An interview with an international company is in a couple of days, and your English practice over the past six months has been limited to the words yes, thank you and OK? Our tips will help you quickly prepare for communication with a future employer and not stumble when answering key questions.

1. Write a story about yourself

It is best to talk about education, professional experience and interests, key knowledge and skills. You can mention hobbies, but don't focus on the personal. Here are some examples of a good introduction for a story:

“I can summarize who I am in three words:...” - “I can describe myself in three words:...”

“The main principle I live my life by is...” - “The main principle that I adhere to in life is...”

“People who know me best say that I’m...” - “Those who know me well say that I...”

2. Emphasize your strengths wisely

Prepare a story about the qualities you possess. At the same time, it is important to mention both advantages and disadvantages - you will probably be asked about them too. So be prepared to frankly highlight a couple of disadvantages. Here are common expressions you should learn before your interview:

learning agility (fast-learner) - fast learning ability

self-motivated and determined - proactive and purposeful

success-oriented and natural leader - focused on success, a born leader

team player - team player

hardworking - hardworking, efficient

intelligence and self confidence - intelligence and self-confidence

possess proactive approach - have an active life position, take initiative

multitasking - able to successfully work with several projects, “multitasking”

have planning skills - I have planning skills

well-organized - organized

versatile - versatile, versatile

with broad experience in… - with extensive experience in…

in-depth knowledge of... - deep knowledge of...

written and verbal communication skills - written and oral communication skills

deductive reasoning - deductive thinking

logical thinking - logical mindset

analytical skills - analytical abilities

3. Repeat linking words

To structure your story, build logical transitions and avoid pauses, learn to correctly use introductory constructions, adverbs and conjunctions.

4. Practice before your interview

Practice is essential when learning any language. Try watching TED videos and repeating phrases and sentences after native speakers, watch your articulation. Therefore, when the story about yourself is ready, rehearse the prepared text in front of the mirror, ask a friend to play the role of a recruiter, or practice on an interview simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zKsBfsrxrs.

5. Read information about the company in English

Study the English version of the site and pay attention to the mission, scope of activity, location, management team, and read the latest news. This way you will understand what phrases and formulations are accepted in the company, and also show your motivation. Be sure to prepare an answer to the standard question: “Why do you want to work in our company?”

6. Practice professional vocabulary

Make a list of specialized terms, learn their translations and pay attention to the context of use. Watch industry-specific videos to catch all the intricacies of pronunciation. Try not to use words and formulations whose meaning you do not fully understand.

7. Prepare questions for the recruiter

Often at the end of the interview, recruiters invite you to ask questions about the vacancy or work at the company. Prepare in advance. Below you will find examples of wording that you can rely on:

How many employees work for the organization? - How many employees work in the organization?

Please tell me a little bit about the people with whom I’ll be working most closely. - Please tell me a little about the people with whom I will need to work most closely.

Will I work independently or in a team? - Will I work independently or in a team?

Where will I be working? - Where will I work?

How advanced is the hardware and software I will be expected to use? - How complex hardware and software will I need to use?

How did this job become available? - Why is this vacancy available?

Before you’re able to reach a hiring decision, how many more interviews should I expect to go through and with whom? - How many more interviews do I have before you can make a hiring decision? Who will conduct them?

Does this job usually lead to other positions at the company? - Does this job involve career growth?

Will the company be entering any new markets in the next couple of years? - Will the company enter any new markets in the next few years?

If you were to offer me the job, how soon would you want me to start? - If you were going to offer me a job, how soon would I have to start?

When could I expect to hear from you? - When can we expect your answer?

8. Review HR terminology

Not understanding a recruiter's question asked in English is like stumbling on the starting line during a marathon. We have compiled a list of terms that an HR specialist can use in a conversation:

strengths / weaknesses - strengths / weaknesses

supervisor / co-worker - boss / employee

salary requirements - salary expectations

current job - current place of work

to hire, to recruit - to hire

to quit / to resign - resign at your own request

to be fired, to be sacked - to be fired

dismissal, termination - dismissal due to unsatisfactory performance

employment - career

position - vacancy

educational background - education (including additional)

to look for a job / to seek employment - look for work

shortlist - final list of candidates

candidates’ applications - applications from candidates

to promote / to demote - promote / demote (in position)

9. Prepare a couple of idioms

Every company wants to have people on staff who can communicate fluently in English, winning over potential partners and clients. If your language has already reached a conversational level, learn to use English idioms carefully. This will definitely add points to you.

Victory lies in preparation - Victory loves preparation

Practice makes perfect - Hard in learning - easy in battle

Cut to the chase - get to the point

Fly by the seat of one’s pants - act without a plan, navigate on the go

To bite the bullet - do not lose heart, “take the blow”, “gather your will into a fist”

To climb the corporate ladder - lit. “climb the career ladder”; advance in career, make a career breakthrough

My gut tells me - lit. “my guts tell me”; to guess intuitively, to “feel in one’s gut”

Reality check - lit. “reality check”; realistically assess the situation, “face the truth”

10. Relax

Tension can play a bad joke on you - a lump in your throat and a cottony tongue will definitely not help you during an interview. So try to distract yourself: do exercises for articulation and relaxation of the ligaments and watch, for example, this sketch from Monty Python: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v1OLMjG52I&feature=youtu.be.

Bonus - advice from an experienced HR specialist, former head of the recruitment department at PwC Asya Kolosova:

“In preparation for an interview, I highly recommend the following life hack: prepare a story about yourself and record it on video. This helps a lot to see all the mistakes and remove unnecessary garbage from the speech. Analyze the shortcomings that you notice in the recording and make a new version. These actions must be repeated until the text of the self-presentation begins to fly off your teeth. This will allow you to remain at ease and express your thoughts easily. Good luck to you in passing all stages of the selection!”

An interview with a potential employer is already a stressful situation, but if it takes place in a language that is not your native one, it doubles the stress. How to successfully pass an interview in English?

Prepare carefully for it and think in advance about what exactly you will talk about. Fortunately, the standard questions that employers most often ask during interviews have already been compiled into a kind of checklist for HR managers. The recruiter has the right to expect clear, non-trivial, reasoned and confident answers from you - this is what we will help you with today.

You should not go to extremes and memorize prepared answers - this makes the speech unconvincing and undermines trust. It is better to study our recommendations for success and use example answers, changing them in accordance with your professional experience. You will make a good impression if you know what to expect from job interview, and what points need to be focused on.

• Tell me about yourself (Tell me about yourself).

Before you cross the threshold of the HR manager’s office, he already knows almost everything about you: he studied your letter of motivation, your profiles on LinkedIn and social networks.

Your task at this stage is to talk not about how your professional life developed, but to explain why your path turned out this way, and to combine scattered dry facts into a coherent picture: why you chose certain jobs and left them, why you did what you did to this faculty, why you decided to go to graduate school, what internships you completed, what master classes you attended, whether you studied at any.

When talking about your interests, say:

Watch a detailed video about how to talk about yourself in an interesting, emotional and convincing way:

• What are your greatest strengths? (What are your strengths?)

This is one of the questions employers always ask. When asked about your strengths, it is important to highlight the professional qualities that meet the requirements stated in the job description and set you apart from other candidates. Before the interview, analyze how your skills and practical experience relate to the areas of work that you will have to master in your new place. This way you will have ready-made examples that prove your competence and compliance with the requirements. Be stingy with descriptive language and do not use a series of positive qualities (responsible, sociable, friendly...) - support each of your strengths with an example, be precise and concise:

• What are your greatest weaknesses? (What are your weaknesses?)

Every job seeker seems to know how to answer this question: take a hypothetical negative trait and magically turn the flaw into a hidden strength. Try to focus your answer on the positive aspects of your work skills and abilities and share a story about how you transformed your “weakness” into a strength. For example, you could say:

A more unconventional solution would be to choose a real weakness that you specifically work on. Tell us what you are already doing to make steel better. No one is perfect, but if you show that you are able to adequately assess your shortcomings and independently find ways to get rid of them, this will be very close to the standard answer to the question. See an example of how to talk about a problem that caused you difficulties, but which you overcame:

• Why do you want this job? (Why do you want this job?)

This question gives you the opportunity to demonstrate to the interviewer that you have done your homework before the interview and have had time to thoroughly research the company, the products or services it offers, its mission, corporate policies, and areas of work. In your answer, mention those aspects that arouse your greatest interest and correspond to your competence:

• Why should we hire you? (Why should we hire you?)

Are you the ideal candidate for this position? Be prepared to explain why you should take it. This is not the time for modesty, but there is no need to delve into self-promotion. Make your answer a concise, confident, persuasive “selling text” in which you need to demonstrate what you can offer the employer and how it will affect the performance of the entire department or company as a whole:

• Why are you leaving or have left your job? (Why are you quitting or quit your previous job?)

When asked why you are changing positions, stick to the facts, be straightforward, and focus on the future, especially if you are leaving your previous job under less than favorable circumstances. It is important to structure your answer so that it shows you in the best light, but in no case at the expense of criticizing your previous employer. Be respectful and correct. It is better to come across as someone who is enthusiastic about a new prospect than someone who has barely escaped the current difficult situation.

• How do you handle stress and pressure? (How do you deal with stress and pressure?)

This question relates to the so-called behavioral issues - the emphasis shifts from your professional qualities to your psychological qualities, temperament, and properties of your psyche. How do you react when things don't go your way at work? Be sure to cite a specific time when you had to deal with stress and tension in a previous job.

Some more tips from a professional recruiter on how to respond to behavioral questions:

• Describe a difficult work situation/project and how you overcame it. (Describe a challenging work situation or project and how you handled it.)

It is important for the interviewer who asks this question not only to hear your story of victory over difficulties, but also to evaluate which situations you consider difficult.

• What are your goals for the future? (What are your goals for the future?)

This question is asked to “test the waters” and find out whether you intend to stay with the company for a long time or whether you will move on to your next job as soon as a suitable tempting prospect arises.

To have an action plan for conquering a recruiter, download ours, from which you can learn useful expressions, logical transitions and practical tips. If you feel that your current level of English is not high enough to communicate freely during an interview, and may detract from your professional qualities, take interview preparation under the guidance of our experienced . Good luck!

• 05 Nov.

  Examples of interview answers in English

  A job interview is not a pleasant experience. And if it is held in English, then the pleasure is even less. But you can’t catch a fish out of a pond without difficulty - the higher your level of English, the more clearly you demonstrate this at an interview, the larger the numbers on your salary card will be. We'll help you with 45 basic interview phrases you need. For your convenience, we have divided them into several thematic groups.

  Describe the level of education

  1. I graduated from … University (College) in … - I graduated...
     ‘I graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2007.’
  2. I majored in... - my specialty was...
     ‘… and I majored in Engineering.’
  3. I graduated as … in … - I graduated in my specialty... in the year XX
     ‘I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer in 2009.’

  We describe the desire for self-learning and professional development.

  1. I enrolled for a … degree in … - I enrolled in (any courses) for some time
     ‘I’ve enrolled for a PC maintenance course and I’m going to finish it in 7 months.’
  2. Obtained my … degree - I received (name of degree)
     ‘… and I successfully obtained my master’s degree in 2 years.’
  3. I’m an individual with a solid … educational background - I am a person with solid knowledge in the field of...
     ‘I’m an individual with a solid IT educational background.’
  4. Engaged in extensive extra-curricular activities - I am involved in a huge number of activities.

  Answers to the question about personal qualities

  1. I’m a wide profile sales/marketing/customer support professional - I am a professional with a wide profile of sales/marketing/customer support knowledge
  2. I perform well under pressure - I cope well with tasks in stressful situations
  3. I’m used to working in a busy environment - I’m used to working in a busy environment

  The following expressions should jump off your teeth: they are very smart, respectable and will come in handy at all stages of the interview.

  1. Customer-oriented - focused on working with clients
  2. Meeting targets - achieving goals
  3. Handle stress easily - easily cope with stress
  4. Team player - team player
  5. Can-do attitude - attitude towards work in the style of “I can do it”
  6. Drive to succeed - desire for success
  7. Results driven - result-oriented
  8. Eager to learn - interested in constantly updating knowledge
  9. Good at multitasking - copes well with many tasks

  Describe previous work experience

  It is important to remember the golden rule here - never speak badly about previous employers. Reasons for leaving include a desire for career growth, higher expectations, and greater responsibility.

  1. I have … years’ experience in the field - I have X years of experience in this field
  2. Proven track record - official employment
  3. Work against the clock - work when there is a shortage of time
  4. ‘to meet deadlines’ - complete work on time
  5. Liaise with other departments - interact with other departments

  We explain why we want this position.

  1. I want to further my career in sales/marketing - I want to advance my career in sales/marketing
  2. In line with my qualifications - matches my qualifications
  3. I want to take on more responsibility - I want to take on another responsibility
  4. I want to pursue a career in... - I want to build a career in...
  5. This job would be a natural progression - this job is a logical continuation of my professional path

  We are discussing a spicy issue - wages

  A key tip for talking about salary is to never mention numbers, keep it vague, and hint at high expectations that match your qualifications.

  1. Competitive salary - competitive salary
  2. My remuneration was adequate - my remuneration was reasonable (about the previous place of work)
  3. I expect experience based remuneration - I expect a reward corresponding to my experience
  4. My salary expectations are in line with my qualifications and education - expectations from my salary correspond to my qualifications and level of education

  We prove how we differ from other candidates

  1. What sets me apart from other candidates is - What sets me apart from other candidates…
  2. … is what makes me the best candidate for this position! - ... is what makes me the best candidate for this position
  3. I’m self-motivated - I motivate myself
  4. I take pride in my work - I am proud of my work
  5. I’m very attentive to detail - I am very attentive to detail
  6. I’m 100% involved while performing work-related duties - I perform 100% of my direct work responsibilities.
  7. I’m good at resolving problem situations - I do a good job of solving problem situations

  Describing the level of language proficiency

  1. I have effective communication skills in English - both verbally and in writing. - I have strong verbal skills in English - both written and spoken. This is a golden phrase. Learn it by heart and it will give you 50% success.
  2. I’ve been speaking English for the last ... years - I speak English for X years
  3. I’ve been working in an English speaking environment for the last … years - I have worked in an English speaking environment for the last X years
  4. My English is competent for this industry - My English level is suitable for this area
  5. …wouldn’t present any difficulties whatsoever - ...wouldn’t present any particular difficulty.

An interview in English is an important stage in obtaining documents at the embassy, ​​admission to a foreign university or employment abroad. Each of the listed situations has its own nuances, but in general they all obey the same laws and follow a similar scenario, presuming a certain level of language knowledge and a number of behavioral skills.

Let's look at how to prepare for an interview and make the best impression using a job interview as an example.

1. Preparatory stage

An interview in English follows the same pattern as any other interview, so it is not only possible, but also necessary to prepare for it. For this:

1. Find out as much information as possible about the company where you are going to work. Explore the official website, find out about partners, branches, additional activities, mission, charity events and other aspects. Clearly formulate for yourself why you want the position and how you can benefit your future employer.

2. Make a list of questions that a human resources manager could hypothetically ask - from the simplest to the most complex. As a rule, these questions relate to your education, skill level, work experience, goals, strengths and weaknesses, vision of the company’s mission, your place in it and, of course, “why we should hire you.” There should be at least 10 questions, but it is better if there are at least 25 of them - this way, you will get a trump card in advance against the employer’s possible tricks.

3. Write detailed and convincing answers to the questions you have written, think about them and try to formulate them in several different ways. In this case, you will be ready to give an answer, regardless of the wording that your interlocutor chooses. For example:

Why did you leave your last job? - Why did you leave your previous job?

I wanted a job better suited to my skills. “I wanted to get a job that was more consistent with my skills.”

Why should we hire you? - Why should we hire you?

I have great communication skills and can work with many different types of people of varying personalities and skill levels. I am motivated, disciplined, and focused and am determined to get my job done well and on time. - I am a sociable person, I can work with different types of people with different characters and skill levels. I am motivated, disciplined, focused, and determined to do my job well and on time.

What is your greatest strength? - What is your greatest strength?

I have a solid background in the economic analysis, great problem solving abilities and I get things done with little direction. — I have a solid background in economic analysis, strong problem-solving abilities, and I accomplish tasks without requiring significant management oversight.

Would it be a problem for you to relocate? - Will moving be a problem for you?

I’m open to opportunities within the company. If those opportunities involve relocation, I would certainly consider it. — I am open to opportunities within the company. If these opportunities involve relocating, I would certainly consider it.

4. Prepare several questions that you can ask the employer, if this is provided for in the interview format. Eg:

Is there a particular aspect of my background that you would like more information on? — Are there any specific aspects of my biography that you would like more information about?

What will be my responsibilities? — What will be my responsibilities?

Who will I report to? Who will be my supervisor? —Who will I report to? Who will be my leader?

Who are your customers/clients? — Who are your customers/clients?

Where is the company going? — What are the company’s plans?

5. Make sure that questions and answers are formulated correctly. To do this, contact a specialist.

6. Learn or at least repeat the answers in conjunction with the questions. This will give you confidence and will be a big help if you suddenly feel nervous.

2. How to behave during an interview

Success largely depends on the first impression. When entering the office, behave confidently, kindly and with dignity. You should not fidget or make unnecessary movements or show stiffness, as this is noticeable. Remember, you are a professional with a high level of English knowledge who is ready to move mountains for this company.

Be sure to greet your interlocutor. At the same time, be prepared for a non-standard conversation starter. For example, instead of the usual “Good afternoon!” How are you doing? - Good afternoon! How are you?”, the employer can start the conversation with the so-called breaking the ice - establishing contact:

Did you have any trouble finding us? - Wasn’t it difficult for you to find us?

What do you think about the weather today? — How do you like the weather today?

Don’t be confused, a standard and laconic answer is quite enough.

Introduce yourself and give brief information about yourself

What is required of you is not a poetic summary of everything that happens in your life, but a concise story about your background, education, career, goals and qualities that make you an ideal employee for a particular company. Eg:

— I was born and grew up in Moscow. I attended the Moscow State University and received my master's degree in Economics. I have worked for 2 years as a consultant for various companies in Moscow including TradosConsulting. During the summer seasons, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help pay for my education. I enjoy playing football in my free time and learning languages. I'm very interested in an entry level position in your company. I think that my qualifications and skills will allow me to do my best.

— I was born and raised in Moscow. I studied at Moscow State University and received a master's degree in economics. I worked for 2 years as a consultant in various companies, including in Moscow at TradesConsulting. During the summer, I worked as a system administrator for a small company to pay for my education. I really enjoy playing football in my free time and learning languages. I am interested in an entry level position in your company. I think that my qualifications and skills will allow me to achieve maximum results.

Important! Remember the differences in the mentality of Russian and Western businesses. Thus, the domestic education system for a long time was built on the fact that a qualified employee should only do what he can do. If you don't know how, don't try it. The Western system functions in the “reverse” order - try, maybe you will succeed.

In this light, the main thing in an interview is not mistakes, but the ability to sell yourself. Smile, be active and free in communication, but not arrogant. Use full eye contact and body language. If you forget a word, just say that you are worried and explain what you mean.

In your speech, try to use “strong” phrases:

I'm an excellent team player. — I can work in a team.

I’ve got strong problem-solving abilities/organizing abilities/a great willingness to learn/an ability to grasp difficult concepts easily. - I can/have problem solving skills/good organizational skills/willingness to learn/understand complex diagrams easily.

I can take criticism easily and profit from it. — I easily accept criticism and benefit from it.

Accurate (accurate), adept (knowledgeable), broad-minded (broad-minded), conscientious (conscientious), dependable (reliable), determined (purposeful), efficient (qualified), enterprising (enterprising), experienced (experienced), fair ( honest), genuine (sincere), loyal (devoted), mature (mature), successful (successful), tactful (tactful) and others.

And also words that show that you are listening carefully - sure, really, certainly.

Also, you don't have to use long literary sentences. Imagine that someone else is being interviewed - if you step back, it’s easier to overcome your anxiety.

3. What employers most often want to know

When hiring, the HR manager will want to obtain information about all aspects of the applicant’s personality, for which he will use questions from a variety of areas.

. Biography And personal data

Tell me a little about yourself. Could you tell me something about yourself?. — Tell me a little about yourself. Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Could you describe yourself briefly? — How would you describe yourself?

Describe your personality to me. - Describe your character traits to me.

Please tell me about your formal education. - Please tell us about your education.

. Aspirations and Expectations

What is your professional goal? — What are your professional goals?

When judging the performance of a subordinate or colleague, what factors or characteristics are the most important for you? — What factors are decisive for you when evaluating the work of a subordinate or colleague.

What standards of success do you have in your job? — What is success at work for you?

. Career

What did you like/dislike about your last job? — What did you like/dislike about your last job?

How long have you been looking for a job? — How long have you been looking for a job?

Why do you want this job? - Why do you want this job?

What criteria are you using to choose companies to interview with? — What criteria do you use to select companies to interview with?

Why did you decide to seek a position in this company? — Why did you decide to get a position in this company?

Which is more important to you, the job itself or your salary? — What is more important to you - the work itself or the salary?

Tell me about the salary range you're seeking. — Tell me about the salary range that suits you.

How do you evaluate success? — How do you define the concept of “success”?

. Professional quality

What special aspects of your experience have you prepared for this job? — What features of your previous activities prepared you for this work?

Could you describe one or two of your most important achievements? — Could you tell us about your most important achievements?

Why did you leave your previous job? — For what reason did you leave your previous job?

How did your supervisor evaluate your job? — How did your boss evaluate your work?

Do you prefer to work alone or in groups? — Do you prefer to work independently or in a team?

Can you give me an example of your ability to manage or supervise other people? — Can you give examples of how your abilities to manage or organize other people are demonstrated?

What were the most difficult tasks for you in your last job? — What duties were the most difficult for you to perform at your previous job?

Have you ever done something in your work experience that you consider truly creative? —Have you ever done work that you could call truly creative?

. Personal quality

Can you describe the most difficult situation you had to overcome? How did you handle it? How do you feel this experience affected your personality or ability? — Can you describe the most difficult problems that you had to solve? How did you deal with them? How do you think this experience affected your character or abilities?

What kind of things frustrate you most? How do you usually cope with them? -What could upset you the most? How do you deal with this?

Do you belong to any clubs, associations, or groups? — Are you a member of any club, society or association?

Would you describe yourself as goal-driven? — Could you describe yourself as a purposeful person?

If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change? —If you had to live your life over again, what one thing would you change?

. Test of strength"

What will you do if you don’t get this position? — What will you do if you don’t get this position?

What color is your brain? -What color is your brain?

What is the biggest mistake you’ve made? -What is the biggest mistake you made?

We are ready to make an offer. Are you ready to accept today? - We are ready to make an offer. Are you ready to accept it today?

This group of questions aims to unsettle the subject and see how he will behave in a non-standard environment. Stay calm, answer carefully and sincerely, but remember that the company values ​​the professional qualities and loyalty of the future employee than emotional revelations.

So, the correct answer to the question about the color of your brain would be “red”, since you are always active and in search of new ideas. And by agreeing to immediately accept the offer, you deprive yourself of the image of a person who is used to making thoughtful decisions. The best thing to do in this case is to take a timeout for 24 hours to once again weigh the pros and cons.

4. A few more tips

- Be concise in your answers. The answer to even a detailed question should not take more than 2 minutes.

- Don’t force your interlocutor to ask “Why?” Try to immediately explain the motives for actions and the reasons that prompted you to make this or that decision, for example, about changing jobs.

— Don’t be afraid to ask again. If you don’t understand the question, ask - Sorry, I didn’t quite understand, can you repeat that, please.

- Behave confidently. Even if you are currently experiencing problems with fluent conversational speech, your task is to convince your interlocutor that you will do everything possible to feel comfortable communicating in English in 1-2 months. For example, like this: Sorry, I know my English may not be very good now but I’ll do my best to improve very quickly.

- Smile. Especially if the interview is conducted by a native English speaker.

All of the above may or may not work. And only one thing will allow you to feel confident - regular language learning in a convenient mode. Ideally, this will become part of your daily life.

We recommend classes with online tutors at home! The tutor you choose will help you firmly grasp the basic vocabulary and learn to freely express your thoughts in any situation. All the benefits are obvious! Trial lesson for free!

We wish you success!

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Weakness in the body, cold sweat appearing on the skin, hands tremble, and the tongue becomes tongue-tied. Interviewing in English can be quite stressful. You need to arrive on time, be confident, well-versed and friendly at the same time, while experiencing unprecedented stress inside. How are you doing? Why would you like to work here? Could you describe your responsibilities?

At an interview, some questions in English are replaced by others, and there is no time to carefully think about the answer. We will help you prepare for this important event.

From this article you will learn how to pass an interview in English, find recommendations and answers to questions that may be asked during the interview. Let's go!

Preparing for an interview in English

Let's start with useful tips. These four life hacks will help you effectively prepare for an interview in English:

• First, practice answering potential interview questions out loud in English. To start, think about the questions an employer might ask, prepare a list and think about how you would answer. After you have worked on question-and-answer formulations, practice them in front of a mirror, determining for yourself an acceptable speech rate. To work on various mistakes, you can record your speech on a voice recorder. Pay attention to the pronunciation of words and phrases.
• Secondly, pay special attention to your strengths, and do not forget to support your statements with clear arguments. If you claim to have a certain skill or experience, then provide a clear example that reflects or confirms this fact.
• Third, be honest with yourself and identify your Achilles heel, a weakness that you have successfully overcome. Perhaps you were careless and lazy about your assignments, but later, having set your priorities, you finally pulled yourself together and overcame this bad habit. In the eyes of the employer, you will appear as a person who is truly interested in working productively in a new position.
• And finally, fourthly, salary expectations play an important role. Before going to an interview, make sure you know what salary you would like to earn and the minimum you would accept. You should not unconditionally agree to working conditions that do not meet expectations or do not reflect qualifications.

Top 9 English interview questions

• How would you describe yourself?- How would you describe yourself?

To my mind,I'm … / I consider myself ... /I reckon that I"m ... /I believe, I'm … / I could say that I"m... - I consider myself …

flexible- able to quickly adapt to circumstances
hard working- hardworking
outgoing- sociable
dependable- reliable
honest- honest
organized- organized
ambitious- purposeful
a team-player- I can work in a team
a seasoned specialist- experienced specialist
a dedicated professional- professional, dedicated to his work

I always prefer paying attention to details.- I always prefer to pay attention to details.
I"m fond of challenging tasks and getting the work done.- I love challenging tasks and seeing work through to completion.

• What educational background do you have?- What education do you have?

I graduated in(field: IT, Linguistics, Engineering etc.) from(name of educational institution) - I received my education in the specialty ... in ...
To attend(the name of the institution) from(year) to(year) - visit... from... to...
I hold a master's degree / a bachelor's degree in ... from... - I have a master's degree in ... / bachelor's degree in ...
I took a training program at... - I completed a professional program in ...
Unfortunately, I don"t have any formal education for this work, however, I have already worked in similar position.Furthermore,I have 15 years of experience in this sphere. - Unfortunately, I do not have formal education for this job, however, I have already held a similar position. Moreover, I have 15 years of experience in this field.

If you suddenly heard the phrase “ scholastic record", here we mean the diploma certificate, which includes grades for subjects.

NOTA BENE: Keep in mind that education took place in the past, so use Past Tenses. If you are still studying or receiving additional education, use Present Continuous.

• Could you tell us why you left your last position?- Tell us why you left your last job?

I was: laid off / fired / dismissed / discharged... - I was fired...
I was made redundant... - I was fired without good reason...
Because the firm / the company / the enterprise- because the company / company / enterprise
Had to cut / recolate costs- was forced to cut/revise expenses
Became a bankrupt = was out of business- went bankrupt
I left the previous work/post… - I quit my previous job / left my previous post...
I made a firm decision to find a new job... - I made a firm decision to find a new job ...
That is closer to my home- which is closer to home
That will represent new challenging tasks- where I will be faced with new challenging tasks
Where I could develop my professional skills- where I could develop professional skills
That will help to forge a successful career- to build a successful career

• Tell us about your negative traits, please. - Please tell us about the negative traits.

Apparently, it might be better for me to learn how to be more understanding, especially, when things aren't going according to the plan. That"s what I"m currently working on right now. - Apparently, I should learn to be more understanding, especially when things don't go according to plan. This is what I'm working on now.
I"m used to spending much time on projects to be absolutely sure that everything is accurate. - I'm used to spending a lot of time on projects to be absolutely sure that everything is correct.

to be a perfectionist- be a perfectionist
to be hard on something / someone- criticize something/someone

• Tell us about your positive traits, please. - Please tell us about the positive features.

I'm a proactive person, who likes to see results and be responsible for his/her decisions. - I am a person with an active lifestyle who likes to see results and be responsible for decisions made.
I always remain self disciplined and calm in tangled situations. - I always remain collected and calm during difficult situations.

to be broad-minded- have broad views
to be conscientious- be conscientious
to be creative- be creative
to be enthusiastic- be full of enthusiasm
to be innovative- be an innovator
to be personable- be personable
to be focused on- be focused on
to be a problem-solver- easy to solve problems
always take initiative- always take the initiative
to have team building skills- have the skills to form teamwork
to have a good work ethics- have an understanding of work ethics

• What is the main reason you would like to work here?- Why would you like to work here?

I"m confident that your company will allow me... - I am sure that your company will allow me...

to become a profound specialist- become an outstanding specialist
to put into practice- bring it to life
to make use of the knowledge / the experience- use knowledge/experience
to grow both as a professional and as a human- grow as a professional and person

I’ve always taken an interest in IT and the company excels in the current sphere. - I have always had an interest in IT, and your company is the best in the current field.
The enterprise is considered one of the best is this field- the company is considered one of the best in this area

• Where do you see yourself in five years from now?- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

By then, I will have my knowledge enhanced and become more independent in what I do.- By then I will have improved my knowledge and become more free in what I do.
By then, I would have liked to … / I would have preferred to... - By then I would like...

to develop / improve skills- improve skills
to be more productive- be more productive
to create more of a name for the company /myself- work for the benefit of the company / become a famous figure
to achieve a higher position- get a raise
to get more involved in… - be more involved in
to take on interesting projects- engage in interesting projects
to become an innovative thinker- become a creative thinker
to build a career here- build a career here

NOTA BENE: You should not touch on goals related to your personal life, such as starting a family, having a child, etc. Focus on your career aspirations. Be goal-oriented, but not too goal-oriented, otherwise your candidacy will be seen as a threat to the company.

• What kind of salary do you expect?- What are your expectations about salary?

I suppose, $65,000 per year is typical based on requirements and responsibilities.- I believe that, taking into account the requirements and responsibilities, the salary will be $65,000 per year.
I’m sure, you’ll offer a salary that’s considered competitive in the current field.- I am confident that you will offer a salary that is considered competitive in the field.
I need more information, pertaining to the position, before we could start salary discussion.- I need more information regarding the vacancy before we can begin discussing salary.

Based on the market research / the current salary / past experience- based on market research / current salaries / past experience

to expect something higher- expect higher wages
performance bonuses- bonuses depending on performance results
healthcare- healthcare
future pay raises- future salary increase
free gym membership- free gym membership
extra days off- additional days off
retirement contributions- contribution to the pension fund
flexible work hours- flexible working hours

• You’re welcome to ask any questions, if you have them.- You can ask any questions if you have any.

Who will I be working closely with?- Who will I work closely with?
How soon may I hear from you?- When should I expect news?
Does the company offer... - Does the company offer...

any benefits for its workers?- any benefits for employees?
in-house training for its employees?- training of specialists?

What will be the next step?- What is the next step?
Could you describe the typical day of the job?- Could you describe a typical working day that this position involves?