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Ace Your Next Interview
Welcome to Your Interview Preparation Guide!
Whether you’re getting ready for your first job interview or simply looking to brush up on your skills, this guide will help you prepare confidently. Below, you’ll find common interview questions along with tips, key vocabulary, and practical activities that will give you the tools to succeed.
We’ll cover questions that are commonly asked in interviews across various industries, and I’ll provide some self-study ideas to help you practice on your own. After working through this guide, you can submit your answers, and we’ll review them together in our next lesson.
If you’re not yet a student, feel free to leave your answers or questions in the comments, or sign up for personalized lessons with me [here].
Let’s get started!
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General Interview Preparation: Tips and Vocabulary
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1. Tell me about yourself.
Tip: Keep it brief! Focus on your professional background, key skills, and how you got to where you are today. Think of it as a “snapshot” of who you are as a professional.
Useful Vocabulary: experience, background, passion, motivated, driven, expertise
Activity: Write a 3-4 sentence introduction about yourself. Practice saying it in under a minute.
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2. Why are you interested in this position?
Tip: Mention something about the company you admire (e.g., values, mission, projects). Then, explain how your goals align with this role.
Useful Vocabulary: align, mission, vision, contribute, passion, growth
Activity: Research a company of your choice and write down 3 reasons why you would like to work there.
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3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Tip: Focus on strengths that are relevant to the job. For weaknesses, be honest but mention how you’re working on improving them.
Useful Vocabulary: detail-oriented, adaptable, proactive, growth mindset, self-aware
Activity: List 3 strengths and 1 weakness. Practice saying them aloud, focusing on how your weakness is something you’re improving.
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4. Can you describe a time when you faced a challenge at work?
Tip: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answer. Focus on how you overcame the challenge.
Useful Vocabulary: resolved, problem-solving, initiative, overcame, solution, outcome
Activity: Choose a challenge you’ve faced at work or school. Write a short paragraph using the STAR method to explain it.
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5. How do you prioritize tasks when you’re managing multiple deadlines?
Tip: Talk about any tools or methods you use (e.g., to-do lists, calendars) and how you stay organized. Be specific!
Useful Vocabulary: prioritize, manage, deadlines, organize, efficient, multitasking
Activity: Create a mock to-do list with 5 tasks. Write a few sentences explaining how you’d prioritize them.
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6. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Tip: Be aspirational but realistic. Mention what you hope to achieve and how the role you’re applying for fits into that vision.
Useful Vocabulary: goals, aspirations, career path, growth, development
Activity: Write a short paragraph about where you see yourself in 5 years. Practice saying it out loud and keeping it concise.
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7. How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback?
Tip: Show that you see feedback as a tool for growth. Mention a time you received feedback and how it helped you improve.
Useful Vocabulary: feedback, constructive, improve, learn, adapt, open-minded
Activity: Think of a time you received feedback. Write a few sentences about how you reacted and what you learned from it.
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8. What is your approach to solving complex problems?
Tip: Break down your process step-by-step. It could involve researching, asking for help, or using specific methods.
Useful Vocabulary: analyze, approach, solve, strategy, critical thinking, evaluate
Activity: Choose a problem you’ve solved (work, school, or life). Write down your step-by-step process and practice explaining it out loud.
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Are You Ready to Send Your Answers?
We will review and practice them together in our next lesson.
If you’re not currently a student, you can still post your answers or any questions in the comments section on the page, and either myself or the community will respond.
If you’d like personalized lessons, feel free to sign up [here]. I look forward to helping you reach your goals!
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Interested in More Activities?
Choose some of these self-study ideas to further practice for your interview. When you finish, feel free to send me your activity through Google Classroom, email, or Kakao. I’ll be happy to review them during our lessons!
Self-Study Ideas:
- Mock Interviews: Record yourself answering 3-5 interview questions from the list. Listen back and note any areas for improvement. Try again until you feel confident with your delivery.
- Vocabulary Quiz: Create flashcards with the useful vocabulary listed for each question. Test yourself on their meanings and try using them in example sentences.
- Timed Responses: Set a timer for 1 minute and practice answering each question out loud. Focus on being clear and concise, especially for open-ended questions.
- Role Play: Practice with a friend or fellow student. Take turns being the interviewer and the interviewee. Give each other feedback on how to improve responses.
- Answer Outline: Create outlines for each question (key points you want to mention) and practice speaking from your outline instead of reading word-for-word. This helps build confidence in spontaneous speaking.
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