioned. Answer (C) is incorrect because she says Nam sent his CV to her, not that Nam contacted her directly.

Nam: Hi Lan! It’s Nam here. I hope I’m not calling at a bad time?

Lan: Oh, hey Nam! Not at all. It’s been ages! How have you been? Are you still with that marketing firm downtown?

Lan: Well, actually, I left them a few months ago. I’ve been doing some freelance work, but I’m looking for something more stable now. Anyway, how are things at your place? Is “Global Tech” still as busy as ever?

Lan: Oh, you wouldn’t believe it. To be honest, since we started the new international project, we’ve been working overtime almost every day. It’s exhausting, but the environment is great.

Nam: That sounds like a lot of growth. Actually, Lan, the reason I’m calling is that I saw a posting for a Senior Account Manager on your company website. Since we worked so well together in the past, I was wondering if you could… you know, maybe give me some advice or even put in a word for me?

Lan: Oh, I didn’t know you were looking! That position is perfect for you. I know the hiring manager quite well. Tell you what—send me your updated CV tonight. I can’t promise anything, but I’ll make sure it gets directly to his desk rather than just sitting in the general application pile.

Nam: That would be amazing, Lan. I really appreciate the help!

Lan: No problem at all, Nam. Happy to help an old friend.

1 Answer: (B) He thought the work was unrelated to a professional career.

• Explanation: Tom says “But it was just serving drinks. How does that help me get an office job?”. This means he thinks the cafe job is not relevant to an “office job” (which is paraphrased as “a professional career” in the option). Option (A) and (C) are plausible reasons in real life but are not mentioned in the audio.

2 Answer: (A) His capability to deal with challenging people.

• Explanation: Emily tells Tom that he “handled difficult customers”. The phrase “deal with challenging people” is a direct paraphrase of this. Option (B) is The Trap: Making drinks/coffee is mentioned (“Don’t just say you made coffee”), but Emily explicitly tells him NOT to focus on that. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (C) Only mention the groups that match her career goals.

• Explanation: Tom advises her to “pick the ones relevant to the positions you are aiming for”. This is paraphrased perfectly in option (C) as “match her career goals”. Option (A) is The Trap: The “photography club” is mentioned, but Emily decides to delete it, not write a detailed description of it. Option (B) is not mentioned.

Tom: Hey Emily, thanks for looking at my resume. I’m really struggling with the experience section.

Emily: No problem, Tom! Let’s see… Well, you should definitely include your time at the coffee shop.

Tom: Really? But it was just serving drinks. How does that help me get an office job?

Emily: It’s all about how you frame it! Don’t just say you made coffee. You handled difficult customers and worked under pressure during rush hours, right? That shows excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Tom: Ah, that makes sense. I never thought of it that way. I’ll rewrite that part. What about yours?

Emily: Um, I have the opposite problem. I joined so many student societies at university. Should I list all of them?

Tom: Probably not. Hiring managers don’t have time to read a massive list. Just pick the ones relevant to the positions you are aiming for. Like, since you’re applying for marketing, you should definitely highlight your role as the events coordinator for the business club.

Emily: Good point. I’ll delete the photography club and focus on the business one instead.

1 Answer: (B) It requires a significant amount of travel time.

• Explanation: Alex mentions that the first company is “way out in the suburbs” and he would spend “over two hours driving every single day”. This is perfectly paraphrased as “a significant amount of travel time”. Option (A) is The Trap: Salary is mentioned, but Alex says it is “fantastic” and “much more than I expected”, not disappointing. Option (C) is plausible in a job context but never mentioned.

2 Answer: (B) They prioritize employee well-being and personal time.

• Explanation: Alex states that the second company’s manager is supportive and they “value work-life balance”. Option (B) uses synonyms to express this exact idea. Option (A) is The Trap: The number “fifteen percent” is mentioned in the audio, but it refers to a lower salary (pays fifteen percent less), not a bonus. Option (C) is not mentioned.

3 Answer: (A) He will choose the job that is a short distance away.

• Explanation: Alex decides that the extra money isn’t worth the exhaustion and says, “I’ll go with the closer option.” Option (A) paraphrases this decision. Option (B) is The Trap: The dad mentions “building your savings quickly” as one of the factors to consider, but Alex explicitly rejects this path. Option (C) is not mentioned.

Alex: Dad, I finally heard back from both companies! But honestly, I’m really torn.

Dad: That’s great news, Alex! Having options is a good problem to have. Let’s talk it through. What’s the deal with the first one?

Alex: Well, TechCorp is offering a fantastic salary. It’s much more than I expected. But… it’s located way out in the suburbs. I’d be spending over two hours driving every single day.

Dad: Hmm, that’s a lot of time on the road. What about the other place?

Alex: Local Solutions pays about fifteen percent less. However, the office is just a ten-minute walk from my apartment, and the manager seemed incredibly supportive during the interview. They really value work-life balance.

Dad: It sounds like a tough choice. You need to think about what matters most right now: building your savings quickly or having a stress-free routine.

Alex: I know. I feel like the extra money just isn’t worth the exhaustion. I think I’ll go with the closer option. I’ll email them my decision tomorrow morning.

1 Answer: (B) He is feeling depressed because employers have not replied to him.

• Explanation: David says “It’s really starting to get me down” (feeling depressed) and “I haven’t heard back from a single company” (employers have not replied). Option (A) is The Trap: He is exhausted from “sending out resumes”, not from attending interviews (he hasn’t had any). Option (C) is not mentioned.

2 Answer: (C) Because there are a lot of people looking for work at the moment.

• Explanation: Sarah explains that “The job market is just highly competitive right now”. Option (C) perfectly paraphrases “highly competitive” into “a lot of people looking for work”. Option (A) is The Trap: The word “experience” is mentioned, but Sarah states he has “solid internship experience”, so he does not lack it. Option (B) is plausible but not what Sarah says.

3 Answer: (A) Go outside to relax and stop looking at the computer.

• Explanation: Sarah suggests “Let’s head out to the park for a stroll” to get away from “staring at this laptop screen”. Option (A) uses synonyms for these actions. Option (B) is The Trap: David mentions wanting a “change of scenery”, but they are going to the park, not a cafe. Option (C) is the opposite of what Sarah suggests.

David: I give up. I’ve spent the whole week sending out resumes, and I haven’t heard back from a single company.

Sarah: Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself, David. Finding a position takes time. How many applications did you submit?

David: Well, over twenty, I think. I check my inbox every hour, but there’s nothing. It’s really starting to get me down. I feel like my qualifications just aren’t good enough.

Sarah: That’s not true at all. You have a great degree and solid internship experience. The job market is just highly competitive right now. A lot of businesses are freezing their hiring processes.

David: Yeah, maybe you’re right. But staring at this laptop screen all day is giving me a terrible headache.

Sarah: Tell you what, why don’t we take a break? Let’s head out to the park for a stroll. Getting some fresh air will help clear your mind. You can get back to searching tomorrow with a fresh perspective.

David: Um… alright. A change of scenery sounds like exactly what I need right now. Let me just grab my coat.