Preparing for an interview

4+
Intermediate
📙 Teens & Adults

Learn how to effectively prepare for an interview by researching the company, practicing responses, and showcasing your skills and achievements.

NOTE: THIS TOPIC CAN BE TAUGHT IN 2-3 LESSONS

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Preparing for an interview

Part 1

Warm-up

💡 Directions

Answer the questions

Q1

What did we discuss in the last lesson?

Q2

Do you often prepare for interviews?

Q3

What will you do, or what did you do, to prepare for an interview?

Part 2

Vocabulary

💡 Directions

Read the word, its’ meaning, and the examples
Then make up your own sentences using the word.

Student can skip the words they already know.

genuine

adjective

/ˈdʒen.ju.ɪn/

attire

noun

/əˈtaɪr/

pertinent

adjective

/əˈtaɪr/

NOTE

Make up your own sentences using the words.

Part 3

Reading comprehension

💡 Directions

Read the tips.

Teacher helps student correct their pronunciation.

Preparing for an interview is essential for making a strong impression. Here are key steps:

Research the company

Understand the company’s mission, values, and recent news. This helps tailor your responses and shows genuine interest.

Understand the role

Review the job description and prepare examples of your relevant skills and achievements.

Practice questions

Practice common interview questions and prepare structured answers for behavioral questions.

Prepare your questions

Have thoughtful questions ready for the interviewer about the company and role.

Dress appropriately

Choose professional attire that matches the company culture.

Plan your journey

For in-person interviews, plan your route and arrive early.

Bring documents

Bring multiple copies of your resume and any other relevant documents.

Stay calm

Stay calm and confident. Take deep breaths and listen carefully.

By following these steps, you can confidently approach your interview and make a positive impression.

Part 4

Watch video with teacher

💡 Directions

Watch the video with teacher, and try to follow the way which Jane answers

Questions:

  • How are you doing?
  • Are you fresher/junior/middle/senior _______?
  • Tell me about you?
  • Tell me what is your strength?
  • Where do you see yourself, in next five/ten years?
  • What does success mean to you ______?
  • Can you work well under pressure?
  • How do you make important decisions?
  • Do you have any question for me?

Student will try to answer this question by student’s style

Part 5

Common interview questions and answers

💡 Directions

The teacher guides the student on how to answer common interview questions, and then the student will try to answer each one by themselves.

  1. Tell me about yourself?
  2. Tell me what is your strength?
  3. Where do you see yourself, in the next five/ten years?
  4. Can you work well under pressure?
  5. Why should I hire you?
  6. Do you have any questions for me?

Guide how to answer

Question 1: Tell me about yourself?

  • STUDENT: Answer the question.
  • TEACHER: Guide the student to follow these steps.
  • STUDENT: Re-answer following the guide.

Answering “Tell me about yourself” in an IT job interview can be your opportunity to make a strong first impression. Here’s a structured approach:

  1. Background: Brief overview of education and professional background.

    • Example: “I have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and have been passionate about technology from a young age…”
  2. Relevant experience: Describe work experience, focusing on roles and projects pertinent to the job.

    • Example: “Over the past five years, I’ve worked as a software developer, mainly focusing on backend systems and improving database performance…”
  3. Skills: Mention specific skills and technologies relevant to the job description, highlight recent training or certifications.

    • Example: “I’m skilled in programming languages such as Java and Python, and I’ve recently earned a certification in cloud computing…”
  4. Achievements/projects: Discuss significant achievements or projects that demonstrate expertise.

    • Example: “One of my key projects was developing a scalable e-commerce platform that successfully handled peak traffic times during sales events…”
  5. Alignment with company: Explain why you’re interested in the role and how your goals align with the company’s mission/values.

    • Example: “I’m particularly excited about this role because it aligns with my interest in developing user-centric software solutions, and I admire your company’s commitment to innovation…”
  6. Current situation: Explain why you’re looking for a new opportunity and your career goals.

    • Example: “I’m now looking to take on new challenges and further develop my skills in a forward-thinking environment like yours…”

Remember to keep your answer concise (about 1-2 minutes), focused on professional details, and tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Full answer:

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and began my career with internships that sparked my passion for technology. Over the past five years, I’ve worked as a software developer, mainly focusing on backend systems and database performance improvement.

In my recent role at XYZ Corporation, I optimized database systems, increasing query efficiency by 30%. I’m skilled in Java and Python, and I recently earned a certification in cloud computing. One of my key project was developing a scalable e-commerce platform that successfully handled peak traffic during sales events.

I’m particularly excited about this role because it aligns with my interest in developing user-centric software solutions, and I admire your company’s commitment to innovation. I’m now looking to take on new challenges and further develop my skills in a forward-thinking environment like yours to further develop my skills and contribute meaningfully.

NOW, STUDENT TRIES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION

Question 2: Tell me what is your strength?

  • STUDENT: Answer the question.
  • TEACHER: Guide the student to follow these steps.
  • STUDENT: Re-answer following the guide.

When answering the question “What is your strength?” in an IT job interview, it’s important to focus on qualities that are directly relevant to the role you’re applying for. Here’s a structured approach to crafting your response:

1. Identify relevant strengths:

Choose strengths that align well with the job description and the company’s needs. These could be technical skills, soft skills, or a combination of both.

2. Provide evidence (cung cấp bằng chứng):

Support each strength with examples from your past work experience, education, or projects to demonstrate how it has been beneficial in real-world scenarios.

3. Link to the job:

Explain how your strengths would enable you to excel in the specific role you’re applying for.

4. Keep it balanced:

Mention one or two key strengths rather than a long list. Depth is more impactful than breadth in this case.

Example:

A strong point of mine is being very detail-oriented, which helped me spot bugs early in my last QA job. For example, I found a big error in how payments were processed before it caused any real problems. I’m also good with test automation tools; using Selenium, I helped cut down testing time by almost half, making things faster. Plus, I communicate well, making sure bugs are clearly reported and fixed. These skills, along with my eagerness to keep learning, mean I can really help maintain the quality of your products.

Remember to be confident and genuine when discussing your strengths, as authenticity can be a compelling factor in an interviewer’s assessment.

NOW, STUDENT TRIES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION

Question 3: Where do you see yourself, in the next five/ten years?

  • STUDENT: Answer the question.
  • TEACHER: Guide the student to follow these steps.
  • STUDENT: Re-answer following the guide.

When answering “Where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?” in an IT job interview, you should focus on your career aspirations, how they align with the company’s growth, and your commitment to professional development. Here’s a structured guide:

  1. Reflect on your career goals:

Think about where you genuinely want to be in your career in the next five to ten years in the IT industry.

  1. Align with the company:

Research the company’s mission, values, and growth plans so you can align your answer with the direction the company is heading.

  1. Emphasize learning and growth:

Show that you are committed to continuous learning and professional development, which are crucial in the ever-evolving IT field.

  1. Mention leadership and contribution:

If you aspire to take on more responsibility, mention your interest in leadership or in making significant contributions to the company.

  1. Stay flexible and realistic:

While being ambitious, also communicate your openness to new experiences and your understanding that career paths can be dynamic.

Here is an example response for a Business Analyst:

In the next five years, I see myself growing into a more senior business analyst role, where I can take on larger projects and have a deeper impact on business outcomes. I’m eager to continue developing my skills in data analysis and project management to contribute to strategic decisions. I also see myself leading a team, as I enjoy mentoring and helping others develop their skills…..

Remember to tailor your response to the position and the company you are interviewing with, and ensure that your long-term career goals are a good fit for the direction the company is heading.

NOW, STUDENT TRIES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION

Question 4: Can you work well under pressure?

  • STUDENT: Answer the question.
  • TEACHER: Guide the student to follow these steps.
  • STUDENT: Re-answer following the guide.

Responding to the question “Can you work well under pressure?” requires a blend of honesty and strategy. Here’s how you can structure your answer for an IT job interview:

  1. Acknowledge the reality of pressure:

IT environments often have high-pressure situations, such as tight deadlines or critical system outages. Recognize that this is part of the job.

  1. Share specific examples:

Provide clear instances from your past experience where you successfully managed work under pressure. This could include handling urgent bug fixes, meeting tight project deadlines, or working through a critical system update with a limited timeframe.

  1. Describe your approach:

Detail how you handle pressure effectively. This might involve breaking down tasks into manageable parts, prioritizing work, maintaining a positive attitude, and using stress-reduction techniques.

  1. Highlight positive outcomes:

Discuss the results of working under pressure, like meeting a critical delivery date, resolving a high-priority issue, or helping the team overcome a challenging period.

  1. Reflect personal growth and learning:

Mention what you’ve learned from high-pressure situations and how this has improved your professional skills.

Here is an example response for an IT job interview:

Yes, I can work well under pressure, which I believe is an essential skill in IT. For example, in my previous role, we were faced with a critical server crash during a major client’s product launch. I prioritized the tasks at hand, collaborated closely with my team, and focused on clear communication to ensure we were all working towards a solution. I stayed calm and methodical throughout the process, which helped us restore services within a tight deadline.

The experience not only helped me develop stronger problem-solving skills but also taught me the importance of maintaining composure under stress. It was a reminder that even under pressure, attention to detail and teamwork are key to successful outcomes. I’ve learned to see high-pressure situations as opportunities to challenge myself and grow professionally.”

NOW, STUDENT TRIES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION

Question 5: Why should I hire you?

  • STUDENT: Answer the question.
  • TEACHER: Guide the student to follow these steps.
  • STUDENT: Re-answer following the guide.
  1. Match skills: Quickly link your top skills to the job’s requirements.
  2. Unique strength: Mention one thing that makes you stand out.
  3. Proven results: Give one brief example of a relevant success.
  4. Company fit: Show you’re excited about how you fit with the company.
  5. Close confidently: Finish by expressing your readiness to contribute.

Example:

You should hire me because my skills in [key skill] match what you need for this role. I’ve successfully [describe a relevant achievement] before, and I’m really excited about what your company is doing in [company’s field of work]. I’m ready to jump in and start contributing from day one.

NOW, STUDENT TRIES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION

Question 6: Do you have any questions for me?

You should research about the company, and prepare some questions to ask

Example:

Thank you for the opportunity to ask questions. I’ve done some research on the company and the role, and I’m really excited about the prospect of working here. I do have a few questions that I’d love to get your insights on.

  • Question,…

 

NOW, STUDENT TRIES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION

Other questions, student can read/study at home in the pdf file that Enrich English already sent to you

1

Currently, Are you working for another company?

2

Why did you leave your previous job?

3

What is your salary at your previous/current company?

4

What salary do you expect?

5

How do you make important decisions?

6

How long do you plan to work for our company?

7

Are you comfortable with working overtime?

8

What do you think about business trips? For example, working in India for about 2-3 months.

9

What do you think you need to improve about yourself?

10

What do you know about us?

11

Tell me about a time you faced a difficult situation and how you handled it.

Part 6

Questions focus on each job title

💡 Directions

The student will prepare the answers at home and will try to answer the questions in the mock interview lesson.

Student just only choose the role which related to their role.

For Tester (Quality Control)

Q1

Can you describe the process you follow when you start testing a new application or feature?

Q2

How do you prioritize which tests to run when time is limited?

Q3

Can you give an example of a challenging bug you found and how you reported it to the development team?

For Business Analyst (BA)

Q1

How do you go about gathering and analyzing requirements for a new project or feature?

Q2

Can you describe a time when you had to manage a difficult stakeholder during a project?

Q3

How do you ensure that the solutions you propose meet both customer needs and business objectives?

For UI/UX Designer

Q1

Can you walk us through your design process, from understanding user needs to final design delivery?

Q2

How do you handle user feedback or testing that contradicts your design decisions?

Q3

Could you provide an example of a complex design problem you faced and how you solved it?

For Product Manager

Q1

Can you describe a product you successfully brought to market and the role you played in its development?

Q2

How do you prioritize features for development and handle requests from various stakeholders?

Q3

Tell us about a time when you had to make a difficult product decision and how you approached it.

For Front-end developer

Q1

Can you discuss your experience with responsive design and provide examples of challenges you’ve faced?

Q2

How do you ensure your code is maintainable and scalable when working on a large web application?

Q3

What are the most important considerations when optimizing a website for performance?

Review

💡 Directions

Let’s review the lesson with teacher

1

Know some common interview questions & learn how to answer them

2

Some questions for each role, then prepare by yourself for next lesson (mock interview)

3

Tips of preparing for an interview

See you next lesson

Homework

💡 Directions

Do homework

Please prepare your answer with common questions

And practice with teacher in next lesson (a mock interview)

EnrichEnglish Teacher1