How to prepare for a job interview in a foreign language

Do you have a job interview in a foreign language coming up and you're stressed about how it will go?

Don't worry. With the right advice and some preparation, you'll get the job.

• The first thing to do is research the company and the position you're applying for. Naturally, you should know about the place you'll be working and the tasks the new role may involve. If you're not well informed, it can count against you in the interview.
• Now for the main part. What if the interview is in a foreign language? Start by looking up the most common interview questions, such as: Can you introduce yourself? What is your work experience? Why did you choose our company? What are your expectations? and so on. Prepare an answer for each question and practise it, all in the language the interview will be held in.
• Behaviour and clothing matter too. Be careful how you dress and learn to manage your body language. These are details every employer notices. Focus on avoiding stress and communicating with confidence, even if you make a mistake while speaking.
• Find interviews and videos online in the language you'll be speaking. The more you listen and analyse yourself, the better you'll learn to express yourself.

Now, let's say you're in the interview. You've practised in advance, you've learned some of the main questions, it's going very well so far, but then the interviewer asks something you just don't understand. You're confused, you start to feel stressed, your body language gives you away… Stay calm. What you need to do is ask for clarification. Instead of saying “I don't understand you”, learn phrases such as “Could you explain in more detail what you'd like to know?” or “Could you give me an example of that?”. While the interviewer explains, you'll gain time to put together a good answer.

Practise these tips, prepare in advance, practise as much as you can in the language of the interview, learn the basic phrases and, above all, speak with confidence. Today, interviewers care more about how you handle situations, how confident you are and how much you demand of yourself than about you knowing everything.

Your new job is waiting for you!