Interviews are nerve-wracking at the best of times and doing them in English can feel like walking a tightrope while juggling teacups. The good news? Most interviewers ask a familiar set of questions. And if you know the “hidden rules”, the ones no-one bothers to tell you, you can turn every answer into a confident, professional performance.

At LanguageWize, we’ve helped professionals from all over the world prepare for interviews in fluent, natural English. Here’s our take on 10 common questions, along with a few insider tips that will help you sound polished without sounding rehearsed.

1. Tell me about yourself

Don’t just recite your CV. Focus on your professional story in three quick points: who you are, what you’ve done, and why you’re here.

Example:

“I’m a project manager with over seven years’ experience in the renewable energy sector. I’ve led international teams, delivered high-value projects, and I’m passionate about creating sustainable solutions.”

The Rule of Three: People remember things best in threes. More than three adjectives or examples and you risk overwhelming them – or losing their attention.

Vocabulary Boost: passionate about, deliver results, track record – all sound natural and professional in interviews.

2. Why do you want to work here?

Show you’ve done your homework. Link your skills to the company’s mission, values, or recent projects.

Example:
“I admire your commitment to innovation and sustainability, especially your recent offshore wind project. My background in stakeholder engagement means I can contribute directly to your future goals.”

Vocabulary Boost: commitment to, background in, contribute to – versatile phrases for explaining your motivation.

3. What are your strengths?

Pick only three, the most relevant to the job, and support each with a short example.

Example:

“I’m organised, adaptable, and collaborative. In my last role, these skills helped me restructure project timelines, respond to client changes quickly, and strengthen team morale.”

Vocabulary Boost: organised, adaptable, collaborative – adjectives that carry weight in most professional contexts.

4. What is your biggest weakness?

Choose something genuine but not fatal for the role and explain how you’re improving it.

Example:

“I used to be overly cautious with decision-making, but I’ve been working on trusting my professional judgement and acting more quickly when needed.”

Vocabulary Boost: overly cautious, professional judgement, acting more quickly – phrases that soften weaknesses while showing progress.

5. Tell me about a time you worked in a team

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Keep it to three key actions so your story is clear and easy to follow.

Example:

“Last year, our team had a tight deadline for a client proposal. I coordinated tasks, kept communication clear, and supported teammates when workloads spiked – we delivered two days early and secured the contract.”

Vocabulary Boost: coordinated, kept communication clear, secured the contract – action-focused verbs for teamwork examples.

6. Describe a challenge you’ve faced at work

Interviewers want resilience, not drama. Frame it as a problem you solved, not one you suffered through.

Example:
“When a key supplier failed to deliver on time, I quickly sourced an alternative, renegotiated costs, and kept the project on track without exceeding the budget.”

Vocabulary Boost: sourced an alternative, renegotiated, kept the project on track – problem-solving vocabulary.

7. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Show ambition without sounding like you’ll outgrow the role too soon.

Example:

“I’d like to take on more leadership responsibilities, ideally within your company, and contribute to strategic decision-making on larger projects.”

Vocabulary Boost: take on responsibilities, contribute to, strategic decision-making – great for expressing career goals.

8. Why should we hire you?

This is your mini sales pitch. Keep it focused on three strengths that match their needs.

Example:

“I have a proven track record of delivering projects on time, strong client relationship skills, and a genuine passion for this industry.”

Vocabulary Boost: proven track record, client relationship skills, genuine passion – persuasive phrases for closing your case.

9. How do you handle pressure?

Give one real example and highlight the outcome.

Example:
“During a product launch, a last-minute technical issue arose. I stayed calm, coordinated with the IT team, and we resolved it without delaying the event.”

Vocabulary Boost: stayed calm, coordinated with, without delaying – positive under-pressure vocabulary.

10. Do you have any questions for us?

Always say yes, it shows interest and initiative. Avoid pay or holiday questions in the first interview.

Examples:

• “What are the top priorities for this role in the first three months?”
• “How would you describe the team culture here?”

Vocabulary Boost: priorities, role, team culture – terms that show strategic interest in the company.

Other Interview Rules, No-One Tells You

Less is more – Long answers can sound nervous or unfocused. Aim for 30–60 seconds per answer unless telling a story.

Mirror their language – If they say “clients” instead of “customers”, do the same. It builds subtle rapport.

Smile when you speak – Even on Zoom, it changes the tone of your voice.

Pause before answering – You’ll sound thoughtful, not uncertain.

Never go over three points – The rule of three works because it’s memorable, digestible, and feels complete.

The takeaway

Clear, confident English isn’t about using the longest words, it’s about structure, focus, and delivering answers your interviewer will remember.

That’s exactly what we teach at LanguageWize. We’ll work with you to refine your answers, polish your pronunciation, and practise until you sound natural and confident. The result? You’ll walk into your next interview ready to impress – and ready to get the job.

📩 Email: heidi@languagewize.com

📱 WhatsApp: +27 78 528 0755

LanguageWize – Helping You Speak Success in Every Interview

Heidi Nel

14 August 2025