English for Interview
Want to make a great impression on your potential employer? Get ready to interview for a job in English and land your dream job with Promova!
..Practice spoken English for an interview 1x1 with a tutor or in helpful interactive lessons. Take an English for interview course, prepare for common questions, and increase your confidence. Sharpen your interview skills and succeed in your career!
Learn English for Interview
3 key parts of preparing for an interview in English:
— CV
Learn to write a CV in English and customize your resume for a specific position. Present your skills and achievements to potential employers and impress recruiters with your written communication.
— Preparation
Gather information about your market, expectations, and problems you need to overcome. Learn how to introduce yourself in a job interview and meet the needs of your potential employer.
— Common Questions
Learn and practice different questions for an interview in English. Display your expertise and impress your potential employer with thoughtful answers. Build up your confidence to succeed in your interview.
Tips for a Job Interview in English
There are many elements to an interview and different ways to improve your chances:
First Impressions
Make sure you position yourself as a professional even before the interview. For example, a good LinkedIn profile in English can go a long way.
CV vs. Resume
Don’t confuse the two! A CV covers your entire professional journey, while a resume needs to be tailored to the position you are applying for.
Cover Letter
Sharpen your English writing skills to tell your potential employer exactly why you’re the perfect fit for their company.
Introductions
Practice how to introduce yourself in an interview - this includes what you say and how you dress to make an impression.
Details
You have to find out in advance which parts of your experience the employer would find interesting and focus on them.
Test Tasks
Many positions, such as programming and creative jobs, will require you to complete tests during the interview. Preparation will help your chances.
Manners
In business English, applying for a job comes with professional expectations. You need to be polite and speak clearly to succeed.
Interest
Learn how to show curiosity in the business and your position in it. Asking the interviewer good questions can go a long way.
Expertise
Find subtle ways to show your skills, such as citing figures and facts from previous jobs or bringing references.
Negotiations
Discussing money and workload is the most difficult part of an interview. Prepare in advance, and don’t shy away from asking for help.
How to practice for an interview in English
On Your Own
Prepare for an interview in English by improving your workplace communication skills. Practice business topics that help you succeed in office environments. Improve specific skills to make better presentations, write reports, mediate negotiations, and so on.
Find handy references to improve your business English skills:
Clarity is incredibly important during job interviews. Learn to speak clearly, preferably with a neutral or minimal accent. Help your potential employers understand you without effort by improving your pronunciation and articulation.
Find helpful English pronunciation resources here:
Practice business English and prepare for an interview with bite-sized lessons. Find common questions and topics in a fun interactive course. Discover tools and resources for writing better emails, handling office conversations, and more!
Get powerful language learning tools to improve faster:
With Help
Prepare for a job interview in English with 1x1 lessons. Get an individual study plan that includes help with writing your CV, answering specific questions in your industry, and tips that apply directly to your career.
Find a certified tutor to improve your Business English:
Practice English in small groups of the same proficiency level. Take lessons twice a week and improve all-around English skills. Speak with fellow learners to improve your speaking confidence and practice for specific situations.
Join a business English class to sharpen your skills:
Meet learners from all over the world in our free English conversation club. Choose a fun topic and discuss it with interesting people. While this won’t directly improve your interviewing skills, speaking confidence will translate well to your career.
Find a fun topic and join the speaking club for free:
Test Your English Skills
Not sure if you’re up to the task? Find out your English proficiency for free with our comprehensive language tests. Get feedback immediately and find out what you need to improve. See your mistakes and discover a path to your learning success.
Business English Resources
Why learners choose our courses?
Frequently asked questions
What level of English fluency do I need to apply for a job?
You need to be at B1 (English Intermediate) or higher to have a good chance of passing a job interview. This means you have to already have a solid understanding of grammar and be able to use English independently. However, it depends on your industry and position.
For example, a programmer at an international company will likely need B2 or higher to understand the terminology and workplace tasks. At the same time, a sales professional or marketing expert might need C1 or even C2 native-like proficiency to work with native clients and create content.
What if the position I’m applying for only requires basic English?
This might be the case if you’re applying for a job at a local company where you might only occasionally need English. Typically you’ll only need strong reading and correspondence skills to read instructions or work emails.
However, it’s not as easy to get even local jobs without good English anymore. With increased expectations at different workplaces, potential employers might overlook you regardless of other qualifications if you don’t speak good English. After all, you’re competing with other candidates who might be fluent and have better prospects in the same role.
What are the common questions in an English interview?
Here are some questions to begin your interview preparation:
Why are you interested in this position? - this might be the most common question you’ll hear in every interview. Remember that your potential employer doesn’t just want to hear about your skills. Instead, they want to know how well you fit their company.
What makes you qualified for this job? - this is your chance to talk about your experience and the value you bring to the company. It'll be a straightforward response if you’re prepared and did research about their business.
Can you share a notable success/failure from your past? - here, your potential employer isn’t just looking for a good story or offering you an opportunity to brag. They want to know how adaptive you are based on your experience.
What is your process for working with tasks? - your potential employer will want to understand your thought process and goal-setting. The more details you can offer, the better. Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer in your process!
What are your salary expectations? - this is often the most difficult question to answer. There are different approaches you can take - take an industry standard, your current earning expectations, or even ask your employer for help if you can negotiate.
How do I prepare a good resume and CV in English?
Firstly, you need to prioritize information. Your potential employer will be most interested in your current position, skills related to the job, and any certifications or data to prove your expertise. Put these first, so they can see you’re serious about the position.
Secondly, you want to personalize your resume for the employer. Cite facts and examples in their industry, as close to your desired role as possible. Make sure you add some humanity to your resume - whether it’s a unique design, fun facts, and so on.
Lastly, there might be some cultural differences. For example, companies in Europe usually require a photo on your resume. At the same time, American companies often prefer neutral resumes that only list qualifications and experiences.