How to Prepare for an Overseas Job Interview

An interview with an overseas employer is usually short, often by video or phone, and it may be in a language that is not your first. The people who do well are rarely the most talkative. They are the ones who prepared a few clear answers, understood the job, and asked sensible questions. This guide helps you prepare in the days before your interview.

Your TAPS specialist arranges the interview and can tell you what to expect for your role. Use this guide alongside that advice.

When the interview is arranged

• Note the date and time and the time zone. If the time is given in the employer's time zone, work out your own local time and write both down.
• Ask your specialist how the interview will be held (video call, phone call or in person), who will interview you and how long it will take.
• Add the time to your phone calendar with a reminder one hour before.

Learn about the job

• Read the job description from your specialist twice. Underline the main duties and the tools or machines mentioned.
• Think of one real example from your past work for each main duty. An example is a short story: what the job was, what you did, and what the result was.
• If there is a duty you have not done before, be ready to say so honestly and say what you have done that is close to it.
• Learn the basics about the employer: what the company does and where you would work. You can ask your specialist if you cannot find it.

Practise your answers

Most interviews cover the same ground. Practise saying your answers out loud, in simple clear sentences, until they feel natural. - Tell us about yourself: your name, your trade or profession, how many years of experience you have, and the kind of places you have worked. - Why do you want this job? Talk about the work itself and what you can offer, not only about pay. - What did you do in your last job? Use your examples. - Tell us about a problem you solved or a mistake you learned from. - Are you willing to work shifts, in hot or cold conditions, or away from home? Answer honestly. Do not promise something you cannot do, because the contract and the work will test it. - When can you start? Check your notice period and your passport and visa timing before you answer.

Questions you can ask

Asking questions shows you take the job seriously, and the answers help you decide. - What are the main duties in the first three months? - What are the working hours, and how are overtime and rest days handled? - Where will I live, and who arranges the housing? - Who will I report to? - Is there a probation period, and how long is it? Questions about pay and the full terms are best settled in writing in the contract, which your specialist reviews with you. See our guide on how to read your job offer.

Set up for a video or phone call

• Test your phone or computer, the camera and the microphone the day before. Charge the device and keep the charger plugged in.
• Choose a quiet place with light on your face, not behind you. Tell the people at home when the interview is.
• Have your CV, a pen and paper, and your passport in front of you.
• Join five minutes early. If the connection fails, try to rejoin straight away and message your specialist so they can contact the employer.

On the day

• Dress as you would for the first day of work: clean and neat.
• Listen to the whole question before you answer. If you did not understand, politely ask the person to repeat or say it more slowly. This is normal and fine.
• Keep answers short, usually less than a minute, then stop. Look at the camera when you speak.
• Be honest about your skills and your experience. Employers check, and a mismatch found later causes problems for you.

After the interview

• Tell your specialist how it went as soon as you finish, while you remember it. They will follow up with the employer.
• Do not agree to any change in pay or terms during or after the interview. Send anything like that to your specialist, who will make sure it is in writing.
• Never pay anyone to get an interview or a job offer. If you are asked to, tell your specialist at once.

This guide gives general information. Each employer runs its own process.