Take an interview in English. Interview in English. Video on how to pass an interview

aim interviews in english it can be not only to find out if you are suitable professionally, but also to assess your level of English proficiency.

After you made an excellent one and yours turned out to be so convincing that you were invited to job interview, you need to thoroughly prepare for it, because this is the last test on the way to your dream job and you need to overcome it with dignity.

What you need to know before an interview in English

Thorough preparation for the interview is the key to your success. Make sure that you can clearly, concisely and logically explain everything that is written in your resume and, as well as give specific examples of tasks performed and achievements (especially those related to the requirements of the vacancy).

Be sure to prepare and practice a speech in which you need to briefly say:

about your education and how it relates to job requirements;
previous work experience (which may include internships, volunteer work, employment in student unions, etc.).
structure your speech in such a way that it is clear how you can effectively use your previous experience in doing the job for which you are applying;
why you want to work for this company and in this position.

Remember that your time will be very limited (mostly an interview lasts from 30 minutes to an hour), you will be worried and may get confused, forget something or start repeating yourself.

Remember!

The best impromptu is a well-prepared impromptu.

Therefore, the preparation and practice of your speech is very important. We recommend that you work out the answers to the most likely questions in the form of a rehearsal-interview with your parents, friends or classmates.

You can also rehearse the answers to the most common questions using the video simulator.

Important!

Spend enough time looking up information about the organization you're interviewed with. Check out their website, read the press, check their social media profiles, find out who their main competitors are, try to find information about the people who will be interviewing.

Telling about yourself in an English interview

“Tell me about yourself” - This simple but important question can encourage candidates to tell their life stories. But do potential employers want to hear that?

Tell about yourself at the interview Employers are asked to understand how well you have prepared and whether you are suitable for this position.

You need to unobtrusively show yourself to the interviewer from the best side - “sell yourself”, briefly talk about yourself - “present yourself”, while not going into unnecessary details.

Templates for telling about yourself in English

When preparing for a story about yourself, you can use ready-made templates. Highlighted phrases can be taken as a basis for any vacancy.

Offer in English	Translation into Russian
I graduated from the Technical University and I have a degree in Information Systems and Technologies.	I graduated Technical University, and i have a degree in the field of information systems and technologies.
I have been working as a system administrator for five years.	I am working system administrator during five years.
My professional experience includes LAN (local area network) administration, equipment maintenance and negotiation with suppliers.	My professional experience includes local area network (LAN) administration, equipment maintenance and negotiations with suppliers.
I am currently working for the IT company which specializes in website creation and provides hosting for its clients.	I am currently working in IT companies, which specializes in creating websites and provides hosting for their clients.
Now I am ready for a new challenge, that's why I applied for this position in your company.	Now I am ready for new challenges, so I applied for this position in your company.
Your company develops outstanding products and uses progressive technologies.	Your company is developing outstanding products and uses progressive technologies.
I think that I will be able to support and improve the work of your computer systems because I am organized and enthusiastic.	I think I can maintain and improve the operation of your computer systems, because i organized and enthusiastic.
I'm a perfectionist. I pay attention to all the details, and like to be sure everything is just right.	I am a perfectionist. Paying attention for all the details and me like to be sure that everything is going according to plan.
I'm efficient and highly organized. This enables me to be as productive as possible on the job.	I am productive and disciplined. It helps achieve the highest results at work.
I'm a creative thinker. I like to explore alternative solutions to problems and have an open mind about what will work best.	I am resourceful. to me like to find alternative, more effective, solutions to problems.
I enjoy solving problems, troubleshooting issues, and coming up with solutions in a timely manner.	to me like to solve problems and offer solutions.
I'd describe myself as a goal-oriented and hardworking person with good organizational skills and strategic thinking. Furthermore, I’m a good speaker and even a better listener - that’s why I’ve always been able to get along with different types of people.	I would describe myself as purposeful and hardworking person with good organizational skills and strategic thinking. Moreover, I am a good speaker and a great listener, so I have always been able to easily get along with different types of people.
I have over six years of experience in sales. After working the past four years as a sales manager, I’ve developed a number of important skills, including decision-making and multitasking.	I have more six years of work experience in sales. The last four years as a sales manager have developed many important qualities in me, including the ability to make decisions and multitask.
That background will help me achieve all the goals you have set for this position.	This experience will help me achieve all the goals you set for this position.
In my free time I enjoy reading and bicycling. It provides me with a good balance in my life.	In my spare time I love read and ride a bike. This allows me to reach the right balance in life.

Useful phrases for talking about yourself in an interview

When choosing phrases to talk about yourself at an interview, you can also read our article. After all, in pursuit of common goals, these phrases are largely repeated.

Offer in English	Translation into Russian
My name (first name) is Pavel.	My name is Pavel.
I am Pavel Petrov.	I am Pavel Petrov.
My surname (last name) is Petrov.	My surname is Petrov.
I graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2003.	I graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2003.
I graduated from the university with a specialty in computer science.	I graduated from university with a degree in computer science.
I received my master's degree in Economics in 2001.	I received my master's degree in economics in 2001.
I am currently studying at the Southern Federal University	I am currently studying at the Southern Federal University.
I received an international certificate in teaching in 2005	I received an international teaching certificate in 2005.
I studied at college in the USA	I went to college in the USA.
While I studied at university, I worked as an intern. After I graduated, I worked in the same place full-time.	When I was at university, I worked as an intern. After graduating, I worked full-time for the same company.
My … years of experience and work in the field of (field name) have helped me develop such professional qualities and skills as …	My … years of experience and work in the field of (name of the field) helped me develop such professional qualities and skills…
The key aspect of my job was providing technical data.	The main aspect of my work was the provision of technical data.
I always do my best to achieve professional goals.	I always do my best to achieve my professional goals.
I am currently working as (position title) at (company name) …	I am currently working at (company name) where I hold the position of (position name) …
I am interested in the position of (position title) at your company, as…	I was interested in the vacancy (position title) in your company, because…
I believe the combination of my education and experiences have prepared me…	I believe that the interplay of my education and experience has prepared me...
I am an experienced specialist with extensive knowledge.	I am an experienced professional with extensive knowledge.
My major strength is the ability to work under pressure.	My main strength is the ability to work under pressure.

Successful self-presentation, what you need to know

It is no secret that during the interview your goal is not only to get a job, but also to “sell” yourself profitably, i.e. get a financial offer that suits you completely.

The secret to successfully answering the freeform self question is focus, scripting, and practice.

You cannot afford to casually answer this question, as it will affect the further course of the interview. Think about what you would like the interviewer to know about you.

Secrets of successful self-presentation

The following few tips will help you create a selling self-presentation that any recruiter will appreciate.

1. Focus

List five of your strengths that relate to this position (experience, traits, skills, etc.). What do you want the interviewer to remember about you when you leave?

2. Think of your scenario

Prepare a script that includes the information you want to convey.

Start by discussing past experiences and successes.

Offer in English	Translation into Russian
"I have been in the customer service industry for the past five years. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls in the high tech industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that go along with it, is the opportunity to connect with people. In my last job, I formed some significant customer relationships resulting in a 30 percent increase in sales in a matter of months."	“I have been in customer service for the past five years. My most recent experience was handling incoming calls in a high-tech industry. One of the reasons I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that come with it, is the ability to connect with people. At my last job, I formed some important relationships with clients that resulted in a 30 percent increase in sales in a few months.”

Offer in English

Translation into Russian

"I have been in the customer service industry for the past five years. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls in the high tech industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that go along with it, is the opportunity to connect with people. In my last job, I formed some significant customer relationships resulting in a 30 percent increase in sales in a matter of months."

“I have been in customer service for the past five years. My most recent experience was handling incoming calls in a high-tech industry. One of the reasons I particularly enjoy this business, and the challenges that come with it, is the ability to connect with people. At my last job, I formed some important relationships with clients that resulted in a 30 percent increase in sales in a few months.”

List your strengths and abilities.

Finish by talking about your current plans:

3. Practice

Practice your script until you feel confident about what you want to emphasize in your story. Your script should help you stay afloat in time, but don't memorize it so you don't sound harsh and pretentious. Your a story about yourself should sound natural.

How to Present Yourself to a Recruiter

Unfortunately, the question “Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?” can't just answer “I'm amazing and you should totally hire me”. Although such an answer would certainly be very original.

It is better to show some of your distinctive qualities in a slightly veiled and interesting way.

For example:

This answer shows that the candidate is intelligent and has leadership qualities. Both are excellent attributes of a potential employee.

Your strengths and weaknesses in the interview

Try to be as frank and truthful as possible, because any lie will be revealed sooner or later.

How to respond to killer interview questions we already wrote in the article. But for now, we'll look at questions a recruiter might ask you during a story about yourself.

Negative qualities of a person in an interview

Question 1: What is your greatest weakness?(rus. What are your biggest weaknesses/flaws)?

Of course, there are no ideal people, and your potential employer knows this. But still, try to mention only those negative qualities inherent in you that are not particularly important for the chosen vacancy.

Remember!

When answering this question, you should not talk about how “bad” you are, but try to show that you know how to deal with your weaknesses.

Offer in English	Translation into Russian
I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.	I have a tendency to take too long to satisfy a client. However, I have begun to set time limits for myself if I notice this happening.
When I'm working on a project, I don't want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule.	When working on a project, it's not enough for me just to meet the deadline. I prefer to complete the task ahead of schedule.
Being organized wasn’t my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that really helped my organization skills.	I wasn't always so well organized, so I learned a time management system that really helped me with my discipline.
I have always had difficult time prioritizing and planning my workload. Yet, I have taken measures to solve this by starting to use a planning calendar tool and a diary system on my computer and smartphone.	I have always had difficulty prioritizing and planning my workload. To solve this problem, I started using a planning calendar program and keeping a diary of events on my computer and smartphone.

Positive qualities of a person in an interview

Question 2: What is your greatest strength?(rus. What are your strongest qualities?)

Try not to overdo it with self-praise. Describe only qualities that are relevant to this company and represent you as the most suitable candidate.

An example of an answer in English	Translation into Russian
I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline, I can focus on the task at hand (current project) and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week when I had to get 6 new customer reports out by Friday at 5. I finished all the reports ahead of time without having to work overtime.	I work well in stressful situations (under pressure). If there is a deadline for completing a task, I organize my work plan well. I remember one week when I had to issue 6 reports on new clients by 17:00 on Friday. I completed all reports ahead of schedule and didn't have to work overtime.
I am an excellent communicator. People trust me and come to me for advice. One afternoon, my colleague was involved with a troublesome (difficult) customer who felt he was not being served well. I made the customer a cup of coffee and invited both my colleague and the client to my desk where we solved the problem together.	I'm great with people. People trust me and come to consult. One afternoon, a colleague of mine ran into a problematic (difficult) customer who felt he had been badly served. I prepared a cup of coffee for the client, and invited the client and colleague to my table, where we jointly solved the problem.
I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the server back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the server was up and running (working) within the hour.	I can fix problems. When there were problems at my previous job, the manager always asked me to solve them. There was a server crash last summer. The manager was desperate and called me (asked for my help) to restore the server. After reviewing the daily backup, I found the problem and the server was up and running within an hour.
My time management skills are excellent. I'm organized and efficient.	I have excellent time management skills. I am disciplined and efficient.
I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to resolve what could be difficult situations.	I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to handle difficult situations.
When I "m working on a project, I don"t want just to meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. I have exceeded my sales goals every quarter and I"ve earned a bonus each year since I started with my current employer.	When I'm working on a project, I don't want to just meet deadlines. Rather, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of schedule. I've exceeded my sales target every quarter, and every year I've received bonuses since I started working with my current employer.

Examples of a successful story about yourself in English for an interview

When writing a story about yourself in English, first sketch out simple phrases that you need to say during an interview. Then arrange them in order from "weakest point to strongest". And don't forget to check if you built the sentences correctly.

We have prepared three examples of a successful self-narration with translation and a video of a self-narration in English so that you can clearly imagine what to do in an interview:

A story about yourself, who has no work experience at all.
A selling story about yourself.
Video about yourself in English.

Examples of successful self-presentation with translation help you build your sales presentation.

An example of a successful story about yourself in English for an entry-level specialist

Tell me about yourself in English	Translation into Russian
Thanks for giving me this golden opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Andrew. I am from Moscow. I have done my schooling from XYZ School, Moscow, and Graduation from XYZ College, Moscow. When I was in the Engineering College, I had made up my mind to become a Software Tester. I have done ISTQB certification. I am good at SDLC & STLC. As a fresher, I don't have any work experience, but I am very passionate to work for this company as a Software Tester. My goal is to build a successful career as a Software Tester, which can help my company and me personally. My strengths are my positive attitude, punctuality, interpersonal skills and strong in management skills. My weakness is my emotional nature which lands me in trouble sometimes. This is all about me. Thanks for giving me the wonderful chance.	Thank you for giving me this great opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Andrey. I am from Moscow. I graduated from XYZ School in Moscow and graduated from XYZ College in Moscow. When I was studying at the College of Engineering, I decided that I would be doing software testing. I have passed the ISTQB certification. I am well versed in SDLC and STLC. As a beginner, I have no work experience, but I am very passionate about working for this company as a Software Tester. My goal is to create a successful career as a Software Tester that can help my company and myself. My strengths are my positive attitude, punctuality, interpersonal skills and my ability to manage. My weakness is my emotionality, which sometimes gets me into trouble. It's all about me. Thanks for giving me a great chance.

Tell me about yourself in English

Translation into Russian

Thanks for giving me this golden opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Andrew. I am from Moscow. I have done my schooling from XYZ School, Moscow, and Graduation from XYZ College, Moscow. When I was in the Engineering College, I had made up my mind to become a Software Tester. I have done ISTQB certification. I am good at SDLC & STLC. As a fresher, I don't have any work experience, but I am very passionate to work for this company as a Software Tester. My goal is to build a successful career as a Software Tester, which can help my company and me personally. My strengths are my positive attitude, punctuality, interpersonal skills and strong in management skills. My weakness is my emotional nature which lands me in trouble sometimes. This is all about me. Thanks for giving me the wonderful chance.

Thank you for giving me this great opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Andrey. I am from Moscow. I graduated from XYZ School in Moscow and graduated from XYZ College in Moscow. When I was studying at the College of Engineering, I decided that I would be doing software testing. I have passed the ISTQB certification. I am well versed in SDLC and STLC. As a beginner, I have no work experience, but I am very passionate about working for this company as a Software Tester. My goal is to create a successful career as a Software Tester that can help my company and myself. My strengths are my positive attitude, punctuality, interpersonal skills and my ability to manage. My weakness is my emotionality, which sometimes gets me into trouble. It's all about me. Thanks for giving me a great chance.

Selling a story about yourself during an interview in English

Tell me about yourself in English	Translation into Russian
I am highly dedicated and ambitious. Every time I start a new campaign, I aim to win an award or nomination. Of course, my ultimate goal is to please the client. But the fact that I aim high has resulted in at least 20 industry awards and nominations. For example, I once led a project for a client who was sure that he didn't want to add digital media to his campaign budget. He wasn't behind the times, but he was sure that his client-base was. My Creative Director asked that I get the client on board. So, I created some samples, and I put together a presentation. I set out to show the client that he was missing an entire demographic of untapped customers. And this project was sold. My client added digital media to his campaign budget making my boss happy. The work I put into the digital campaign to impress the client was above and beyond what we normally do. The result was two Cannes Lions awards. While I enjoyed my previous work, it was commercial. It's a dream of mine to do work for nonprofit clients. Your company has done some amazing work for nonprofit and NGO clients and I'd love to switch gears. That's why I applied for this position.	I am highly valued and ambitious. Every time I start a new campaign, I aim to win an award or nomination. Of course, my ultimate goal is to please the client. But the fact that I aim for a high level has led to at least 20 industry awards and nominations. For example, I once managed a project for a client who was convinced that he didn't want to add digital media to his company's budget. He kept up with the times, but was sure he had a client base. My creative director asked me to get this client. So, I created some samples, and made a presentation. I decided to show the client that he was missing a whole demographic of untapped customers. And this project was sold. My client added digital media to his company's budget, which made my boss happy. The work I contributed to the digital campaign that impressed the client was beyond what we usually do. The result was two Cannes Lions awards. Although I liked my previous job, it was commercial. My dream is to do work for non-commercial clients. Your company has done wonderful work for non-profit and non-government clients, and I would like a change of scenery. That's why I applied for this position.

Tell me about yourself in English

Translation into Russian

I am highly dedicated and ambitious. Every time I start a new campaign, I aim to win an award or nomination. Of course, my ultimate goal is to please the client. But the fact that I aim high has resulted in at least 20 industry awards and nominations. For example, I once led a project for a client who was sure that he didn't want to add digital media to his campaign budget. He wasn't behind the times, but he was sure that his client-base was. My Creative Director asked that I get the client on board.
So, I created some samples, and I put together a presentation. I set out to show the client that he was missing an entire demographic of untapped customers. And this project was sold. My client added digital media to his campaign budget making my boss happy. The work I put into the digital campaign to impress the client was above and beyond what we normally do. The result was two Cannes Lions awards. While I enjoyed my previous work, it was commercial. It's a dream of mine to do work for nonprofit clients. Your company has done some amazing work for nonprofit and NGO clients and I'd love to switch gears. That's why I applied for this position.

I am highly valued and ambitious. Every time I start a new campaign, I aim to win an award or nomination. Of course, my ultimate goal is to please the client. But the fact that I aim for a high level has led to at least 20 industry awards and nominations. For example, I once managed a project for a client who was convinced that he didn't want to add digital media to his company's budget. He kept up with the times, but was sure he had a client base. My creative director asked me to get this client. So, I created some samples, and made a presentation. I decided to show the client that he was missing a whole demographic of untapped customers.
And this project was sold. My client added digital media to his company's budget, which made my boss happy. The work I contributed to the digital campaign that impressed the client was beyond what we usually do. The result was two Cannes Lions awards. Although I liked my previous job, it was commercial. My dream is to do work for non-commercial clients. Your company has done wonderful work for non-profit and non-government clients, and I would like a change of scenery. That's why I applied for this position.

Video Tell me about yourself in English

You will find an excellent answer to the question Tell me about yourself in this video from the Big Interview channel

Instead of a conclusion:

In preparation for interview in english remember that you won't get a second chance to make a first impression.

If you feel insecure in your abilities, we recommend that you go and our teachers will help you quickly and efficiently prepare for job interview.

In contact with

An interview with an international company is already in a couple of days, and your English practice over the past six months has been limited to the words yes, thank you and OK? Our tips will help you quickly prepare for communication with a future employer and not stumble when answering key questions.

1. Write a story about yourself

It is best to talk about education, professional experience and interests, key knowledge and skills. You can mention hobbies, but do not focus on the personal. Here are some examples of a good introduction to a story:

“I can summarize who I am in three words:…” - “I can describe myself in three words:...”

"The main principle I live my life by is ..." - "The main principle that I adhere to in life is ..."

"People who know me best say that I'm ..." - "Those who know me well say that I ..."

2. Competently emphasize the merits

Prepare a story about the qualities you possess. At the same time, it is important to mention both the advantages and disadvantages - you will also probably be asked about them. So be prepared to frankly highlight a couple of cons. Here are common phrases you should learn before an interview:

learning agility (fast-learner) - fast learning

self-motivated and determined - proactive and purposeful

success-oriented and natural leader - success-oriented, a born leader

team player - team player

hardworking - industrious, efficient

intelligence and self confidence - intelligence and self-confidence

possess proactive approach - I have an active life position, initiative

multitasking - able to successfully work with several projects, "multitasking"

have planning skills - I have planning skills

well-organized - organized

versatile - versatile, versatile

with broad experience in… - with extensive experience in…

in-depth knowledge of… - deep knowledge in...

written and verbal communication skills - written and oral communication skills

deductive reasoning - deductive thinking

logical thinking - logical mindset

skills analytical - analytical skills

3. Repeat Linking Words

To structure your story, build logical transitions and avoid pauses, learn how to use introductory constructions, adverbs and conjunctions correctly.

To summarize:
In short - in short
In brief - in short
In summary - as a result
To summarise - summing up
In conclusion - in conclusion
In a nutshell - in a nutshell
To conclude - drawing conclusions

To build a sequence:
The former, ... the latter - the first ... the last
Firstly, secondly - firstly, secondly
Finally - in the end
The first point is - firstly
Lastly - finally
The following - next

To indicate the reason for what is happening:
Due to / due to the fact that - according to / according to the fact that
Because - because
Because of - due to the fact that
Since - since
As - since

To indicate cause and effect:
Therefore - therefore
So - thus
consequent - consequently
This means that - this means that
As a result - as a result

To contrast the two ideas:
But - but
However - however
Although / even though - although / even if
Despite - despite
In spite of - despite
In spite of the fact that - despite the fact that
Nevertheless - in spite of this, nevertheless
Nevertheless - nonetheless
While - while / despite the fact that
Whereas - because / despite
Unlike - unlike
In theory… in practice… – in theory… in practice…

For addition:
And - and
In addition - besides
As well as - just like ...
also - also
Too - too
besides - besides
Furthermore - besides
moreover - more than that
Apart from - in addition
In addition to - in addition to

To give an example:
For example - for example
As an example - as an example
For instance - for example
Namely - namely

4. Practice before the interview

When learning any language, practice is essential. Try watching TED videos and repeating phrases and sentences after native speakers, watch your articulation. So when you're done talking about yourself, rehearse the prepared text in front of a mirror, ask a friend to play the role of a recruiter, or practice on an interview simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zKsBfsrxrs.

5. Read company information in English

Study the English version of the site and pay attention to the mission, field of activity, location, leadership, read the latest news. So you will understand what phrases and wordings are accepted in the company, and also show your motivation. Be sure to prepare an answer to the standard question: “Why do you want to work in our company?”

6. Practice professional vocabulary

Make a list of specialized terms, learn their translation and pay attention to the context of use. Watch videos on industry topics to catch all the subtleties of pronunciation. Try not to use words and phrases that you don't fully understand.

7. Prepare questions for the recruiter

Often, at the end of an interview, recruiters invite you to ask questions about a job or working for a company. Prepare ahead of time. Below you will find examples of wording that you can rely on:

How many employees work for the organization? - How many employees work in the organization?

Please tell me a little bit about the people with whom I'll be working most closely. - Please tell me a little about the people with whom I will need to work most closely.

Will I work independently or in a team? - Will I work alone or in a team?

Where will I be working? - Where will I work?

How advanced is the hardware and software I will be expected to use? - How sophisticated hardware and software will I need to use?

How did this job become available? Why is this position open?

Before you’re able to reach a hiring decision, how many more interviews should I expect to go through and with whom? - How many more interviews do I have before you can make a hiring decision? Who will conduct them?

Does this job usually lead to other positions at the company? Does this job involve career growth?

Will the company be entering any new markets in the next couple of years? - Will the company enter any new markets in the next few years?

If you were to offer me the job, how soon would you want me to start? - If you were going to offer me a job, how soon would I have to start?

When could I expect to hear from you? - When can we expect your answer?

8. Review HR terminology

Not understanding a recruiter's question in English is like tripping on the start line during a marathon. We have compiled a list of terms that an HR specialist can use in a conversation:

strengths / weaknesses - strengths / weaknesses

supervisor / co-worker - boss / employee

salary requirements - salary expectations

current job - current job

to hire, to recruit - hire

to quit / to resign - quit at will

to be fired, to be sacked - to be fired

dismissal, termination - dismissal due to unsatisfactory work

employment - career

position - vacancy

educational background - education (including additional)

to look for a job / to seek employment - look for a job

shortlist - the final list of candidates

candidates’ applications - applications from candidates

to promote / to demote - promote / demote (in position)

9. Prepare a couple of idioms

Every company wants to have people on staff who can communicate fluently in English, attracting potential partners and customers. If your language has already reached a conversational level, learn how to use English idioms carefully. This will definitely add points to you.

Victory lies in preparation - Victory loves preparation

Practice makes perfect - Hard to learn - easy to fight

Cut to the chase - get to the point

Fly by the seat of one's pants - act without a plan, navigate on the go

To bite the bullet - do not lose heart, "take a hit", "gather your will into a fist"

To climb the corporate ladder - lit. "climb the corporate ladder"; advancement, career advancement

My gut tells me - lit. "my guts tell me"; guess intuitively, "gut feeling"

Reality check - lit. "reality check"; realistically assess the situation, "look the truth in the eye"

10. Relax

Tension can play a bad joke on you - a lump in your throat and a cotton tongue will definitely not become assistants in an interview. So try to distract yourself: do exercises for articulation and relaxation of the ligaments and look, for example, this sketch from Monty Python: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v1OLMjG52I&feature=youtu.be.

Bonus - advice from an experienced HR specialist, ex-head of the recruitment department at PwC Asya Kolosova:

“As part of preparing for an interview, I highly recommend the following life hack: prepare a story about yourself and record it on video. This helps to see all the mistakes and remove unnecessary garbage from the speech. Analyze the shortcomings that you notice in the recording, and remove the new version. These actions must be repeated until the text of the self-presentation begins to fly off the teeth. This will allow you to be at ease and express your thoughts easily. Good luck in passing all the stages of selection!”

This subsection contains videos with interview examples, as well as video lessons on vocabulary and grammar, the study of which will help you competently build your answers at the interview. All videos are provided with parallel text translation and thematic glossaries. The direct download link for the video is below the text.

Questions and answers about the reason for leaving the previous job
Answering the questions “Who are you responsible to?” and “What are you responsible for?” (grammatical features)
The answer to the question “What is your education?” (grammatical features)

Interview in English: questions and examples of answers with translation.

The materials below are selected from popular English-language, mostly American sites specializing in job counseling. Here you will find dozens of typical questions and examples of answers to them. All questions and answers are provided with parallel translation and glossaries. Reading these materials will allow you to master or remember the vocabulary used in the interview, as well as help you prepare your own answers to typical questions.

Questions about professional experience and qualities, and sample answers
Questions about the relevance of the vacancy and usefulness for this company, and examples of answers
Examples of answers to the questions “Tell me about yourself” and “Describe yourself”

Martin Carole. Perfect phrases for the perfect interview. (Martin Carol. Ideal phrases for a perfect interview).
The book is a practical guide in English. Written by Martin Carol is an interviewer and trainer. This guide contains hundreds of examples of phrases for all questions that may arise in an interview. The phrases are simple enough to be understood and assimilated by people with "average" English. Unfortunately, the book is not translated, but the accessible writing style and the PDF format, which allows the use of an electronic dictionary, make reading easy. Familiarization with this manual will be useful for another reason - there is a lot of business office vocabulary, which will be very useful for Russian-speaking specialists who want to get comfortable in the office of a Western company. Volume 177 pages. PDF format. [ Link available only to users with paid access / ]

Tests in English with translation.

Here you will find typical tests in English used in interviews and when evaluating candidates. Tests are taken from English-language specialized sites and are provided with parallel translation and answers. It is better to practice passing the tests in advance, so as not to get into a difficult position during the interview.

Interview in English: examples of a story about job responsibilities.

Examples and job titles are taken from American reality. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with several examples, since the vocabulary given in them is universal and complementary.

Responsibilities of a sales representative of a medical company
Responsibilities of an Artistic Director in an Advertising Company

Dear site visitors!
I am sometimes approached with requests to publish an example of an interview for a specialist in a certain profession - an accountant, a sailor, an engineer, etc. Unfortunately, it is impossible to “embrace the immensity”. There are a lot of professions and I cannot master the professional vocabulary of all branches of human activity. As far as I know from my interview experience (I had to go through this procedure dozens of times), the interview for all professions is carried out according to the same methodology and differs only in the description of the experience and job responsibilities of a particular specialist. Therefore, I recommend that you use the “Dictionary of Profession Names”, a link to which is given below. I also recommend that you look at the “Summary” section of this site. Perhaps it contains a resume for your profession with a list of job responsibilities and a glossary of professional vocabulary.
Site author.

Online dictionary in English - here you can take job descriptions for any position and profession for a resume and prepare for an interview. Contains the names of professions that exist in the modern US labor market, and their descriptions with a detailed list of tasks and qualification requirements. The dictionary includes data on professions based on the latest population census. Updated periodically.

You can search the dictionary for the name of the profession and its description in several ways:

search by profession category - click the "ONET Occupational Information Network" item or the "ONET" menu button - a list of positions (positions) will open - select a position and click - a detailed description of the position will open: tasks, qualification requirements, skills, etc .;

search by profession category - click on the “DOT Contents” item or the “Contents” menu button at the top - a list of profession categories will open - select a category and click - a list of positions (positions) will open - select a position and click - a short (half page) description will open this position;

alphabetical search (by the name of the profession in English) - click the desired letter in the alphabetical table on the left - an alphabetical list of professions will open;

site search - click the "Search" item or the "Search" menu button at the top (not to be confused with the "Search" button of the Google search engine), or click the "?" in the table in the alphabetical table on the left (last button).

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Almost 70% of resumes on the site indicate knowledge of English. How many of them are willing to be interviewed in that language? Together with Alibra School teachers, we have compiled 7 life hacks for those who apply for positions with mandatory knowledge of the language.

Google the answers, but don't memorize them

It's no secret that interviewers often ask the same questions over and over. Questions “What's your major?”, “Tell me about your skills”, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” are a mandatory part of any interview program, they are easy to find on the Internet and prepare answers in advance.

Sometimes information is shared by those who have already been interviewed for this company: entire lists of questions appear on the forums. But do not think that you will be able to predict absolutely everything and do without improvisation. Western companies like to test the ability to think outside the box with brain-puzzling questions like: “What is the most creative way you can break a clock?”. What will help you come up with an answer right away?

Use introductory words, clarifications and do not be afraid to ask again

Use introductory words at first / first of all, I would rather / I would like, actually, to put it in a nutshell - they will take time for you.

Ask again what exactly the recruiter had in mind: “Sorry, what exactly type of clock do you mean?”.

If you didn’t hear the question or didn’t understand any of the words, just say: “Sorry, I didn’t catch your point.”

Use the STAR technique

The main questions in the interview relate to work experience and personal qualities. Recruiters prefer to find out about this with situational questions like “Tell me about the most stressful situation that you faced at your previous job?” (“Tell me about the most stressful situation you had to deal with at your last job?”) or “Tell me about a time when you solved a problem to a tight timescale?” (“Tell me about a time when you had to solve a problem in a very short time?”).

The STAR technique will help prepare the answer.

Situation: Succinctly describe the specific problem situation you had to deal with.
Task - task: formulate the tasks that you faced.
Action - describe the actions you took to solve the problem.
Result - tell about the result of your actions.

repeat past tense

You will have to talk about your past experiences. Therefore, repeat in advance all the difficulties associated with it: irregular verbs, temporary constructions Past Simple, Past Continuous, as well as Present Perfect, to describe what you have achieved so far.

Avoid common words and superlatives

Talking about your successes at your last job, it is very easy to fall into two extremes - start talking in general phrases or pretending to be a superhero. For example: "I was the best manager in my company to service customers out of nearly twenty employees." The same meaning can be conveyed in more neutral words: "I worked hard as a manager and our team praised my servicing skills."

To fill the story with details, use professional vocabulary. Carefully study the job description, paying attention to the specific words used in the text. Try to reproduce them in your speech - the recruiter will appreciate it.

A good option to quickly train yourself in professional vocabulary is to attend an English training dedicated to your business area. At Alibra School, such trainings are held on a regular basis.

Beware of "False Friends of the Translator"

Translator's false friends are English words that are very similar to Russian, but have a completely different meaning. For example, the word accurate is by no means “neat”, but “accurate”. And cabinet is a “desk drawer”. Imagine the recruiter's reaction to the proudly spoken phrase: "At my last job I had such a large cabinet."

Use the interview as training

Try to find vacancies that are not your priority and arrange a test interview for yourself. This will help loosen up: even a preliminary conversation with the interviewer on the phone will be a useful language practice.

Do not miss the chance to ask the recruiter questions, because you can get a lot of useful information from him. Ask him how he sees an ideal candidate for your position (How do you see an ideal candidate for this position?) or why he himself likes working in this company (What are the advantages of working for this company?). Compare his answers with your own - perhaps you will have something to borrow from them.

Armed with our advice and self-confidence, as well as attending a free master class "How to pass an interview in English", you can guarantee yourself a successful result.

*The material was prepared jointly with the Alibra School of Foreign Languages (Alibra School).

An interview with a potential employer is already a stressful situation, but if it takes place in a non-native language for you, it doubles the stress. How to successfully pass an interview in English?

Prepare carefully for it and think in advance what exactly you will talk about. Fortunately, the standard questions that employers most often ask during an interview have already made up a kind of checklist for an HR manager. The recruiter has the right to expect clear, unbanal, reasoned and confident answers from you - this is what we will help you with today.

Do not go to extremes and memorize prepared answers - this makes the speech unconvincing and undermines confidence. It is better to study our recommendations for success and use sample answers, modifying them in accordance with your professional experience. You will make a favorable impression if you know what to expect from job interview and what areas to focus on.

Tell me about yourself (Tell me about yourself).

Before you crossed the threshold of the HR manager's office, he already knows almost everything about you: he studied your and motivation letter, your profiles on LinkedIn and social networks.

Your task at this stage is not to tell about how your professional life developed, but to explain why your path turned out the way it did, and to combine disparate dry facts into a coherent picture: why you chose certain jobs and left them, why you did it to this faculty, why they decided to go to the magistracy, what internships they took, what master classes they attended, whether they studied at any.

When talking about your interests, say:

Watch a detailed video on how to tell interesting, emotionally and convincingly about yourself:

What are your greatest strengths? (What are your strengths?)

This is one of the questions employers always ask. When asked about your strengths, it is important to highlight professional qualities that meet the requirements stated in the job description and set you apart from other candidates. Before the interview, analyze how your skills and practical experience relate to the areas of work that you will have to master in a new place. So you will have ready-made examples that prove your competence and compliance with requests. Be stingy with descriptive turns and do not use a series of positive qualities (responsible, sociable, friendly ...) - back up each of your strengths with an example, be precise and concise:

I have a strong work ethic. When I "m working on a project, I don" t just aspire to meet the deadline, I prefer to complete the project well ahead of the schedule. Last year I even earned a bonus for completing my three most recent reports one week ahead of time.	I have a strict work ethic. When I'm working on a project, I don't just want to finish it by the deadline, I prefer to complete it well before the deadline. Last year, I even received an award for producing three reports in a row a week before the due date.
I pride myself on my customer service skills and my ability to predict and resolve what could be difficult situations. Besides, I also have strong communication skills, which help me establish and maintain stable and productive working relations with customers, team members, and executives. I am known for being a valuable team member with a talent for giving presentations.	I pride myself on my customer service skills and ability to anticipate and resolve potentially difficult situations. In addition, I have developed communication skills that help me build good working relationships with clients, colleagues and management. I gained a reputation as a valuable team member with a gift for presentations.
I have extremely strong writing skills. Having worked as a copy editor for five years, I give special attention to detail when it comes to my writing. I have also written for a variety of publications, so I know how to shape my writing style to fit the task and audience. As a marketing assistant, I will be able to effectively write and edit press releases and update web content with accuracy and ease.	I have well developed writing skills. Having worked as a copywriter for five years, I am extremely attentive to detail when it comes to writing copy. I've been a writer for many publications, so I know how to tailor my writing style to the needs and audience. As a Marketing Assistant, I will be able to productively write and edit press releases and update web content with care and ease.

What are your greatest weaknesses? (What are your weaknesses?)

It seems that every job seeker knows how to answer this question: you need to take a hypothetical negative trait and magically turn a disadvantage into a hidden advantage. Try to focus your response on the positive aspects of your job skills and abilities, and share the story of how you transformed your “weakness” into a strength. For example, you can say:

I’ve always struggled with perfectionism – I truly want to do the job correctly at the first attempt, but this sometimes means that I devote more time to a project than it is necessary. I've learned, though, to balance this drive with the equally important responsibility of meeting deadlines.	I've always struggled with perfectionism - I genuinely want to get a task right on the first try, but sometimes that can mean I'm devoting more time to a project than I need to. However, I have learned to balance this desire with the equally important responsibility of meeting deadlines.
Being organized wasn't my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that helped my organization skills.	Being organized was not my forte, but I adopted a time management system that helped me develop self-organization skills.

A more unconventional solution would be to choose a real weakness that you are purposefully working on. Tell us what you are already doing to make steel better. No one is perfect, but if you show that you can adequately assess your shortcomings and find ways to get rid of them yourself, this will be very close to the reference answer to the question. See an example of how to talk about a problem that was difficult for you, but that you managed to solve:

Why do you want this job? (Why do you want this job?)

This question gives you an opportunity to demonstrate to the interviewer that you have done your "homework" before the interview and have had time to thoroughly research the company, the products or services it offers, its mission, corporate policies, areas of work. In your answer, mention those aspects that are of most interest to you and correspond to your competence:

I understand that this is a company on the rise. As I’ve read on your website and in various press releases, you are planning to launch several new products in the coming months. I want to be a part of this business as it grows, and I know my experience in product development would help your company as you roll out these products.	I understand that this company is now on the rise. As I have read on your website and in various press releases, you are planning to launch several new products in the coming months. I want to be a part of this growing business and I know that my development experience will help your company in the process of bringing these products to market.
This job is a good fit for what I "ve been doing and enjoying throughout my career. It offers a mix of short-term projects and long-term goals. My organizational skills allow me to successfully multitask and complete both kinds of projects.	This job fits perfectly with what I have done and enjoyed throughout my career. It involves a combination of short-term projects and long-term goals. My organizational skills allow me to successfully multitask and complete both types of projects.
I want this job because it emphasizes sales and marketing, two of my greatest skill sets. In my previous job, I increased sales by 15% in what was at the time considered a flat industry. I know I could bring my ten years of sales and marketing experience to this company, and help you continue your years of growth.	I want this position because the focus is on sales and marketing, two areas in which my skills are most developed. In my previous position, I increased sales by 15% in an area that at that time was considered unpromising. I know that I could bring my 10 years of sales and marketing experience to this company and help you continue your years of growth.

Why should we hire you? (Why should we hire you?)

Are you the ideal candidate for this position? Be prepared to explain why you should take it. This is not the time for modesty, but it is not worth going deep into self-promotion either. Make your answer a concise, confident, persuasive "sales text" in which you need to demonstrate what you can offer the employer and how it will affect the performance of the entire department or company as a whole:

*I think that my experience in the industry and my ability to self-regulate my workflow make me a good match for this position.*	I think my experience in the industry and my ability to self-manage the workflow make me the right candidate for this position.
*I have the savvy, experience, and superior communication skills to be an asset to your company.*	I have a quick wit, understanding, experience and excellent communication skills and therefore I will be able to make a valuable contribution to your company.
*Your company provides many services that I have had experience with, in a variety of capacities. I believe that my familiarity with the industry would make me a good fit for this position.*	Your company provides many services, which I have already encountered in various positions. I think my knowledge in this area makes me a perfect fit for this position.
You have explained that you are looking for a sales executive who is able to effectively manage over a dozen employees. In my 15 years of experience as a sales manager, I have developed strong motivational and team-building skills. If hired, I will bring my leadership abilities and strategies for achieving profit gains to this position.	As you explained, you are looking for a sales manager who can effectively manage at least a dozen subordinates. In my 15 years as a sales manager, I have developed strong motivational and teamwork skills. If you hire me, I will incorporate my leadership skills and profit-making strategies into my experience in this position.

Why are you leaving or have left your job? (Why are you leaving or quit your previous job?)

When asked why you're changing jobs, stick to the facts, be direct, and focus on the future, especially if you're leaving your previous job under less than favorable circumstances. It's important to frame your response in a way that shows you in the best possible light, but never at the expense of being critical of your former employer. Be respectful and correct. It is better to impress a person who is full of enthusiasm for a new perspective that has opened up than someone who barely got off the current difficult situation.

*There isn't room for growth with my current employer, and I'm interested in a job with more responsibility and ready to move on to a new challenge.*	With my current employer, I have no career prospects, and I am interested in a job with more responsibilities and ready to meet a new challenge.
I "m looking for a bigger challenge, but I didn't feel like I could give equal attention both to my job search and to my full-time work responsibilities. It didn't seem ethical to slack off from my former job in order to conduct my job search, and so I left the company.	I am looking for more serious tasks, but I realized that I could not pay equal attention to both job search and work responsibilities. It seemed unethical to me to slow down my previous position in order to find a new one, so I left the company.
*I "m relocating to this area due to family circumstances and left my previous position in order to make the move.*	I'm moving here for family reasons and have stepped down from my previous position to take a step forward.
*I "ve decided that my current work role is not the direction I want to go in my career and my current employer has no opportunities in the direction I" d like to head.*	I have decided that my current job position is not in the direction I would like my career to take and there are no career opportunities in my current job in that direction.

How do you handle stress and pressure? (How do you deal with stress and pressure?)

This question refers to the so-called behavioral issues - the focus is shifting from your professional qualities to your psychological qualities, temperament, properties of your psyche. How do you react when things don't go your way at work? Be sure to cite a specific time you had to deal with stress and tension at a previous job.

I react to situations rather than to stress. That way, the situation is handled and doesn't become stressful. For example, when I deal with an unsatisfied customer, rather than feeling stressed, I focus on the task at hand. I believe my ability to communicate effectively with customers during these moments helps reduce my own stress in these situations and also reduces any stress the customer may feel.	I respond to situations, not stress. Thus, the situation remains under control and does not become tense. For example, when I'm dealing with a disgruntled client, instead of being stressed, I focus on the task at hand. I find that my ability to communicate effectively with clients in these moments helps me reduce my own stress and lessen the stress the client may feel.
Pressure is essential to me. Good pressure, such as having a lot of assignments to work on, or an approaching deadline, helps me to stay focused and productive. I am very skilled at balancing multiple projects and meeting deadlines, which prevents me from feeling stressed too often. For example, I once had three large projects due in the same week, which was a lot of pressure. However, because I created a schedule that detailed how I would break down each project into small assignments, I completed all three projects ahead of time and avoided unnecessary stress.	Pressure is necessary for me. Positive pressure, such as a large number of tasks to work on or an impending deadline, helps me stay focused and productive. I manage to multi-project and meet deadlines, which keeps me from feeling stressed too often. For example, once I had three big projects that had to be turned in in the same week, and it was a very stressful situation. However, because I created a schedule that detailed how each project was broken down into smaller tasks, I completed all three projects ahead of schedule and avoided unnecessary stress.
I've actually discovered that I work better under pressure and in a challenging environment. I thrive under quick deadlines while handling multiple projects simultaneously. When I "m under the pressure of a deadline, I'm at my most creative.	In fact, I have found that I work better in stressful and challenging environments. I thrive when I have to work to tight deadlines and on multiple projects at the same time. When I'm under pressure from a deadline, my creativity is most evident.

A few more tips from a professional recruiter on how to respond to behavioral questions:

Describe a difficult work situation/project and how you overcame it. (Describe a challenging work situation or project and how you handled it.)

It is important for the interviewer who asks this question not only to hear your story of overcoming difficulties, but also to assess what situations you find difficult.

Decisions I have to make within a team are difficult, only because these decisions take more time and require deliberate communication between team members. For example, I was working on a team project, and my colleagues and I had to make a number of choices about how to use our limited budget. Because these decisions involved group conversations, our team learned how to communicate effectively with one another, and I believe we ultimately made the best decisions for the team.	The decisions that I have to make within a work group are difficult, only because such decisions require more time and purposeful communication between team members. For example, I was working on a team project and my colleagues and I had to make several decisions related to how to spend a limited budget. Since these decisions involved the entire group in discussion, our team learned how to communicate effectively with each other, and I believe that in the end we made the most correct decisions.
As a manager, the most difficult decisions I make involve layoffs. Before making those tough decisions, I always think carefully about what is best for the business and my employees. While I do not enjoy making those kinds of choices, I do not shy away from this part of my job. A few years ago, I had to let some employees go due to the economic climate. This was a hard decision that was ultimately necessary for the good of the company and everyone working for the organization.	The hardest decisions I make as a manager are layoffs. Before making such difficult decisions, I always carefully consider what is best for the business and my employees. While I don't like making that choice, I don't shy away from this part of the job. A few years ago, I was forced to lay off several employees due to the economic situation. It was a difficult decision that was ultimately necessary for the good of the company and all employees.
I find that the hardest decision I have to make is when I have to choose between strong team members for a promotion. There have been occasions when, even though I personally liked one person better than another, I nonetheless had to choose the other person based on their potential to assume the responsibilities of their new role.	In my opinion, the most difficult decision that I have to make is the choice between strong team members for promotion. There were times when I had more personal liking for one candidate than the other, but I still had to choose the second candidate based on his ability to take on the responsibilities of the new position.

What are your goals for the future? (What are your goals for the future?)

This question is asked to “test the waters” and find out if you intend to stay with the company for a long time or move to the next job as soon as a suitable tempting prospect arises.

Once I gain additional experience, I would like to move on from a technical position to management. I know this is a common path for many people in this position. However, for now, I am excited about focusing on and applying my technical skills in this job.	After I gain additional experience, I would like to move from a technical position to a managerial position. I know this is a common path for many people in this position. However, for now, I will gladly focus my efforts and apply my technical knowledge to this work.
My long-term goals involve growing with a company where I can continue to learn, take on additional responsibilities, and contribute as much value as I can. I love that your company emphasizes professional development opportunities, I intend to take advantage of all of these.	My long term goals include growing with a company where I can continue to learn, take on additional responsibilities and contribute as much as I can. I love that your company highlights professional development opportunities, I'm going to take advantage of them.

To have a plan of action to conquer the recruiter, download our, from which you can learn useful expressions, logical transitions and practical advice. If you feel that your current level of English is not high enough to communicate fluently during the interview, and may detract from your professional qualities, take an interview preparation under the guidance of our experienced. Good luck!