Humans of English

Professional

English for Interviews and Professional Introductions

Introduce yourself with confidence, answer common interview questions and close the conversation professionally.

7 min readIntermediate+Humans of English team

An interview in English tests two things at once: your experience and your ability to talk about it clearly. The good news is that interviews are predictable. Most follow the same shape and include the same kinds of questions, so preparation makes a real difference.

1. The professional introduction

"Tell me about yourself" is often the first question, and the one you can prepare best. A simple structure is present → past → future.

Present → Past → Future "I'm currently a project coordinator at a logistics company, where I manage schedules for around twenty delivery routes. [present] Before that, I spent three years in customer service, which taught me how to stay calm and solve problems quickly. [past] I'm now looking for a role where I can take on more responsibility for planning, which is why this position really interests me. [future]"

Keep it to around one minute. Practise it until it feels natural, but use keywords rather than memorising every word.

2. Answering experience questions with STAR

Questions like "Tell me about a time when…" are best answered with the STAR method:

  • Situation: set the scene briefly.
  • Task: what you needed to do.
  • Action: what you did. Use "I", not "we".
  • Result: what happened, and what you learned.
"Tell me about a time you solved a problem." "Last year, a supplier delayed an important delivery. [S] I needed to make sure our customers weren't affected. [T] I contacted two alternative suppliers, compared their timelines, and updated customers personally about the change. [A] We delivered only one day late, and I created a backup supplier list that the team still uses. [R]"

3. Useful phrases

  • "That's a good question. Let me think for a moment."Buying time naturally.
  • "One example that comes to mind is…"Starting a STAR answer.
  • "I'd say my main strength is…"Talking about strengths without sounding arrogant.
  • "Something I'm working on is…"A positive way to discuss weaknesses.
  • "Could you clarify what you mean by…?"Checking a question before answering.

4. Asking your own questions

At the end, you'll usually be asked, "Do you have any questions for us?" Always have two or three ready. They show interest and preparation.

  • "What would a typical week look like in this role?"
  • "How would you measure success in the first six months?"
  • "What do you enjoy most about working here?"

5. Closing well

A confident close "Thank you for your time today. I really enjoyed learning more about the role, and I'm excited about the possibility of joining the team."

Interview preparation checklist

  • Prepare and practise your one-minute introduction.
  • Prepare three STAR stories you can adapt to different questions.
  • Learn two phrases for buying time and one for asking for clarification.
  • Write down three questions to ask the interviewer.
  • Record a practice interview and listen back for clarity and pace.

See our Professional English pathway, or read the example journey Getting interview-ready in professional English.

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