The global labor market has no borders anymore. Ukrainian specialists are increasingly being interviewed by international companies where English is the working language. And even if you are a super-specialist in your field, without the ability to speak English clearly and confidently, your chances of getting a job are sharply reduced.
English at a job interview is not about perfect grammar. It’s about whether the recruiter or technical interviewer will understand how you think, whether you can explain your decisions, and whether you can interact with an international team.
In this article, we will analyze:
● the differences between HR and technical interviews
● what English skills are important for interviews
● how to answer typical questions
● what words and phrases will help you sound confident;
● how to prepare so that you don’t look confused.
An HR interview is the first barrier. It tests not only English, but also soft skills: communication, motivation, and the ability to fit into a team.
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
3. Why do you want to work for our company?
4. Describe a challenge you faced at work and how you handled it.
5. Where do you see yourself in five years?
It is important not to memorize ready-made answers, but to have a structure. For example:
● Briefly: who you are, what experience you have.
Specifics: an example from life or work.
Conclusion: a positive conclusion.
Example:
“One of my strengths is adaptability. For example, when my team switched to a completely new tool last year, I quickly learned it and helped others onboard. I believe this skill will help me integrate smoothly into new projects.”
The main thing here is to prove that you can solve problems. But you need English to explain the logic:
● how you approached the problem
● why you chose this particular algorithm or technology
● how your solution works.
● IT: solve an algorithmic problem and explain your thought process in English.
Engineering: describe the process you have optimized.
Marketing: present a case study where the strategy has yielded results.
The formula Problem → Solution → Result works here.
“The problem was slow query performance. I optimized the database indexes, which reduced execution time from 15 seconds to 2. As a result, the system could handle more users simultaneously.”
1. Professional vocabulary. You should be fluent in the terms of your specialty.
2. Stable phrases for HR questions. In order not to get lost and start answering confidently.
3. Ability to paraphrase. If you forget a word, explain it in another way.
4. Pronunciation. Not an accent, but intelligibility.
5. The pace of speech. Calm and even, without fuss.
● I would describe myself as…
● One of my key strengths is…
● I’ m currently focusing on improving…
● What excites me about this role is…
● I’ m motivated by opportunities to…
● The main challenge was…
● I decided to approach it by…
● My solution was based on…
● This resulted in…
● If I had more time, I would improve it by…
1. Answering too briefly. To the question “Tell me about yourself ” they say: “I am a developer with 5 years of experience ” – and that’s it. You need at least 2-3 sentences with details.
2. They translate verbatim from Ukrainian. This results in strange phrases like “I have such experience ” instead of “I have experience in…”.
3. They focus on grammar. This is distracting. It is more important for recruiters to understand the essence.
4. Excessive modesty. English culture allows you to talk about achievements directly.
1. Make a list of typical HR and technical questions.
2. Write down your answers. Don’t cram, but make notes for reference.
3. Record yourself on a dictaphone. You will hear where you get confused and which words are “stuck”.
4. Find a partner or teacher. Role-playing interviews are the best training.
5. Go through several fake interviews. Even with an AI agent or a friend.
The secret is simple: don’t correct yourself in the middle of a sentence. If you make a mistake, finish the thought. The recruiter will understand the meaning.
Energy, confidence, and clarity of explanation are more important.
Phrases that save you if you get stuck:
● Let me rephrase that.
● What I mean is…
● Could you please clarify the question?
That’s a good question, let me think for a second.
● You have 3-4 sentences for Tell me about yourself.
● Ready-made answers to the “strengths and weaknesses”.
Examples of projects with a clear structure (Problem → Solution → Result).
● Vocabulary of your profession in English.
● Fallback phrases in case you forget a word.
English at an interview is not about perfect grammar. It’s about the ability to communicate your thoughts clearly and confidently. Therefore, preparing for an interview in English is very important. If you know the basic answers, practice professional vocabulary, and rehearse the interview situation at least a few times, you will have a huge advantage.
Every interview is a training session. Even if you don’t get an offer, the next one will be easier. And with the right preparation, English will no longer be a barrier and will become your weapon.
Prepared by ENGLISH.KH.UA
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, the White House website reported on Saturday.
“To foster unity, cultivate a common American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement in America’s interests, the Federal Government should designate one – and only one – official language. Establishing English as the official language will not only simplify communication, but will also reinforce shared national values and create a more cohesive and effective society. Accordingly, this order designates English as the official language of the United States,” the March 1 executive order reads.
The document emphasizes that “a policy of encouraging the study and adoption of our national language will make the United States a common home and enable new citizens to achieve the American dream.”
The executive order also repeals the 2000 order to improve access to services for people with limited English proficiency.
The Verkhovna Rada has enshrined the status of English as one of the languages of international communication in Ukraine, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of the Voice faction, said in a telegram.
According to him, 236 MPs voted in favor of Bill No. 9432 on the use of English in Ukraine at the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday.
As reported, according to the draft law, the state ensures compulsory study of English and promotes the study of other languages of international communication in educational institutions regardless of ownership.
In addition, the bill stipulates that preschool education institutions provide compulsory English language learning for children of older preschool age. At the same time, preschool education institutions shall ensure the mandatory use of English in the educational process for children of early, junior preschool and middle preschool age.
According to the draft law, a higher education institution has the right to decide to teach one, several or most disciplines, perform individual tasks and conduct control measures in English, which is clearly stated in the description of the educational program upon admission to the university.
The draft law also stipulates that English may also be used in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard as a language of international communication.
The draft law provides for the development and approval of a state targeted program to promote the study and use of English in Ukraine, which, in particular, should take into account the peculiarities of ensuring that cinemas (relevant cinematography entities) show foreign films in English in compliance with the requirements established by the Law “On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language”.
The draft law also stipulates that foreign films in English shall be screened on a reimbursable basis by cinematography entities on a voluntary basis, but in compliance with the minimum requirements.
In particular, each cinema hall in which a cinematography entity shows films must hold at least 8 demonstrations (public screenings) of films in English during a calendar month, with at least 2 demonstrations to be held during the week at any time on a weekend or on a working day with the start of the screening after 18:00.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada, which defines English as the language of international communication in Ukraine, and also promotes the study of English by Ukrainian citizens.
The corresponding bill, No. 9432, was sent to the Verkhovna Rada committee on Wednesday for consideration.
According to a comment by deputy chairman of the Humanitarian Policy Committee Yevgeniya Kravchuk, the bill also defines categories of positions for which candidates are required to speak English.
“In order to occupy a position, civil servants, prosecutors, persons in senior positions in the police will be required to pass an examination in English,” – said in a message published in the Telegram channel of the Verkhovna Rada.
In particular, emergency units will have to provide assistance to foreigners and persons who do not speak the state language, in English. In addition, medical professionals must also be able to provide assistance in English or with the help of an interpreter.
Under the bill, information in transportation must be dubbed in English; foreign films whose original language is English must be shown in theaters in their original language with subtitles in the state language.
In turn, the commander of the United Forces of the AFU Lieutenant General Sergei Naev said that Zelensky’s initiative to submit this bill to parliament is “very timely.”
“At the moment, servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are undergoing training in a number of European countries, participating in military maneuvers in the UK. The other day the Sea Breeze series of exercises started, in which the personnel and ship personnel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Navy are involved. A total of 24,000 Ukrainian servicemen have already been trained in EU countries,” said a statement published in the Telegram channel on Wednesday.
Naev noted that almost all technical documentation of weapons and military equipment supplied to Ukraine by partner countries is in English.
“I believe that if before the issue of military personnel learning English was a recommendation, now it should be enshrined at the legislative level,” the commander stressed.
The government of Ukraine is discussing granting English the status of the language of business communication in the country, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said.
“English can get the status of the language of business communication in Ukraine. We discussed this possibility at a government meeting,” Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel.
According to him, the Cabinet of Ministers is currently working on a relevant legislative initiative.
“English is now used in business communication throughout the civilized world, so granting it such a status in Ukraine will help develop business, attract investment and accelerate Ukraine’s European integration,” the prime minister added.
Shmyhal noted that the relevant ministries were given the task of developing proposals and drawing up relevant documents.
