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    Free Daily English · Level A2 (Elementary) · Topic: a job interview

    Omar's Big Day

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Omar woke up early in the morning. He was very excited but also a little nervous. Today he had a job interview at the community center. He wanted to work as a receptionist there. He put on his best clothes and looked in the mirror. He brushed his hair carefully. He ate a small breakfast because his stomach felt strange. He checked his bag for his papers. He had his identification and his work history printed on clean paper. He left his home and walked to the bus stop. The bus arrived on time.

    Omar smiled and said to himself, "I am ready for this." Omar arrived at the community center twenty minutes early. The building was large and clean. He walked inside and spoke to a woman at the front desk. "Hello, my name is Omar. I am here for a job interview," he said. The woman smiled and said, "Please sit down and wait here." Omar sat on a chair in the waiting area. He looked around the room and saw pictures on the walls. Other people were sitting and waiting too. He took a deep breath and tried to feel calm. After ten minutes, a man came out and said, "Omar, please come with me." Omar stood up and followed the man into a small office.

    The man introduced himself. "My name is Mr. Hasan. I will ask you some questions today," he said. Omar nodded and said, "Thank you for this opportunity." Mr. Hasan asked, "Why do you want to work here?" Omar answered, "I like helping people, and I am good at talking to others." Mr. Hasan wrote some notes on his paper. He asked more questions about Omar's experience and skills. Omar answered each question clearly and politely. At the end, Mr. Hasan smiled and said, "We will call you next week." Omar shook his hand and said, "Thank you very much." He walked out of the community center feeling proud and hopeful.

    Key vocabulary

    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or a little afraid about something“She felt nervous before the test.”
    interview (noun)a formal meeting where someone asks you questions, usually for a job“He has an interview at nine o'clock.”
    receptionist (noun)a person who welcomes visitors and answers the phone at a workplace“The receptionist gave me a visitor badge.”
    mirror (noun)a piece of glass that shows your reflection“He looked in the mirror before leaving.”
    identification (noun)a document that shows who you are“You need identification to enter the building.”
    opportunity (noun)a chance to do something good or useful“This job is a great opportunity for me.”
    experience (noun)knowledge or skill you get from doing something“She has two years of experience in teaching.”
    politely (adverb)in a way that is respectful and kind“He politely asked for more time.”
    calm (adjective)not excited or worried; peaceful“Try to stay calm during the presentation.”
    hopeful (adjective)feeling that something good will happen“She was hopeful about getting the job.”

    Useful phrases

    • put on — to dress yourself in a piece of clothing“She put on her jacket before going outside.”
    • on time — not late; at the correct time“The train arrived on time today.”
    • sit down — to move your body into a sitting position“Please sit down and make yourself comfortable.”
    • take a deep breath — to breathe in slowly to feel calm“He took a deep breath before speaking.”
    • shake someone's hand — to hold and move another person's hand up and down as a greeting“She shook his hand after the meeting.”

    Word search

    Find all 10 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1TRIJMGENCALMAPL
    2MSPUBWRSWGZSOUI
    3LPIFMVREQENPFDY
    4SCWNFKIICXPEENP
    5DTKYOVQNAOPNOEX
    6WANFRIEAROTPVRM
    7MNREFITTHIULHVZ
    8QATWROUPFLXXSOY
    9QNYEDNWIEIQHYUL
    10IEPZIXCOBCEWXSE
    11LXSTEAGJGQEFCNT
    12EZYWTDCXBRWRQYI
    13HEJIBRORRIMSUEL
    14ZNOFYERNCVUGHZO
    15INMVCXGXMSBLEQP

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What job did Omar want at the community center?

      • A) Manager
      • B) Cleaner
      • C) Receptionist
      • D) Teacher
    2. How did Omar feel in the morning?

      • A) Bored and sleepy
      • B) Excited but nervous
      • C) Sad and lonely
      • D) Angry and tired
    3. What does the word 'nervous' mean in the story?

      • A) Feeling worried or a little afraid
      • B) Feeling hungry
      • C) Feeling happy
      • D) Feeling tired
    4. Omar arrived at the community center late.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not stated
    5. Who interviewed Omar?

      • A) Omar's friend
      • B) The receptionist
      • C) A woman at the desk
      • D) Mr. Hasan
    6. What does 'opportunity' mean in the story?

      • A) A chance to do something good
      • B) A problem to solve
      • C) A question in an interview
      • D) A type of job
    7. How did Omar go to the community center?

      • A) By bus
      • B) On foot
      • C) By bicycle
      • D) By car
    8. Omar said he was good at talking to others.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    9. What did Mr. Hasan say at the end of the interview?

      • A) The job starts today.
      • B) Please come back tomorrow.
      • C) We will call you next week.
      • D) You did not get the job.
    10. Omar had previous work experience.

      • A) False
      • B) True
      • C) Not stated
      • D) Not mentioned

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    1. C 2. B 3. A 4. B 5. D 6. A 7. A 8. A 9. C 10. D

    Word search answer key (A2 (Elementary))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    calm: I1 → · experience: A12 ↗ · hopeful: I7 ↗ · identification: O2 ↙ · interview: A10 ↗ · mirror: K13 ← · nervous: N4 ↓ · opportunity: M2 ↙ · politely: O15 ↑ · receptionist: L12 ↖

    Free Daily English · Level B1 (Intermediate) · Topic: a job interview

    The Interview at the Community Center

    Name: ______________________   Date: ____________

    Omar had been preparing for this moment for over a week. He had applied for a position as a program coordinator at the local community center, and after days of waiting, he had finally received an email inviting him to an interview. On the morning of the interview, he reviewed his notes one last time, rehearsing answers to questions he thought they might ask. He chose a smart but comfortable outfit and checked that he had printed copies of his résumé tucked neatly into a folder. As he locked his front door, he reminded himself that confidence was just as important as qualifications. The walk to the bus stop felt shorter than usual, perhaps because his mind was racing with thoughts about what lay ahead. By the time he boarded the bus, he had managed to calm his nerves by focusing on his breathing.

    When Omar stepped through the glass doors of the community center, he was greeted by the quiet hum of activity. A woman at the reception desk directed him to a waiting area on the second floor, where several other candidates were already seated, flipping through leaflets or staring at their phones. Omar chose a seat near the window and glanced around, noticing motivational posters on the walls and a noticeboard covered in announcements about workshops and events. After what felt like an eternity, a tall man in a gray shirt appeared and called his name. "Omar? We're ready for you now," the man said warmly, extending his hand. Omar stood up, shook the man's hand firmly, and followed him down a short corridor into a bright, well-organized meeting room.

    Inside, two other interviewers were sitting behind a long table with notebooks and glasses of water in front of them. The panel introduced themselves and explained that the interview would last approximately thirty minutes. They began by asking Omar why he was interested in the role, and he spoke confidently about his passion for community engagement and his experience organizing events at a previous workplace. One interviewer asked him to describe a time when he had dealt with a difficult situation, and Omar shared a story about resolving a scheduling conflict between two teams, which seemed to impress them. Throughout the interview, he made sure to maintain eye contact and listen carefully before responding. When they asked if he had any questions, Omar enquired about opportunities for professional development within the organization. The lead interviewer nodded approvingly and said, "We'll be in touch within the next few days." As Omar left the building, he felt a wave of relief wash over him, knowing he had given it his very best effort.

    Key vocabulary

    rehearse (verb)to practice something, such as a speech or answers, before doing it for real“She rehearsed her presentation several times before the meeting.”
    résumé (noun)a document that lists your education, work experience, and skills“Make sure your résumé is up to date before applying.”
    qualifications (noun)the skills, education, or experience that make someone suitable for a job“The job requires specific qualifications in project management.”
    candidate (noun)a person who is being considered for a job or position“There were twelve candidates for the position.”
    engagement (noun)the act of being involved with and connected to something“Community engagement is a key part of the role.”
    resolve (verb)to find a solution to a problem or disagreement“They managed to resolve the issue before the deadline.”
    conflict (noun)a serious disagreement or problem between people or groups“There was a conflict over the use of the shared space.”
    maintain (verb)to keep something going or at the same level“It is important to maintain a positive attitude during interviews.”
    approvingly (adverb)in a way that shows you agree with or think well of something“The teacher nodded approvingly at the student's answer.”
    relief (noun)a feeling of comfort when something stressful is over“She felt a great sense of relief after finishing the exam.”

    Useful phrases

    • be in touch — to contact someone, usually in the near future“We'll be in touch with you once we've made a decision.”
    • give it one's best effort — to try as hard as possible“He gave it his best effort and hoped for a good result.”
    • deal with — to take action to handle a problem or situation“She had to deal with a difficult customer complaint.”
    • make sure — to check or do something so that a particular thing happens“Make sure you arrive at least ten minutes early.”
    • a wave of — a sudden strong feeling of an emotion“A wave of excitement spread through the crowd.”

    Word search

    Find all 10 key words from the story. They can read forwards, backwards, up, down or diagonally.

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO
    1QUALIFICATIONSE
    2MOAEBHMAINTAINL
    3VTTUQNRCIGBICGA
    4ANIEQDCEHWWAJZO
    5XEICPRYGLWNUJYC
    6WMFOAAERMDZONIO
    7FEKNYLGNIVORPPA
    8SGDFUUUDPPKDAUE
    9PARLCBAFWDREXSU
    10EGAIXTXJBMVSRPD
    11XNQCEOYCLLXAMDB
    12AEOTRWPROGENPLN
    13ELHLJDTSVHYOLDN
    14MTSYMHEGERELIEF
    15RVQFNRYRLRSUMXD

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What position did Omar apply for?

      • A) Program coordinator
      • B) Event planner
      • C) Receptionist
      • D) Office manager
    2. How did Omar receive the invitation to the interview?

      • A) In person
      • B) By letter
      • C) By email
      • D) By phone call
    3. What does the word 'rehearse' mean as used in the story?

      • A) To cancel an appointment
      • B) To write something down
      • C) To forget something important
      • D) To practice something before doing it for real
    4. Omar was the only candidate waiting for an interview.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) False
      • C) True
      • D) Not stated
    5. What example did Omar give when asked about a difficult situation?

      • A) He talked about resolving a scheduling conflict
      • B) He explained how he managed a budget
      • C) He described losing an important document
      • D) He described training new staff members
    6. What does the phrase 'be in touch' mean in the story?

      • A) To send a written report
      • B) To visit someone at home
      • C) To contact someone in the near future
      • D) To shake hands with someone
    7. How many interviewers were in the meeting room in total?

      • A) Three
      • B) Two
      • C) Four
      • D) One
    8. Omar asked about professional development opportunities.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    9. What does the word 'relief' mean in the final paragraph?

      • A) A feeling of comfort after stress
      • B) A feeling of confusion
      • C) A feeling of anger
      • D) A feeling of sadness
    10. Omar was told he got the job at the end of the interview.

      • A) Not stated
      • B) Not mentioned
      • C) False
      • D) True

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    1. A 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. A 6. C 7. A 8. A 9. A 10. C

    Word search answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

    Columns are lettered from the left, rows numbered from the top. The arrow shows the reading direction from the word's first letter.

    approvingly: O7 ← · candidate: M3 ↙ · conflict: D5 ↓ · engagement: B12 ↑ · maintain: G2 → · qualifications: A1 → · rehearse: H15 ↗ · relief: J14 → · resolve: F15 ↗ · résumé: J15 →

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/omars-big-day-2026-04-11