How to Answer Interview Questions in English
Interviews can be scary in any language. It’s important to make a good first impression, but with preparation, you can do well!
Interviews are the best way of seeing whether you would fit in with a company or on a course, and it’s a good sign if they want to know you better. Smile, think positively and prepare to show yourself in the best light with our guide on how to answer interview questions.
1. “What can you tell me about yourself?”
The most important one is the question that comes up very often. It’s the famous “What can you tell me about yourself?” that usually starts the interview off!
We've actually already covered how to talk about yourself in English, but you might expect some follow up or similar questions that might be:
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
What are your long term/short term goals?
2. “Why did you apply for the job?”
Though everyone has reasons for applying for certain jobs, it's best to think about this question in a way that looks positively at the company and the position. Think about the tasks that you’d enjoy doing or ideas that you find interesting. Is there anything specific that the company does that you’d like to work in?
They may ask this in a different way, like “Why did you choose this company?”
Do you like working in a big group or a small group? Is it the opportunity to work individually or as a team? Is it their great track record with examples of what they’ve done? Be sure to do some homework -- read up on the company and its statistics.
3. “Why do you think you should work for us?”
This is the last question turned around! Instead of seeing what they can do you for you – why you thought this job/company would be good for you, why would you be good for the company?
Think positive! One of the most important qualities is a passion for the work you’re doing. Experience can be built up, but you need the desire to see it through.
Other positives are the ability to work in a team, good organizational skills, good time keeping, etc.
4. Give us an example of when…
This is where you should really be careful about what is being asked! These will usually refer to times where:
You did well in a team or as an individual
You had to solve a problem
You had to handle a big change
You handled a high-pressure situation
5. Do you have any questions?
Even if you can’t think of any to ask the interviewer straight away, it’s best to prepare something for the day – good examples are:
What will the hours be like?
How big would my team be?
What would a typical day be like?
Also, don’t be afraid to ask any questions that you’ve just thought of during the interview!
We hope this is useful for all your future appointments! Have you had an interview in English? How did you find it?
You can practice your interview skills at a Work and Study course with Kaplan International Colleges!