The vocabulary you need for an interview in English
LikeNowadays, companies require their employees to be fluent in several languages, especially in English. We are increasingly faced with a professional world dominated by English. So if you are about to face a job interview in English, remember that you will need to perfect your English vocabulary to show that you are qualified for the job. One way you can achieve this is by attending private English classes.
If you are looking for English vocabulary for work, read on. Below, we will give you tips for the vocabulary you need - from the most basic to the most specialised. This will help you get a job in English or even in any other language, as the concept can be extrapolated to other languages.
Basic English vocabulary
Knowing the correct ways to introduce yourself and bid farewell at the end of an interview are important. First impressions count for a lot.
- Introduction
Formal expressions are mainly used in the workplace. People from the UK have a reputation for being very polite, so it is of the utmost importance that you use an appropriate register.
A good way to introduce yourself to the interviewer might be as follows:
- Good morning / afternoon. My name is (name) and it's a pleasure to be here.
- Good morning / afternoon. I am (name). It's lovely to meet you!
If you see that the atmosphere is more friendly and informal, you can try to adjust to them and start with hello or hi, but don't overdo it.
- Goodbye
At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity they have given you. It is important that you keep your composure until the end, then you can let yourself off the hook!
In the meantime, try to keep your smile on your face and use the following key phrases to make a good final impression on the person who interviewed you:
- Thank you very much for your time. I hope we see each other soon!
- Before we finish this meeting, I want to thank you for this opportunity again. I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Make sure you learn a handful of expressions before going to the interview to improve your spoken English.
- What to do if you get lost in conversation?
It is natural for a person whose second language is English to miss expressions they have probably never heard before. Don't despair! If that happens, ask the interviewer again what he or she has said:
- Excuse me, could you repeat please?
- Sorry to interrupt you but, could you say that again?
Remember that the most formal language expression in English lies in the use of the conditional verb tense. Therefore, whenever you ask a question, it is preferable to use if, could or would.
Specific vocabulary in English
Once you have mastered the basic interview vocabulary, it is time to move on to specific vocabulary. With the expressions recommended in the previous section, you can make a good impression. However, if you want to stand out from the rest of the candidates, you need to be aware of the terms used by each company and each sector.
To do this, you need to know the answers to these three questions:
- What kind of company contacted you? A technology company, a fashion company, public services, an education company?
- What kind of position have you applied for? Manager, technician, teacher etc
- In which department? Finance, marketing, IT etc
Information is the basis of a good job interview. If you don't know what sector your company works in, or what kind of company it is and what its product is, or even what clients it attracts, it will be difficult for you to get the job.
Generally speaking, the most commonly used words in a job interview are the following:
|
Interview |
Candidate |
Job |
|
Application |
CV |
Experience |
|
Skills |
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
|
Goal |
Teamwork |
Certificate |
|
Salary |
Field |
Success |
|
Co-worker |
Leader |
Hobbies |
Recommendations: learn to use vocabulary in a natural way
We often tend to memorise vocabulary instead of working on it. If we learn long lists of words without a context attached to them, we will probably not be able to remember them when the time comes to use them.
That's why we recommend working on vocabulary, so that it will come naturally in conversation. How?
- Tutors for English as a foreign language. Taking English classes can help you to express yourself in a more natural way. You can even ask for specific English lessons for job interviews, where the private tutor can give you new vocabulary and answer any questions you may have.
- Conversation. You should speak English as much as possible and put into practice what you have learnt. You can do this with family, friends or native speakers. In this sense, talking to English tutors can be very useful.
- Other methods such as apps. In the age of the Internet, we have a thousand possibilities at our fingertips. A good way to practise English is through specialised apps or websites you find online.
Job interviews in English can seem very daunting, but with a bit of practice you can achieve everything you set out to do!
Remember that taking English classes is always the best option. At FindTutors you can find a tutor to prepare you for your next interview.
Good luck!