Basic English to survive any job interview

Over the years, I have helped hundreds of professionals prepare for interviews in English: engineers applying to multinational companies, nurses and teachers applying abroad, remote workers applying to companies in Canada, the United States and Europe, and managers applying for regional roles. Many of them arrived worried that their English was "not good enough". Most of them were wrong. Their English was good enough; what they lacked was preparation in English. They knew how to talk about their work in their own language, but they had never practised telling their story in English.

This guide gives you the basic English you need to survive, and even shine, in almost any job interview. It is designed for learners from about A2 or B1 level upward, but advanced speakers will also find useful phrases. If you are not sure of your level, read CEFR levels explained.

The golden rule: prepare, do not memorise

Many candidates write perfect answers and memorise them word for word. In the interview, one unexpected question makes them lose the thread, and the memorised text collapses. A better strategy is to prepare key ideas, key phrases and key numbers, and practise saying them in slightly different ways each time. That way you sound natural and you can adapt to any question.

1. Greetings and small talk

The interview starts before the first question. A confident greeting creates a good first impression.

• "Good morning. Thank you for having me."
• "Nice to meet you. Thank you for the opportunity."
• "I'm fine, thank you. How are you?"
• "Yes, I found it easily, thank you." (in person) / "Yes, I can hear you clearly." (online)

If the interviewer makes small talk about the weather, your city or your weekend, answer with one or two friendly sentences. You do not need a long story: "It's sunny here in Bogotá today. A perfect day for an interview!"

2. "Tell me about yourself"

This is almost always the first question, and it is your best opportunity. Prepare a 60 to 90 second answer with this simple structure: present, past, future.

• Present: "I'm a financial analyst with six years of experience in the energy sector. Currently, I work at…, where I'm responsible for…"
• Past: "Before that, I worked at…, where I learned… / where I led…"
• Future: "Now I'm looking for a role where I can… That's why I'm very interested in this position."

Avoid starting with your date of birth or your childhood. Focus on your professional story and on why you fit the role.

3. Talking about experience and achievements

Interviewers want evidence. Prepare three or four short stories about real achievements, and include numbers whenever you can. A simple structure is STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result.

• Situation: "In my previous job, our customer response time was very slow."
• Task: "My manager asked me to improve the process."
• Action: "I analysed the main problems and created a new system for classifying requests."
• Result: "As a result, we reduced response time by forty percent in three months."

Useful verbs for achievements: led, managed, created, designed, improved, reduced, increased, organised, trained, launched, negotiated, solved. Use the past simple for finished experiences: "I managed a team of five people."

4. Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths: choose two or three that matter for the job and give an example.

• "I'm very organised. For example, I coordinated the logistics for a conference of 300 people."
• "I'm good at solving problems under pressure."
• "I learn quickly and I enjoy new challenges."

Weaknesses: choose a real but manageable weakness and explain what you are doing to improve it.

• "Sometimes I spend too much time on details. I've learned to set time limits for each task."
• "Public speaking used to make me nervous, so I've been practising presentations, and it's much better now."
• "My English is still developing, so I take weekly classes to improve it." (honest and positive!)

5. Why this company? Why this role?

Research the company before the interview. Read its website, its recent news and its values. Then connect them with your experience.

• "I admire your company's commitment to… and I'd like to contribute to it."
• "This role matches my experience in… and my goal of…"
• "I'm attracted by the international environment and the opportunity to grow."

6. The ten most common interview questions

7. Survival phrases: when you do not understand

This section is the most important for nervous candidates. Not understanding a question is normal, even for native speakers, especially online. What matters is how you handle it. These phrases are polite and professional:

• "Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?"
• "Could you say that a little more slowly, please?"
• "Just to make sure I understand, are you asking about…?"
• "Sorry, the connection was a little unclear. Could you repeat the last part?"
• "What do you mean by…?"

8. Survival phrases: when you need time to think

Silence feels uncomfortable, but a short pause is fine. Use these phrases to gain a few seconds:

• "That's a good question. Let me think for a moment."
• "Let me give you an example."
• "There are two main reasons. First…"
• "How can I put it…?"

9. Survival phrases: when you make a mistake

If you make a mistake, simply correct yourself and continue. Nobody expects perfection.

• "Sorry, I mean…"
• "Let me rephrase that."
• "What I want to say is…"

10. Questions to ask the interviewer

Always prepare two or three questions. It shows interest and confidence.

• "What does a typical day look like in this role?"
• "How do you measure success in this position?"
• "What are the next steps in the process?"
• "How is the team organised?"
• "What do you enjoy most about working here?"

Avoid asking about holidays or salary in the very first interview unless the interviewer brings it up.

11. Closing the interview

• "Thank you very much for your time. I really enjoyed our conversation."
• "I'm very excited about this opportunity, and I look forward to hearing from you."
• "Have a great day."

After the interview, send a short thank-you email the same day: "Dear Ms. Smith, thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I enjoyed learning more about the role and the team, and I remain very interested in the position. Best regards, …". Read business emails that sound natural.

Common mistakes Spanish speakers make in interviews

Because many of my students are Spanish speakers, I see the same small mistakes again and again. They are easy to fix once you know them.

• "I have 35 years." In English, age uses the verb to be: "I am 35 (years old)." Better still, do not mention your age unless asked.
• "I am agree." The correct form is "I agree."
• "I work here since 2019." Use the present perfect: "I have worked here since 2019."
• "Actually I work at…" meaning "currently". In English, actually means "in fact". Say "Currently, I work at…"
• "I assisted to a course." Use attended: "I attended a course."
• "I'm very responsible of…" The preposition is for: "I'm responsible for…"
• Forgetting the subject: "Is very interesting." should be "It is very interesting."

Read more in false friends between Spanish and English.

Body language and attitude

Communication is not only words. A warm smile, eye contact (or looking at the camera online), a relaxed posture and a calm voice all tell the interviewer that you are confident. If you feel nervous, breathe slowly before you start and remember that the interviewer wants you to do well: they need to fill the position. Enthusiasm is also a language. A candidate with simple English and real enthusiasm often makes a better impression than a candidate with perfect grammar and no energy.

Grammar you really need

You can do a good interview with a small set of grammar structures used correctly:

• Present simple for your current job and routines: "I manage a team of six."
• Past simple for finished experiences: "I worked at… for three years."
• Present perfect for experience up to now: "I have worked in logistics since 2018." / "I've led several projects."
• Future with "would like" and "hope": "I would like to grow into a leadership role."
• Modal verbs for ability and politeness: "I can speak three languages." / "Could you tell me…?"

Pronunciation tips for interviews

• Speak a little more slowly than feels natural. Nerves make us speed up.
• Pronounce the endings of past verbs: worked (/t/), managed (/d/), created (/ɪd/).
• Stress the important words: "I reduced costs by twenty percent."
• Practise the names of your companies, your job titles and your technical vocabulary.

More in the pronunciation guide.

Online interviews: special tips

• Test your camera, microphone and connection the day before.
• Use headphones with a microphone for clearer sound.
• Place the camera at eye level and look at it when you speak.
• Choose a quiet place with good light in front of you.
• Keep a short note with your key stories and numbers, but do not read from it.

A one-week preparation plan

1. Day 1: research the company and the role; list the main requirements.
2. Day 2: write and practise your "Tell me about yourself" answer.
3. Day 3: prepare three achievement stories with the STAR structure.
4. Day 4: prepare answers to the ten common questions.
5. Day 5: record yourself answering; listen and improve.
6. Day 6: do a mock interview with a teacher or a friend.
7. Day 7: review, rest and prepare your clothes, equipment and documents.

How I help students prepare

In my interview preparation sessions, we start with the real job advertisement. We identify the questions you are likely to face, build your stories together, and then I play the interviewer, sometimes friendly, sometimes difficult. I give you feedback on content, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and body language. Many students tell me that after two or three mock interviews, the real interview felt easy. Read also preparing for a job interview in English and how English can improve your salary.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do a job interview in English with basic English?

Yes, if the role does not require advanced English and you prepare well. Focus on your introduction, your achievements, common questions and survival phrases.

What should I say if I don't understand a question?

Ask politely: "Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?" or "Just to make sure I understand, are you asking about…?". It is completely normal.

Should I memorise my answers?

Prepare key ideas, phrases and numbers, but do not memorise full texts. Practise saying them in different ways so you sound natural.

How long should my answers be?

Most answers should last between 30 seconds and two minutes. "Tell me about yourself" can take 60 to 90 seconds.

Is it OK to mention that I'm still improving my English?

Yes. Saying that you take regular classes shows honesty and commitment to growth, which interviewers appreciate.