An English Job Interview: More Helpful Tips, Phrases and Examples. Today is the time to give you more tips on how to overcome a job interview in English and make a great impression.
Some time ago we gave you a touch on how to prepare you to face your first job interview. We know that it’s an important moment which marks a key point in your work life.
Your professional career is important and getting job interviews will be crucial for you. Coming up, we are going to give you a series of suggestions and expressions that you will have seen in films.
In these situations, finding the professional tone, especially if you feel worried about speaking in another language, can be difficult. Before facing a job interview in English, we recommend that you put these tips into practice to learn vocabulary and improve your pronunciation,
Furthermore, do not be alarmed, you can prove to be the best candidate with the tricks that we propose below.
1.Say hello and introduce yourself
One of the key things to making the best impression is to say hello in a friendly way, and use phrases to break the ice, for example, you could ask the interviewer how they are.
The most natural thing when you arrive is to ask the recruiter how their day is going because the recruiter is waiting for you to show up. It’s a way to create a more comfortable environment.
In English it’s a good idea to thank them at the start of the interview by saying:
– “Thank you for taking the time to meet me”.
– “Gracias por tomarse el tiempo para conocerme”
You could also use the opportunity to find out if they have interviewed many people for the position and if they plan to continue with the selection process.
2.Show Interest
Expressing your desire to be part of the company you are applying for is a plus. Any human resources manager will be delighted (even if they don’t show it) to know you are truly interested in them.
We recommend that before the day of your job interview, you take a look at the corporate website, investigate its social profiles and read press articles. This way, you will have a ore complete idea and will be able to show your interest easier.
Some phrases that can inspire you:
“I’ve always been interested in working in your company.”
Siempre he estado interesado en trabajar en tu empresa.
“I read that you value attention to detail and that is important to me.”
He leído que ustedes valoran la atención en los detalles y eso es importante para mí.
“I like the friendly tone on your website.”
Me gusta el tono amable de su página web.
Además, debes estar listo para responder a esta pregunta:
Why should we give the job to you?. ¿Por qué deberíamos darte este trabajo?
Here is the moment to talk about your strengths:
- I perform well under pressure: trabajo bien bajo presión.
- I’m a very creative and decisive person: soy una persona creativa y resolutiva.
- I’m a team player: trabajo bien en equipo.
- I’m results driven: Estoy orientado a los resultados.
3.You have to focus on what is relevant to the position
When preparing your cover letter and resume, keep in mind that recruiting experts will have more interest in your profile if you emphasise information relevant to the position. Keep it simple, focus on the skills and knowledge that best fit the job you are applying for:
- I have three years’ experience in advertising and public relations.”
- Tengo tres años de experiencia en publicidad y RR.PP.
- “I am an experienced art designer with excellent creative skills.”
- Soy un experimentado diseñador de arte con con excelentes habilidades creativas.”
- “My previous experience includes 10 years with McCann Erickson.”
- Mi experiencia anterior incluye 10 años en la agencia de publicidad McCann Erickson.
Take a good look at your abilities and make sure you make them very clear during your job interview, as long as it is related to the position you are applying for.
4.Be cautious and confirm the interview information
We know that speaking on the phone in English can be challenging, but we recommend that you call and make sure of all of the necessary information needed for the interview.
Some questions to ask:
- “What date and time is the interview?”
- ¿En qué fecha y a qué hora es la entrevista?
- “What is the address?”
- ¿Cuál es la dirección?
- “Who should I ask for?”
- ¿Por quién debo preguntar?
- “What are the names of the people who will be interviewing me?”
- ¿Cómo se llaman las personas que me van a entrevistar?
5.Prepare your questions for the interview
Faced with the immediacy of the recruitment process it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and worried, especially if you focus on understanding what they tell you. We advise that you get to work in advance and make the most of your conversation classes (if you have time).
Another idea that can give you some security and control in this situation is to prepare a list of questions of the recruiter. This will show an additional interest in the position you are applying for.
- “How many people work in this office?”
- ¿Cuántas personas trabajan en esta oficina?
- “How large is the team?”
- ¿Cómo de grande es el equipo de trabajo?
- “What is the most important skill you are looking for?”
- ¿Cuál es la habilidad más importante que están buscando?”
- “What are the typical working hours?”
- ¿Cuál es el horario de trabajo?
6.Be puntual on the day of the interview
It seems like obvious advice, but keep it in mind. If you want to make a good impression, arrive in advance on the specified day and time.
It wouldn’t hurt if you set an alarm as a reminder and go to the interview 10 minutes before so that the reception staff know you’re there, you then have time to feel the atmosphere and wait to be invited for the interview.
These couple of phrases are very basic, but very useful:
- “Hello, I am here for an interview with Mr Downey.”
- Hola, vengo a una entrevista con Mr. Downey.
- “I have an appointment at five-thirty.”
- Tengo una cita a las cinco y media.
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Stay calm and respond confidently
We know that this tip is the hardest to apply. It’s natural to feel nervous before an interview.
Without knowing what you’re going to be asked, you feel worried about your language skills.
Don’t worry about asking them to repeat a question, or taking a while to answer. Be direct and use simple phrases that will denote confidence.
If you are asked questions that are answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ try to add an example that supports your statement.
- Yes, I speak three languages: French, Japanese and English.”
- Sí, hablo tres idiomas: francés, japonés e inglés.”
- “Yes, I have managed teams of three people or more.”
- Si, he dirigido equipos de tres personas o más.
- “Yes, I was involved in training new designers in my last job.”
- Sí, ayudé a capacitar a los nuevos diseñadores en mi último trabajo.
8.Make it clear why you are perfect for that job
One of the classic questions asked by interviewers (and which you have already suggested in point 2) is why you are the ideal candidate for the job. Make sure you have an answer ready.
Here are some examples:
- I think I have the skills and attitude you need to make your team more successful.”
- Creo que tengo las habilidades y la actitud que se requieren para lograr un equipo de éxito.
- “I think I can help you improve your web design.”
- Creo que puedo ayudar a mejorar el diseño de su página web.
- “I have a lot of experience working with the type of clients you have.”
- Tengo mucha experiencia trabajando con el tipo de clientes que tienen.
If you are asked why you want the position, look at these two options:
- I want to further my career in design.
- Quiero avanzar mi carrera profesional en marketing/ ingeniería/ diseño
- I want to take on more responsibility.
- Quiero asumir más responsabilidad.
After the question “What salary do you expect to earn”? (¿cuánto dinero esperas ganar?), you have to be careful as it is always a delicate matter.
A good response could be:
- My salary expectations are in line with my qualifications, education and experience.
- Mis expectativas salariales están alineadas con mis calificaciones, educación y experiencia.
9.Find out what you need to know before leaving
Before finishing your job interview, take the last few minutes to find out what will happen next. It raises questions about the selection process, if there will be another phase and how long it will take them to contact you again, among other questions.
- “Now that I’ve heard a bit more, I’m extremely interested in this role. What are the next steps?”
- Ahora que he escuchado un poco más, estoy muy interesado en este puesto. ¿Cuáles son los próximos pasos?
- “When will you let people know about the second round of interviews?”
- ¿Cuándo informarán a la gente sobre la segunda fase de entrevistas?
- “Will I hear from you again in the next couple of days?”
- ¿Tendré noticias vuestras en los próximos días?
- “Is there any other information I can send you after I leave?”
- ¿Hay alguna otra información que pueda enviar después?
Finally, it’s recommended to thank the interviewers for the opportunity and that you hope to hear back from them soon.
- “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you. I look forward to your feedback.”
- Fue un placer conocerlos. Espero su retroalimentación.
- “Thanks for taking the time to see me. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
- Gracias por tomarse el tiempo para verme. Espero tener noticias pronto.
We wish you the best of the luck in your next selection process. If you are looking for a job right now, we recommend that you improve your language skills with one of our trips abroad to learn English.