A2 · Elementary · Work · 167 words · ~2 min read

💼 An Interview at the Design Agency

Language focus: Present Perfect & Past Simple · experience

Before you read

This story keeps switching between two past tenses, and the switch is never random. Watch what happens when a time is stated — this morning, a week later, two years ago — and what happens when it is not. That single distinction is the heart of A2 grammar.

Lena has just arrived for an interview at an international design agency in London. She has prepared for weeks, and this morning she turned up ten minutes early.

First, she filled in a short form at reception. Then a friendly colleague showed her round the bright, modern studio. Lena has worked on many projects before, so she felt confident.

In the meeting, she opened her portfolio and explained her best designs. The manager was impressed. “You have exactly the experience we need,” he said.

A week later, the agency rang to sort out the details. They wanted to hire her. Lena had made a brilliant impression.

Lena has never worked for such a large agency before, and she has already met four of her new colleagues. On her first Monday, the manager gave her a desk beside the window.

She has been there for three months now. She has learnt two new design tools, and she has just finished her first project for a client in Berlin.

Key vocabulary (8 words)

agencynoun: A company that provides a service for other people.
interviewnoun: A formal meeting where someone is asked questions for a job.
portfolionoun: A collection of your work that shows your skills.
confidentadjective: Feeling sure about yourself and your abilities.
colleaguenoun: A person you work with.
impressionnoun: The effect or feeling you give to other people.
qualificationnoun: A skill or certificate that shows you are trained.
hireverb: To give someone a job.

Phrasal verbs in this story

turn up — To turn up means to arrive somewhere.
fill in — To fill in a form means to write the needed information on it.
sort out — To sort out means to deal with or organise something.

The grammar in this story

Present perfect when the time is open

Lena has just arrived, has prepared for weeks, has worked on many projects. None of these sentences says exactly when. The present perfect connects a past action to now — she is prepared now, she has the experience now. That is why the manager says “You have exactly the experience we need.”

Past simple when the time is closed

She turned up ten minutes early. She filled in a form. A colleague showed her round. Each of these sits inside a finished time — this morning, a week later. Once the time is finished and stated, English switches to the past simple and the present perfect becomes impossible.

just, already, never and yet

Has just arrived means very recently. Has already met means sooner than expected. Has never worked means at no point in her life so far. These three adverbs sit between has and the past participle. Yet is the exception: it goes at the end, and only in questions and negatives — She hasn’t started yet.

Three phrasal verbs, three different meanings

Turn up = arrive, often unexpectedly or at a particular time. Fill in = complete a form. Sort out = deal with a problem or arrange details. None of these meanings can be guessed from the verb alone, which is why phrasal verbs have to be learned as whole units rather than translated word by word.

Phrases you can reuse today

I have worked on similar projects before.: Present perfect for experience with no stated time — perfect for interviews.
I turned up ten minutes early.: Past simple with a finished time. Turn up = arrive.
Could you fill in this form?: The standard request at any reception desk.
I’ll sort it out.: Means I will deal with it. Very common in British workplaces.

Comprehension quiz

Where is Lena’s interview?
- An international design agency
- A hospital
- A market
Show answer
An international design agency
She “turned up ten minutes early”, which means she…
- arrived early
- was late
- stayed home
Show answer
arrived early
What did she fill in at reception?
- A short form
- A cake
- A ticket
Show answer
A short form
What did she show in the meeting?
- Her portfolio
- Her lunch
- Her passport
Show answer
Her portfolio
The phrase “You have exactly the experience we need” uses the…
- Present Perfect
- future tense
- imperative
Show answer
Present Perfect
In the end, the agency decided to…
- hire her
- close down
- move abroad
Show answer
hire her

Now use it yourself

Reading builds recognition; writing your own sentences is what turns it into something you can actually say. Three short tasks:

Write three things you have done in your career or studies, with no stated time.
Now rewrite them in the past simple by adding last year or in 2023. What changed?
What have you never done but would like to try? Use have never.