Interview Tips for Immigrants and Foreign Workers

Candidates new to the North American job market face a great challenge. They must compete in a new country where they may not be so familiar with the local culture and work environment. Where English is not their first language, these candidates new to North America face an even greater challenge. We have interviewed many foreign workers who are technically brilliant, but don't interview well. While our job interview courses provided a more comprehensive training, below are a few common mistakes that we have seen that can be prevented.

Understanding the question.

Understanding the interview question is critical to answering it correctly. Make sure you understand the question completely before you attempt to answer it. I have seen many candidates, who did not answer an interview question correctly because they misunderstood what they were being asked. If English is not your first language, here are some tips you can use to help you during an interview.

If you did not understand the interview question asked, don't be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify the question. Here it is your responsibility to request clarification, until you understand the question. Asking the interviewer to clarify the question is much better than attempting to answer a question that you misunderstood.

Writing notes during an interview can help you understand the interview question and prepare your answer. If you could write faster or if you feel more comfortable writing in your native language than do so. Take note of the key items in the question that you need to address and jot down key answer points. This will help you ensure that you do not forget important points in your answer. This technique is especially useful with complex more difficult questions. When taking notes, do not transcribe the entire question and answer, rather write down a few key words that you will address.

I can recall an attendee from one of our interview workshops who was a very qualified Telecom Engineer but whose English was not as strong. I had no doubt that he was a strong candidate but sometimes he misunderstood the question and provided an incomplete answer since he rushed when responding. Through our interview workshop, we provided this candidate some personalized answering strategies that included taking notes. He improved his interview skills dramatically.

If the interviewer offers you a drink, take it. It is not impolite to accept the offer of a drink in an interview. Believe me after 20 minutes or more of talking you will be glad you had a glass of water especially if you are nervous and your mouth becomes dry. You will perform better when you are well-hydrated. It is good practice to take a sip before answering a difficult interview question, since you will gain a few precious seconds to gather your thoughts before answering.

Eye contact

In some Eastern cultures direct eye contact with one’s superiors or elders is avoided, since it is a sign of disrespect. In an interview in North America, the exact opposite is true. Direct eye contact, signals to the interviewer that you are honest, trustworthy and dependable. While we are on this topic of body language, don't forget that a smile communicates to your interviewer your warmth and friendliness. So remember eye contact and a smile goes a long way in developing report with your interviewer.

Cultural awareness

Understanding the work culture that you are interested in becoming a part of what help you interview better. We have interviewed many candidates whose answers could be significantly improved with this understanding. For example, in our job interview coaching sessions with a foreign candidate I ask a standard interview question to assess conflict resolution:

“Describe a time when you had a conflict at work and how you handled it?”

Not knowing how to respond, not knowing that workplace conflict is accepted and acknowledged as part of work, many times these candidates would respond by saying simply that “I have never had or I do not have conflicts with others or I get along with everyone”. In our debrief, these candidates would explain that in their cultures having a conflict at work is considered extremely negative. Unfortunately, this type of answer does not provide an interviewer the information needed to assess your conflict resolution skills. The result is not getting any score or credit for that question which puts you at a disadvantage when compared against other candidates.

Understanding the differences identifying potential conflicts is as important as knowing the positives you bring to the table. Celebrate the differences that you bring that compliment a workplace. Since progressive employers and employers who want progress understand different viewpoints and backgrounds are the building blocks of innovation.

So if you are new to North America and the Western work culture, take some time to learn about the work culture that you are entering into. Learn about the local work culture of the company, the city, and the country that you are interested in becoming a part of. Look for similarities, differences, complements and conflicts. By understanding the local culture, you will improve your interview responses significantly.

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