Tailor your resume
to change your resume so it fits a specific job
Example: I will tailor your resume for the customer service role by highlighting my call-center experience.
Intermediate listeningCareer fair panelDuration 00:02:05
English Listening Practice (Intermediate) - Career Fair Panel: Job Hunting Strategies
You will hear a short panel discussion from a career fair at Riverside Community College. The moderator, Maya Chen, speaks with two panelists: Luis Ortega from BrightPath Logistics and Priya Nair, a recruiter. They mention a workshop at 2:30 p.m., a booth number (B-14), and a follow-up deadline of 48 hours. Listen for specific advice about tailoring your resume, writing a short pitch, and using LinkedIn. You will also hear what to do when you do not meet every requirement in a job posting and how to prepare for a behavioral interview. Pay attention to the concrete steps and the examples they give.
Topic focus: At a career fair, a moderator interviews two panelists about practical job hunting strategies and how to talk to employers.
Audio
1) Listen once for the main idea. 2) Answer questions. 3) Study the transcript.
Questions
Answer each question based on the audio. Use Practice Mode to test yourself without the transcript.
0 of 8 answered0%
Transcript
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Maya Chen
Welcome to the Riverside Community College Career Fair. I'm Maya Chen, and it is, just so you know, eleven ten AM. We're starting our panel here near the main stage. With me are Luis Ortega, hiring manager at Bright Path Logistics, and Priya Nair, a recruiter who works with several tech and healthcare companies.
Priya Nair
Hi, everyone. So if you remember one thing today, it's this: do not send the same resume everywhere. Tailor your resume to the role. Use the job posting's keywords, but, and this is very important, only if they match your real experience.
Luis Ortega
And when you introduce yourself, have an elevator pitch ready. Keep it to about twenty seconds, your background, one skill, and what you're looking for.
Maya Chen
Some students ask, "Should I apply online or talk to people here first?"
Luis Ortega
Both, honestly. Talk to employers today, then submit an application online tonight. And if you meet someone, ask for a business card so you can follow up.
Priya Nair
Yes, but be specific in your follow-up. Mention the conversation and the position. Email within forty-eight hours.
Maya Chen
What about networking? Some students feel, you know, a bit awkward about it.
Luis Ortega
Networking is just professional conversation, really. Ask simple questions. "What does a typical day look like?" Or, "What skills matter most?"
Priya Nair
Also, and a lot of people skip this, update your LinkedIn profile before you come. Add a clear headline and a recent project. Recruiters check it quickly.
Maya Chen
Many job ads list a long set of requirements.
Luis Ortega
Right. And look, if you meet about seventy percent, still apply. Show that you can learn. Give evidence, like a class project or volunteer work.
Priya Nair
And prepare for a behavioral interview. Practice stories using the STAR method: situation, task, action, result.
Maya Chen
Last detail. Luis, where can students find you later?
Luis Ortega
Bright Path is at Booth B-fourteen. I'll be there until three PM, and we have a short workshop at two thirty on internships.
Maya Chen
Great. Thanks to both of you, and good luck to everyone today.
Vocabulary
Key terms from this listening practice with meanings and examples.
job posting
an advertisement that describes an open job and its requirements
Example: The job posting says the company wants someone with strong communication skills.
elevator pitch
a short introduction about yourself and your goals
Example: Her elevator pitch included her major, one key skill, and the type of job she wanted.
follow up
to contact someone again after a first meeting or message
Example: After the fair, I will follow up by emailing the recruiter within two days.
networking
building professional relationships by talking with people in your field
Example: Networking at events helped him learn about jobs that were not advertised.
LinkedIn profile
your professional page on LinkedIn that shows your experience and skills
Example: She updated her LinkedIn profile with a new project and a clearer headline.
requirements
skills or experiences that an employer says a candidate should have
Example: Even if you do not meet all the requirements, you can still apply if you can learn quickly.
behavioral interview
an interview that asks about past experiences to predict future performance
Example: In a behavioral interview, he described a time he solved a problem on a team.
Learning tips
Apply these focused strategies to get more value from the audio and questions.
- While listening, write down numbers and times (like booth numbers and deadlines) to check your detailed understanding.
- Listen for advice verbs (for example: “tailor,” “ask,” “update,” “practice”) to identify the speakers’ recommendations.
- After listening, summarize the steps in order (before the fair, during the fair, after the fair) using your own words.
Post-listening questions
Use these reflection prompts to summarize what you heard and practice speaking or writing.
- 1
Which tip from the panel would help you most right now, and why?
- 2
What is one question you could ask an employer to make networking feel more natural?
- 3
Describe a project or experience you could use as evidence if you meet only 70% of a job’s requirements.
- 4
What would you include in your own 20-second elevator pitch?