Spoken English interview

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Common questions asked during interviews and appropriate responses to them. Interviewer: Tell me about yourself. Candidate: I was born and raised in Milan, Italy. I attended the University of Milan and obtained a master’s degree in Economics. I have worked as a financial consultant in Milan for 12 years, for various companies such as Rossi Consultants, Quasar Insurance, and Sardi and Sons. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and learning languages. Candidate: I have just graduated from the University of Singapore with a degree in Computers. During the summers, I worked as a systems administrator for a small company to help cover the costs of my education. Comment: This question is meant as an introduction; do not focus too much on any one particular aspect. It is often used to help the interviewer decide what to ask next. While it is important to give an overall impression of who you are, make sure to emphasize your work-related experience. Work experience should always be the focus of any interview (in most English-speaking countries, work experience is more important than education). Interviewer: What type of position are you looking for? Candidate: I am interested in an entry-level position. Candidate: I’m looking for a role where I can apply my experience. Candidate: I would be willing to take on any position for which I qualify. Comment: You should be open to starting in an entry-level role at an English-speaking company, as most such companies expect non-nationals to begin their careers at such positions. In the United States, many companies offer opportunities for career advancement, so don’t hesitate to start from the bottom! Interviewer: Are you interested in a full-time or part-time position? Candidate: I prefer a full-time position, but I would also consider a part-time one. Comment: Try to keep as many options open as possible. Say that you’re willing to take on any job; once an offer is made, you can always refuse if it doesn’t suit you. Interviewer: Can you tell me about your responsibilities at your last job? Candidate: I provided financial advice to customers. After consulting with them, I filled out customer inquiry forms and entered the information into our database. Then I worked with colleagues to create the best possible solution for each client. I also prepared quarterly reports summarizing their financial activities. Comment: Pay attention to the level of detail required when describing your experience. A common mistake made by foreigners is to be too general in their descriptions. Employers want to know exactly what you did and how you did it; the more details you provide, the clearer it becomes that you understand the nature of the work. Remember to vary your vocabulary when describing your responsibilities. Also, avoid starting every sentence with “I.” Use the passive voice or introductory clauses to add variety to your responses. Interviewer: What is your greatest strength? Candidate: I perform well under pressure. When there’s a deadline, I can focus on the task at hand and organize my workload effectively. I remember one week when I had to complete six new customer reports by 5 p.m. on Friday. I finished all of them ahead of time without having to work overtime. Candidate: I’m an excellent communicator. People trust me and turn to me for advice. Once, my colleague was dealing with a difficult customer who felt he wasn’t receiving proper service. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk, where we resolved the issue together. Candidate: I’m good at solving problems. When there were issues at my last job, the manager would always ask me to handle them. Last summer, the company’s LAN server stopped working. The manager called on me to fix it, and after checking the daily backups, I identified the problem and got the LAN up and running within an hour. Comment: This isn’t the time to be modest! Be confident and always provide examples. Examples show that you not only know the concepts but also possess the relevant skills. Interviewer: What is your greatest weakness? Candidate: I can be overly enthusiastic about my work and become nervous when my colleagues don’t meet their responsibilities. However, I’m aware of this issue, and before saying anything to anyone, I first consider why they might be having difficulties. Candidate: I sometimes spend too much time ensuring that customers are satisfied. But I’ve started setting time limits for myself when this happens. Comment: This is a tricky question. You need to identify a weakness that is actually a strength, and explain how you’re working to overcome it. Interviewer: Why do you want to work for Smith and Sons? Candidate: Having followed the progress of your company over the past three years, I’m convinced that Smith and Sons is becoming one of the market leaders, and I’d like to be part of that team. Candidate: I’m impressed by the quality of your products. I’m sure I’d make a great salesperson, as I truly believe that the Atomizer is the best product available on the market today. Comment: Prepare for this question by researching the company thoroughly. The more details you can provide, the better you’ll demonstrate to the interviewer that you understand the company. Interviewer: When can you start? Candidate: Immediately. Candidate: As soon as you need me to start. Comment: Show your enthusiasm for working there! These are some of the most basic questions asked in any English-language job interview. Perhaps the most important aspect of interviewing in English is providing detailed answers. As a non-native English speaker, you might be reluctant to use complex language, but this is essential because employers are looking for someone who knows how to do the job. If you provide detailed information, the interviewer will know that you’re confident in your abilities. Don’t worry about making grammar mistakes—it’s better to make simple errors while offering thorough information about your experience than to use perfectly grammatical sentences that contain no real content. I hope these tips will help you improve your skills in job interviews. Practice your responses to these and other questions regularly. Try acting out the interview with a friend. By repeating these phrases, you’ll build the confidence you need.

So, tell me a little about yourself. Tell me what you know about this company. Why do you want to work at X Company? What relevant experience do you have? If your previous co-workers were here, what would they say about you? Have you done anything to further your experience? How are you when you’re working under pressure? What’s your biggest weakness? What’s your greatest strength? Are you good at working in a team? Has anything ever irritated you about people you’ve worked with? Would you rather work for a big company or a small one?