Feeling nervous before the interview, especially in another language, is entirely normal. But don’t let fear and self-doubts hold you back from applying for your dream positions! The key to building confidence and acing the interview is well-thought-out preparation.
Read this guide to find out how to prepare for your next interview in English.
Develop a positive mindset
Remember, you’re not just the candidate hoping to be chosen but also the one who is choosing. When a company seeks to fill a position, it means they have specific needs they want to address. While this may seem obvious, keeping it in mind can significantly change your perspective on the interviewing process.
You are a specialist capable of meeting the needs of companies, or you can quickly learn to do so (if you're just starting your career). And companies need your skills! Therefore, your task during the interview is not only to demonstrate your expertise, strengths, and motivation but also to understand whether this particular company is the right fit for you.
Additionally, remember that interviewers are just as human as you are, and they may feel just as nervous as you do!
With that in mind, take a moment to calm yourself before the interview. Consider doing some breathing exercises or meditation if that helps. You might also listen to an inspirational song or watch a motivational video—preferably in English—to get yourself in the right mindset.
Extra Resource: Check out the ENGin Career Planning community that provides support and motivation for reaching your career goals (only for ENGin students)
Do research on the company and prepare your questions in advance
Showing genuine interest in the company—its strategy, goals, and corporate culture—will help you to stand out from other candidates. Take the time to explore the company’s website, social media, and blog posts, and prepare several questions based on your research.
Also, it’s common for recruiters to ask what you know about the company, so be ready to explain what you like about them and why you’re eager to work there.
Extra Resource: Check out these sample questions to ask in a job interview from the Harvard Business Review.
Repeat vocabulary specific to your field
We’ve all experienced moments where we have an outstanding idea or a witty response in our heads but struggle to articulate it in English. To avoid this during your interview,
be sure you practice business English vocabulary and terminology specific to your field.
A great way to enhance your vocabulary is to read professional media, watch free professional videos on platforms like YouTube, or even take an English course. You can take a course on a topic you already know well but need to learn the terminology for in English. This approach allows you to focus on learning new vocabulary, as courses often repeat important terms multiple times.
Extra Resource: For professional courses, consider checking out Udemy. ENGin students have free access to it until the end of 2024.
Practice answering questions for a job interview
While we can never predict all the questions we’ll face in an interview, many of them are quite common. Some typical questions include: "Tell us about yourself," "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" "Why are you interested in this position?" "Why do you believe you are the best candidate for this position?" and "What are your career plans?"
Prepare answers to these questions and practice delivering them. However, avoid memorizing your responses word-for-word to ensure you don’t sound like a robot or AI during the interview! You can try to record yourself on video to master answering typical questions.
Another effective preparation strategy is to engage in a mock interview. You can ask friends or colleagues to conduct one for you.
Extra Resource: ENGin students also have the chance to participate in a mock interview with a professional volunteer for free and receive detailed feedback.
Good luck with your career endeavors!
Terminology specific to your field. A great way to enhance your vocabulary is to read professional media, watch free professional videos on platforms like YouTube, or even take an English course. You can love language test take a course on a topic you already know well but need to learn the terminology for in English. This approach allows you to focus on learning new vocabulary, as courses often repeat important terms multiple times