Having a global working environment is the key to a successful business. A multicultural workplace not only requires employees to be more open-minded, respectful, and collaborative; but also makes the job more exciting. Getting a job in the USA is a big part of integrating into American society. There are lots of non-native employees in the USA, and what made them winners was their excellent communication skills. Do you have a job interview coming up in English? Are you stressed because you don’t know what to say in the interview? What kind of questions do you think you’ll be asked? How should you answer these questions? Here’s a brief article on How to Prepare for Job Interviews.
If you have such worries, you’ve come to the right place! ChatterFox is here to help you learn exactly what to say in a job interview in American English.
Going for a job interview is stressful in and of itself, especially if you are a non-native English speaker. You need to express yourself well in fluent English, but even that may not be enough to get the job.
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You also should have excellent American English pronunciation to avoid any misunderstandings during your interview.
At ChatterFox, we help you speak even better than a native speaker at your next job interview. Here are some of the most important clues you should think about during your interview:
The moment you take a step to the hiring manager’s office, your interview starts. They will watch your every move, and they also pay attention to your greeting. You need to show your English skills with the very first thing you say. Here is an example:
“It’s NICE to MEET you, (name of the manager). THANKS SO much for taking the TIME to INTERVIEW me today.”
This is an excellent phrase to use at the beginning of your interview; it’s polite and also formal. Now it’s your turn! Read the phrase repeatedly with the stressed words that are capitalized.
“Tell me a little bit about yourself.” This is probably one of the most popular ways to start an interview in English because it’s the interviewer’s way of getting to know you better before the start of your interview. However, this question can sometimes be tricky.
When your manager asks you to tell about yourself, it means he or she is wondering about your professional life. Many people misinterpret this question and talk about their personal life instead.
Therefore, we suggest you talk about your professional background in your interview. For instance, you can talk about your education, past experiences, or career goals; but your managers will probably not want to know about how many kids you have or what your hobbies are.
Thus, we think it’s better for you to talk about your professional background. Now, let’s have a look at a possible answer to this question.
“OK, so, I’m ORIGINALLY from MICHIGAN, and I’ve BEEN in DC for about 8 YEARS now. I have 7 years of EXPERIENCE as a TEACHER and NOW I’m looking for a JOB as a school PRINCIPAL.”
While talking in a job interview, it’s important for you to sound natural. When you look at the phrase above, you can see the effect of saying “OK, so…”. This is a good way to make your sentence sound like more conversational, instead of like a robot.
You can use this phrase by adding your own information for your upcoming interviews. With the correct pronunciation and word stress, you can quickly answer this question with confidence.
“OK, so, I’m originally from ………. and I’ve been in ……. for about ……. years now. I have about ……… years of experience as a ………. and now I’m looking for ……..”
Your managers will definitely want to know why you want to work at their company. For instance, let’s think about the following question: “Why are you interested in working at (company name)?”
You need to show your manager you know about the company and are enthusiastic about working for them. Here are a few examples for you to use for such circumstances:
“I like your mission of providing healthy products to people.”
“I like your mission of giving financial services to diverse communities.”
While you are in a job interview, you should also state your future plans at the company. For example, have a look at the following sentence:
“I see a LOT of OPPORTUNITIES for GROWTH here.”
This is a great phrase to use in your interview because it not only compliments the company but also indicates that you want to stay at the company for the long term.
Companies love to have great employees working for a long time. By using this phrase, you give them the information they need.
Your hiring manager may directly ask you why they should hire you for the job. In this case, you don’t need to be humble because this is a great opportunity to talk about your qualifications, talents, and experiences. Here is a perfect example:
“I think I am a good match for this position because I have a lot of experience with similar projects and I am a team player, so I think I will work well with your current team.”
The phrase “I think I am a good match…” is very useful because you tell them directly the reason they should hire you. You can use this phrase by using your own information.
Moreover, saying that you are a team player is a big plus for your manager since companies love to work with people who have a great sense of collaboration.
Demonstrating your language abilities is incredibly vital during a job interview, particularly if English isn’t your first language. Mastering a clear American English accent not only showcases your commitment to learn English speaking, but also instills a sense of trust and familiarity in your prospective managers. It sends a strong signal that you’re someone who can seamlessly integrate into the team and contribute effectively.
After practicing what you learn in this article, you will be able to walk into your interview with confidence and present yourself as the qualified professional that you know you are…
…AND once you get the job you want, ChatterFox will be here for you to help you maximize your professional potential by helping you speak better than a native at work and in other areas of your daily life.
