#19 Expressions for Asking Someone to Take a Photo｜Polite English Phrases for Requests
Izumi English Morning
#47 Taking Job Interviews｜English Business Phrases
Izumi
When taking an interview in English, it is important to clearly communicate basic topics such as your self-introduction, motivation for applying, and previous experience.
Being able to respond calmly to the interviewer’s questions and ask your own questions about the position will help you create a more professional impression.
In this article, I introduce commonly used expressions in English job interviews and explain how to engage in natural and effective interactions.
Contents
Dialogue
Thanks for coming today. Could you introduce yourself?
My name is Sara, and I’ve been working in marketing for the past four years.
Why are you interested in this position?
I’d like to take on new challenges and develop my skills in a global environment.
I see. What would you say is your biggest strength?
I’m good at organizing projects and communicating with team members.
Great. Do you have any questions for us?
Yes, could you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
1. Key Points for Self-Introductions
In most interviews, the first question is often a self-introduction.
- Could you introduce yourself?
“Could you ～?” is a polite request expression, making it highly appropriate for business interviews.
A self-introduction should be clear and concise. Focus on three points:
- Your name
- Your current or most recent role
- Your years of experience or area of expertise
Examples:
- My name is Sara, and I’ve been working in marketing for the past four years.
Here, the present perfect continuous (have been ～ing) is used to express experience that started in the past and continues to the present.
2. Explaining Your Motivation for Applying
A positive and growth-oriented explanation leaves a strong impression.
- I’d like to take on new challenges and develop my skills in a global environment.
“I’d like to” is more polite and suitable for interviews than “I want to.”
Useful vocabulary for explaining motivation:
- take on new challenges
- develop my skills
- work in an international environment
- expand my experience
Including how you can contribute to the company will make your motivation more persuasive.
3. Describing Your Strengths
Interviewers almost always ask about your strengths. Here is a natural way to answer:
- I’m good at organizing projects and communicating with team members.
“I’m good at ～ing” is a polite and clear structure for describing strengths.
It is versatile and can be used for many skills:
- I’m good at managing tasks.
- I’m good at solving problems.
- I’m good at working under pressure.
Other useful expressions include:
- II’m skilled at data analysis.
- I have strong communication skills.
- My biggest strength is my ability to prioritize tasks.
These variations help you express your abilities more precisely.
4. Asking the Interviewer Questions
The final “reverse questions” section is an opportunity to show your motivation.
Not asking anything may leave the impression that you lack interest, so preparing at least one question is recommended.
Useful questions include:
- Could you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
- What does a typical workday look like?
- What opportunities are there for career growth?
Asking specific questions about the role or workplace also signals genuine interest in the company.
Summary
- Could you introduce yourself?
→ A polite request commonly used at the start of interviews. - I’d like to take on new challenges.
→ A natural expression for explaining motivation. - I’m good at ～ / My biggest strength is ～
→ Basic structures for describing your strengths. - Could you tell me more about ～?
→ A standard phrase for asking questions at the end of an interview.
