Sophie had just finished university last month. She studied marketing and was ready to start her career. Today was a big day because there was a job fair in the city. Sophie woke up early and chose her best professional clothes. She wore a dark blue suit and comfortable shoes. Sophie put twenty copies of her resume in her bag. Her mother wished her good luck at the door. Sophie took the bus to the convention center. The building was huge and full of people. There were more than fifty companies with booths. Sophie felt nervous but excited at the same time. She walked to the first booth that interested her. A friendly woman in a red jacket greeted her. 'Hello! Are you looking for a job in technology?' she asked. 'I studied marketing, but I am open to different opportunities,' Sophie replied. The woman explained that her company needed marketing people too. Sophie gave her a copy of her resume and they talked for ten minutes. The woman gave Sophie her business card. 'Please send me an email next week,' she said with a smile. Sophie felt happy about her first conversation. She visited many more booths during the morning. Some companies were not interested in new graduates. They wanted people with more experience. Sophie tried not to feel disappointed. At noon, she took a break and ate lunch in the cafeteria. She sat next to another young woman who also had a resume in her hand. 'How is your day going?' Sophie asked her. 'It is harder than I expected,' the woman said. Her name was Maria and she studied business administration. They decided to visit the remaining booths together. In the afternoon, Sophie found a small advertising company. The manager was young and very enthusiastic. 'We love fresh ideas from new graduates!' he said. He asked Sophie about her university projects. Sophie talked about a marketing campaign she created for a local restaurant. The manager looked impressed with her story. 'Can you come to our office for an interview next Tuesday?' he asked. Sophie could not believe her ears. 'Yes, absolutely! I will be there,' she said with excitement. The manager shook her hand and gave her a folder with information about the company. Sophie found Maria again near the exit. 'I got an interview!' Sophie told her happily. 'Me too! A bank wants to meet me tomorrow,' Maria replied. They exchanged phone numbers and promised to stay in touch. Sophie went home feeling proud of herself. She told her mother everything about the day. Her mother hugged her and said she was very proud. The next Tuesday, Sophie arrived at the advertising company early. The interview went very well. Two weeks later, Sophie got a phone call with good news. She got the job at the advertising company! Sophie was so happy that she cried a little. She called Maria to share the good news. Maria had also found a job at the bank. The job fair had changed both of their lives. Sophie learned that being nervous is normal when looking for a job. The important thing is to keep trying and to believe in yourself. Sometimes, you find more than just a job at a job fair. You might also find a good friend.
English Story (A2)The Job Fair
This A2 English story is designed for elementarys learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Sophie, a recent university graduate, attends a job fair to find her first job in marketing. After some rejections, she meets Maria, another job seeker, and they explore the fair together. Sophie impresses a young manager at an advertising company and gets invited to an interview, which leads to her first job. Both Sophie and Maria find employment, and the job fair brings them not only careers but also a new friendship.
Translations in English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What subject did Sophie study at university?
2
What did the manager of the small advertising company ask Sophie to do?
3
What did Sophie and Maria have in common at the end of the job fair?
4
What did Sophie do after she found out she got the job?
Vocabulary
30 words from this story
