Expression Chunks
What strikes me most is + noun/clause
Meaning: Highlights the feature that makes the strongest impression on you.
Sample sentence: What strikes me most is how much a good manager can affect someone's experience at work.
Use it in your answer:
- What stands out to you most about a really good workplace?Answer using: What strikes me most is...
- What do you find interesting about how different people approach work?Answer using: What strikes me most is...
- What have you noticed about managers who bring out the best in people?Answer using: What strikes me most is...
- What part of your own work has surprised you most?Answer using: What strikes me most is...
- What have you noticed about what makes a workday satisfying?Answer using: What strikes me most is...
What I find interesting is + noun/clause
Meaning: Introduces something you consider noteworthy or thought-provoking.
Sample sentence: What I find interesting is that people often value flexibility as much as salary.
Use it in your answer:
- What stands out to you most about a really good workplace?Answer using: What I find interesting is...
- What do you find interesting about how different people approach work?Answer using: What I find interesting is...
- What have you noticed about managers who bring out the best in people?Answer using: What I find interesting is...
- What part of your own work has surprised you most?Answer using: What I find interesting is...
- What have you noticed about what makes a workday satisfying?Answer using: What I find interesting is...
One thing I've noticed is that + clause
Meaning: Introduces an observation you have made through experience.
Sample sentence: One thing I've noticed is that enjoyable work still becomes tiring without clear boundaries.
Use it in your answer:
- What stands out to you most about a really good workplace?Answer using: One thing I've noticed is...
- What do you find interesting about how different people approach work?Answer using: One thing I've noticed is...
- What have you noticed about managers who bring out the best in people?Answer using: One thing I've noticed is...
- What part of your own work has surprised you most?Answer using: One thing I've noticed is...
- What have you noticed about what makes a workday satisfying?Answer using: One thing I've noticed is...
Topic Phrasal Verbs
Themed Conversation: The Perfect Job
take on
Definition: accept responsibility or work
Sample sentence: I try not to take on more work than I can realistically handle.
Practice questions:
- What kind of responsibilities do you enjoy taking on?
- Have you ever taken on too much work?
- What new role would you like to take on?
- Why do some people keep taking on more than they can handle?
- What should you consider before taking on a big project?
deal with
Definition: handle a situation
Sample sentence: A good manager knows how to deal with conflict calmly.
Practice questions:
- What kind of problems are you good at dealing with?
- How do you deal with difficult coworkers?
- What is the best way to deal with stress at work?
- Do you prefer dealing with problems immediately or later?
- What situation have you learned to deal with better over time?
get ahead
Definition: become more successful professionally
Sample sentence: Some people work very long hours because they want to get ahead.
Practice questions:
- What do people need to do to get ahead in your field?
- Would you work long hours to get ahead?
- Do connections matter when people are trying to get ahead?
- Can someone get ahead without being highly competitive?
- What are people sometimes willing to sacrifice to get ahead?
Relaxed Conversation — 10 Questions
- What do you enjoy most about the work you do now?
- What kind of task makes a workday go by quickly for you?
- What qualities make someone a good boss?
- What kind of responsibility do you enjoy taking on?
- What is the hardest type of person to deal with at work?
- Would you rather have a high-paying stressful job or a lower-paying relaxed job?
- How important are good coworkers compared with the work itself?
- What are people sometimes willing to sacrifice to get ahead?
- Would you prefer working from home, in an office, or somewhere else?
- If you could design the perfect job for yourself, what would it look like?