Bankside Recruitment Agency - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Bankside Recruitment Agency
- Address of agency: 497 Eastside, Docklands
- Name of agent: Becky 1
- Phone number: 07866 510333
- Best to call her in the 2
Typical jobs
- Clerical and admin roles, mainly in the finance industry
- Must have good 3 skills
- Jobs are usually for at least one 4
- Pay is usually £5 per hour
Registration process
- Wear a 6 to the interview
- Must bring your 7 to the interview
- They will ask questions about each applicant’s 8
Advantages of using an agency
- The 9 you receive at interview will benefit you
- Will get access to vacancies which are not advertised
- Less 10 is involved in applying for jobs
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Jamieson | Jamieson J-A-M-I-E-S-O-N. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript spells out the name 'Jamieson' letter by letter to ensure the correct spelling is understood. Answer Explanation: The answer given is a name, 'Jamieson'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the name being spelled out in the excerpt, confirming the correctness of the answer as it aligns perfectly with the provided information. |
| Q2 | afternoon | I wouldn’t call her until the afternoon if I were you – she’s always really busy in the morning trying to fill last-minute vacancies. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that the best time to call the agent, Becky, at Bankside Recruitment Agency is in the afternoon because she is usually busy in the morning with urgent job placements. Answer Explanation: The answer 'afternoon' indicates that it is recommended to call Becky in the afternoon for better chances of reaching her and getting a response. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer aligns with the information provided in the excerpt, stating that the morning is a busy time for Becky. Therefore, calling in the afternoon would be more appropriate for contacting her successfully. |
| Q3 | communication | it’s communication that really matters | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that effective communication is very important in this context. Answer Explanation: The answer highlights the significance of communication skills in the recruitment process. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is relevant because the excerpt emphasizes communication, which aligns with the importance of good communication skills in the recruitment agency setting described in the notes. |
| Q4 | week | But you’re more likely to be offered something for a week at first, which might get extended. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that initially, job offers from the agency are typically for a period of one week, with the possibility of extension. Answer Explanation: The answer 'week' indicates that the job offers are usually for a one-week duration. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer aligns with the information provided in the excerpt, emphasizing the likelihood of being offered a job for a week initially, which matches the concept of 'week' being the suitable answer for the duration of typical job offers. |
| Q5 | 10 / ten | The hourly rate is about £10, 11 if you’re lucky. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript indicates that the typical pay rate for a job is around £10 per hour, and sometimes it can be £11 per hour if you are fortunate. Answer Explanation: The answer '10 ten' is correct as it reflects the approximate hourly pay rate mentioned in the excerpt. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the information provided in the excerpt where the hourly rate is stated to be about £10 per hour. |
| Q6 | suit | I can probably borrow a suit from Mum. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that the person is considering borrowing a suit from their mum for an upcoming event or occasion. Answer Explanation: The answer implies that wearing a suit is necessary for the interview at the Bankside Recruitment Agency. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is suitable as it aligns with the requirement mentioned in the notes where it instructs applicants to wear a suit to the interview at the recruitment agency. |
| Q7 | passport | What about my passport? | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows a person asking a question about their passport. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'passport'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer 'passport' is mentioned in the excerpt 'What about my passport?'. This shows that the passport is important during the registration process, which confirms it's a necessary document to bring to the interview. |
| Q8 | personality | So there are questions about personality that they always ask candidates – fairly basic ones. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that during the interview process at the agency, candidates will be asked some basic questions related to their personality. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the traits, characteristics, and behaviors that make each individual unique, which are usually assessed during the interview process. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer aligns with the excerpt as it highlights that candidates can expect questions related to their personality during the interview process at the agency, which makes it a suitable term to fill in the blank based on the context provided. |
| Q9 | feedback | the interview will be useful because they’ll give you feedback on your performance so you can improve next time. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript indicates that during the interview, the recruitment agency will provide feedback on how the applicant performed so they can do better in the future. Answer Explanation: The answer states that the feedback received during the interview will be beneficial. This means that the feedback will help the applicant improve. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the information from the excerpt by highlighting the positive impact of receiving feedback during the interview. It emphasizes the value of the feedback for personal development and improvement. |
| Q10 | time | And I expect finding a temporary job this way takes a lot less time | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that finding a job through the agency takes less time compared to other methods. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the period when it is best to contact the agent, indicating that calling during this specific period is advantageous. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer corresponds to the time frame mentioned in the excerpt, which highlights the advantage of saving time by utilizing the recruitment agency. |
Transcript
AMBER: Hello William. This is Amber – you said to phone if I wanted to get more information about the job agency you mentioned. Is now a good time?
WILLIAM: Oh, hi Amber. Yes. Fine. So the agency I was talking about is called Bankside – they’re based in Docklands – I can tell you the address now – 497 Eastside.
AMBER: OK, thanks. So is there anyone in particular I should speak to there?
WILLIAM: The agent I always deal with is called Becky Jamieson.
AMBER: Let me write that down – Becky …
WILLIAM: Jamieson J-A-M-I-E-S-O-N.
AMBER: Do you have her direct line?
WILLIAM: Yes, it’s in my contacts somewhere – right, here we are: 078 double 6, 510 triple 3. I wouldn’t call her until the afternoon if I were you – she’s always really busy in the morning trying to fill last-minute vacancies. She’s really helpful and friendly so I’m sure it would be worth getting in touch with her for an informal chat.
AMBER: It’s mainly clerical and admin jobs they deal with, isn’t it?
WILLIAM: That’s right. I know you’re hoping to find a full-time job in the media eventually – but Becky mostly recruits temporary staff for the finance sector – which will look good on your CV – and generally pays better too.
AMBER: Yeah – I’m just a bit worried because I don’t have much office experience.
WILLIAM: I wouldn’t worry. They’ll probably start you as a receptionist, or something like that. So what’s important for that kind of job isn’t so much having business skills or knowing lots of different computer systems – it’s communication that really matters – so you’d be fine there. And you’ll pick up office skills really quickly on the job. It’s not that complicated.
AMBER: OK good. So how long do people generally need temporary staff for? It would be great if I could get something lasting at least a month.
WILLIAM: That shouldn’t be too difficult. But you’re more likely to be offered something for a week at first, which might get extended. It’s unusual to be sent somewhere for just a day or two.
AMBER: Right, I’ve heard the pay isn’t too bad – better than working in a shop or a restaurant.
WILLIAM: Oh yes – definitely. The hourly rate is about £10, 11 if you’re lucky.
AMBER: That’s pretty good. I was only expecting to get eight or nine pounds an hour.
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WILLIAM: Do you want me to tell you anything about the registration process?
AMBER: Yes, please. I know you have to have an interview.
WILLIAM: The interview usually takes about an hour and you should arrange that about a week in advance.
AMBER: I suppose I should dress smartly if it’s for office work – I can probably borrow a suit from Mum.
WILLIAM: Good idea. It’s better to look too smart than too casual.
AMBER: Will I need to bring copies of my exam certificates or anything like that?
WILLIAM: No – they don’t need to see those, I don’t think.
AMBER: What about my passport?
WILLIAM: Oh yes – they will ask to see that.
AMBER: OK.
WILLIAM: I wouldn’t get stressed about the interview though. It’s just a chance for them to build a relationship with you – so they can try and match you to a job which you’ll like. So there are questions about personality that they always ask candidates – fairly basic ones. And they probably won’t ask anything too difficult like what your plans are for the future.
AMBER: Hope not.
WILLIAM: Anyway, there are lots of benefits to using an agency – for example, the interview will be useful because they’ll give you feedback on your performance so you can improve next time.
AMBER: And they’ll have access to jobs which aren’t advertised.
WILLIAM: Exactly – most temporary jobs aren’t advertised.
AMBER: And I expect finding a temporary job this way takes a lot less time – it’s much easier than ringing up individual companies.
WILLIAM: Yes indeed. Well I think …