It¡¯s the time of year when many of my students are trying to find a job. Usually some of my students ask me to give them help preparing for an English job interview, so I thought I would give you some of my tips for how to have a great interview.
It is a big mistake to try to memorize your answers to possible questions. Memorizing makes your answers sound boring! Instead of reciting your answers like a robot, you should rehearse your answers. Record your answers 5 times in front of a mirror without using a script. Then, listen to what you said. Try to sound energetic and interested. Play your recording for a native speaker and follow their recommendations!
Avoid just repeating facts from your resume. Your interviewer usually will know all the information on your resume. Explain why these experiences make you a good candidate for the job. For example, if you studied business, you could say ¡°My experience studying business has prepared me to solve all kinds of problems in the field.¡± This is more interesting that saying ¡°I studied business for 3 years.¡± So, explain why your experiences are valuable, don¡¯t just recite what your experiences are.
Lastly, don¡¯t be afraid to ask questions. However, make sure that your questions are well researched. Here are some examples of bad questions to ask: ¡°What product does this company make?¡± or ¡°How long has this company been in business?¡± These are bad questions is because this information is easy to find! Instead, ask the interviewer questions which show that you have done your research. For example ¡°I read that this company is considering expansion into Asian markets. Where do you think it will be expanding first?¡± This question shows you are interested in the company¡¯s future and have done some research about it.
So remember, practice your answers and listen to them to make them sound natural, explain why your experience is valuable, and ask intelligent questions. If you do that, the interview will definitely go great! For more tips and sample questions, check out this website:
http://www.talkenglish.com/Speaking/Interview/IntBasic1.aspx