Interview techniques
If you are interviewed for a job abroad, the questions are likely to be even more in-depth
than would be in your country. Look at these common interview questions; write down
positive replies and practice saying them out loud.
Background and interests
Tell me about your family.
How do you spend your holidays?
What do you spend your disposable income on?
Do you do any sport?
What newspaper do you read? Why?
How do you spend your spare time?
Personality
How would your friends describe you?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Have you got drive?/ambition
What would you like to achieve in the next five years?
How have you changed over the past few years?
What decisions do you find easy/difficult to make?
How do you react to stress?
Describe a time when you felt your life wasnt going to well. What did you do
about it?
What makes you happy?
Do you ever get depressed?
How do you work in a team?
Education
Why did you choose to study this subject?
What do you like least/most about your subject?
Have you done any project work?
Outline the most recent developments in your field.
How would your studies relate to your work?
Attitude toward work
Have you ever been out of work? Why?
What is your ideal work environment?
How important is work to you, on a scale of 1 to 10? Why?
Where would you be prepared to work?
What hours would you be prepared to work?
When do you work best?
What do you think of split shifts?
And flexi hours?
Why are you thinking of leaving your present job?
Why did you apply for this job?
What do you know about our organization?
How would you approach this job?
How do you think this job could develop?
What would you foresee as being the most/least stimulating areas of this job?
You havent got much experience at. Do you think this would be a
disadvantage in this job?
What sort of salary are you expecting?
What could you offer our organization?
Have you got any questions for me?
Professional skills
How would your boss describe your work?
What kind of tasks do you usually delegate?
What do you do first when you arrive at work?
We need to streamline procedures here. How would you do this?
What have you learned from your present job?
How did you learn English?
To streamline = to improve a business, organization, process etc. by making it
more modern or simple
procedure = a way of doing something, especially the correct or usual way
e.g. Apparently the way we were treated is standard procedure in the department
Useful language
When I did x, my company benefited because.
The advantage to my organization was..
My boss once remarked that I.
My work record shows.
I have had far-ranging experience in this field.
My experience gives me a unique opportunity to..
Weve gone from strength to strength.
One of my main achievements has been
I know/feel sure I could..(rather than I think/feel)
Im looking for something more challenging.
What is the salary range for this appointment?
He was appointed Prime Minister
I know I would have a lot to contribute to your company.
Far-ranging experience = a very well ranged (rated) experience
Far-fetched = 1. difficult to believe because it is very unlikely (fortat, afectat)
2. brought from very far
Far-flung = 1. far away from where you are or from towns and cities
2. existing in many different places within a very large area
far-reaching = affecting a lot of people or things in an important way
(cuprinzator, vast, exhaustive)
e.g The consequences of the decisions will be far-reaching.
Dress sense
Unless youre going for a job that highly values your personal creativity, you should
forget your personal dress style and dress for the job you want. It isnt a bad idea to go to
your prospective place of work some time before the day your interview to see how
people are dressed. To project a professional image, it is important to try to match the
best of what you see and make sure you look clean and tidy. Most employers think that
the more people care about themselves, the more they will care about their work.
Formal attire (suit and tie) outfit/dress code
What to carry
Dont go to an interview carrying a bulging briefcase, heavy overcoat or any other
unprofessional paraphernalia. If you must bring these things to the interview, ask the
secretary to keep or find another safe place to store them for the duration of your
interview. You should bring a slim briefcase with a hair brush, some mints or breath
fresheners (pop one into your mouth a few minutes before going in), a handkerchief (to
wipe your hands with if you find that youre sweating before that crucial first handshake
which should be firm, but not a real finger crusher!) and some shoe polish and a clothes
brush if youve traveled a long distance. None of these items should be seen by your
interviewer, of course.
clean and tidy/neat
Where to sit
The most common layout for interviews is across the table the classic negotiation
style, eyeball to eyeball. When invited to take a seat, it is advisable to turn the chair 45
degrees. This displays considerable self-confidence because you have moved the
interviewers chair. (Practice doing it first, though, in the privacy of your own home!).
Now you can turn trunk, head and shoulders towards the interviewer as a sign of
friendliness and interest. Whatever you do, dont sit on the edge of your chair, and dont
make yourself too comfortable by stretching and leaning back, giving the impression that
you own the chair and the office.
Where you look
Eye to eye contact is essential for this all-important moment. It makes the other person
feel you are self-confident and interested in the conversation taking place. If you find it
difficult to look in the eye, practice beforehand, or if you find yourself more than one
meter away, just look at your interviewers ear. What ever you do, dont study the
photographs on the desk, or look at the ceiling, your fingernails or your shoes.
You should book your seats beforehand/in advance.
Face and head
What we do with our face and head are also strong NVCs (non-verbal clues). So smile
and nod your head occasionally when the interviewer is talking to you. Lean forward a bit
when listening to particularly important information or questions, and when replying.
Obviously, dont overdo it, otherwise you create the impression that you only want to
please. Again, practice makes perfect.
to nod your head/to shake your head
to lean
to overdo yourself
Hands and legs.
What you do with your hands and legs is particularly important if you are interviewed
across open space. Cross your legs and the foot or lower leg, not at the knee avoid the
defensive high cross. Or place one foot firmly on the floor in front of the chair and the
other foot tucked away under the chair with only the toe touching the floor. If you tend to
fidget, try interlacing your fingers and keeping your hands in your lap.
The less people move their hands and arms, the more powerful they appear, as they dont
have to gesticulate to communicate their message. So try to maintain LPM low
peripheral movement to help you look relaxed and self-confident.