Business English - Preparing for Common Interview Questions (and How to Answer Them)

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! (Warm-up)

Think about this: Do you ever feel nervous before a job interview? What questions do you think companies often ask? Why is it good to prepare your answers before an interview?

Activity 2: New Words (Vocabulary)

Here are some new English words. These words will help us talk about job interviews.

Interview (noun): A meeting where a company asks you questions to see if you are good for a job.

Example: I have a job interview tomorrow morning at 10 AM.

Question (noun): Something that someone asks you to get information.

Example: Listen carefully to each question the interviewer asks.

Answer (noun/verb): What you say or write when someone asks you a question.

Example: Think for a moment before you answer a difficult question.

Strength (noun): Something that you are very good at doing; a good quality.

Example: Being a hard worker is my biggest strength.

Weakness (noun): Something that you are not so good at, or an area where you need to improve.

Example: My weakness is that I am sometimes too quiet, but I am trying to speak up more.

Example (noun): A story or a situation from your past that shows your skill or experience.

Example: When they ask about teamwork, give an example of when you worked well with others.

Activity 3 (Reading)

Let's read about Maria. She is getting ready for a job interview at a local library.

Maria has a job interview next week for a helper role at a local library. She really wants the job, so she starts to prepare her answers. She thinks about common questions an interviewer might ask her. One question she expects is, "Tell me about yourself." Maria prepares a short and positive answer about her studies at school and why she likes books and helping other people find information. This is a good way to start.

She also thinks carefully about her main strength. Maria knows she is a very organized person and pays attention to details, so she prepares to talk about that. Then, she considers how to talk about a possible weakness. Maria decides to be honest and say that sometimes she is a little shy when meeting new people for the first time. However, she will also say that she is working on this by practicing talking to more people every day. For other questions, like "Why do you want this job?", Maria writes down her ideas. She also prepares an example from a school project where she worked very well in a team. This will show her teamwork skills. She practices saying her answers out loud so she will feel more confident during the actual interview. Maria believes being prepared will help her a lot to do well.

Think about the story:

What was the first common interview question Maria prepared an answer for?
What did Maria decide to say about her strength and her weakness?
Why did Maria prepare an example from a school project?

Activity 4: Role Play

Read this dialogue with a partner. One person is Ben (who is preparing for an interview), and the other is Lisa (his friend who recently had an interview).

Ben: Lisa, I have a job interview next Tuesday. I'm a bit nervous about the questions they might ask.

Lisa: Hi Ben! It's normal to be nervous. A good way to feel better is to practice. Did you prepare your answer to the common question, 'Tell me about yourself?'

Ben: I’ve thought about it a little. What about when they ask about my biggest strength? What should I say?

Lisa: Think of something you are truly good at that also fits the job you want. For example, you could say, 'My main strength is that I am a fast learner and I enjoy new challenges.'

Ben: That's a good idea. But I'm really worried if they ask about my weakness. That's a very hard question for me.

Lisa: For your weakness, be honest about something small, but also be sure to say how you are trying to improve it. Don't choose a weakness that is very important for the job!

Ben: That’s a very good tip! Do they often ask for an example of a time when you did something, like worked in a team or solved a problem?

Lisa: Yes, very often! They like to hear real stories. So, think of some good work or school stories as an example for different situations.

Ben: So, preparing my main answers and thinking of some good examples is really the most important thing?

Lisa: Definitely! The more you prepare for each possible question, the more confident and calm you will feel in the actual interview.

After reading, discuss: What is one common interview question you have heard of, and how would you start to think about your answer?

Activity 5: Let's Practice

Objective: Practice using the new vocabulary about job interviews.

Scenario: Ana (the learner) is talking to her teacher, Mr. Smith, after she had her first job interview.

Mr. Smith: Hi Ana, how did your job go yesterday? Were you nervous?

Ana: It was okay, Mr. Smith, thank you. I was a little nervous, but they asked a lot of about my school and any part-time jobs I had.

Mr. Smith: That's normal. Were you able to give clear responses to them? How did you their questions?

Ana: I tried my best. I think I did okay with most of my replies. I remembered what we talked about.

Mr. Smith: That's good to hear. Did they ask you about what you do well? You know, your main ability or good quality?

Ana: Yes, they asked about my biggest . I told them I am very good at being organized and finishing my tasks on time.

Mr. Smith: Excellent, that's a good one. And did they ask about any areas you find a bit challenging or want to get better at?

Ana: They did ask about a . I said I am working on being more confident when I speak in front of big groups.

Mr. Smith: That's a good and honest way to put it. Did you need to give a story or a specific situation from your experience to show your skills?

Ana: Yes, for one question about teamwork, I gave an of a project I did with other students in my class last year.

Try to fill in the blanks with appropriate words or phrases from this lesson!