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Useful English Phrases for Job Interviews

You don't need perfect English for an interview. You need a few strong phrases for each part: greeting, answering, asking for time, asking questions and saying goodbye.

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Your goal

I can use polite phrases to start an interview, answer questions, ask for help when I don't understand, and end the interview well. (CEFR A2–B1: social and functional language)

Sample dialogue

Sample dialogue: A2 (simpler)

Interviewer

Hello, nice to meet you.

You

Nice to meet you too. Thank you for inviting me.

Interviewer

What hours can you work?

You

Sorry, could you repeat that, please?

Interviewer

What hours can you work?

You

I can work in the morning and on weekends.

Interviewer

Do you have any questions?

You

Yes. When can I start?

Key phrases

  • Start

    Thank you for inviting me.

  • Start

    It's nice to meet you.

  • Time to think

    That's a good question. Let me think for a moment.

  • Not understood

    Sorry, could you repeat that, please?

  • Not understood

    Do you mean…?

    Do you mean my last job?

  • Answer

    In my last job, I…

  • Answer

    For example,…

  • Ask

    What would a typical day look like?

  • Ask

    What are the next steps?

  • End

    Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Common mistakes

  • What?

    Sorry, could you repeat that, please?

    'What?' sounds rude in English.

  • I didn't understand nothing.

    I didn't understand that part.

    Use only one negative.

  • No questions.

    Yes, what are the next steps?

    Asking a question shows interest.

  • Bye.

    Thank you for your time. Have a good day.

    End politely and warmly.

Speak it: your turn

  1. Repeat: Say every phrase in the table once, slowly and clearly.
  2. Adapt: Answer: 'How would you handle a busy day?' Start with 'Let me think for a moment.'
  3. Your turn: Practise a full mini-interview: greeting, one answer, one question, goodbye.

Practise this question

“How would you handle a busy day?”

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FAQ

What should I say at the start of an interview?

Say 'Nice to meet you' and 'Thank you for inviting me.' Smile and wait for the interviewer to sit or start.

What if I don't understand a question?

It's OK. Say 'Sorry, could you repeat that, please?' or 'Do you mean…?' Interviewers prefer this to a wrong answer.

What questions can I ask the interviewer?

Ask about the job and the next steps, for example 'What would a typical day look like?' or 'What are the next steps?'

How do I end the interview?

Say 'Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.'

Related practice