Introduction

You got an interview invitation! Congratulations! But now you're feeling nervous. You need to do this interview in English, and you're worried. You're practising answers to common questions like "Tell me about yourself" and "What are your strengths?" But here's something important: English job interviews are very different from Japanese job interviews – not just in language, but in culture, expectations, and style.

In Japanese job interviews, humility is important. You show respect through formal keigo. You might say "まだまだ勉強中です" (I still have much to learn) to show modesty. You wait patiently for questions. You don't promote yourself too strongly. But in English job interviews (especially American ones), this humble approach can make you seem unconfident or unqualified!

Many Japanese interviewees tell me they felt their English interview went badly. One student said, "I tried to be humble and polite, like in Japanese interviews. But the interviewer seemed disappointed. I didn't get the job." Another student said, "I didn't know how much eye contact to make. In Japan, looking down shows respect. But I think the American interviewer thought I was nervous or dishonest!"

Today, I'll help you understand English job interview culture and expectations. I'll teach you how to present yourself confidently, answer questions effectively, and understand the cultural differences. This blog covers both language and cultural preparation. Let's get you ready for success!

Main Tips

Cultural Difference #1: Self-Promotion vs. Humility

This is the biggest cultural difference!

Japanese interview culture:

• Show humility and modesty
• Don't talk too much about your achievements
• Say things like "I still have much to learn"
• Let your resume speak for itself
• Wait for the interviewer to recognise your value

English interview culture (especially American):

• Promote yourself confidently
• Talk about your achievements clearly and proudly
• Show what you can contribute to the company
• Sell yourself actively – the interviewer expects this!
• Confidence is seen as professional, not arrogant

What this means for you:

In English interviews, you MUST talk about your accomplishments! When they ask "What are your strengths?", don't say "I'm still learning" or "I'm not sure." Say confidently:

• "I'm very good at project management. In my last role, I successfully managed five projects simultaneously and delivered them all on time."
• "My strength is problem-solving. For example, when we had a data issue last year, I developed a new system that reduced errors by 30%."

Use specific examples with numbers and results. This shows confidence and competence!

Cultural Difference #2: Eye Contact and Body Language

Japanese interview culture:

• Looking down shows respect
• Minimal gestures
• Formal, still posture
• Don't show too much personality

English interview culture:

• Direct eye contact shows confidence and honesty
• Natural gestures are okay (but not too much!)
• Relaxed but professional posture
• Show enthusiasm and personality

What this means for you:

Practice making eye contact! Look at the interviewer's eyes when they're speaking and when you're speaking. If direct eye contact feels too intense, you can look at the space between their eyes or at their nose – this looks like eye contact from their perspective.

Smile when appropriate! Smiling shows you're friendly and enthusiastic. In American culture, especially, being personable (friendly, easy to work with) is very important.

Sit up straight, but don't be too stiff. You want to appear confident and comfortable, not nervous or rigid.

Cultural Difference #3: Directness in Communication

Japanese interview culture:

• Indirect communication
• Read between the lines
• Soft, careful language
• Avoid direct disagreement

English interview culture:

• Direct, clear communication
• Say what you mean explicitly
• Be specific and concrete
• It's okay to disagree politely if asked for your opinion

What this means for you:

Give clear, direct answers! Don't be too vague or overly humble.

Not good: "Well, maybe I might be able to help with that project, if you think so..." Better: "Yes, I can definitely help with that project. I have experience in that area and I'm confident I can contribute."

When they ask, "Do you have any questions?", definitely ask questions! This shows interest and engagement. Don't say "No, no questions" – that can seem like you're not interested in the job!

Answering Common Interview Questions

Here are common questions and how to answer them effectively:

"Tell me about yourself." Don't tell your whole life story! Focus on:

• Your current or most recent role
• Your key skills and experiences relevant to this job
• Why you are interested in this position

Example: "I'm currently working as a marketing coordinator at ABC Company, where I manage social media campaigns and customer engagement. I have three years of experience in digital marketing, and I'm particularly skilled at data analysis and campaign optimisation. I'm excited about this position because I want to develop my skills in a more international environment."

"What are your strengths?" Choose 2-3 real strengths relevant to the job. Give specific examples!

Example: "One of my key strengths is attention to detail. In my current role, I review all client reports before submission, and this year I caught and corrected errors that could have cost the company significant money. I'm also very good at working under pressure – I actually perform better when I have tight deadlines."

"What are your weaknesses?" Be honest but strategic. Choose a real weakness, but show how you're working to improve it.

Example: "I used to struggle with public speaking. But I've been taking presentation skills classes and volunteering to present at team meetings. I'm much more comfortable now, though I still have room to improve."

Don't say: "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too hard" – these sound insincere!

"Why do you want to work here?" Research the company! Show genuine interest.

Example: "I really admire your company's innovative approach to [specific thing]. I also appreciate your focus on [company value], which aligns with my own professional goals. I think my skills in [relevant skill] would be a great fit for your team."

"Do you have any questions for us?" Always have questions prepared! This shows you're serious about the job.

Good questions:

• "What would a typical day in this role look like?"
• "What are the biggest challenges facing your team right now?"
• "What qualities do successful people in this role have?"
• "What opportunities are there for professional development?"

Language Tips: Professional English Phrases

Use these phrases to sound professional and confident:

Expressing confidence:

• "I'm confident that..."
• "I'm well-qualified for this role because..."
• "I excel at..."
• "I have a proven track record of..."

Giving examples:

• "For example..."
• "In my previous role..."
• "Let me give you a specific example..."
• "One situation that demonstrates this is..."

Showing enthusiasm:

• "I'm very excited about..."
• "I'm particularly interested in..."
• "This opportunity is exactly what I'm looking for because..."

Handling difficult questions:

• "That's a great question. Let me think..." (buying time)
• "Could you clarify what you mean by...?" (if you don't understand)
• "I haven't encountered that exact situation, but here's how I would approach it..."

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Answer Preparation

Write out answers to these common questions. Practice saying them out loud until they feel natural:

1. "Tell me about yourself."
2. "Why do you want this job?"
3. "What are your strengths?"
4. "Tell me about a challenge you overcame."

Time yourself – aim for 1-2 minutes per answer (not too short, not too long!).

Exercise 2: Mirror Practice

Stand in front of a mirror and practice your answers. Pay attention to:

• Eye contact (look at yourself – don't look away!)
• Facial expressions (smile when appropriate!)
• Posture (stand/sit up straight)
• Gestures (use natural hand movements, but not too much)

This helps you become comfortable with Western interview body language.

Exercise 3: Mock Interview

Ask a friend, teacher, or language partner to do a practice interview with you. Have them ask you:

• 3 common interview questions
• 1 difficult or unexpected question
• Give you the chance to ask your own questions

Record the practice interview if possible. Watch it back and identify areas to improve.

Conclusion

English job interviews require both language skills AND cultural understanding. The biggest differences are self-promotion (be confident about your achievements!), eye contact and body language (direct eye contact shows confidence), and communication style (be clear and direct). These might feel uncomfortable at first if you're used to Japanese interview culture, but they're essential for success in English interviews.

Remember: the interviewer WANTS you to succeed! They're hoping you're the right person for the job. They invited you to interview because your resume looked good. Now your job is to show them confidently what you can contribute. Don't be humble or overly modest – this is the time to promote yourself!

Prepare your answers to common questions with specific examples and numbers. Research the company. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask. Practice your body language and eye contact. And most importantly: be confident! You have valuable skills and experience. Show them what you can do!

The language doesn't have to be perfect. Simple, clear English with confident delivery is better than complicated English with nervous delivery. Focus on communicating your qualifications and enthusiasm effectively.

If you want to practice English job interviews in a safe environment with personalised feedback, I'd love to help you prepare in a Cafetalk lesson. We can do mock interviews, work on your answers, and build your confidence. You've got this – I believe in you! Good luck with your interview!