Job Interviews in English — Strategic Preparation
The job interview is one of the most challenging situations to speak in English. But with the right preparation, you can stand out.
The 7 Questions They Always Ask
| # | Question | Strategy |
|---|
| 1 | "Tell me about yourself." | 60 second professional summary |
| 2 | "What are your strengths?" | 3 qualities with examples |
| 3 | "What are your weaknesses?" | 1 real weakness + how you overcome it |
| 4 | "Why are you interested in this position?" | Research + alignment |
| 5 | "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" | Realistic and ambitious projection |
| 6 | "Tell me about a challenge you faced." | STAR Response |
| 7 | "Do you have any questions for us?" | 2-3 preguntas inteligentes |
The STAR Technique ⭐
For behavioral questions ("Tell me about a time when..."), use STAR:
| Letra | Significado | Ejemplo |
|---|
| S — Situation | Describe the context | "In my previous role at a marketing agency..." |
| T — Task | Tu responsabilidad | "I was responsible for launching a new product campaign..." |
| A — Action | what did you do | "I coordinated with the design team and implemented a new strategy..." |
| R — Result | The result | "As a result, we increased sales by 25% in three months." |
Vocabulario Profesional
Cualidades (Adjectives)
| English | Spanish | Ejemplo |
|---|
| reliable | confiable | "I'm a reliable team member." |
| proactive | proactivo | "I take a proactive approach." |
| detail-oriented | detallista | "I'm very detail-oriented." |
| adaptable | adaptable | "I'm adaptable to change." |
| team-player | teamwork | "I'm a strong team-player." |
Action Verbs (Power Verbs)
| Verbo | Spanish | Ejemplo |
|---|
| managed | I managed | "I managed a team of 10." |
| led | I led | "I led the marketing department." |
| implemented | I implemented | "I implemented a new system." |
| achieved | I managed | "I achieved a 20% increase." |
| developed | I developed | "I developed a training program." |
| coordinated | I coordinated | "I coordinated cross-team projects." |
| Frase | Uso |
|---|
| "I'm pleased to meet you." | Saludo inicial |
| "In my previous role..." | Talk about experience |
| "I'd be happy to elaborate." | Provide more details |
| "That's an excellent question." | Ganar tiempo |
| "Thank you for the opportunity." | Cierre |
💡 Tip: NEVER use informal reductions (gonna, wanna) in an interview. Always use complete and formal forms.