Alumni Voices: Prepare with Purpose
Iffat: Whenever you're going for an interview, before that you should actually review your CV
or resume, whichever applies to your context, and always take time to learn about the
institution or organization that you're applying to. Like if you're a teacher, if it's a school,
college, or university, at least do some background research. And because I'm saying this
because the background knowledge makes a big difference, and the interviewer might ask you
some questions about this, like why are you choosing this company for your job?
Manuel: When I was asked to do an interview in English, the things that helped me a lot were
that I took some time before going to the interview to review some job vocabulary and
teaching vocabulary, in my case. And then when I got to the place where I needed to do the
interview, I paid very careful attention to every single question and I took my time to organize
and to prepare myself to answer those questions the best way I could do it. So I recommend
that a person in a job interview in English speak slowly and don't answer the questions at first
the first time you arrive. Take your time to organize your ideas and the vocabulary you're going
to use to answer those questions.
Flavia: One thing that I do in order to prepare myself for a job interview so I don't get nervous is
to first to get to know the company I'm going to apply for, so I know what they're expecting
from me. Second, I try to practice some practical questions. For example, how much experience
do you have in the area? What have you done? Where have you studied? The third thing is I try
to look at the mirror and see myself talking. So I know how my face looks to the person I'm
going to talk to. And the fourth thing is thinking about what I'm going to wear. So, I usually look
at my closet and I choose something that represents me, not something that my company
wants me to wear, because on a daily basis, they're going to see my closet. So, I try to look
natural the way I am.
© 2025 by FHI 360. Trascript: Alumni Voices: Prepare with Purpose for the Online
Professional English Network (OPEN), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with
funding provided by the U.S. government and administered by FHI 360. This work is 1
licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, except where noted. To
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Yerkin: I have done a few job interviews in English when applying for international companies.
What helped me the most was preparation. I practiced answering common interview questions
in English, especially those related to my experience, language skills, and communication
abilities. I also researched both companies in advance to understand their work and value, so I
could show that I was really interested in working with them. Before each interview, I
sometimes recorded myself to check my pronunciation and fluency. During the interviews, I
tried to stay calm, speak clearly, and be confident. I believe my preparation, motivation, and
positive attitude helped me succeed and make a good impression.
Addis: Here is my advice. Don't wait for the interview to reflect on who you are. Take time
beforehand to assess your personal and professional qualities, your strengths, your
weaknesses, your values, and your interests. Then tailor those insights to fit the job you are
applying for. Self-awareness is a powerful tool not just for interviews but for your entire career
journey.