A job interview can be a source of anxiety. If you are part of the workforce, you have been there. However, a job interview in English is a daunting new element to the demands, especially if you are a non-native speaker. As the global economy evolves, companies are opening their operations to new sources of talent. This signals that the demand for professionals ready to work collaboratively with international teams will only grow.
According to Babbel, one of the first language-learning apps, 20% of the world speaks English. It may sound surprising to know that among those, the vast majority aren’t native speakers. Out of the approximately 1.35 billion people able to communicate in the language, only about 360 million have English as their mother tongue. That is to say, if you are nervous about an upcoming job interview in English, rest assured that you aren’t alone.
Interviews can overwhelm even the most seasoned professional. A candidate may have proven experience, but if they aren’t ready to convincingly communicate it to the interviewer, somebody else may take the job opportunity quickly. It is important to realize that job interviews are designed to predict three things: how well the candidate will adjust to the work environment, how their performance and past experiences will contribute to the advancement of the new company, and whether or not they will be an asset or a liability.
With that in mind, we compiled a list of strategies you can start adopting now. They will take your performance at a job interview in English to the next level. But before we dive into it, here are a few things to consider:
✓ Honor your journey, who you are, and your professional experiences.
✓ Don’t try to be somebody else to please your interviewer.
✓ You should also evaluate whether or not the role is a good fit for you.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
On the occasion of not studying for a test, the chances are that every coming question will reinforce the lack of readiness. The anxiety will trigger a nervous response, which will lead to a more rushed, unprepared performance. Recall the teacher saying: “if you have studied, the test will be easy.” For a job interview in English, it’s paramount to invest time in reviewing commonly asked questions. It’s a great exercise to become more acquainted with new vocabulary. Not to mention that it’s an opportunity to organize ideas and draft answers in the target language beforehand. It will help you develop a more natural attitude when speaking during the actual interview.
Take advantage of the days before the interview to research the company. Study the requirements and see how you can mirror the vocabulary used in the job description. That will guide the recruiter to make strong parallels between your experiences and the position’s requirements.
USE TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR FAVOR
It’s the era of hyper-connectivity. The possibilities with technology are endless. Provided that they can assist in improving your performance in English, ask a friend if they would act as your interviewer. If that isn’t an option, use the technology at your disposal to record yourself. Analyzing the audiovisual material will give you rich insights into which aspect needs improvement.
Moreover, your image is under evaluation with every other aspect of your candidacy. Make sure you are well-rounded. Maintain a calm yet enthusiastic attitude. Ideally, the recruiter seeks the best possible technical fit, but also a professional that is great to work with.
BE EFFICIENT IN YOUR ANSWERS
When speaking in a non-native language, it can be easy to lose your point. In the pursuit of the correct sentence, you may find yourself lost in broken English. There is no shortcut here; It takes dedicated practice. Only consistency will help you develop an effortless speaking ability.
As part of the homework category, explore the STAR method to deliver a concise and efficient answer to each question the recruiter may have. STAR is an acronym for situation, task, action, and result. The framework aid the development of competency-based answers. Here you will draw from real work experiences to communicate clearly the four aspects of how you’ve dealt with work challenges in the past. Start by introducing the context of the situation, then describe the task delegated to you and the expectations. Finally, tell the recruiter what measures you took on the matter.
Most importantly, make sure you have stats and other key performance indicators (KPIs) to showcase the outcomes. Remember, recruiters interview many candidates. So keep your answers short and make them count!
BONUS TIP: THE POWER OF TAKING A DEEP BREATH
A job interview can be a life-changing event. Considering things go well, you will land the dream job you have been looking for. As with all that matters in life, the stakes are high, and the body feels the pressure to perform better. But there is a catch. The anxiety will trigger a nervous response. The Breath will become fast and shallow. Consequently, the ability to focus, crucial to any high-performance, will be impaired.
Taking a deep breath before and between each question won’t only give you the time to elaborate on a proper answer, but it will regulate the whole body. Breath patterns can impact heart rate, blood pressure, stress response, and the overall brain state. A slower, deeper, and more measured practice will keep you calmer and increase concentration.
Keep in mind that there are countless opportunities out in the world. A job interview is meant to assist both companies and candidates make the best-informed professional decision. Don’t waste time dueling with past events. If the company decides to move forward with another candidate, keep practicing until the yes comes.
Need more guidance for your following job interview in English? Check out Verbalize Now! They help professionals compete for the best tech jobs anywhere in the world.
