Tips and experiences for interviews at foreign companies: handling English interviews with ease

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Although receiving an interview invitation from a company one has long desired is the first step on the path to success, what truly matters is making a good impression on the hiring manager during the interview. To achieve good results, it is first necessary to know what interviewers value most. 1. Interview etiquette: Punctuality is a fundamental requirement of professional ethics. It is best to arrive at the interview location 10-15 minutes early, as this gives time to get familiar with the surroundings and calm oneself down. Arriving more than half an hour early is seen as a lack of sense of time, but being late or arriving in a hurry during an interview is fatal. If you are late for an interview, no matter what the reason, it is perceived as a lack of self-management and self-discipline, that is, a lack of professional competence, which leaves a very poor impression on the interviewer. Upon entering the company for the interview, if there is a receptionist, state your purpose right away; for example, “My name is Tim Jones and I have an interview scheduled with John Smith at 2 pm”. If no one notifies you, even if the person ahead of you has finished their interview, you should wait patiently outside and not enter the interview room on your own. When your name is called, respond and knock on the door; once you hear \"Come in\" from inside, say \"Excuse me\" before entering the room. During an interview, shaking hands is one of the most important forms of body language. A professional handshake can create a harmonious atmosphere of equality and mutual trust. Your confidence also gives the impression that you are capable of handling any task and willing to do it. This is the best way to create a good first impression. You can introduce yourself while shaking hands, for example: “I’m Tina Lionel; it’s a pleasure to meet you.” But remember to shake hands with sweaty palms; make sure to dry them off in advance. 2. Self-introduction: Interviewers like to ask a variety of questions, and the most awkward ones are often the simplest and most common ones, such as open-ended questions like “Tell me about yourself”. Remember, the key elements of your response are to connect your background and experience with the position you are applying for. Of course, before that, it’s necessary to carefully analyze the job description, so that you can use your skills, interests, and experience to show the interviewer that you are the right candidate who meets the requirements. The time allocated for self-introduction should not be too long; it needs to be short and concise, ideally lasting between 1 and 3 minutes. So, how can one capture the interviewer’s interest in just a few minutes? First, provide a brief recap of your compelling qualifications that can capture the interviewer’s attention; for example: My strengths are self-discipline, team coordination, the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, an open mind, and dedication to work. But remember that while it’s good to highlight one’s strengths, it’s important not to go overboard. Although self-praise can show great interest in the position, avoid talking at length about your own advantages, as the interviewer’s time is limited after all. Secondly, talk about things you have done that are related to the company’s business, for example: I’m doing an independent study/working on a project/doing some research related to your company/industry/technology… Finally, pay attention to the details. The interviewer will ask additional questions (follow up with more questions) based on what you say in your self-introduction, so make sure your answers are well-founded and can at least support your claims. For example, think carefully about some examples that demonstrate how you have used your strengths to successfully complete volunteer activities, academic projects, or other productive endeavors. 3. After the interview: When the interviewer announces that the interview is over, one should first express polite thanks before leaving the meeting room. Don’t rush to ask about the interview results. Under normal circumstances, after the interviews, companies hold discussions and make summaries before submitting them to their management for approval; it may take a week to finally determine the candidates who will be hired. During this period, be sure to wait patiently for news; do not go around asking around. Being too eager to get results often backfires. Finally, I wish everyone success in their interviews. Moreover, based on my many years of experience working in foreign companies, if you need to use English frequently in your work, it is advisable not to give up learning it; even if you already have a solid foundation in English, continuous effort is necessary to enable you to thrive in the workplace and seize more opportunities for promotion and salary increases. I would like to recommend the Lezhi online English tutorials here, which can be listened to for free: http://dwz.cn/5JJPqD. I believe it will help you improve your English skills.