English · B1 · Speaking · about 5 min
Tell your career story in a clear order, with one result and one lesson.
Anna is interviewing for a team-lead role at an international software company. The first question is the classic: 'Can you tell me about your work experience?' A strong B1 answer moves in time order — now, before, responsibilities, one achievement, why you moved on, what you learned — and lasts about a minute.
MomentYour current field.
SayI've been working in customer support for about four years.
WhyPresent perfect continuous + for: started in the past, still true now.
MomentYour previous job.
SayBefore that, I worked as a receptionist at a hotel in Lviv for two years.
WhyPast simple + for a finished period: the job is over.
MomentYour responsibilities.
SayIn my current role, I'm responsible for handling complaints from business clients.
Whybe responsible for + -ing: the standard way to describe duties.
MomentOne achievement.
SayOne thing I'm proud of is that I cut our average response time by thirty percent.
WhyOne number makes the achievement concrete and believable.
MomentWhy you moved on.
SayI left my previous job because I wanted more responsibility.
Whybecause + a positive reason; never criticise the old employer.
MomentWhat you learned.
SayThat experience taught me how to stay calm under pressure.
Whytaught me how to … turns experience into a skill.
| Moment | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your current field. | I've been working in customer support for about four years. | Present perfect continuous + for: started in the past, still true now. |
| Your previous job. | Before that, I worked as a receptionist at a hotel in Lviv for two years. | Past simple + for a finished period: the job is over. |
| Your responsibilities. | In my current role, I'm responsible for handling complaints from business clients. | be responsible for + -ing: the standard way to describe duties. |
| One achievement. | One thing I'm proud of is that I cut our average response time by thirty percent. |
Use present perfect (continuous) for jobs you still do: I've been working / I've worked here since 2022. Use past simple for finished jobs: I worked there for two years. 'For' + a period, 'since' + a starting point. Avoid 'I am working here since…' — a common mistake.
Prepare a 60-second version and a 2-minute version. Start with your current role, not your first job. Link each step to the job you are applying for.
Related topics: /topics/english/b1/work/requesting-more-time, /topics/english/b2/meetings/disagreeing-politely. To keep going, continue with the English course on MyAnya.
State your current field with present perfect continuous, describe a past job with past simple, name your responsibilities, give one result with a number, explain why you moved on positively and end with what you learned.
1 / 6
'Tell me about your experience.' How do you start?
I've been working in customer support for about four years.
Present perfect continuous + for: started in the past, still true now.
The interviewer is from London; the call is on Teams.
Before that, I worked as a receptionist at a hotel in Lviv for two years.
Past simple + for a finished period: the job is over.
She keeps the hotel job short — it's less relevant.
In my current role, I'm responsible for handling complaints from business clients.
be responsible for + -ing: the standard way to describe duties.
Business clients matter for the new role.
One thing I'm proud of is that I cut our average response time by thirty percent.
One number makes the achievement concrete and believable.
She checked the figure before the interview.
I left my previous job because I wanted more responsibility.
because + a positive reason; never criticise the old employer.
They may ask; she prepares a calm answer.
That experience taught me how to stay calm under pressure.
taught me how to … turns experience into a skill.
The new job is in a fast-growing team.
| One number makes the achievement concrete and believable. |
| Why you moved on. | I left my previous job because I wanted more responsibility. | because + a positive reason; never criticise the old employer. |
| What you learned. | That experience taught me how to stay calm under pressure. | taught me how to … turns experience into a skill. |