How to Prepare for a Video Interview After Business English Lessons

You’ve written the perfect CV and cover letter. The next step to getting your dream job is the interview. An interview is your final chance to impress the hiring manager. However, if you’re not a native English speaker, preparing for one can be stressful.

It can be even harder now that more and more interviews are now being done online using video calls. As non-native speakers, we often rely on non-verbal communication to help us understand. Video interviews can make this difficult, especially if there is a bad internet connection which causes a blurred image or breaks in the sound.

As well as this, when writing a CV or cover letter, you can take the time to check your grammar and sentences. This is difficult to do in an interview setting where you need to think and answer quickly.

Read on to find out some tips and tricks to do the very best you can in a video interview in English.

Make Sure You Understand the Questions – and Ask if You Don’t!

If you are nervous in an interview, it can be easy to rush to answer the question that you think you have been asked. However, even if you use perfect English in your answer, the interviewer will not be impressed if it doesn’t answer the question that they have asked.

Listen carefully before answering, and don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question or double-check that you understand. The interviewer will appreciate you checking that you’ve understood the question, and it shows that you’re engaged. Just like in ESL lessons, asking questions will improve your understanding.

Do a Test Run with the Video Software

Find out whether your interview will be done using Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, or another app, and practice using it. You do not want to be stressed minutes before the interview because of difficulties using the software.

You should also make sure you have a quiet space with good Wi-Fi connection where you can do the interview. If you live with family or roommates, make sure that they know not to disturb you during it. Technical difficulties or distractions could ruin all of your preparation.

Practice Answers to Common Questions Outside of ESL Lessons

While it’s impossible to know for certain what an interviewer will ask you, there are some common questions that come up a lot. A good way to prepare for an interview after business English lessons is to practice answers to common questions. These could include:

• Tell me about yourself?
• Why did you apply to this role?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

You could practice these with a friend, in the mirror, or by recording yourself. This means that you will be prepared and more confident in the actual interview.

Don’t Forget to Smile!

Over the years, studies have shown that a lot of communication is not what you say but how you say it. If you are a non-native speaker, you can use this to your advantage. Make sure to smile and use hand gestures while speaking. This will show that you are confident and will help you to connect with the hiring manager.

Do you want to learn more at an ESL school in Boston?

Contact ASC English today!