You’ve prepared. You know your CV inside out. Your English is good, maybe very good. Then the interviewer asks something you didn’t expect, and your mind goes blank.
If that sounds familiar, here’s the good news: in most cases the problem isn’t your English. It’s pressure. A job interview in English asks you to think, sell yourself and speak a second language at the same time, while someone evaluates you. That is a communication challenge, not a grammar test, and it can be trained.
I work with international professionals in Barcelona who face exactly this. This is how we prepare.
Why good English speakers freeze in interviews
Three things usually happen at once:
- Your brain is doing two jobs. One part is thinking about the answer. The other is building sentences in English. Under pressure, the second job takes over and the first one suffers.
- You judge yourself harder. In a second language, every small mistake feels bigger than it is. You may notice every small mistake, even when it has little effect on how clearly you’re communicating.
- Scripts break. Memorised answers collapse the moment a question arrives phrased differently from the one you practised.
That discomfort is normal, and it has little to do with ability. I wrote more about it in why speaking up feels uncomfortable.
Prepare stories, not scripts
Instead of memorizing 30 answers, prepare three or four real stories from your work. Most interview questions can be answered with one of them:
- A problem you solved.
- A time you led or influenced others.
- A mistake and what you learned from it.
- A result you are proud of, with a number if possible.
Give each story a simple shape: the situation, what you had to do, what you actually did and the result. Recruiters call this the STAR method, and many international companies expect it.
Then practice each story out loud in 60 to 90 seconds, using different words every time. Remember the key points, not the sentences. That is what lets you adapt when the question changes.
The same story can often help you answer several different questions. What matters is knowing the experience well enough to adapt it to what the interviewer is actually asking.
Common interview questions in English (and what they are really asking)
| Question | What they want to know | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Tell me about yourself. | Can you summarize your value clearly? | Go beyond your CV. Use relevant experiences or turning points to show what has shaped you and what makes you stand out. |
| Why do you want to work here? | Did you do your research? Do you fit? | One specific thing about the company plus how it connects to your experience. |
| What are your strengths? | Can you back up your claims? | One strength, one short story as proof. |
| What is your biggest weakness? | Are you self-aware? | A real weakness and what you are doing about it. |
| Tell me about a time you faced a challenge. | How do you act under pressure? | Use one of your prepared stories. |
| Do you have any questions for us? | Are you really interested? | Always have two or three ready about the team or the role. |
The first 90 seconds: “Tell me about yourself”
This question sets the tone for the interview, and it is one of the questions you can prepare particularly well.
Avoid simply walking the interviewer through your CV. They already have it in front of them. Instead, think about the experiences and turning points that have brought you to where you are now.
What would help them understand you and remember you?
You might include:
• What you do now and the value you bring
• A turning point or experience that influenced your professional direction
• Something distinctive about the way you work
• Why this particular opportunity makes sense as your next step
A short story or specific moment can make your introduction more natural and memorable. It also gives you something real to talk about, which can be easier than trying to reproduce a perfectly memorized answer in a second language.
How you introduce yourself says a lot before you get to the details. I explored this in how we introduce ourselves matters.
When you don’t understand the question
Asking for clarification is not a weakness. It shows you care about giving the right answer. Keep these phrases ready:
- “Sorry, could you repeat the question?”
- “Just to make sure I understand, are you asking about…?”
- “Could you give me an example of what you mean?”
- “That’s a good question. Let me think for a second.”
A short pause before answering reads as thoughtful, not lost. For more techniques, see how to answer questions in English under pressure.
When you can’t find the word
It will happen, and it is fine. Don’t stop in the middle of the sentence to search for the perfect word. Describe it instead: “It’s the kind of report that…” or “the person responsible for…”.
Focus on getting your meaning across rather than finding the perfect word. Keep communicating instead of stopping in the middle of your answer to search for it.
Online interviews in English
Video adds its own layer of difficulty: delays, no body language, and you can see your own face. A few adjustments help:
- Place the camera at eye level and look at the lens when you make your key points.
- Pay attention to your pace, particularly if pressure makes you speed up.
- Leave a brief pause after the interviewer finishes, so you don’t talk over them with the delay.
- Avoid reading notes on screen. It shows in your eyes and in your voice.
Interviewing with an international company in Barcelona
Many interviews in Barcelona happen in English with interviewers who are not native speakers either. They are listening for clarity and confidence, not a perfect accent. Two things make a difference:
- Say “I”, not only “we”. Teamwork matters, but the interviewer needs to know what you did. Many professionals undersell themselves here.
- Be concrete. Numbers, results and examples travel better across cultures than general statements.
Presence in a second language is a skill in itself. I explain it in executive presence in a second language.
How to practice in the week before
- Record yourself answering five likely questions and listen once. Watch the recording back and identify what is working and what you want to change. Then try again.
- Practice with someone who interrupts you and asks follow-up questions.
- Rehearse the first 30 seconds of each story. The rest will follow.
- The day before, stop practicing answers and prepare your questions for them.
Practice, rehearse and record yourself. Then watch yourself back. Recording yourself gives you the opportunity to see and hear what other people experience when you communicate, and to decide what you want to adjust before the real interview.
Frequently asked questions
How can I prepare for a job interview in English?
Prepare three or four real stories from your work, practise telling them out loud with different words each time, and get ready for the most common questions. Rehearse with someone who can ask unexpected follow-up questions.
What if my English isn’t perfect?
It doesn’t need to be. Interviewers look for clear communication and confidence. Short sentences, concrete examples and calm pauses work better than complex vocabulary.
Is it OK to ask the interviewer to repeat a question?
Yes. Asking for clarification shows that you want to give the right answer. Use a phrase like “Just to make sure I understand, are you asking about…?”
How long should my answers be?
Around 60 to 90 seconds for most answers, and up to two minutes for a story about a challenge or a result. If the interviewer wants more detail, they will ask.
Preparing for an important interview in English?
If you have an interview coming up and want to walk in feeling like yourself, we can prepare it together: your stories, your first 90 seconds and the questions that worry you most. I work with professionals in Barcelona and online, in English and Spanish.
Message me on WhatsApp or read more about bilingual coaching for international professionals in Barcelona.
