If you’re looking for a new job, you will undoubtedly need to undergo a job interview. However, if this interview is conducted in English, you may feel some anxiety and nervousness. Nevertheless, mastering interview skills in English is not difficult and can be achieved through some simple steps.

In this article, we will discuss how to successfully pass a job interview in English. We will cover some important tips to improve your interview skills, such as proper preparation, enhancing your English language proficiency, and practicing common interview questions. We will also talk about how to handle pressure and nervousness during the interview.

Top 10 questions in an English job interview

Securing a new job opportunity is one of the most challenging tasks you may face in your professional life, especially when it comes to a job interview conducted in English. Job interviews in English are particularly challenging for non-native speakers, as they must showcase their language skills effectively and in the best possible manner.

An English job interview consists of several common questions that you should prepare for. To assist you with that, here are the top 10 questions asked in an English job interview:

Can you tell us about yourself?

When asked the question “Can you tell us about yourself?” in a job interview, you should answer in a concise and summarized manner, highlighting the most important aspects of your professional and personal life. To achieve this, you can follow these steps:

• Start by giving your name and basic personal information, such as your age and the city you live in.
• Briefly outline your career path, mentioning past jobs, experiences, and skills you have acquired through those positions.
• Highlight what sets you apart from others and makes you qualified for the job you’re applying for. You can talk about your values and personal principles and how they align with the vision and principles of the company you’re applying to.
• Conclude your answer with some personal information to showcase your personality outside of work, such as hobbies and personal achievements.
• While it’s important to answer this question succinctly, make sure to include the most relevant information related to your professional path. Additionally, practicing your response to this question in advance will help you avoid long and disorganized answers.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

You should focus on showcasing your abilities, skills, and how you can contribute to the company’s success. Additionally, you can explain how this position can be enjoyable and fulfilling for you, and how you can be an active and valuable member of the team. You should also highlight how this job can help you develop your skills and achieve your professional goals.

To achieve this, you can follow these steps:

• Identify your key skills that make you qualified for the job you’re applying for, such as previous experience, technical skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Mention successful results you have achieved in the past and how they can be applied to this position, such as meeting specific goals or managing complex projects.
• Demonstrate your strong desire for the job and how it aligns with your experiences and professional goals, as well as how it can contribute to the company’s success.
• Conclude your answer with a question for the interviewer, such as “What are the main challenges that a successful candidate faces in this position?” and “What are the most important qualities you are looking for in a successful candidate?”

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

You should discuss your weaknesses in a candid and reliable manner, but also clarify how you can improve and develop those areas. Additionally, you should emphasize your strengths and how you can utilize them for success in the job you are applying for.

To answer the strengths question:

Identify some skills or qualities that set you apart from others, such as technical proficiency, ability to work under pressure, or strong communication and interpersonal skills. You can also provide examples of how you have utilized these strengths in your previous work, and how they can be applied to the job you are applying for.

To answer the weaknesses question:

Identify some skills or qualities that you would like to improve, such as organizational skills or working more effectively in groups. Additionally, mention the steps you are taking to improve these weaknesses, such as seeking advice from colleagues or taking advantage of training and development courses.

Can you describe a difficult situation you faced in your previous job and how you overcame it?

You need to demonstrate your ability to analyze and think creatively when dealing with problems, as well as how to handle difficult situations in an impactful and effective manner. 

You should also show that you are capable of learning from mistakes and improving your performance in the future.

You can specify a previous situation you encountered that was challenging, such as a project management issue or difficulty in communicating with clients. Describe the steps you took to solve the problem, such as researching new sources of information, consulting with the team, or setting priorities.

Finally, you can mention the results that were achieved in the end, such as meeting the specified goals or improving the company’s internal processes, and show how this experience can be applied in the job you are applying for, such as utilizing previous experiences in planning, organizing, and handling pressure.

How do you handle stress and pressure?

You should speak honestly and reliably about how to deal with pressure and stress, and how these strategies can help you maintain good performance at work. You should also indicate that you are capable of recognizing stressful situations and dealing with them effectively and systematically, and that you are able to develop the necessary personal skills to handle problems and challenges in the workplace.

To achieve this, you can follow these steps:

• Identify the reasons that lead to pressure and stress, such as limited time or complex tasks.
• Describe the methods you use to deal with pressure and stress, such as prioritizing work, managing time, and staying calm and balanced.
• Clarify how to handle stressful situations, such as finding space for reflection or relaxation, reducing distractions, and focusing on the assigned task.
• Discuss the results achieved through the strategies for dealing with pressure and stress, and how the techniques you use have helped you achieve your goals.

Why are you interested in working for this company?

You should speak honestly and reliably about the reasons for personal interest that drive you to work in this company, and how this interest can align with your own professional goals. You should also demonstrate that you are capable of applying the skills and previous experiences in your work and achieving the shared goals of the company and yourself.

What are your long-term career goals?

When answering a question about long-term career goals, it is important to focus on goals related to the job you are applying for and how they can contribute to achieving the company’s objectives. It may also be helpful to mention personal goals associated with the career path you wish to pursue.

Additionally, mention your personal goals that involve developing your skills, improving your abilities in self-learning, and adapting to the continuous changes in this modern field. It’s also recommended to say that you aspire to have a positive impact on society and the world by working on projects that utilize technology to solve real-world problems.

Can you walk us through your relevant work experience and achievements?

Here are some tips for answering that question:

• Identify your priorities, goals, and a list of important things that need to be accomplished. Focus on what is most important and prioritize accordingly.
• Create well-thought-out plans and schedules for completing tasks. Once you have specific plans for days and weeks, you will feel more in control.
• Group tasks of similar nature and priority together. For example, complete all administrative tasks first and then focus on your main projects and goals.
• Use helpful tools such as deadlines calendars, task review checklists, agendas, kanban boards, electronic reminders, task and priority management applications on your phone.
• Regularly review and reassess what has been accomplished and add new tasks as your work progresses. Maintain focus and discipline in managing your time and priorities.

How do you stay organized and manage your time effectively?

The focus should be on the tools and techniques you use to maintain organization and time management effectively, achieve personal and professional goals, eliminate distractions, and work on improving job-related skills and knowledge.

Do you have any questions for us?

In this final part of the interview, it is important to ask all the questions that come to mind regarding the workplace and the company, and anything else you want to know to gather all the details about the job you are applying for.

Lastly, it is crucial to answer these questions in a proficient and clear manner, as it can help emphasize the experiences and skills you possess and enhance your chances of securing the desired position. Therefore, it is important to prepare and train well to face the job interview in English.