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Language
Barriers
by ResumeEdge.com
The Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service.
For
candidates whose primary language is not English, interviewing
can be intimidating. While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 does not allow employers to require that English is the
only language used in the workplace without compelling reasons,
language difficulties can cause problems during interviews.
The importance of your English fluency as a candidate depends in
part on the job and company. If you are working with numbers or
computer programming, refined English skills are less important.
If other colleagues speak your primary language, you need not
rely as heavily on English. If you are applying for a job as a
manager or you will be interacting with English-speaking clients
regularly, language fluency could be significant.
In addition to the job itself, language skills can pose barriers
during interviews. Employers need to feel like they can connect
with you. Even if you are friendly and accomplished,
interviewers will begin to feel uncomfortable if they cannot
communicate with you effectively. People feel weird about
themselves when they cannot understand you or are not confident
that you understand them. If interviewers feel uncomfortable
around you, they will feel uncomfortable with you. The last
thing you want to do is leave an interviewer with the impression
that you are nice and talented, but that he could not tell if
you understood what he was saying. Feeling like you cannot
express yourself well can also cause you to lose well-deserved
and much needed confidence.
There are ways for you to overcome these negative outcomes.
Language difficulties are best resolved by learning English very
well. The more fluent you are, the better and more confidently
you can connect with the employer. If you are still struggling
with English, consider these other tips:
Before the interview:
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Memorize
answers to common and difficult questions after having
someone edit your responses for grammar.
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Write
down a few notes to yourself that you can refer to during
the interview if you get intimidated.
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Prepare
and memorize questions that you wish to ask the interviewer.
During
the interview:
-
Remember
that you are a qualified person who speaks more than one
language-an accomplishment that many interviewers cannot
claim for themselves.
-
If
you do not understand a question during the interview, ask
the interviewer to clarify the question. You might begin by
saying, "I want to make sure that I understand what you
mean. Are you saying. . .?"
-
Address
your language proficiency in the interview, mentioning to
the interviewer how you make certain that you understand
instructions and giving examples of working situations in
which you excelled despite limitations in English. Do this
casually if possible.
-
Tell
the employer about your plans to take advanced English
classes or tutoring in the evenings.
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Take
notes.
-
Summarize
what the interviewer says at the end of the interview,
touching on the important responsibilities of the job and
needs of the company. Briefly repeat how you could meet
these needs. Inquire into when you can expect to hear from
the company.
After
the interview:
-
Be
sure to write a thank you note that highlights your fit with
the position. Repeat what you have to offer the company and
what enthuses you about the company. Be sure to have someone
edit the note for grammar before you send it. This way, the
lasting impression of you should focus on your abilities and
not your English.
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