Worksheet for teachers and learners: both levels, with quiz and answer key. Free to print and share in class.

    ← Back to story

    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 very nervous. Today was an important day for him. He had a job interview at the community center. Omar wanted to work there as a receptionist. He looked in his wardrobe and picked his best clothes. He put on a clean white shirt and dark trousers. He brushed his hair carefully in front of the mirror. He ate a small breakfast because his stomach felt strange. His friend Leila called him on the phone. She said, "Good luck today, Omar! You will do great." Omar smiled and said, "Thank you, Leila. I hope so." He checked his bag and put his documents inside. He left his home and walked to the bus stop. The sun was bright, and the air felt fresh. Omar arrived at the community center twenty minutes early.

    He walked through the front door and looked around. The building was large and clean. There were chairs along the wall in the waiting area. A woman at the front desk smiled at him. Omar said, "Hello, I am here for a job interview." The woman nodded and said, "Please sit down. Someone will come for you soon." Omar sat down and took a deep breath. He looked at his notes one more time. He practiced some answers in his head. After ten minutes, a tall man came to the waiting area. The man said, "Hello, Omar. My name is Mr. Tan. Please follow me." Omar stood up and shook his hand. They walked together to a small, quiet room. There was a table and two chairs inside the room. Mr.

    Tan asked Omar many questions about his skills and experience. Omar spoke slowly and clearly. He said, "I am good with people, and I like to help others." Mr. Tan wrote some notes on a piece of paper. He asked, "Why do you want to work at this community center?" Omar answered, "I want to be part of a team that helps the local community." Mr. Tan smiled and nodded his head. He asked Omar a few more questions about his availability. Omar said he was free to work on weekdays and some weekends. The interview lasted about thirty minutes. At the end, Mr. Tan stood up and shook Omar's hand again. He said, "Thank you for coming, Omar. We will contact you next week." Omar said, "Thank you for your time." He walked out of the community center with a big smile. He felt proud of himself because he tried his best.

    Key vocabulary

    nervous (adjective)feeling worried or afraid about something“She felt nervous before the test.”
    interview (noun)a formal meeting where someone asks you questions, often for a job“He has an interview at ten o'clock.”
    receptionist (noun)a person who welcomes visitors at the front desk of a building“The receptionist answered the phone.”
    documents (noun)important papers with official information“Please bring your documents to the meeting.”
    arrived (verb)reached a place after traveling“We arrived at the station on time.”
    breath (noun)the air that goes in and out of your body“He took a deep breath to calm down.”
    experience (noun)knowledge or skill from doing something before“She has two years of experience in teaching.”
    skills (noun)things you can do well“Reading and writing are important skills.”
    availability (noun)the times when you are free to do something“The manager asked about her availability.”
    proud (adjective)feeling happy about something you did well“She was proud of her good results.”

    Useful phrases

    • Good luck — something you say to wish someone well before they do something“"Good luck with your exam tomorrow!"”
    • sit down — to take a seat“"Please sit down and wait here."”
    • took a deep breath — breathed in slowly to feel calm“She took a deep breath before she started speaking.”
    • shook his hand — held and moved someone's hand up and down as a greeting“Omar shook his hand and said hello.”
    • be part of — to belong to or be included in something“I want to be part of this team.”
    • tried his best — made the greatest effort possible“He did not win, but he tried his best.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1IBZNUTNFVVEEJJ
    2LRYJEKSXPXEHYT
    3ZEYTURJKPFFMSP
    4IAAXIEVEIWQITI
    5VTWJTLROULNWAN
    6DHJDWIIKUOLWLT
    7UOAIEZOBISMSFE
    8HRCNINKTAWJSGR
    9QPCUXOPZULHSCV
    10DEXAMEDPQLILZI
    11FNRICEWURHAATE
    12AQHEBCNLEOHEVW
    13HZREPNITXGUZMA
    14ARRIVEDVSTUDWX

    Comprehension quiz

    1. Where did Omar have his job interview?

      • A) At a community center
      • B) At an office building
      • C) At a school
      • D) At a hospital
    2. What job did Omar want?

      • A) Teacher
      • B) Manager
      • C) Receptionist
      • D) Cleaner
    3. What does the word 'nervous' mean in the story?

      • A) Feeling happy and relaxed
      • B) Feeling tired and sleepy
      • C) Feeling worried or afraid
      • D) Feeling angry and upset
    4. Who called Omar before the interview?

      • A) His friend Leila
      • B) His mother
      • C) The receptionist
      • D) Mr. Tan
    5. Omar arrived at the community center late.

      • A) False
      • B) True
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    6. What does 'documents' mean in the story?

      • A) Food for lunch
      • B) Clothing items
      • C) Important official papers
      • D) Books to read
    7. How long did the interview last?

      • A) About ten minutes
      • B) About one hour
      • C) About thirty minutes
      • D) About twenty minutes
    8. Omar said he could work on weekdays and some weekends.

      • A) False
      • B) Not stated
      • C) True
      • D) Not mentioned
    9. What does 'proud' mean in the story?

      • A) Feeling sad about a mistake
      • B) Feeling happy about something you did well
      • C) Feeling confused about a question
      • D) Feeling bored with nothing to do
    10. Mr. Tan offered Omar the job immediately.

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

    Answer key (A2 (Elementary))

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

    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.

    arrived: A14 → · availability: N13 ↖ · breath: B1 ↓ · documents: A6 ↘ · experience: K1 ↙ · interview: N4 ↓ · nervous: D1 ↘ · proud: H10 ↘ · receptionist: C13 ↗ · skills: G2 ↘

    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, and now the day had finally arrived. He had applied for a position as a program coordinator at the local community center, a role that involved organizing activities and events for people of all ages. Although he had relevant experience from volunteering, he had never been through a formal interview before, which made him quite anxious. He spent the morning reviewing his notes and rehearsing answers to common interview questions in front of the bathroom mirror. His flatmate, Leila, noticed how tense he looked and offered some reassurance. "You have been preparing really well, Omar. Just be yourself and let your personality shine through," she said warmly. Omar appreciated her encouragement, grabbed his folder of certificates and references, and headed out the door feeling slightly more confident than before. When Omar stepped into the community center, he was greeted by a bright, welcoming reception area filled with notice boards and colorful posters advertising various programs.

    He approached the front desk and introduced himself to the administrator, who directed him to a small meeting room at the end of the corridor. Inside the room, two interviewers were already seated: Ms. Sato, the center director, and Mr. Osei, the head of community programs. After exchanging polite greetings, Ms. Sato began by asking Omar to describe his previous experience working with diverse groups of people. Omar explained how he had spent two years volunteering at a youth center, where he had coordinated workshops and managed schedules. Mr. Osei then asked him how he would handle a situation where two community members disagreed about the use of a shared space.

    Omar paused thoughtfully before responding, "I would listen to both sides carefully and try to find a solution that respects everyone's needs." Both interviewers seemed impressed by his calm and thoughtful approach. As the interview drew to a close, Ms. Sato asked Omar whether he had any questions for them, which he had been hoping she would do. He asked about the types of programs the center was planning to introduce in the coming months and what qualities they valued most in a team member. Mr. Osei explained that they were looking for someone who was not only organized but also genuinely passionate about bringing people together. Omar nodded and replied, "That is exactly the kind of work that motivates me." The interview had lasted approximately forty minutes, and Omar felt that he had expressed himself clearly throughout. As he shook hands with both interviewers and thanked them for the opportunity, he realized that regardless of the outcome, the experience itself had been incredibly valuable. Walking home under the afternoon sun, he reflected on how much he had grown in confidence simply by stepping outside his comfort zone.

    Key vocabulary

    coordinator (noun)a person who organizes people or activities so they work together effectively“The program coordinator arranged all the weekly events.”
    anxious (adjective)feeling worried and uneasy about something with an uncertain outcome“She felt anxious while waiting for the results.”
    rehearsing (verb)practicing something, such as words or actions, before doing it for real“He spent the evening rehearsing his presentation.”
    reassurance (noun)words or actions that help someone feel less worried“Her kind words gave him the reassurance he needed.”
    diverse (adjective)including many different types of people or things“The team is made up of diverse individuals with different backgrounds.”
    administered (verb)managed or directed the operations of something“She administered the training program for new staff.”
    thoughtfully (adverb)in a way that shows careful consideration“He answered the question thoughtfully before moving on.”
    passionate (adjective)having very strong feelings or enthusiasm about something“She is passionate about helping young people learn new skills.”
    outcome (noun)the result or consequence of an action or situation“We are still waiting for the outcome of the decision.”
    comfort zone (noun)a situation where you feel safe and comfortable, without challenge“Learning a new language pushed her out of her comfort zone.”

    Useful phrases

    • let your personality shine through — to allow your true character and qualities to be seen by others“"Don't be afraid to let your personality shine through in the interview."”
    • drew to a close — gradually came to an end“As the meeting drew to a close, they summarized the main points.”
    • handle a situation — to deal with or manage a problem or event“She explained how she would handle a situation with a difficult customer.”
    • regardless of the outcome — no matter what the result is“Regardless of the outcome, I am glad I applied for the job.”
    • stepping outside his comfort zone — doing something that feels new, challenging, or unfamiliar“Traveling alone meant stepping outside his comfort zone.”
    • expressed himself clearly — communicated his thoughts and ideas in a way that was easy to understand“During the discussion, he expressed himself clearly and confidently.”

    Word search

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

    ABCDEFGHIJKLMN
    1MQTHOUGHTFULLY
    2BIECNARUSSAERE
    3RYTGDROANXIOUS
    4MMCNEETFFGLQED
    5PURIRHAXDFBNSL
    6AZMSEJNEMDOLIN
    7SQORTSIVMZPWQV
    8SPYASLDCTOTINQ
    9IBDEILRRVICJLE
    10OWGHNJOPEBGTFL
    11NCYEIFOGGKZNUM
    12AZKRMBCEBMZOBO
    13TUZODSESREVIDR
    14ESCMAFOIYSTYVY

    Comprehension quiz

    1. What position did Omar apply for at the community center?

      • A) Office administrator
      • B) Center director
      • C) Program coordinator
      • D) Receptionist
    2. What does the word 'anxious' mean in the context of the story?

      • A) Feeling calm and relaxed
      • B) Feeling worried and uneasy
      • C) Feeling bored and tired
      • D) Feeling excited and happy
    3. How did Omar prepare for the interview?

      • A) He visited the community center the day before
      • B) He wrote a long letter to the director
      • C) He reviewed notes and rehearsed answers
      • D) He called the interviewers in advance
    4. Omar had previous experience from volunteering at a youth center.

      • A) Not mentioned
      • B) Not stated
      • C) True
      • D) False
    5. What does 'diverse' mean as used in the story?

      • A) Involving only one type of person
      • B) Including many different types of people
      • C) Relating to a formal situation
      • D) Describing something very organized
    6. How did Omar say he would handle a disagreement between community members?

      • A) He would ignore the problem
      • B) He would ask them to leave
      • C) He would listen to both sides and find a respectful solution
      • D) He would let the director decide
    7. Omar had been through many formal interviews before.

      • A) True
      • B) False
      • C) Not mentioned
      • D) Not stated
    8. What does the phrase 'drew to a close' mean?

      • A) Gradually came to an end
      • B) Was canceled unexpectedly
      • C) Became more intense
      • D) Started suddenly
    9. What quality did Mr. Osei say the center valued in a team member?

      • A) Having a university degree
      • B) Speaking several languages
      • C) Being organized and passionate about bringing people together
      • D) Speed and efficiency only
    10. What did Omar realize after the interview?

      • A) That he did not want the job
      • B) That he had forgotten his documents
      • C) That the experience itself was incredibly valuable
      • D) That he should have prepared more

    Answer key (B1 (Intermediate))

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

    administered: E14 ↑ · anxious: H3 → · comfort zone: C14 ↗ · coordinator: G12 ↑ · diverse: M13 ← · outcome: N12 ↖ · passionate: A5 ↓ · reassurance: M2 ← · rehearsing: D12 ↑ · thoughtfully: C1 →

    Free Daily English · www.freedailyenglish.com/stories/omars-big-day-2026-04-21