Interview phrases

I can’t help thinking the same

Meaning: when the interviewer expresses a viewpoint or opinion, and you agree with it

true enough

Meaning: to acknowledge a point that the interviewer has made

that’s right

Meaning: to indicate that the information they provided is accurate

that’s right

Meaning: to indicate that the information they provided is accurate

I couldn’t agree more

Meaning: when you want to emphasise that you agree with what they’ve said

that’s just what I was thinking

Meaning: express agreement with sth the interviewer has mentioned

I don’t entirely agree with you

Meaning: when you want to express a level of disagreement while maintaining professionalism and
respect for the interviewer’s viewpoint

I’m not sure about that

Meaning: you are uncertain about a particular piece of information

I see things rather differently myself

Meaning: when you want to express a contrasting viewpoint in a professional manner

actually

Meaning: express a polite disagreement or provide a different perspective

let me get this right/ Would you mind repeating that, please? / Pardon? / I’m afraid I didn’t catch
that

Meaning: seek clarification or confirm your understanding of something that was said

how can I best say this

Meaning: you’re looking for a more effective or tactful way to express sth

perhaps I should make that clearer by saying…What I’m trying to say is … / What I mean is…/ In
other words

Meaning: you realise that your previous statement might have been unclear or misunderstood, and
you want to rephrase it to provide a clearer explanation
Give yourself time to think

 May I think about that for a moment?

 Let me see (in response to a question)

 How can I put this?

 I guess…

 It is my understanding

 The way I see it…

1. Tell me about yourself

Even if you have practiced this in your English class, it can still be tricky. Interviewers don’t want to
hear every single detail. Avoid saying things like:

I was born in Warsaw. I love playing on the computer and surfing the net or I have two sisters.

They don’t want to know everything about you. It would be much better if you talk about your career
growth; they want to know how you fit the job you’re applying for.

2. What are your strengths?

Talk about positive qualities that you have that might relate to what your future employees want and
are looking for.

Try the following expressions that can be useful:

To be punctual – to be on time.

 I’m a punctual person. I always arrive early and complete my work on time.

To be a team player – to work well with others.

 I consider myself to be a team player. I like to work with other people and I find that it’s much
easier to achieve something when everyone works together and communicates well.

To be ambitious – to have goals.

 I’m ambitious. I always set myself goals and this motivates me to work hard.

To take initiative – to do something without having to be told to do it.

 When I work, I always take initiative. If I see something that needs to be done, I don’t wait for
instructions, I do it.

To be proactive – to take initiative when doing things and to make them happen.

 I’m proactive. I like to see results and it’s important in this industry to be proactive and
responsible for your own actions.
3. What are your weaknesses?

Nobody likes to talk about their weaknesses, so the trick is to turn them into positive qualities. For
example, let’s say your weakness is that you spend too much time on projects, which makes you work
slower. Turn that into a positive thing by saying:

I am sometimes slower in completing my tasks compared to others because I really want to get things
right. I will double or sometimes triple-check documents and files to make sure everything is correct.

Another great trick is to talk about a weakness (like being disorganized) and mention some methods
that you are using to help overcome this:

I have created a time-management system, which allows me to list all my duties and organize my
deadlines so I have a clearer idea of what I need to do.

4. Why did you leave your last job?

Did you leave because you were fired? Or did you quit? If you chose to leave your old job, avoid
saying anything negative about your old workplace or boss (even if it is true). The person or people
interviewing you will just look at you in a negative way. You can say the following:

 I’m looking for new challenges.

 I feel I wasn’t able to show my talents.

 I’m looking for a job that suits my qualifications.

5. Tell us about your education

Here they want to know everything that you’ve studied that is related to the job. For example, your
training and further education. You don’t need to tell them everything you’ve done since elementary
school, just the important things.

Diploma – A qualification from a college/university/polytechnic.

Certificate – A document confirming your participation in a course.

If they ask you the question: tell us about your academic record, they want to know what kind of
grades you received.

6. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

Talk about your goals. Again, it’s related to your career, not your personal life. Be careful what you
say here, you need to be ambitious, but NOT too ambitious. You can mention:

By then I will have…I would like to have…

 Improved my skills

 Become more independent in what I do

 Enhanced my knowledge

 Achieved to a higher position…

7. What kind of salary do you expect?

8. Do you have any questions for us?

And now there is the final question to ask… them. So don’t ask anything that will make you sound
silly, such as much vacation time do I get each year? You want to find out more, and if you don’t ask
any questions, then they may view this as you being not very interested in the job. Ask questions like:

 Do you have any examples of projects that I would be working on if I were to be offered the
job? This shows that you’re interested in the actual job and not just being employed.

 Does the company offer in-house training for staff? This shows your interest in not only
getting the job, but also wanting to improve and grow.

Examples of Interview Q&A

Question: How do you stay current with Spanish language developments, including changes in
grammar, vocabulary, and colloquial expressions? add

Answer: "I stay updated by regularly reading literature, news, and cultural publications in Spanish.
Additionally, I engage with native speakers through language exchange programs and online forums
to stay current with evolving language trends and expressions."

Question: Have you ever faced challenges in effectively communicating in Spanish, and how did you
overcome them?

Answer: "Certainly, challenges are part of the language-learning process. I faced difficulties in
understanding regional accents and adapting to colloquial expressions. To overcome this, I actively
sought out conversations with native speakers, practiced listening to different accents, and immersed
myself in Spanish media to enhance my comprehension."

Question: How would you handle a situation where you need to communicate complex information
or instructions in Spanish to individuals with varying levels of proficiency in the language?

Answer: "I would employ a multi-faceted approach. First, I would simplify the language without
compromising accuracy, using visual aids if necessary. Additionally, I would encourage open
communication, allowing individuals to ask questions and seek clarification to ensure a thorough
understanding."
Question: How do you see your Spanish language skills contributing to the specific requirements of
this position?

Answer: "Given my proficiency in Spanish, I believe I can effectively communicate with Spanish-
speaking stakeholders, clients, or team members, thereby bridging language gaps and contributing to
a more inclusive and culturally sensitive work environment."

Question: Can you describe your experience in customer service roles?

Answer: "I have X years of experience in customer service, working in various capacities such as
[mention previous roles]. In these positions, I have worked on my communication and problem-
solving skills, consistently achieving high customer satisfaction ratings."

Question: How do you handle challenging customers or situations?

Answer: "I believe in remaining calm and empathetic. I actively listen to understand the customer's
concerns, validate their feelings, and then work towards finding a solution. In the past, I've
successfully turned around challenging situations by ensuring the customer feels heard and valued."

Question: How do you prioritize competing demands when handling multiple customer inquiries?

Answer: "I prioritize based on urgency and severity. High-priority issues are addressed first, followed
by those that require a timely response. I use organizational tools and stay focused to ensure that
each customer receives the attention they need without compromising the quality of assistance."

Question: Can you provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond to exceed a
customer's expectations?

Answer: "In my previous role, a customer had an urgent issue that wasn't typical of our support
requests. Despite it not falling directly within my responsibilities, I took the initiative to gather
information, escalate the matter, and follow up until it was resolved. The customer was appreciative,
and the positive feedback reflected well on the company."

Question: How do you stay updated on product or service information to provide accurate
assistance?
Answer: "I make it a priority to regularly participate in training sessions, read updates, and stay
informed about changes in products or services. Additionally, I actively seek feedback from colleagues
and use online resources to enhance my knowledge. This ensures that I can provide accurate and up-
to-date information to customers."

Question: How do you handle situations where you don't know the answer to a customer's question?

Answer: "I am honest with the customer about my current lack of knowledge, but I reassure them
that I am committed to finding the answer. I then consult with colleagues, use available resources, or
escalate the inquiry to ensure the customer receives accurate information in a timely manner."

Question: How do you adapt your communication style to meet the needs of different customers?

Answer: "I believe in tailoring my communication to the customer's preferences. Whether it's through
email, chat, or phone, I adjust my tone and level of detail based on the customer's style. It's
important to make the interaction as comfortable and effective as possible for each individual."

Question: How do you handle feedback, both positive and negative?

Answer: "I appreciate feedback as an opportunity for growth. Positive feedback motivates me, and I
use it as a reinforcement of good practices. With negative feedback, I view it as a chance to learn and
improve. I analyze the feedback objectively, identify areas for enhancement, and take proactive steps
to address them."

Remember, these answers are just examples. You should tailor your responses based on your own
experiences and achievements.

Vocabulary
Verbs
to ace - to perform extremely well in something, especially a test

to appoint - to give a responsibility or job to someone

to collaborate - to work with someone else in order to create something or reach the same goal

to commence - to start something or to start happening

to multitask - to simultaneously do more than one thing

to postpone - to arrange or put off an activity or an event for a later time than its original schedule

to recruit - to employ people for a company, etc.

to resign - to officially announce one's departure from a job, position, etc.

Adjectives
Hectic - busy and full of activity

Intensive - (in business) concentrating on or using something a lot, such as a piece of equipment, etc.

Monotonous - boring because of being the same thing all the time

one-on-one - (of an activity) between only two people

rewarding - (of an activity) making one feel satisfied by giving one a desirable outcome

stimulating - causing excitement

tedious - boring and repetitive to the point of causing mental fatigue

insistent - demanding something and refusing to accept any opposition or excuses ( natarczywy )

Articles reminder:

Indefinite article (a/an) is used with:

➤ One of a group of things (to classify)

➤ When we use an adjective to describe a noun

➤ With someone’s job

➤ With group numbers and large numbers

Definite article (the) is used with:

➤ Nouns we mention for the first time, but where it is clear which person/thing we are talking
about

➤ Nouns followed by a descriptive phrase

➤ National groups
 ➤ Classes of people

➤ Individual items that represent a class (the lion is fast disappearing)

➤ Names of musical instruments that we playSuperlatives, the same, the only

➤ Media (the Internet, the television etc.)

➤ When there is always one of something

➤ With some geographical names: oceans, seas, rivers, canals, regions, mountains ranges

➤ But: neither lakes, nor individual mountains :)

➤ With plural countries or where the country name contains a noun, e.g. the Netherlands, the
People’s Republic of China

Zero article is used with:

➤ most continents, countries, states, islands, mountains, lakes, cities, parks, roads, streets,
squares, bridges, palaces, castles, cathedrals, stations and airports

➤ company names, years, months, days and special times of the year

➤ names of meals if we are talking generally, e.g. it’s time for lunch

➤ Preposition of place with certain buildings, where the purpose of the building is more
important than the place itself, e.g. Sam is in prison (he’s a prisoner) vs Sam is in the prison
(as a visitor). Similar are: school, university, bed, church, class, court, hospital

➤ Means of transport, when we are talking in general, e.g. we went there by car

➤ BUT: if we use in or on- we must use an indefinite article, e.g. we went there in a car
Additional resources

https://lc1lc2.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/useful-vocabulary-for-interview/

https://www.ted.com/talks/
regina_hartley_why_the_best_hire_might_not_have_the_perfect_resume?referrer=playlist-
talks_to_watch_before_a_job_interview&autoplay=true

https://www.ted.com/talks/ashwini_mrinal_bhagat_what_i_learned_from_32_grueling_interviews