Why does confidence matter?
A job interview is not only about what you can do, but also about how you speak. If you talk clearly and with confidence, you can make a great impression. At Intrepid English, we believe confidence is something you can learn and practise.
This is why in this podcast we wanted to share some top tips on how to improve your confidence when speaking in English.
Common problems for learners:
- Feeling nervous: It’s easy to forget words when you are stressed. It happens to us all.
- Simple words: Saying only “good” or “nice” instead of stronger words.
- Messy answers: Talking without clear examples or organisation.
Easy tips to speak better in interviews
1. Get Ready: Practise in advance the typical questions such as, “Tell me about yourself.” My top tip is record yourself giving these answers out loud. If you still feel your answers are not up to the standard you would like, then get in touch to start the Job Interview Preparation course with an Intrepid English teacher to practise a range of vocabulary and fine-tune your pronunciation.
2. Use the STAR Method: This method helps you structure your answers by giving Situation, Task, Action and Result. For example:“When I worked on a project (Situation), I was asked to… (Task). I decided to… (Action), and in the end… (Result).” Watch my Ask Us Anything video to see how to use the S.T.A.R method effectively:
3. Use stronger, better words to have a greater impact: By making small shifts in the words you use, you can dramatically improve the impression you give in English. For example:
- good → effective / strong
- worked on → helped with / finished
- helped → supported / guided
Be sure to read my last article where I gave more help on how to create a stronger impact when speaking in English.
4. Don’t forget to ask questions too! This is really important to show your interest in the job position. You can show your enthusiasm by asking things like:
- “How do you know if someone is doing well in this job?”
- “Are there chances to learn and grow here?”
5. Practise speaking: This may sound obvious but you need to practise saying your answers out loud as much as possible. You need to record yourself and listen back as you are your own worse critic. Always try to speak clearly, use pauses, and smile as this makes a difference in how confident you sound.
One final message:
Confidence comes with practice. The more you prepare your words and answers, the more ready you will feel. With practice, you can show your best self in any interview.
If you already an Intrepid English member try the Job Interview Preparation Course in our Academy to learn step by step: from strong answers to smart questions.
If you are not already a member and would like help to prepare for a job interview, you can book a £1 trial lesson and see which membership will suit you to have one-on-one lessons with an Intrepid English teacher and access to our Academy full of courses to empower you.