Job interviews
How to face your first job interview in English
The short answer
To face your first job interview in English, prepare a short self-introduction and four or five key answers, then say them out loud every day for a week. On the day, speak a little slower than usual, ask the interviewer to repeat anything you didn’t catch, and remember that clear and honest matters more than perfect grammar.
By the Chappie team · Updated
Your first interview in English feels big because everything is new at once: the room, the questions, and speaking English under pressure. First interviews are also very predictable, which is the part nobody tells you. Most of what you need can be prepared, and practised, in one week.
Before the day: what to prepare
Read the job advert twice and underline the two or three skills they keep coming back to; your answers should keep coming back to them too. Know the company in three sentences: what they do, who buys from them, and one thing you read about them this month. Prepare five answers (tell me about yourself, why this job, why should we hire you, your strengths, and one question to ask them), and the ten questions you’ll almost certainly be asked covers the rest. Prepare two short stories from university, an internship, part-time work, sport or a society, one where you solved a problem and one where you worked in a team, because you can reuse them for half the questions. And pack the night before: copies of your CV and certificates, a pen, the address, and a plan to arrive early so you aren’t rushing.
The first 60 seconds: greeting and self-introduction
The first minute sets the tone, and it’s the easiest part to prepare, because it’s almost always the same.
“Good morning. Thank you for inviting me.”
As you walk in. Smile, and wait to be offered a seat.
“Nice to meet you.”
After they introduce themselves.
“I’m well, thank you. How are you?”
When they ask “How are you?” Asking back is polite.
“Yes, it was easy to find, thank you.”
Small talk about the journey. Keep it short and friendly.
Next comes “Tell me about yourself” or “Please introduce yourself”. Use three parts: what you’re doing now, one thing you’ve done that fits the job, and why you’re here. Keep it to about a minute.
Good morning. I’m Nadeesha Fernando. I graduated this year from the University of Kelaniya with a degree in accounting, and I’m continuing my professional exams. During my internship at an audit firm, I helped with stock counts for three clients, which taught me to be careful with detail. I’m applying for this trainee role because I want to build my career somewhere that trains its people well.
Why it works: now, proof, why this job. No family details, no list of every subject.
Good morning. My name is Kavin. I finished my A/Ls last year in the commerce stream, and since then I’ve worked part-time in my uncle’s mobile phone shop in Jaffna. I help customers choose phones and sort out problems with their connections, and I enjoy it. I’d like to join your customer service team to help people at a bigger scale and use my English every day.
Why it works: simple, honest English. You don’t need a degree to give a strong introduction.
For more examples and follow-up questions, see how to answer “Tell me about yourself”.
What should you do if you don’t understand a question?
This worries freshers more than anything, and it’s the easiest problem to solve. Asking once or twice is normal, and it shows you care about giving the right answer.
“Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?”
You didn’t hear it clearly.
“Could you say that a little more slowly, please?”
You heard it, but it was too fast.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch the last part.”
You got most of it.
“Do you mean at university, or in my internship?”
The question could mean two things.
“Just to check, you’re asking how I handle deadlines?”
Repeat it in your own words. It also gives you thinking time.
What not to do: nod and guess. A good answer to the wrong question still sounds like a wrong answer.
What if you get nervous or freeze?
Minds go blank in first interviews. It’s nerves, and it says nothing about your English. The next five seconds are what count.
- 1
Pause and breathe
Two seconds of silence feels long to you, but sounds calm to them.
- 2
Use a reset phrase
“That’s a good question. Let me think for a moment.” or “Let me start that again.”
- 3
Go back to your structure
Point, example, link to the job. If you only remember the first sentence, say that.
- 4
Slow down
Nerves make everyone speed up, and speed is where mistakes and filler words creep in.
Your accent is fine. Interviewers here hear Sri Lankan English every day; they need to understand you, and slowing down does more for that than any accent work. There is more in what to do when you freeze in English.
Can you prepare for an English interview in Sinhala or Tamil?
Yes, for the planning. Write your points in whichever language comes naturally, so you’re clear on what you want to say. Then practise saying the answers in English, out loud, until they come without translating in your head. Guides for Sinhala speakers and Tamil speakers show how.
How to close the interview well
The end is your last impression. Prepare it as carefully as the start.
“Yes, thank you. What does a good first three months look like in this role?”
When they ask if you have questions. Always have one ready.
“What are the next steps in the process?”
Shows you are serious, and tells you when to expect news.
“Thank you for your time. I really enjoyed learning about the role.”
As you stand up to leave.
Later that day, a short thank-you email to the person who invited you is a good habit: two or three lines, thanking them and saying you’re still interested.
A practice plan for the week before
| Day | What to do, out loud | Time |
|---|---|---|
| DayDay 1 | What to do, out loudWrite three points for your self-introduction. Say it five times. | Time15 minutes |
| DayDay 2 | What to do, out loudAdd “Why this job?” and “Why should we hire you?” Record yourself once and listen back. | Time15 minutes |
| DayDay 3 | What to do, out loudTell your two stories: a problem you solved and a team you worked in. | Time15 minutes |
| DayDay 4 | What to do, out loudAsk a friend or family member to interview you, in random order. | Time20 minutes |
| DayDay 5 | What to do, out loudPractise the hard moments: asking them to repeat, and restarting after a freeze. | Time15 minutes |
| DayDay 6 | What to do, out loudA full mock interview, from greeting to goodbye. Fix the weakest answer. | Time20 minutes |
| DayDay 7 | What to do, out loudSay your introduction twice, calmly. Pack your bag. Rest. | Time10 minutes |
Out loud is the important part. Answers practised silently feel ready, then disappear when someone is looking at you. For a routine to keep after the interview, see how to practise speaking English alone.
On days 4 to 6, Chappie, the English speaking app, can be the interviewer if you don’t have one handy. It asks, listens to the whole answer, and shows you what to fix; you say it again until it comes out cleanly, and nobody else hears the first attempts.
Practise it
Run a mock job interview in English and get feedback on every answer.
Questions people ask
How do I introduce myself in a job interview as a fresher?
In about a minute, say what you studied or are doing now, one project or experience that fits the job, and why you want this role. Skip family details unless they ask.
What should I say when I enter the interview room?
“Good morning. Thank you for inviting me.” Wait to be offered a seat, and reply to “How are you?” with “I’m well, thank you. How are you?”
Is it okay to ask the interviewer to repeat a question?
Yes. “Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?” is normal and polite, and much better than guessing.
Will my Sri Lankan accent be a problem in an English interview?
No. Interviewers need to understand you, not hear a foreign accent. Speaking a little slower and finishing your words clearly helps more than changing your accent.
How can I stop being nervous in an interview in English?
You can’t remove nerves completely, but practising out loud makes your answers familiar, so there is less to think about. Prepare one reset phrase for the moment your mind goes blank.