5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Next IT Job Interview (And What To Do Instead)

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Why Interviews in English Are Harder Than They Should Be

Let’s be honest.
Even senior professionals — people who lead projects, coordinate teams, fix complex technical issues — suddenly feel unsure when the interview is in English.

You might think:

• “I don’t know how to sell myself.”

• “What if I make a mistake?”

• “How do I explain my experience in English?”

• “What if they ask a difficult question?”

The biggest problem?
It’s not your English.

It’s the lack of structure in your answers.

Good interviews are not about language level — they are about clarity, preparation, and relevance.

This article will show you the 5 mistakes to avoid and exactly what to do instead.

Let’s start.

Mistake 1 — Giving Long, Unstructured Answers

This is the most common issue.

The interviewer asks:

“Tell me about a challenge you solved.”

And the answer becomes:

• a long story

• full of too much detail

• without a clear beginning or end

• difficult for the interviewer to follow

This creates the impression that:

• you lack clarity

• you lack communication skills

• you lack seniority

Even if you are extremely competent.

✔️ What to do instead: Use a structure

The easiest, strongest structure is STAR:

• S — Situation

• T — Task

• A — Action

• R — Result

Example (IT Project Manager)

Situation:
“We were facing delays during a migration project.”

Task:
“I was responsible for coordinating the cross-functional team.”

Action:
“I introduced a daily risk review, improved communication with the vendor, and adjusted the sprint priorities.”

Result:
“We reduced delays by 40% and delivered within the revised timeline.”

Short. Clear. Strong.

Mistake 2 — Not Identifying Your Core Value

Many candidates list tasks instead of demonstrating value.

They say:

• “I tested software.”

• “I supported users.”

• “I managed tickets.”

These are tasks — not value.

Companies want to understand:

• impact

• achievements

• results

• growth

• decision-making

✔️ What to do instead: Define your 3–4 value pillars

For example:

A Developer’s value pillars:

• writing clean, maintainable code

• improving performance

• reducing bugs

• collaborating with product

A Service Delivery Manager’s value pillars:

• stakeholder management

• incident resolution

• client communication

• service improvement

A Business Analyst’s value pillars:

• translating business needs

• mapping processes

• improving workflows

• supporting decision-making

Once you know your pillars, every answer becomes stronger.

Mistake 3 — Not Preparing Examples for the Most Common Questions

Interviews are predictable.
Not because companies lack creativity — but because they want specific information.

Here are the questions you must prepare for:

Personality / Fit

• “Tell me about yourself.”

• “What motivates you?”

Behavioural

• “Tell me about a challenge you faced.”

• “Describe a time you disagreed with a colleague.”

Problem Solving

• “How would you handle…?”

• “What would you do if…?”

Technical

• “Explain how you solved a technical issue.”

• “Walk me through your process.”

✔️ What to do instead: Prepare 3–4 short professional stories

Each story should illustrate one of your value pillars.

For example:

Story title: The API Integration Fix
Value demonstrated: problem solving + collaboration
STAR summary:

• S: Integration failing for 3 days

• T: Identify root cause

• A: Debug + involve backend team

• R: Restored functionality + prevented future incidents

These stories become your toolbox.

Mistake 4 — Using English That Sounds Too Generic or Too Basic

Many non-native speakers worry about grammar and pronunciation.
But the real issue is often vagueness.

For example:

❌ “I worked on many things.”
❌ “I have good communication skills.”
❌ “I’m a team player.”

These sentences say nothing specific.

✔️ What to do instead: Use concrete, professional language

Here are phrases that instantly make you sound more credible:

• “My main responsibility was…”

• “The impact of my work was…”

• “I collaborated with…”

• “One challenge we faced was…”

• “Here’s how I approached it…”

• “As a result…”

Example upgrade

❌ “I fixed problems.”
✅ “I resolved 25+ incidents per week, reducing escalations by 30%.”

Specific = memorable.

Mistake 5 — Not Asking Good Questions at the End

When the interviewer says:

“Do you have any questions for us?”

Many candidates panic and say:

• “No, I think everything is clear.”

• “No questions.”

• “Not really.”

This is a lost opportunity.

Asking good questions shows:

• maturity

• critical thinking

• genuine interest

• leadership potential

• preparation

✔️ What to do instead: Ask strategic questions

Here are excellent options:

To understand the role:

• “How would you describe success in this position after six months?”

To understand the team:

• “How does the team collaborate across locations?”

To show initiative:

• “What are the biggest challenges the team is facing right now?”

To position yourself as proactive:

• “If I joined, what would be the first project you’d like me to focus on?”

This turns you from a passive candidate into an engaged professional.

Bonus — How to Answer in English Even If You Forget a Word

Professional English is not about perfection — it’s about recovery.

Here are “rescue phrases” to help you stay confident:

• “Let me rephrase that.”

• “The word I’m looking for is…”

• “What I mean is…”

• “Let me clarify.”

• “Another way to explain this is…”

These are simple.
But they save your answer instantly.

Interview Templates You Can Use Right Away

Answering “Tell me about yourself”

“I’m a [role] with X years of experience in [field].
My main focus has been [value pillar 1] and [value pillar 2].
In my recent role, I [achievement].
Now I’m looking for a position where I can [goal aligned with the new company].”

Answering “What are your strengths?”

“One of my strengths is [strength], especially when it comes to [context].
For example, [STAR example].”

Answering “Why should we hire you?”

“Because I bring [skill + result],
I have experience in [relevant area],
and I’m confident I can contribute by [future impact].”

Q&A

Q: What mistakes should I avoid in an English job interview?

A: Long answers, unclear examples, generic language, no structure, and not asking questions.

Q: How can I speak confidently in an English interview?

A: Use STAR, prepare stories, focus on value, and use rescue phrases when needed.

Q: How do I prepare for interview questions as a developer / PM / analyst?

A: Create 3–4 STAR stories showing your real impact.

Q: What questions should I ask at the end of an interview?

A: Ask about success metrics, team collaboration, challenges, and expectations.

Final Thought: You Don’t Need Perfect English — You Need Strategic English

Interviews don’t reward:

❌ perfect grammar
❌ complicated vocabulary
❌ native pronunciation

Interviews reward:

✅ clarity
✅ structure
✅ confidence
✅ relevant stories
✅ intentional communication

You already have the experience.
Now organize it, express it clearly, and show your value.

That’s how you stand out — in any language.