This is key for you to understand before you walk into that interview room.
You know how to do the job. You've done it before. You may have even taught other people how to do it.
But now you're sitting in an interview and suddenly feel as though you look incompetent because you didn't understand a question about a job you know how to do.
The problem may simply be the way the question was asked.
It didn't sound like the way you've heard it before or the way you've been practicing answering it.
Now what do you do?
Here's what NOT to do
Don't guess.
If you don't understand the question, don't guess what the interviewer is asking and start answering.
You may end up giving a perfectly good answer to the wrong question.
Now you're talking, the interviewer is listening, and somewhere in the middle you realize you're both “on a different page.”
That's exactly what you want to avoid.
Here's what you CAN do
Ask for clarification.
It's professional, and it shows that you want to understand the question before answering it.
There are several ways you can do this.
Ask them to repeat the question
“I'm sorry, could you repeat the question, please?”
Maybe you simply didn't hear part of it. Give yourself another opportunity to listen before answering.
Ask them to say it differently
“Would you mind rephrasing the question?”
This is particularly useful when you understand the individual words but don't understand what the interviewer is actually asking.
Check what you think you heard
“Just to make sure I understand, are you asking about my experience managing a team?”
This is a great way to check your understanding without guessing.
Ask about an unfamiliar word
“I'm sorry, could you explain what you mean by ‘stakeholder’ in this context?”
You don't have to pretend you understand a word when you don't.
You may actually know the concept very well but know it by another word or phrase.
Give yourself some thinking time
Sometimes you understand the question perfectly. You just need a few seconds to think.
You can say:
“That's a good question. Let me think about that for a moment.”
A short pause can give you time to organize your thoughts before you answer.
Sometimes you understand the words, but not the question
This is where interview English can become difficult.
You may understand every individual word in a question but still not understand what the interviewer is really asking you to talk about.
For example, the interviewer says:
“Tell me about a time when you had to deal with competing priorities.”
You may know the words competing and priorities, but what does the interviewer actually want to know?
In simpler English, the question means:
“Tell me about a time when you had several important things to do at the same time. How did you decide what to do first?”
Now the question feels very different.
You probably have an example.
The problem wasn't your experience. It was understanding the language of the question.
Learn to recognize interview language
Interview questions aren't always asked in everyday English.
You might hear:
“Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict.”
Think
“Tell me about a disagreement or problem you helped solve.”
Or:
“How do you manage competing deadlines?”
Think
“What do you do when several things need to be finished at the same time?”
Or:
“Tell me about a time you demonstrated initiative.”
Think
“Tell me about something you did without waiting for someone to tell you to do it.”
This is why memorizing answers to a list of interview questions isn't always enough.
The interviewer may ask the same question using completely different words.
You need to understand what they're asking, not just recognize a question you've practiced before.
Don't let one question throw you off
If you don't understand a question, don't panic.
Ask.
Clarify.
Take a moment.
Then answer the question you now understand.
One difficult question doesn't mean the interview is going badly. Don't let it make you “throw in the towel.”
Move on to the next question and give yourself another opportunity to show what you know.
English You Can Use
Did you notice some of the expressions used on this page?
- Key
- Something that is very important or essential.
- On a different page
- Not having the same understanding of something. You may also hear the more common expression “on the same page,” which means two people understand or agree about something in the same way.
- In this context
- Considering the particular situation in which a word, phrase, or idea is being used.
- Throw in the towel
- To give up or stop trying.
You don't need to memorize every expression you hear.
Learn what it means, listen for how English speakers use it, and practice using the expressions that feel natural to you.
Practice understanding the question, not just answering it
Before your next interview, don't only practice your answers.
Practice listening to the same interview question asked in several different ways.
That's an important skill for anyone interviewing in a language that isn't their first.
At Career English Studio, interview preparation isn't just about memorizing the “right” answer. It's about helping you understand professional interview language, organize your thoughts, and answer questions naturally in your own words.
Because knowing how to do the job and knowing how to talk about what you can do in English are two different skills.
Both can be practiced.