You have written a great covering letter and CV to get this far. Well done!
Remember this as you go into your interview. You have a lot to offer this potential employer and this is your chance to show them.
Speaking in your non-native language can be scary, especially if you haven't done it in a while. Vocabulary can seemingly disappear overnight. I know this problem all too well. When I've been away on holiday and come back to the Netherlands, speaking Dutch again is a challenge for the first couple of days.
Follow these 5 tips to help you overcome the struggle and be interview ready:
Tip #1 - Prepare
This is important for interviews in your native language as much as it is in English.
Think back on your previous work experience and try to note down a few examples to show how you have demonstrated the skills the employer is looking for. Use project experience and any voluntary work you have done, as well as examples from your current role. All of these experiences add up to who you are and the skills you have to offer.
Tip #2 - Practice
As I mentioned in the introduction, vocabulary can seemingly disappear overnight when we don't use it. Preparing for an interview in your non-native language is as much, if not more, about speaking as preparing your answers on paper. Say your answers out loud or better still find someone to practice with. The more you speak English the more fluent you will become.
"To make a winning impression...practicing first really helps." Vicky Oliver, Harvard Business Review
Tip #3 - Grammar and vocabulary
Make sure you know the English words for all of the experiences and skills you have. Remember when you are talking about your experiences you will need to use the past simple. For a quick reminder on this check out my blog post: https://www.joannereilly.nl/post/how-does-it-work-the-past-simple
Tip #4 - Don't rush
It's only natural to want to get through the interview as quickly as possible, especially if you are nervous. I would feel the same. Try not to do this though. Take some deep breaths, think about your answer for a second before you start and speak slowly.
Tip #5 - A good last impression
Using all of these tips you can make a great impression during your interview. Usually there's an opportunity for you to ask a question or two at the end. Prepare for this too! Have a couple of questions noted down but also be aware of whether any of them have been answered during the process already. If they have all been answered you could say something like "I was going to ask about your training programmes, but we have already discussed this," rather than asking the question anyway.
Practice, practice, practice
I can't say this enough! When it comes to interviews speaking practice is key.
Click here to talk to me about interview preparation coaching.
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