Everyday situations
How to do a job interview in English
B2
Introducing yourself, telling your story, showing your strengths, asking the right questions: the phrases you need to do well in a job interview.
Quick answer
A job interview in English is less a language test than a test of structure. Recruiters in the UK and the US expect a clear story (situation → action → result). They also expect Past Simple verbs for your past experience (I led, I built, I delivered) and a confident tone that does not sound boastful. Common mistake no. 1: making yourself sound less able than you are (I have a little experience in…) when you should say I have solid experience in… Common mistake no. 2: answering in two sentences when the recruiter expects a 60 to 90 second answer. Common mistake no. 3: having no questions to ask at the end. Recruiters see this as a lack of interest.
Step by step
Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.
1. Arriving and introducing yourself
First contact sets the tone: smile, give a firm handshake and introduce yourself in two sentences.
- You
Good morning, I'm Sarah Clarke. Thank you for having me today.
Formal→ A standard opening sentence.orNice to meet you. I'm pleased to be here.
Formal - Other person
Welcome, Sarah. Please have a seat.
- Other person
Did you find us easily?
→ Small talk to start: give a short, positive answer. - You
Yes, no trouble at all, thanks.
orYes, the directions were very clear, thank you.
2. The pitch: Tell me about yourself
The opening question you almost always get. Aim for 90 seconds: present → past → future (where you want to go).
- Other person
So, tell me a bit about yourself.
- You
Sure. I'm currently working as a digital marketing manager at ACME, where I've been for three years.
orOf course. I'm a digital marketing manager with five years' experience, mostly in B2B.
- You
Before that, I spent two years at BCD Corp managing their content strategy.
→ Use the Past Simple for finished past experience. - You
I hold a Master's degree in marketing from the University of Leeds.
Formal - You
What attracted me to this position is the opportunity to lead a multi-market team.
→ A natural way to move on to your reasons for applying.
3. Strengths, weaknesses and reasons
Always in pairs: a strength with a concrete example, a weakness with what you do to fix it.
- Other person
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- You
My strongest suit is data-driven decision making. For example, last quarter I…
→ A strength + an example with numbers. A strong suit is something you are very good at.orI'd say my main strength is working with a team across several time zones. For instance, last year I…
- You
As for weaknesses, I sometimes get caught up in details. I've worked on this by using time-boxing techniques.
→ A weakness + what you are doing about it. Avoid fake weaknesses like I work too hard. - Other person
Why are you interested in this role?
- You
Three reasons: the international scope, the technical challenge, and your company's reputation for innovation.
→ Giving three reasons is a very common way to organise an answer in English. - Other person
Why are you leaving your current job?
- You
I'm looking for a role with broader responsibilities and a stronger international dimension.
→ Keep it positive: never criticise your current employer.orI've learned a lot in my current job, and I'm ready for a new challenge.
4. Behavioural questions: the STAR method
Situation → Task → Action → Result: the structure to use for any Tell me about a time when... question.
- Other person
Tell me about a time when you had to handle a difficult situation.
orCan you give me an example of teamwork?
- You
At ACME, we had a major client threatening to leave (S). I was asked to lead the recovery (T).
- You
I set up weekly check-ins and rebuilt their dashboard in two weeks (A).
- You
As a result, the client renewed for another two years and increased their budget by 30%.
→ Always finish with a number or an impact you can measure. - Other person
Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned.
→ A classic tricky question: prepare a real failure, not a fake one. - You
Last year I underestimated a deadline and we launched two days late. Since then, I build a buffer into every plan.
5. Salary, start date and expectations
The tricky moment. In English, you talk about salary confidently and directly, but try to learn the range before you give a number.
- Other person
What are your salary expectations?
- You
Based on my research and experience, I'm looking at a range of £55-65k.
→ Give a range, never an exact number.orCould you share the budgeted range for this position?
Formal→ If you can, politely send the question back. - Other person
When could you start?
- You
I have a one-month notice period, so I could start mid-March.
orI'm available immediately.
6. Asking questions and finishing
Having no questions looks like a lack of interest. Prepare at least three questions.
- Other person
Do you have any questions for us?
- You
Yes, a few if I may. First, what does success look like in this role after six months?
→ A strong question: it shows that you care about results. - Other person
Good question. We'd expect you to have settled into the team and delivered your first campaign.
- You
Thank you. And how would you describe the team's culture?
- Other person
Very collaborative. We're a small team and we share a lot of ideas.
- You
Great. And finally, what are the next steps in the recruitment process?
→ A practical question to finish. - Other person
Thanks for coming in. We'll be in touch by the end of the week.
- You
Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.
Formal
Useful vocabulary
Your career
- a CV(UK)a document about your studies and jobs
- a résumé(US)a document about your studies and jobs
- a cover lettera letter sent with your CV
- an internshipa short work period for students
- a placement(UK)a short work period for students
- a degree / a Master'sa university qualification
- work experiencethe jobs you have done
- a notice periodtime to work before you leave
Skills
- a strengthsomething you are good at
- a weaknesssomething you are not good at
- a skill / skillsan ability you have learned
- hard skillstechnical abilities, like coding
- soft skillspeople abilities, like teamwork
- fluent inable to speak a language easily
- proficient invery good at, with practice
- to be results-drivento focus on what you achieve
The job and the company
- a role / a positiona job in a company
- a job openinga job the company wants to fill
- job descriptiona list of a job's tasks
- team / line manageryour direct boss
- headquarters / HQa company's main office
- a startup / scale-up / corporatea new, growing or big company
- benefits / perksextras you get with the job
- remote / hybrid / on-sitefrom home / mixed / at the office
The process
- to apply for a jobto ask officially for a job
- an applicant / a candidatea person who wants the job
- to shortlistto choose the best few people
- a first / second / final roundone stage of interviews
- an offerthe company says the job is yours
- to negotiateto discuss and reach an agreement
- to onboardto help a new worker settle in
- a probation perioda trial time at the start
UK vs US: what changes
| You want to say… | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Document listing your studies and jobs | CV (curriculum vitae) | Résumé |
| Short work period for students | A placement / an internship | An internship |
| Higher education after school | University / uni | College |
| Higher-education qualification | A degree (with first / 2:1 / 2:2) | A degree (with GPA) |
| Yearly pay | £45,000 p.a. | $60,000 per year |
| Telling your boss you are leaving | To hand in your notice | To put in your two weeks |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have a little experience ❌
A little makes your experience sound smaller for no reason. In an interview in English, be confident: I have solid experience in…, I have over three years' experience in…. A little sounds unsure and shows a lack of confidence. The recruiter may read it as a lack of skill.
2. I am working there since 2020 ❌
For a situation that started in the past and is still true (you still work there), use the Present Perfect, never the Present Continuous. ✓ I have been working there since 2020 or I have worked there for three years. ✗ I am working there since 2020 (the Present Continuous with since).
3. Criticising your current employer ❌
When the recruiter asks Why do you want to leave your company?, NEVER criticise your current employer, even for a good reason. Always say it in a positive way: I'm looking for a role with more international scope / more technical depth / closer alignment with my long-term goals. If you criticise, the recruiter imagines you will do the same about them one day.
4. I'm a perfectionist ❌ (a fake weakness)
Every recruiter knows this trick. Give a real weakness and explain how you are fixing it: I sometimes overcommit. I've started using a priority matrix to push back when needed. Being honest and working on yourself shows maturity.
5. No, I don't have any questions ❌
This is the number one mistake at the end of an interview: the recruiter thinks you are not really interested. Prepare at least 3 questions. 1) About the role: What does success look like in 6 months? 2) About the team: How is the team structured? 3) About the next steps: What are the next steps?
Practice quiz
Related pages: A job interview
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you answer tell me about yourself in an interview?+
Follow the order present → past → future, in about 90 seconds. 1) I'm currently working as + job + at + company, and for how long (with the Present Perfect: where I've been for three years). 2) Before that, I + Past Simple (your key experience). 3) What attracted me to this role is + your main reason. End in a way that leads naturally to the next question.
How do you answer what are your strengths?+
Give a real strength, a concrete example and a result you can measure. Example: My main strength is + strength. For example, last quarter I + action + , which led to + a result with a number. Avoid empty strengths like I work hard: give some context.
How do you answer what is your biggest weakness?+
Give a real weakness and say what you are doing to fix it. Example: I sometimes + weakness. I've worked on this by + verb + -ing. Avoid fake weaknesses like I'm a perfectionist: recruiters spot them at once.
What is the STAR method in a job interview?+
STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. Situation: the context (At ACME, we had…). Task: your role (I was asked to…). Action: what you did (I set up…). Result: the impact you can measure (As a result, we increased…). Aim for 90 seconds, and always finish with a number.
What questions should you ask at the end of an interview?+
Three classic questions. 1) About the role: What does success look like in this role after six months? 2) About the team and its culture: How would you describe the team's culture? 3) About what happens next: What are the next steps in the recruitment process? Never answer No, I don't have any questions.
How do you talk about salary in a job interview?+
Always give a range, never an exact number. The phrase: Based on my research and experience, I'm looking at a range of + range. If you can, first send the question back politely: Could you share the budgeted range for this position? That way, you don't start too low.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/situations/job-interview
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.