Being successful in a job interview when using a second language and in a different country can be daunting and challenging, but fear not! Below, I will discuss the top tips you need to know and how you can prepare best for that all important interview.
Understand the UK Job Market
The first tip to being successful is to be aware of the UK job market and cultural differences between the UK and your native country. Before the day of the interview, it is important to research about the company and the role you have applied for. Look for some key information such as the job requirements, the company's mission or aim and when the company was founded. It is important to understand such information so you can understand if you will fit into the company and like what it stands for. Understanding the culture is also important, if you can find information online, great, but if not, asking in the interview shows you are interested in your colleagues and how likely you are to get along with them, including the managers. Different countries have different work ethics and etiquettes so understanding the UK culture around this will benefit you when you come to work full time. Most employers around the world have some key qualities they look for in an employee, these include: communication, teamwork and adaptability. Good communication is key and important to show during the interview, so practising answering key questions beforehand and knowing some good expressions to use with the interviewers will show this positive quality. Teamwork is an overall term used to indicate employees need to be friendly, respectful and be able to work well under pressure alongside others. Also, unintentional situations arise so it is important to show you can adapt and be flexible with your work in order to solve any issues that may come up.
Polishing Your British English
When preparing for your job interview don't stress so much on perfecting your British accent, instead, focus on being clear and fluent. Being able to speak clearly will get you so much further than speaking with a British accent. Tips for speaking clearly:
Slow down- try to pronounce words fully without mumbling and enunciate clearly.
Practise intonation and stress on syllables - this will make you sound more engaged and interesting.
Don't shout but speak with confidence at an appropriate volume. Speaking too quietly and people won't hear you or understand you.
Phrases and idioms are very common to use, here are some common ones which you can use in your interview, or you may hear the interviewer use:
Hit the ground running - to start work and understand the role very quickly - I'd like to start the role next week and hit the ground running.
Touch base - to briefly communicate or connect with someone for updates - We'll touch base next week to finalise the details.
Think outside the box - To think creatively in an unconventional way - For the latest project, we need to think outside the box to create something unique.
In the pipeline - something that is being developed or prepared but isn't ready yet - I have several projects in the pipeline which could contribute to our growth massively.
Additionally, you also need to consider some key vocabulary or expression differences between British and American interviews. Although, native British speakers will generally understand the American terms, it would be more beneficial to use the British terms to have smoother communication, and so you can understand the British terms being used. Below are some key differences:
British = CV, American = Resume
British = post, American = position/job (I applied for the manager post. I applied for the manager position.
British = holiday, American = vacation
British = redundancy, American = layoff
British = maternity leave, American = parental leave
British = training course, American = training program
British = diary, American = calendar
Preparing for Common Interview Questions
There are some common questions that interviewers like to ask and you can prepare for these in advance. More than likely, you will be asked to provide some examples to show a process or issue that you solved. For questions like these you can use the STAR method to help you give a structured, logical answer. Here are some common questions:
Tell me about a time when ...
Give me an example of ...
Describe a situation where ...
S - Situation - Describe the context or situation you were in. Give as much information as possible but be concise and direct. In my previous role as a marketing assistant, we noticed a significant drop in social media engagement over three months.
T - Task - Explain the task or responsibility you were assigned in the situation. I was tasked with identifying the cause of the drop and developing a strategy to boost engagement.
A - Action - Detail the specific actions you took to solve the situation. Focus on what you did. I analysed engagement metrics, identified the posts which performed poorly, and conducted a competitor analysis. I then created a content calendar which included more interactive polls, surveys, and videos.
R - Result - Share the outcome of your actions. Use any positive data that you have to highlight the results. As a result, engagement increased by 40% within two months, and the team adopted my strategy as part of our standard process moving forward.
Other popular questions might include:
What do you know about our company?
Tell us a bit about you.
Tell us about your previous role.
When answering these questions, stick to relevant information. If you are talking about yourself, talk about your experience, how long you've been in the industry, what you enjoy or find rewarding about the roles you have done previously. You can mention some personality characteristics such as time-keeping, punctuality, communication skills etc.
At the end of the interview, interviewers will usually ask if you have any questions. To sound interested in the role, it is a good idea to prepare one or two questions in advance that you would like to know. Avoid asking questions about any benefits, perks, salary or holidays. This will make you sound more interested in what they offer rather than trying to do a good job for them during the work day. If you don't have any questions, or if your questions were answered during the interview, you could respond with, ''You answered all of my questions already, thank you very much.'' Below are some example questions you might want to ask:
Can you describe a typical day or week in this position?
How would you describe the company culture?
How would you describe the team I'll be working with?
How often does the team receive feedback or performance reviews?
Are there opportunities for growth or professional development in this role?
What are the company's biggest goals or priorities for the next year?
Cultural Etiquette in British Interviews
Being aware and understanding cultural differences is crucial in a job interview. Below, I will list some cultural etiquette tips to follow to make sure that you are formal and polite.
Be punctual - It is absolutely crucial to be on time, if not early, for the interview. If you are late, even a minute, this shows you are unreliable and don't care about the job, more than likely they will go for another person.
Dress code - generally the dress codes apply across all industries, but there are some differences sometimes. For example, for office based interviews, men wear a tailored suit, tie and polished shoes, women wear a tailored suit or dress with closed-toe shoes. It is best to stick with dark or neutral/muted colours. However, for creative industries like media or advertising, smart-casual attire is acceptable. For example, men can wear chinos and a fitted shirt and blazer and women can wear tailored trousers/skirt with a smart blouse/top. Even though this industry may be more casual, professionalism is still key so still make sure clothes are smart and polished. If you are unsure, check the company website for their vibe/feel and air on the side of caution and go formal.
Politeness and formality - It is paramount to stay professional and polite at all times in an interview. Even when the 'formal' part is over, still make sure you stay professional. Always say 'please' and 'thank you' and be smiley and happy while also being yourself.
Handshake - It is a formal and polite gesture to greet the interviewer with a firm handshake. It is too informal and casual to kiss on the cheek and inappropriate for a hug, a handshake is the best way to greet.
Building Confidence Before the Interview
It is important to show your confidence during the interview. To help with this, practise with friends/family, use online tools or a personal tutor to do mock interviews with. Practise is key and the more you do it the more confident you'll feel. Also, maintain good body language throughout the interview. Show interest by nodding and actively listening. Maintain good posture, eye contact and try to avoid nervous habits such as fidgeting or nail biting. When practising with others, maintain good body language so that on the day it becomes natural for you to do and one less thing to worry about. Feeling nervous before and during the interview is normal and shows you care, however, it is also important to make sure that your nerves don't get the better of you. Try some deep breathing techniques while you're waiting or before you leave home, this can help relieve stress from the body and help you feel more relaxed. Use positive visualisations or affirmations to help build inner-confidence.
Post-Interview Best Practices
After the interview can be a relief but you question how it went, what did they think of you and reflect on the conversations. It is a great idea to note down/journal your thoughts on your own performance, were there any areas or particular questions you felt you could have answered better or you want to use for next time. Reflecting on your own performance is great to learn from your own experience and where you think you can improve. It is also good practise to send a follow-up email after a few days, thanking them for their time and asking for feedback. This is particularly useful information if you don't get a job offer from them as it can give you guidance ready for the next interview. Below is an example email.
Dear (interviewer's name)
Thank you very much for your time on Monday and I really enjoyed discussing the (job title) post with you.
I would greatly appreciate your feedback on the interview and any advice you have for me would be warmly welcomed.
Kind Regards,
(Your name)
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