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Job Interview - Language Barriers

For candidates whose primary language is not English, interviewing can be intimidating. While itle !II o" the #ivil $ights %ct o" &'() does not allow employers to re*uire that English is the only language used in the wor+place without compelling reasons, language di""iculties can cause problems during interviews. he importance o" your English "luency as a candidate depends in part on the ,ob and company. I" you are wor+ing with numbers or computer programming, re"ined English s+ills are less important. I" other colleagues spea+ your primary language, you need not rely as heavily on English. I" you are applying "or a ,ob as a manager or you will be interacting with English-spea+ing clients regularly, language "luency could be signi"icant. In addition to the ,ob itsel", language s+ills can pose barriers during interviews. Employers need to "eel li+e they can connect with you. Even i" you are "riendly and accomplished, interviewers will begin to "eel uncom"ortable i" they cannot communicate with you e""ectively. -eople "eel weird about themselves when they cannot understand you or are not con"ident that you understand them. I" interviewers "eel uncom"ortable around you, they will "eel uncom"ortable with you. he last thing you want to do is leave an interviewer with the impression that you are nice and talented, but that he could not tell i" you understood what he was saying. Feeling li+e you cannot e.press yoursel" well can also cause you to lose well-deserved and much needed con"idence. here are ways "or you to overcome these negative outcomes. Language di""iculties are best resolved by learning English very well. he more "luent you are, the better and more con"idently you can connect with the employer. I" you are still struggling with English, consider these other tips/ Before the interview:

0emori1e answers to common and di""icult *uestions a"ter having someone edit your responses "or grammar. Write down a "ew notes to yoursel" that you can re"er to during the interview i" you get intimidated. -repare and memori1e *uestions that you wish to as+ the interviewer. $emember that you are a *uali"ied person who spea+s more than one language-an accomplishment that many interviewers cannot claim "or themselves. I" you do not understand a *uestion during the interview, as+ the interviewer to clari"y the *uestion. 2ou might begin by saying, 3I want to ma+e sure that I understand what you mean. %re you saying. . .43 %ddress your language pro"iciency in the interview, mentioning to the interviewer how you ma+e certain that you understand instructions and giving e.amples o" wor+ing situations in which you e.celled despite limitations in English. 5o this casually i" possible. ell the employer about your plans to ta+e advanced English classes or tutoring in the evenings. a+e notes. 6ummari1e what the interviewer says at the end o" the interview, touching on the important responsibilities o" the ,ob and needs o" the company. Brie"ly repeat how you could meet these needs. In*uire into when you can e.pect to hear "rom the company. Be sure to write a than+ you note that highlights your "it with the position. $epeat what you have to o""er the company and what enthuses you about the company. Be sure to have someone edit the note "or grammar be"ore you send it. his way, the lasting impression o" you should "ocus on your abilities and not your English.

During the interview:

After the interview: