Acing a job interview in English, especially when it’s not your first language, can feel intimidating. However, with the right preparation and guidance, you can transform your nerves into confidence and make a lasting impression. Here are simple tips to help you ace an interview.
1. Build Your Language Skills
Practise common questions through role-play activities with your friends and family. Here are some of the commonly asked questions:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why do you want this job?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Keep it simple and use vocabulary that is easy to understand. You don’t need fancy words—just focus on being understood.
2. Work on pronunciation and fluency
Listen to native speakers, repeat their phrases, and try recording yourself to practice pronunciation. The more you practise, the more confident you’ll sound. Mimicking the way native speakers pronounce words is the easiest way of improving your English-speaking skills.
3. Structure Your Answers with PPF (Past, Present, Future)
During an interview, there is a limited amount of time to describe your skills and experience. It is fruitful to use the PPF approach. The PPF method is a great way to stay organised and logical in your responses. The following is a description of the approach:
Past – Share your background or experience.
Present – Talk about your current role or skills.
Future – Explain your goals and why this job is a good fit.
4. Learn Interview-friendly Vocabulary
Use keywords related to your industry and soft skills (like teamwork, leadership, shaping the future or problem-solving). This would establish your expertise and make you a strong candidate for the position you have applied for.
Avoid filler words like “hmm”, “um,” “ah,” or “like” as they can make you sound unsure and interrupt fluency. One way to avoid filler words is to create conversation roadmaps to answer common interview questions. Once you have the conversation roadmaps in place, improvising becomes easy in response to the interview questions.
5. Show Confidence with Body Language
Non-verbal communication matters too!
Ensure that you dress professionally. Once you are in front of the interviewer, maintain good posture and do remember to smile. While answering questions, maintain eye contact. It is natural to be nervous during an interview. If you feel like the nerves are taking over, pause for a moment to collect your thoughts and begin answering again. Candidates who present themselves professionally have a greater chance of creating a positive impression on the interviewer.
6. Ask Smart Questions
Always prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer. Asking questions shows that you’re curious, serious about the role, and engaged in the process. Read up on the company’s background, products, and services as well; this will give you more material to base your questions on.
7. Practice Makes Progress
The more you speak, the more confident you’ll become. Ask your friends and family to be your mock interviewers and practise with them. There are also language applications online that will not only help you practise your speech but also strengthen your grammar and vocabulary.
Practise in small ways that do not feel like an intensive study session. Switch off the subtitles to that new Hollywood blockbuster and concentrate on the dialogue. Try interacting with your friends and family in the English language. After all, slow and steady wins the race!
Interviewing in English doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to be clear, confident, and honest. Focus on your message, stay calm, and show that you’re eager to learn and grow. Every interview is a step forward. Continue practising and believing in yourself.
You’ve got this. Just speak up and let your strengths shine.
Cheers!
By
Ms. Sujata Chhabra
