One thing we often get asked about is how to succeed at interviews in English. Of course, being on time, looking interested and being well-dressed are some of the key points to bear in mind. But remember, an interview is a discussion – you will have to eventually speak in English!
Here are 5 common interview questions. Take a minute to think about how you would answer them:
- Describe a situation where you worked in a team.
- What do you expect to be doing in 5 years’ time?
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What has been your greatest achievement?
If you have never thought about these things, it is a good idea to come up with a standard answer that you can adapt and use for whatever interview you might attend. Remember, if you can give examples closely related to the questions, this will make your answers even better. A good way to do this is to use the S.T.A.R. format.
S.T.A.R. stands for ‘Situation, Task, Action, Result’ and is a great way to structure your answers. Take, for example, the question about working in a team:
Situation – Our team was asked to plan the company party.
Task – My job was to send out the invitations.
Action – I made a spreadsheet with everyone’s contact details and mailed out the invitations.
Result – People got their invites on time. The party was a success.
Besides facing interviews, there are many different scenarios you might face at work. Do you need English to communicate with colleagues in other countries? Perhaps you need more confidence in speaking English on the phone? Does your boss ask you to make presentations to the team, but afterwards, you often feel you need something more to get your message across? What about meetings? How can you make your voice heard?
These are all common issues that we here at the British Council are aware of. That’s why myClass is here to help you. MyClass is a practical English course that is tailor-made for professionals who want to make the most of their language learning and excel in working situations through skills such as writing, speaking and more. You even get to choose when you attend lessons, making your English learning work around your busy schedule.
Learn more about our myClass workplace lessons at the British Council by visiting our website and be on your way to levelling up English skills to give you that extra boost to work.