Interview at the interview in English. How to pass an interview in English if you do not know the language well

A job search expert shares his secret to not failing an English interview. If the level of language proficiency is not particularly good and you are afraid of an interview in English, then you are in trouble.

Many job seekers are attracted to work in international company. The prospect of getting such a job offer is very attractive not only because of the high salary, good social package and stability. Thanks to the built-in business processes, training opportunities and career development, work in an international company becomes a competent step in the development of one's career. Therefore, it makes sense to compete for a position in an international company.

Many people think that in order to work in an international company, you need to be fluent in English. This belief becomes a stumbling block for many job seekers.

Despite the fact that by the time of finding even the very first job, many have been learning English for 10-15 years, oral interviews can be intimidating. If grammar, reading and translation are mastered at school, university and additional language courses, many people have difficulties with oral communication. Even if you know English well, the language barrier can remain insurmountable for you for a long time.

Recruiters of international companies strive to select the best and weed out candidates, including on the basis of English proficiency. Even if the position does not involve the use foreign language at work, in the description of most vacancies in international companies, the requirement for knowledge of the language most often sounds like “Fluent English”. This wording scares off some candidates, forcing them to look for work and build a career only in Russian companies. Others are forced to postpone the application for a vacancy indefinitely, urging them to chase the elusive “Advanced” level in language courses for several months.

It may surprise you that in order to successfully pass an interview for most of the vacancies of an international company, as well as for further work in it, an upper intermediate and even intermediate level is enough. In some positions, the language is used so rarely that even a lower level is enough.

The only exceptions are positions that involve daily oral and written communication with English-speaking clients and partners, or your future expat manager. For them, you really need a high level of English proficiency. However, rather ambitious candidates can try their hand at conquering such positions. If you meet all the other requirements, and the level of language proficiency is the only stumbling block - why not. Just be prepared that if you successfully pass the selection, it will be difficult at first, and in parallel with mastering new job you have to pick up your tongue very quickly. But you will not only have a serious incentive to improve it quickly, but also a great environment for practice.

How to hack into the recruitment system of an international company and at the interview give the impression that you have “almost fluent English”? Very simple. Use the interview preparation guide in English, as well as 7 additional key tips.

Instructions for preparing for an interview in English

An interview in English is built according to the scheme of a regular interview, which means that you can and should prepare for it. In most cases, the interview scheme is classical - first you answer the questions of a potential employer, then you can ask your own. Do the following in preparation:

1. Make a list of all the possible questions you might be asked. Starting from simple ones related to your experience and education, ending with tricky ones, for example, about your strengths and weaknesses, motivation, and “why you should be hired.” The more questions you write, the better. Strive for 50, but at least not less than 10. Compose immediately in English, or in Russian with consecutive translation.

2. Write concise, beautiful, persuasive answers to English language to prepared questions. You can first write answers in Russian, then translate. Do not philosophize when translating, we use simple words and short sentences.

3. Check the literacy of the answers. Find someone in your environment who knows decent English and ask for help. “Decent knowledge of the language” is not necessarily to be found among teachers or native speakers. The level of "intermediate" is enough for any of your acquaintances and his fresh look at your work.

4. Learn the revised answers in conjunction with the questions. Focus on your abilities - if you need to memorize to memorize, do so.

5. Practice. Lot. With mom, spouse, girlfriend, colleague, or each in turn. By the way, they do not need to know English at all. Hand them questions, ask them to ask in random order, and "simulate" the interview. Repeat as many times as needed. Until you stop peeping into the cheat sheet and you feel that your speech is natural and unconstrained, that the phrases have become native, and there is not a single hint left that you memorized something.

6. That's it, you are ready. Go and conquer your future employer.

To the attention of the most meticulous of those who have read the instructions, I suggest 7 Bonus Key Tips, which will help increase your chances when passing an interview in English:

1. In order to be invited for an interview, your resume must indicate the level of English indicated in the job description or higher.

2. When a recruiter calls you, be prepared not only to convincingly answer that your level of language proficiency is sufficient for an interview, but also to prove it over the phone by answering a few questions in English if asked.

3. If at the interview you are directly asked about the level of your language or suspected of not meeting the level indicated in the resume, you can elegantly get out of this situation. Explain your current level by saying that right now your job does not involve the use of the language to the fullest, but as soon as you get a job in this fine corporation where knowledge of the language is more in demand, your level of language proficiency will automatically recover. You can not blush in this case, without regular practice, the level of language proficiency really falls. Add that you just signed up for a course to regain your level, and that in a month (half a year at the most), you will be fluent again.

4. Prepare 2-3 trick answers in advance. Write a few general phrases that will work as an answer to any question and switch the interviewer's attention to something else if you suddenly get confused and do not find what to answer. Something like: “Thinking about the answer to your question, I remembered ..”, “Before answering your question, I would like to tell you about ..”, “It’s good that you asked, I was just about to tell o..” Then briefly talk about some achievement, solving a difficult problem, interesting fact from your work experience. Of course, the interviewer may notice your “ear trick”. But it's better if you keep talking than get embarrassed, shut up and forget all the other answers to the questions.

5. Prepare 2-3 questions in English in advance, which you can ask the interviewer at the end of the interview, if this part of the conversation is expected and there is time left for it.

6. As part of the interview in English, it is possible to test other skills (reading, translation, writing, grammar test). If there is an opportunity to practice these skills - practice. If not, take it easy on such a check and do what you can. Ask beforehand if you can use a dictionary or other additional materials, in some cases it is allowed.

7. Use to start your list ready-made examples questions:

Why did you leave your last job?

Why should we hire you?

What is your greatest strength?

How long would you expect to work for us if hired?

What motivates you to do your best on the job?

The last and most important tip. In order not to have to resort to such tricks and get out - learn the language, friends! In any way - in a group, on courses, individually with a teacher, on your own.

And better - do not just teach, but build it into your life. Read books, watch movies, listen to music, make friends with foreigners, change the language of your phone and other devices, etc. Create your own environment and immerse yourself in it to achieve and maintain a coveted fluent or a decent “intermediate”, even if you don’t use it at work.

In order to get a job abroad, you must pass an interview in English or the language of the country where you are going to work. In the article we will tell you what questions are most often encountered and what you need to meet the requirements of employers in most cases.

More and more often we hear how one of our friends left to work in one country or another. In fact, there is nothing difficult about this, we can say this from our own experience.

Especially for you, we played an example of an interview in English:

Get ready to improvise

Pauline:

I remember the first time I had an interview in English myself. I memorized cliché phrases in order to sound competently and “businesslike”, about which institute I graduated from and what I achieved. She walked, nervously fiddling with her bag and saying to herself: “I graduated from the university” ...

Time passed and I myself began to hire people and conduct interviews. And then the same “I” came to me, pulling a bag and exhaling gave me memorized phrases. And I realized that if I didn’t know, if I hadn’t been like that myself, I would have immediately crossed out such candidates. I needed a creative person, sociable and improvising.

Therefore, to begin with, study what position you are going to, going into the office, take a closer look at the interviewer. How he behaves, tune in. Do not copy and imitate like a monkey, but tune in to the wave. And, whatever the position - do not tell the "poem".

One way or another, it is still worth preparing, thinking about what questions can be asked and how you would like to answer them. Let's look at a few examples.

Top questions employers ask

Q: Tell me about yourself. (I don’t really like this question, but it is often asked ... But it is so wide that you can highlight exactly what you want, express yourself from any side. Of course, the information must be relevant to the position for which you settle down).

A: I graduated from Beijing University with a BA in business…

Q: What was your last job?

A: I worked for "….". My main responsibility was…

Q: Why did you quit?

Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Q: Why should we hire you?

Q: Why this company?

A: I am looking for a job, where I can use my creative skills. I heard really good things about your company.

Q: What are your goals?

A: Eventually, I want to manage a large team…

Q: Describe your greatest achievement.

These are the most common questions asked in interviews, you can prepare well for them, but always be ready to improvise - some employers are quite creative! For example, at an interview I sometimes brought various situations and asked the candidate to tell what he would have done. Here you won’t get off with memorized answers, and you can learn a lot about a person.

I read an article a few years ago, how a candidate entered the office for an interview, and an ashtray flew into it! Turns out it was a test. He just dodged... and didn't get past it! It was necessary to catch and throw back! Very original, although I don't think it's common. 🙂

Whatever language the interview is in, remember about body language - open postures, a straight back ...

Do your research

Alexander:

From myself I will add a few points.

Firstly, it is necessary to take into account the cultural characteristics of the country where you plan to go to work. When you are asked “Why do you want to go here, to our country”, you should already know the answer.

- Why do you want to work in China?

Secondly, most often, the interview takes place via Skype, which means that you have a Joker up your sleeve, or rather, cheat sheets on the table that the future employer will not see. When I was interviewing for a job in a large IT company in China with a staff of more than 3,000 people, I filled out 3 sheets of A4 format with questions and answers to them for greater confidence.

Be honest. If you see yourself starting to stutter, say you're worried. If you think your English is not as good as they expected, promise to fix it soon.

- I know my English is not very good right now, but I do my best to improve it.

My interview lasted a total of about 5 hours with three representatives of the company. And, although some of the questions were asked not at all those for which I was preparing, nevertheless, my “cheat sheets” helped me a lot in terms of confidence.

The questions that are asked at the interview in most cases are exactly the same as everywhere else. Polina listed them above. I'll add a few more:

- What is your salary expectations? (See the video for the answer to this question)

- Please, describe your ideal job.

- Could you tell me what are your personal interests and hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time? (See our on this topic)

Do some research about the country and especially the company you will be interviewing for. Show the employer that you really have a reason to work for this particular company.

- Why do you want to work in our company?

Nothing is impossible

The most important insight for me was that an interview in English is practically no different from an interview in Russian: the same questions and answers. There is nothing difficult in this, you just have to want and prepare a little. Of course, if your level of English allows. If not, well, you can pull it up with our video tutorials or by any other available means.

The main thing is more confidence! Maybe somewhere now there is a company that needs an employee with your skills and knowledge of the language, they are ready to offer good money for this, you just need to take and send them a resume.

About, how to write a resume in english, read in our article: ““, but for now, if you want to go to work in another country, just put this thought into your head and believe that everything is possible! Yes, and feel free to ask questions!

Believe in yourself and everything will work out!

Have a good interview!

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Interviewing in English is a serious test. After all, the employer will evaluate not only your professional quality but also knowledge of the English language. We want to help you pass this test with honor, so we have prepared a cheat sheet for you, in which we will tell you what questions are most often asked in an interview and how to answer them correctly in English. At the end of the article, we will share with you tips on what not to do and say in an interview.

And a webinar hosted by our UK tutor Dave on “You’re Hired!”

Our articles help you improve your English. But even better is a good teacher. At the Inglex online school, we have combined strong teachers and the comfort of online classes. Try English on Skype at .

TOP 10 interview questions in English and examples of answers to them

Let's first take a look at the most common questions that you can be asked at an interview in English. We will also provide answer options and recommendations for each of them.

1. Tell me about yourself - Tell me about yourself

Advice: This is perhaps one of the most difficult and important issues. You need to unobtrusively show yourself to the interviewer with better side Briefly describe yourself without going into unnecessary details.

What to do:

• Make a brief summary of your resume: talk about your education, work experience, skills and personal qualities that will help you achieve success in a particular profession. For example, a sales manager will need excellent communication, persuasion, and good presentation skills. You do not need to talk about yourself for a long time, just casually mention that you have certain qualities or skills. By the way, if you are still puzzled over how to write your resume correctly, our step by step guide « »
• Mention your non-work related hobbies. Great if it will be associated with the maintenance healthy lifestyle life (yoga, non-hazardous sports) or intellectual development (reading, interest in history / astronomy, etc.).

What Not to Do:

• Retell autobiography. The employer does not need details of your personal life, where you were born, when you got married, etc. Your answer should be clear and take just a couple of minutes.
• Ask "What would you like to know?" This is a direct path to failure. The fact is that the request to tell about yourself is not a specific question, it is a way to check how well you prepared for the interview and, in principle, know how to answer such questions.

Example of a successful response:

I’d describe myself as a goal-oriented and hardworking person with good organizational skills and strategic thinking.

Furthermore, I’m a good speaker and even a better listener - that’s why I’ve always been able to get along with different types of people. I have over six years of experience in sales. After working the past four years as a sales manager, I’ve developed a number of important skills, including decision-making and multitasking. That background will help me achieve all the goals you have set for this position.

In my free time I enjoy reading and bicycling. It provides me with a good balance in my life.

Translation:

I would describe myself as a goal-oriented and hard-working person with good organizational skills and strategic thinking.

Moreover, I am a good speaker and a great listener, so I have always been able to easily get along with different types of people. I have over six years of experience in sales. The last four years as a sales manager have developed a lot in me. important qualities including decision making and multitasking. This experience will help me achieve all the goals you set for this position.

2. What are your strengths? - What are your strengths/strengths?

Advice: In answering this question, you need to focus on those of your qualities and skills that are directly related to the desired position. For example, it would be appropriate for a designer to mention creativity and good imagination, for an accountant to be attentive and accurate, etc.

What to do:

• Select 2-4 of your most outstanding and necessary qualities or skills for this position and describe them in detail.
• Justify your choice, that is, tell, for example, what these skills allowed you to achieve in a previous job or in life.
• Mention what quality or skill people around you consider to be yours strong point. In this way, you will show the employer that you know how to look at yourself from the outside.

What Not to Do:

• Long list their advantages without any justification and explanation. This sounds unbelievable and overconfident.
• Give a 20 minute monologue. This will be a self-praise, so be brief.
• Talk about only one of your qualities.

Example of a successful response:

My strengths are excellent written and verbal communication skills. I can usually win people over to my point of view. Also, I'm competitive and like to excel at everything I do. My goal is to achieve results beyond the expectations of my supervisor. And last but not least, I'm very flexible and adaptable to new situations. Regardless of the situation, I have the ability to adapt and work under any circumstances. These skills seem to be directly related to the job.

Translation:

My strengths are excellent written and oral communication skills. I can convince people. I am also focused on winning and like to excel in everything I do. My goal is to achieve results that exceed my manager's expectations. Last but not least, I am very flexible and adapt easily to new environments. Regardless of the situation, I am able to adapt and work in any circumstances. These qualities seem to me important for this work.

3. What are your weaknesses? - What are your weaknesses/disadvantages?

Advice A: Don't be afraid to answer the truth to this question. Absolutely every person has flaws, so the employer will normally react to the fact that you also have them. The main thing is to tell the truth, but present it carefully.

What to do:

• Tell about 1-2 minor shortcomings that will not scare the employer. For example, if you get a job as an account manager, you can't say that you are a shy person and you find it difficult to communicate with people. Are you going to work in an open space (office without walls and partitions)? Then it's better not to tell the employer that you need absolute silence for work.
• Explain how you work on your weaknesses. This is the only correct way to answer this question. The employer expects from you a story that you are not “releasing everything on the brakes”, but are ready to change yourself for the better.
• Turn a disadvantage into a virtue. For example, you can say that excessive self-criticism helps you do your job as well as possible, and the lack of experience in the chosen field of activity will allow you to quickly learn exactly those functions that are important for the employer.

What Not to Do:

• Say you have no weaknesses. Each person has flaws, so such an answer will be a lie and cause negative emotions in the interviewer.
• Talk about shortcomings that may affect the work. An innocent "I am often late" will be perceived as "I am a disorganized and irresponsible person." Be honest, but careful in your wording.
• List weaknesses without explanation. Try to level each shortcoming by the technique with which you fight it.

Example of a successful response:

I admit being a bit of a perfectionist. Sometimes when I'm working on a big project, I focus too much on the details. But I've learned that it's not always possible or even practical to try to perfect your work.

Translation:

I admit that I am a bit of a perfectionist. Sometimes when I'm working on a big project, I focus too much on the details. But I have already realized that it is not always useful and possible - to try to bring your work to perfection.

4. Why should we hire you? Why should we choose you?

Advice: This is a very important question, and you need to prepare for it in advance. So, you need to tell what your strengths will help the company achieve the desired performance. That is, you must study all the information about the company in advance: in what area it operates, what are its market positions and development directions, and also what goals the management sets for itself. Data about almost any company can be easily found on the Internet.

What do we have to do:

• Tell what the company will get if they choose you. The employer needs to know what you can give to the company.
• Highlight one of your qualities as unique. Think in advance what you have that sets you apart from other candidates. At the interview, tell how this unique quality will work for the benefit of the company.

What Not to Do:

• Praise yourself. The answer in the style of "I'm the best specialist in this field" sounds completely unconvincing and even arrogant. The interviewer is not interested in your person, but in what benefit you can bring to the company.
• Talk insecure. Try to find a fine line between arrogance and self-confidence, do not be modest. If you really want to get a position, strongly state your advantages over other candidates.
• Do not give reasons that are not related to this position.

Example of a successful response:

My years of experience in this industry make me sure I can do this job and bring added value. I've gained a reputation as a key player when it comes to negotiations. In my last job I was able to negotiate profitable business deals. I know this business from the ground up, and you can be assured that I know what I'd be getting into as a sales manager here.

Translation:

Years of experience in this industry give me confidence that I can do this job and make a big contribution to the common cause. I have gained a reputation as a leader when it comes to negotiations. At my last job, I could negotiate good deals. I know the industry very well and can assure you that I understand what I have to do as a sales manager.

5. Why are you leaving (have left) your job? - Why are you going to leave (left) your job?

Advice: A very slippery question that needs to be answered carefully and unemotionally. Your answer should not cast a shadow on the former boss or colleagues. No one is interested in your problems and complaints, so tune in to the positive.

What do we have to do:

• Say you want to improve. This is the best way, which will show that you are interested in working in this field and you are ready to learn.
• Mention a change in the principle of operation. If you were a freelancer and decided to return to the office, or worked part-time and wanted to work full-time, say so at the interview. These are quite good and adequate reasons for changing jobs.
• Talk about changing circumstances. Normal reasons for an employer are moving or changing family circumstances. Has your company left the market? Tell your employer about it. In this case, the truth is on your side.

What Not to Do:

• It is bad to talk about your former colleagues and boss. In no case should you do this: the interviewer does not know you, so he may think that you are to blame for the situation because of your quarrelsome nature.
• Uncover unpleasant reasons for dismissal. Yes, you can’t lie at the interview, but still, the stories that you were fired because of an unsuccessful project are better saved for a group of friends.
• Say that your work bores you. This way you will let the interviewer know that a potential position in a month or two may also bore you and the company will lose time choosing you. Look for a more compelling and "adult" reason.

Successful Answer Examples:

1. My potential for growth in this area is limited at AAA because of the size of the company and the fact that expansion is not a part of its current strategic plan.
2. I am interested in a position with a stable company where I will have room for growth and an opportunity for advancement.
3. I relocated to this city due to family circumstances that is why I had to leave my previous position.
4. I wanted a new challenge. There wasn't room for growth with my previous employer.
5. This job seems like an excellent match for my experience and skills. I was not able to fully utilize them in my previous position.

Translation:

1. My ability to grow in this industry is limited at AAA due to the size of the company and the fact that expansion is not part of the current strategic plan.
2. I am interested in a position in a stable company where I will have development prospects and an opportunity for advancement.
3. I moved to this city for family reasons, so I had to leave my previous place work.
4. I need new target. I had no prospects for growth with my previous employer.
5. It seems to me that in this work I will be able to apply my experience and skills in the best possible way. I didn't have the opportunity to fully utilize them in my previous position.

6. Why do you want this job? - Why are you interested in this job?

Advice: This is a question that job seekers quite often give completely inappropriate answers to. Oddly enough, but here again you need to unobtrusively mention what you can give to the company, and not vice versa.

What do we have to do:

• Again say what you can do for the company. For example, mention that you would be interested in using your communication skills and knowledge of English to work with foreign partners and you are sure that you could attract new clients.
• Try to show that you know the specifics of the job. For example, if you are applying for a manager position, mention your ability to negotiate with clients.

What Not to Do:

• Speak the bitter truth. Forget the three answers: "I need money", "I need a job", "It's convenient for me to get to your office." Such statements will definitely not please the interviewer. Nobody expects you to love material goods, tell us about higher goals.
• Show that you are unfamiliar with the job. For example, if you are going to work as an accountant, then it would be inappropriate to say that you like to communicate with people and want variety in your work.

Example of a successful response:

I look forward to a position that offers more opportunities to work with corporate clients. I have had a few opportunities to do this with my current (previous) employer. I’ve read about the company’s future projects that are designed to move the company forward towards achieving its mission. I want to be a part of this company because I believe I can be of assistance in its growth.

Translation:

I am looking forward to a position that offers more opportunities to work with corporate clients. I had little experience with this kind of work. I read about the company's future projects that will help it achieve its mission. I want to be part of the company because I believe I can help it grow.

7. What are your goals for the future? / Where do you see yourself in five years? - What are your goals for the future? / Where do you see yourself in five years?

Advice: The answer to this question shows the employer how ambitious you are and what is really important to you, what you are striving for. Most importantly, your answer will show how long you intend to work in this area and in this company.

What do we have to do:

• Inform about the future associated with working in this company. Each employer is interested in the employee coming for a long time, so it will be right if in the future you imagine yourself in the company where you are going to get a job.
• Tell that you are going to develop together with the company. This is exactly what any employer wants to hear. At the same time, do not name a specific position, speak in a streamlined way.

What Not to Do:

• Don't give an answer. In fact, most people get lost when they are asked this question, so if you answer it, you will immediately gain an advantage over other candidates.
• Name a specific job. The fact is that you can "miss" and name a position that, in principle, is not in the company. In addition, your expectations may be considered too low or, on the contrary, too high.
• Talk about things that are not work related. The interviewer doesn't need to know that you're going to have a family, kids, and a big lake house. So speak closer to the point, or rather, work. The HR manager will prefer to hire a candidate who has indicated more stable prospects for the firm.

Example of a successful response:

I see the next few years here at BBB as an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge to run one of the departments in this company. If I continue working in the department where this position is, I hope to be a senior manager and participate in shaping the strategic plans for development in B2B sales and marketing.

Translation:

I see the next few years here at BBB as an opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge to manage one of the company's departments. If I continue to work in the department where the position is offered, I hope to become a senior manager and participate in the formation of the plan strategic development in B2B sales and marketing.

8. What are your salary expectations? - What salary do you expect?

Advice: As a rule, all candidates are embarrassed to answer this question. It seems to be necessary to say something, because each of us works first of all in order to earn a living. On the other hand, there are always doubts: “What if my requirements turn out to be too high or too low?” So best option- do not name the exact amount, but only hint at your expectations.

What do we have to do:

• Get away from a direct answer. Try to evade the direct answer to the question and say general streamlined phrases. It is better to discuss the exact amount later, when the interviewer will tell you in detail about the work.

What Not to Do:

• State the exact amount. This is incorrect: it is unlikely that you will be able to guess the exact salary that the employer is willing to pay you.
• Ask "How much are you willing to offer?". You are being asked a question that it is impolite to answer with a question.
• Talk about salary at a previous job. Interviewers don't like it when their company is compared to another company.

Successful Answer Examples:

1. I am interested in finding a position where I can use my professional skills and abilities and build a good career. I'm sure that you're offering a salary which is competitive in the market.
2. According to my experience, I think that $30,000-45,000 per year is a typical salary in the market.
3. I would need to know more about your salary structure and how often you review salaries as well as your entire package before I could discuss salary ranges. Could you provide me with more information before we discuss this subject?

Translation:

1. I am interested in a position where I can use my professional skills and abilities and build a good career. I am sure that you offer a salary that is competitive in this market.
2. According to my experience, I think $30,000-45,000 a year is average salary On the market.
3. I would like to know more about the salary structure and how often do you review salaries and compensation package before I can discuss the salary range. Could you provide me with more details before discussing this issue?

9. Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of - Tell me about the achievement you are most proud of

Advice: It seems that this is the simplest question: you just need to tell about some of your merit. However, the question only seems simple. In fact, in response to it, you need to follow the same strategy: focus on those qualities that will interest a particular company.

What do we have to do:

• Talk about a specific event. Do not spread your thoughts along the tree: think in advance what achievement can impress your employer, and talk about it. Mentioning all achievements will look less convincing than concretization.

What Not to Do:

• Talk about achievements that are not related to work. The interviewer is interested in what value you can bring when working in a particular area.

Example of a successful response:

I improved the inquiry management system at the company where I previously worked. I decided to set up a system grouping inquiries according to region. This approach enabled the entire marketing team to come up with more efficient solutions to our distribution problems.

Translation:

I improved the system of market surveys in the company where I used to work. I decided to introduce a system of group surveys by region. This approach allowed the entire marketing team to develop better solutions to our marketing problems.

10. Do you have any questions? - Do you have any questions?

Advice: It would seem that at this stage you can exhale: the interviewer's questions are over, you have successfully "shot back". However, it is too early to relax, the last fight remains, and, as you know, it is “the most difficult”. Even if you are terribly tired and want to quickly run home and rest, find the strength to collect your thoughts again and ask good questions. By doing so, you will show the interviewer that you are really interested in getting the position and are serious about it.

What do we have to do:

• Show that you carefully read the job requirements. Ask questions about what is not covered there or ask for clarification of some point that you do not understand.
• Show interest. Try to finally clarify not only pragmatic questions like the salary and the exact location of the office, but also more pleasant to the interviewer: about the purpose of the work, the skills you need, etc.

What Not to Do:

• Summarize "I understand everything." The interviewer may get the impression that you are not interested in the vacancy or that you essentially do not care where and with whom to work.
• Ask again the points disclosed in the vacancy requirement. This will show that you did not read the information carefully, which means that you can also be inattentive about your work.

Example of good questions:

1. How many employees work for the organization?
2. Please tell me a little bit about the people with whom I'll be working most closely.
3. Will I work independently or in a team?
4. Where will I be working?
5. How advanced is the hardware and software I will be expected to use?
6. How did this job become available?
7. Before you’re able to reach a hiring decision, how many more interviews should I expect to go through and with whom?
8. Does this job usually lead to other positions at the company?
9. Will the company be entering any new markets in the next couple of years?

Translation:

1. How many employees work in the organization?
2. Please tell me a little about the people with whom I will need to work most closely.
3. Will I work alone or in a team?
4. Where will I work?
5. How sophisticated is the equipment software will i have to use?
6. Why is this position open?
7. How many more interviews do I have before you can make a hiring decision? Who will conduct them?
8. Does this job offer career advancement?
9. Will the company enter any new markets in the next few years?

And on this page you will find more than 40 examples of questions in English that are appropriate to ask at an interview.

What not to say and what not to do in an interview in English

So you have learned approximate answers to the most common questions at an interview in English. However, your answers may differ slightly from those given by us, and you may be asked questions by others. Therefore, we want to give you some recommendations about what not to say and what not to do at the interview. So, the interview is not allowed:

1. Talking badly about your previous job

Remember a simple axiom: they say either well or nothing about past work, a former boss and colleagues. If you say that the job was boring and unloved, the interviewer may assume that this vacancy will eventually become boring and unloved for you. Tell the whole truth-womb about a harmful boss and overly curious colleagues - you may be perceived as a person who does not know how to get along with people.

2. Be the first to ask questions about money

Try to postpone the question wages until the potential employer raises it himself. Otherwise, he may think that you are not interested in anything other than a salary.

3. Ask for a delay before starting work

Try to settle all your affairs before employment and be ready to start working at a convenient time for the employer. It is advisable not to ask for even a small vacation or time off at the beginning of your career.

4. Talk about your problems

Moscow does not believe in tears, but the interviewer does not believe in persuasion, so do not say that you really need a job, that you are in need, etc. Not a word about your problems: a complaining employee is unattractive to the employer.

5. Asking "What do you do?"

If a company arranges an interview in English, then this is a fairly large player in the market, and it will not be difficult to find information about it. Be sure to look up company information and don't ask questions like this.

6. Give the answer "It was indicated in the summary"

Such an answer sounds very rude. Most likely, the interviewer perfectly remembers what was indicated in the resume, but for some reason wants to hear the answer to the question directly from you. So just repeat what you wrote about in your CV.

7. Not answering a question or saying "I don't know"

Such answers will immediately reduce your attractiveness in the eyes of the employer. Be prepared for questions that are not listed in our article and even for strange questions, for example, those that our teacher Natalia wrote about in the article “10 Unusual Questions You Can Hear During an Interview”. Do not hesitate, but answer the question taking into account our recommendations: try to state something good about yourself in any answer.

8. Give employer advice

Have you carefully studied the activities of the company and decided to brag to the interviewer that you found some mistakes? Keep your recommendations to yourself for now: you will be able to make rational offers after you have been hired. Not all interviewers are okay with criticism of a company during an interview.

9. Give memorized answers

Of course, you should think over your answers to the main questions in advance and even sketch out a rough text. However, make sure that each of your answers sounds natural, and not memorized from a piece of paper.

10. Don't ask questions

We will repeat ourselves, since this point plays a very important role. Many candidates are so “out of breath” by the end of the interview that they completely forget about the questions to the employer. Try not to miss this important point and re-declare yourself as a candidate interested in this vacancy.

11. Asking to finish quickly

Allow sufficient time for the interview. A potential employer does not have to adapt to you, so do not ask when the interview will end, and do not ask to finish it as soon as possible.

12. Concerning religion, politics, other personal topics

Leave the discussion of the actions of politicians and your religious views for friendly gatherings. At the interview, do not touch on personal views and topics that are not related to work.

13. Let the interviewer know that you are nervous

Serious companies need confident people. And, although it is normal to be nervous during an interview, do not tell the HR manager about it, create an image of a confident specialist. Complaining about your nerves, you subconsciously demand some indulgence for yourself, the interviewer feels this very well and, as a rule, does not approve.

14. Request a change in work schedule

Every employer lists hours of work in the job posting, so only go for an interview if the schedule suits you. You can discuss the schedule only if the employer incorrectly indicated it or did not indicate it at all in the information about the vacant position.

15. Insist on remote collaboration

If the schedule does not suit you, you should not ask questions about remote work right at the interview. Clarify this before the interview in correspondence with the employer, there is no need to waste the time of the HR manager in vain.

16. Lie

It is pointless to lie about yourself at an interview: the interviewer will always be able to find the information he needs at your previous place of work or even just on the Internet, because the pages in social networks give away our true outlook on life. One of the most common mistakes is to lie about your hobbies. Job seekers are often caught on this. If you claim to love reading, be prepared to answer questions about literature as well, otherwise you won't get the job.

17. Be late

We think this point can not even be explained: if you are late even for an interview, then you most likely will not show up for work on time, no one needs irresponsible workers. If you are late for a very good reason, be sure to call the interviewer, warn him about it and apologize. Force majeure happens to everyone, so you will be forgiven.

18. Make and answer calls

To be safe, turn off your phone during the interview, or at least put it on silent. Remember: there are no calls that cannot be made after the interview. If you are expecting a really important call, ask to reschedule the interview for another day.

19. Sitting in uncertain or too closed postures

Most interviewers are familiar with sign language, so be careful not only with what you say, but also with how you sit and move. An incorrectly chosen posture will give away your insecurity or irritation, which, of course, will be taken into account by the interviewer. An overly relaxed posture is also “contraindicated”, try to stay straight and calm.

We think that now you are ready to pass an interview in English, answer the employer's questions correctly and show your best side. If you feel insecure about your knowledge of English and want to improve it before the interview, we invite you to a quick interview preparation course in English, ours will help you prepare well and easily pass this test. Whichever method you choose, we wish you the best of luck with your interview in English!

Typically, companies require knowledge of English from the applicant not so that later the manager can boast of the linguistic savvy of employees. Language is required for work. Therefore, it is worth indicating in the resume the real level of English proficiency. So you save yourself time and nerves by not applying for a position where you are most likely not to be taken. Because even the most thorough preparation will not upgrade your language from pre-intermediate to advanced.

2. Prepare a list of questions you may be asked

Most likely, at the interview you will be asked the same questions as at the Russian-language interview, because HR scripts are quite unified. The most common of the questions:

Can you tell me a little about yourself?	Tell me a little about yourself
How did you hear about the position?	How did you hear about the vacancy?
What do you know about the company?	What do you know about our company?
Why should we hire you?	Why should we hire (precisely) you?
What are your greatest professional strengths?	What qualities help you in your work?
What do you consider to be your weaknesses?	What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
What is your greatest professional achievement?	Tell us about your most important achievement
Tell me about a challenge or conflict you've faced at work, and how you dealt with it	Talk about difficulties or conflict that you encounter at work, and how did you solve the problem
Where do you see yourself in five years?	Where do you see yourself in five years?
What's your dream job?	Describe your dream job
What other companies are you interviewing with?	Do you interview for other companies?
Why are you leaving your current job?	Why are you leaving your current job?
Why were you fired?	Why were you fired?
What are you looking for in a new position?	What do you expect from the new job?
What type of work environment do you prefer?	What environment do you prefer to work in?
How would your boss and co-workers describe you?	How would your manager and colleagues describe you?

3. Learn all about the company

Take a look at the website of the company you are interviewing for. But don't limit yourself to this. Find the informal communities of the organization, the interview of the head, the pages of employees in, information about competitors. You need to get as much data as possible so as not to get into a mess. At the same time, from photos from the office, find out how best to dress for an interview.

4. Prepare Answers to Intended Questions

At the interview, you are not expected to be crystal honest, but still, you should not lie frankly either. Build answers based on what they want to hear from you. This is where the results of a mini company survey come in handy. For example, in response to a question about your preferred work environment, you will describe exactly the same as in this organization.

Prepare stories about your successes and defeats, which you eventually managed to transform into victories, stock up on facts and figures. This will allow you to make the conversation substantive and not get by with the usual words about sociability and teamwork, which will set you apart from other applicants.

5. Write down the answers

It is better to form the text of your speech not in the form of answers to specific questions. Make small blocks of meaning that you can juggle in conversation. This will allow you not to compare questions with answers in your head, but to choose the information that makes sense.

Consider a few nuances:

• Choose simple designs. All sixteen tenses (plus ten in the passive voice) are used only in lessons at schools and at receptions with the queen, but this is not accurate about the queen. Colloquial speech is distinguished by short sentences and simple words without zaum.
• Check the English-English dictionary for the semantic accents of the words you use. For a non-native speaker, not all the nuances are obvious. Neutral wording for you can be offensive to the interlocutor.
• Do not abuse . The use of set expressions undoubtedly indicates a deeper knowledge of the language. But if the speech consists only of them, the speaker looks unnatural and even comical.

To formulate answers, you can enter a question in English into the Google search box and see what options are offered by specialized job search sites. But copying them word for word is still not worth it.

6. Take notes

You did not write down the answers to the questions for entertainment, they will have to be learned. However, cramming the text by heart is a bad idea. You will look unnatural and nervous if you forget something. So make an outline of your speech. You can write down one key sentence for each block or words that you will rely on.

7. Learn the answers

String on the skeleton of the text created with the help of the abstract, "meat" from facts, events, shock phrases. the main task- learn to tell stories clearly and consistently, without looking at a piece of paper. You should easily switch between blocks, as if you were generating answers right at the time of the interview.

8. Practice your answers out loud.

Even if the text sounds smooth in your head, try saying it out loud. So you will understand that you need additional rehearsals. Attract caring loved ones who will be willing to listen to you falter and start over. It's good if one of them knows English and will ask clarifying questions in order to create an environment close to "combat".

If there are no volunteers in the immediate environment, use the Internet. Moreover, this way you can even contact a native speaker. For use foreign forums, Skype. Even Chatroulette will do if you are not afraid that you have to look at other people's genitals before an adequate person gets in touch. Explain the task to him and tell about yourself as planned. This will help solidify the text and give confidence.

9. Make up your vocabulary

The interview will not be limited to on-duty questions, so it's best to brush up on the basic terms that are used in your profession. The following words may also come in handy:

10. Polish the result

Watch your intonation. In English, sentences expressing a confident and authoritative opinion, formal questions and answers to them require a downward tone. Questions use a rising tone.

Try to treat the interview as a pleasant conversation rather than an exam.

This is primarily a conversation with the person you owe. So be nice, polite, confident, competent. So you can get a position, even if your knowledge of English is far from ideal.

Interview questions in English

If you are planning to get a job in an English-speaking country or in an international company located in your city, you need to thoroughly prepare for an interview in English. Today we propose to consider typical questions and how to answer them so that you are hired.

The information provided here will help not only those who will be interviewing in English, but also any person who is looking for a job and wants to know how to answer tricky questions.

tell me about yourself

tell me about you

This is probably the first question you will hear. I think every sane person understands that you do not need to state your full biography in response. A potential employer is only interested in information that is related to your professional experience. Tell us what you did at work before, why you are interested in your chosen field of activity. Show that you are not only a good specialist, but also a person with a deep interest in your chosen profession.

If you just graduated from the university and you have nothing to tell about your career, tell us why you chose this particular profession, about the experience of internship, if it is related to the job you are applying for. You can also talk about your participation in student life. For example, if you were a member of some student organization, share this with the interviewer. This will show that you are able to work in a team, have organizational skills.

How did you hear about the position?

How did you hear about this position?

This question is also asked quite often. Usually an employer or HR manager is just interested in how effective their advertising was. But for you, this question is a chance to demonstrate that you are interested in this particular position, and in this particular company.

In no case, do not say that you were just scrolling through the lists of vacancies and accidentally stumbled upon this one, even if in fact everything was like that :). Say that you have wanted to work for this company for a long time, and someone told you that they have a vacancy that suits you. Or say that you are interested in reading their site, and it was on it that they saw the vacancy, provided that they really have a vacancy posted on the site. You can say that you found an ad on a job search site, but then explain why you are interested in working in this particular company for this position. This is a great way to show what you know about the company and why. a good place work for you.

Why should we hire you?

Why should we hire you?

This is a very popular question among employers. Thus, they want to find out what skills and advantages you have. Of course, every employee wants to have Good work and salary, but when you are interviewing, it is very important to show the company why you are a good fit, how you can improve the company, what skills you have, perhaps what benefits they will get by hiring you. Tell us about your skills, perhaps you have some additional knowledge or skills that other applicants are unlikely to have, explain why you will be useful to the company.

What are your greatest strengths?

What are your strengths?

This is another question, answering which, you need to discard modesty and appear before the employer in all its glory. And if, when answering the previous question, it was necessary to focus specifically on professional skills, then here you can talk about some personal qualities that will help you in your work. For example, if you need to communicate a lot with clients or negotiate with other firms, you can say that you are very diplomatic, able to find a common language with people and smooth over any conflict situations.

We can say that you are an excellent organizer by nature, if organizational skills are useful to you in your work. If you are, for example, an editor or proofreader, say that you are very attentive to details. In general, find in yourself that quality that helps you to be a good specialist in your chosen field. It will be a huge advantage if you name a quality that your competitors may not have. For example, you are a designer. Probably, each applicant for a position will name creativity as their strong quality. And you can add to this quality that you are diplomatic and know how to find a common language with clients and understand what they need from you.

What are your greatest weaknesses?

What are your weaknesses?

This is a very tricky question. And of course, you should not answer it, what a bad employee you are, and what hinders you in the work process. It is best to name such a weak side, which in your field of activity is a strong side. For example, you want to be a sales manager. Then you can say that you are too sociable. This quality can interfere with an accountant, as he will be distracted by chatting with colleagues and make a mistake, but for a sales manager, this quality will be an advantage. If you are applying for the position of an accountant, you can answer that you are a perfectionist and it is extremely important for you not to make a mistake. In life, perfectionism sometimes gets in the way, but in this profession it is very important. We can say that you used to have some kind of weak side, but you managed to overcome it. Thus, you will answer the question, but also emphasize that you have got rid of this quality, and you will also demonstrate that you are able to develop and improve as a professional.

What is your greatest professional achievement?

What is your biggest professional achievement?

When answering this question, it is important to show what you have achieved in the professional field, what you are proud of. This question is a great way to show that you enjoy your job, that you are a hard worker and that you can achieve your goals. It would be good to make an association with what you said before. For example, if you highlighted that your strength is the ability to achieve your goals, tell us how you managed to do this in practice. If you said that you are sociable and diplomatic, give an example of how this helped you in your work, for example, tell how you successfully convinced a client to cooperate with you by concluding a deal that was beneficial for the company. This issue should be properly prepared in advance. Think about an example you could give to a potential employer.

Tell us about a time that you had a challenge in your job and how you dealt with it?

Tell us about a situation where you had a difficult work task and how did you handle it?

This question can be a little tricky. Here you need to show what skills you have that help you cope with pressure, stress, and how you solve problems. It is obviously not worth talking about how you do not like problems. After all, even in the quietest work, some difficulties can sometimes arise. Your response should show that you have a way to help you stay calm and reasonable in stressful situations, and that you are confident that you will be able to cope with problems.

Why did you quit your last job?

Why did you leave your previous job?

In answering this question, it is important for the interviewer to know that you left your previous job for a good purpose, for a really worthwhile reason. It will be wrong to expose your previous employer in a negative light. After all, your new employer will someday be yours. former employer. Here you can say that you want to develop and grow, learn something new, face new challenges. It's also a chance to say good things about your previous company. You can say that you were helped to gain experience, that you learned a lot while working there, but it is time to move forward. This will demonstrate that you have a positive outlook and that you have goals, which will make you look like a good candidate for the position.

How do you deal with disagreements?

How do you deal with disagreements?

This question is asked to find out how you work in a team, whether you are easily pissed off, how you deal with conflict situations. Tell us about your way of resolving conflict situations, how you react to criticism.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Another question that no one likes. Of course, no one knows how life will turn out, and where you really will be in 5 years. The point of this question is not to really talk about your personal life or the position you would like to get - it's about showing how you plan to develop as a professional. Tell us what your career goals are and how you plan to achieve them. You may already be taking courses to help you do your job better.

These are some of the most common questions asked in English interviews. It would be best to think about your answers to them in advance, especially since you will have to answer in a non-native language. We wish you success and professional development!