Interview Training Programme for Candidates

Interview Training Programme for Candidates

Programme Overview

Who This Programme Is For

This programme is designed for B2-level job seekers who need to prepare for professional interviews in English. Whether you're applying for your first international role, changing careers, or seeking advancement, this programme will give you the vocabulary range, structural frameworks, and strategic preparation to succeed.

What You'll Learn

Over 20 units, you'll develop the specific language and strategy needed to excel in behavioural interviews—from self-introduction to final mock interviews. You'll master the vocabulary, grammar, and communication techniques required to:

• Answer behavioural questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• Build 8 language banks containing 15-20 powerful vocabulary items for each competency area
• Create 8 flexible stories that can answer 30+ different interview question variations
• Handle difficult questions about weaknesses and failures professionally
• Deliver a polished career narrative that links your experience to job requirements
• Ask intelligent questions that demonstrate engagement and research

Each unit uses authentic interview questions as a framework for teaching language, ensuring you learn vocabulary, grammar, and structures in realistic professional contexts.

Programme Structure

The programme progresses through five phases. Foundations covers interview basics, STAR method, understanding competency categories, and strategic question recognition. Building Language Banks develops eight units creating systematic vocabulary for teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, communication, adaptability, time management, conflict resolution, and achievement. Integration and Challenging Questions addresses strengths, weaknesses, and career narrative. Employer Questions and Non-Verbal Communication focuses on motivation, fit, and virtual interview skills. Mock Interviews includes three structured mock interviews: first attempt with detailed feedback, intensive targeted refinement of weak areas, and final demonstration of mastery with comprehensive assessment.

Key Learning Approach

Recognize that many different questions ask for the same underlying competency. Build a "language bank" of powerful vocabulary for each competency area. Create flexible stories that can answer multiple question variations. Result: 8 prepared stories + 8 language banks = ability to answer 30+ different interview questions.

PHASE 1: FOUNDATIONS

Unit 1: Interview Basics & Self-Introduction

What you'll learn:
Interview structure and what interviewers look for. "Tell me about yourself" framework: Present → Past → Future. Using present, past, and future tenses in sequence. 8 professional adjectives to describe yourself.

Grammar: Present, past, and future tenses in sequence

Practice: Create and deliver your 90-second self-introduction

Focus: Professional self-introduction framework

Unit 2: The STAR Method

What you'll learn:
The STAR framework: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Why vague answers fail and what interviewers listen for. How to structure complete, impressive answers.

Grammar: Past tenses for narrative structure

Practice: Create 2 STAR responses with guidance

Focus: Clear structure and logical flow in behavioral answers

Unit 3: The 8 Competency Categories Explained

What you'll learn:
The 8 core competency categories that interviewers assess: Teamwork & Collaboration, Leadership & Influence, Problem-Solving & Decision-Making, Communication, Adaptability & Change Management, Time Management & Organization, Conflict & Difficult Situations, Achievement & Initiative. What interviewers look for in each category. 3 question variations per category (24 questions total). How to recognize which category a question belongs to.

Practice: Categorize 12 questions with teacher guidance (covering 4 categories × 3 questions)

Focus: Understanding competency framework and question recognition patterns

Note: This unit focuses on conceptual understanding and recognition patterns rather than language production. Grammar instruction is not included as students practice categorization and pattern recognition using existing language knowledge.

Unit 4: Strategic Question Recognition & Experience Audit

What you'll learn:
Advanced practice: Categorize 12 additional questions independently (covering remaining 4 categories × 3 questions). Recognizing compound questions (testing multiple competencies). Understanding how one story can answer multiple questions. Auditing your experience: Which categories do you have strong stories for? Strategic planning: Prioritizing which 4-5 categories to prepare deeply.

Practice: Draft rough outlines for your strongest 3-4 stories

Focus: Strategic preparation and experience mapping

Note: This unit emphasizes strategic thinking and planning rather than new language structures. Students use previously learned grammar to draft story outlines. Grammar instruction is not included as the focus is on content selection and strategic preparation.

PHASE 2: BUILDING LANGUAGE BANKS

Unit 5: Teamwork & Collaboration Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize 5-6 different teamwork question variations. Action verbs: collaborated, coordinated, facilitated, contributed. Result adjectives: successful, effective, productive, cohesive. Process adverbs: collaboratively, diplomatically, constructively. Quantifier patterns: "completed ahead of schedule", "increased team efficiency by X%".

Grammar: Collocations and sentence patterns for teamwork

Practice: Create 1 STAR story that works for multiple teamwork questions

Focus: Building systematic teamwork vocabulary with 15-20 items

Unit 6: Leadership & Influence Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize leadership question variations. Action verbs: led, directed, motivated, delegated, mentored, guided. Result adjectives: inspiring, decisive, empowering, strategic. Process adverbs: strategically, proactively, confidently. Quantifier patterns: "led a team of X", "improved team performance by Y%".

Grammar: Past simple leadership verbs with result clauses

Practice: Create 1 flexible leadership story

Focus: Building systematic leadership vocabulary with 15-20 items

Unit 7: Problem-Solving & Decision-Making Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize problem-solving question variations. Action verbs: analyzed, identified, resolved, evaluated, assessed, determined. Result adjectives: effective, innovative, practical, data-driven. Process adverbs: analytically, systematically, carefully, thoroughly. Quantifier patterns: "reduced costs by X%", "solved issue affecting Y customers".

Grammar: Using causal language ("which resulted in...", "leading to...")

Practice: Create 1 flexible problem-solving story

Focus: Building systematic problem-solving vocabulary with 15-20 items

Unit 8: Communication Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize communication question variations. Action verbs: presented, persuaded, negotiated, clarified, articulated, explained. Result adjectives: clear, persuasive, diplomatic, professional. Process adverbs: clearly, diplomatically, persuasively, professionally. Quantifier patterns: "presented to X stakeholders", "persuaded X people".

Grammar: Reported speech for conversations ("I explained that...", "I suggested that...")

Practice: Create 1 flexible communication story

Focus: Building systematic communication vocabulary with 15-20 items

Unit 9: Adaptability & Change Management Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize adaptability question variations. Action verbs: adapted, adjusted, transitioned, modified, transformed, pivoted. Result adjectives: flexible, resilient, positive, seamless. Process adverbs: quickly, smoothly, positively, efficiently. Quantifier patterns: "adjusted to new system in Y timeframe", "maintained productivity during change".

Grammar: Past continuous + past simple for interrupted situations

Practice: Create 1 flexible adaptability story

Focus: Building systematic adaptability vocabulary with 15-20 items

Unit 10: Time Management & Organization Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize time management question variations. Action verbs: prioritized, organized, planned, managed, scheduled, streamlined. Result adjectives: efficient, organized, timely, structured. Process adverbs: efficiently, systematically, proactively. Quantifier patterns: "managed X simultaneous projects", "completed in Z timeframe".

Grammar: Time expressions and sequencing language

Practice: Create 1 flexible time management story

Focus: Building systematic time management vocabulary with 15-20 items

Unit 11: Conflict & Difficult Situations Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize conflict question variations. Action verbs: mediated, resolved, addressed, navigated, handled, diffused. Result adjectives: constructive, professional, diplomatic, positive. Process adverbs: calmly, diplomatically, professionally, objectively. Quantifier patterns: "resolved conflict between X parties", "maintained professional relationship".

Grammar: Staying positive while discussing negatives

Practice: Create 1 flexible conflict resolution story

Focus: Building systematic conflict resolution vocabulary with 15-20 items, emphasizing tact and professional register

Unit 12: Achievement & Initiative Language Bank

What you'll learn:
Recognize achievement question variations. Action verbs: achieved, exceeded, implemented, initiated, pioneered, spearheaded. Result adjectives: significant, substantial, measurable, outstanding. Process adverbs: independently, proactively, successfully. Quantifier patterns: "exceeded target by X%", "increased Y by Z%".

Grammar: Superlatives and comparatives in achievements

Practice: Create 1 flexible achievement story

Focus: Building systematic achievement vocabulary with 15-20 items, connecting achievements with other categories

PHASE 3: INTEGRATION & CHALLENGING QUESTIONS

Unit 13: Talking About Strengths

What you'll learn:
How to answer "What are your strengths?" Formula: State strength → Link to category → Provide STAR example. Identify your 3 main strengths. Map each strength to categories from Units 5-12. Use appropriate language banks to support your claims.

Grammar: Linking strengths to evidence (causative language: 'which enables me to...', 'allowing me to...'; result clauses: 'so that I can...', 'meaning that...')

Practice: Deliver 3 strength answers with rich vocabulary

Focus: Integrating language banks to support strength claims persuasively

Unit 14: Addressing Weaknesses & Failure

What you'll learn:
Strategies for "What's your weakness?" and "Tell me about a time you failed". Framework: Real weakness → What you're doing about it → STAR improvement example. Vocabulary: Discussing negatives positively ("I've learned that...", "I'm working on..."). Create 2 weakness answers using your language banks.

Grammar: Present perfect for ongoing improvement

Practice: Delivering difficult answers with professional tone

Focus: Handling negative questions constructively and professionally

Unit 15: Experience, Background & Career Narrative

What you'll learn:
How to answer "Walk me through your CV/resume". Extended answer using Present → Past → Future structure. Transition phrases between roles and experiences. Using action verbs from all 8 language banks to describe past roles.

Grammar: Present perfect vs past simple in career narratives

Practice: 2-3 minute career story with smooth transitions

Focus: Cohesive career narrative demonstrating progression and purpose

PHASE 4: EMPLOYER QUESTIONS & NON-VERBAL

Unit 16: Motivation, Fit & Questions to Ask

What you'll learn:
"Why do you want this job?" — linking strengths + examples + goals. "Why should we hire you?" — summarizing your top 3 categories. "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" — professional career goals. Developing 6-8 intelligent questions to ask the interviewer. Questions to avoid (salary, benefits in first interview).

Grammar: Purpose and reason clauses ('in order to...', 'because...', 'so that...'); conditional structures for career goals ('If I join your team, I would...')

Practice: Intonation and confidence when asking questions through full Q&A role-play exchange

Focus: Demonstrating genuine interest and strategic thinking about the role

Unit 17: Virtual Interview Skills & Non-Verbal Communication

What you'll learn:
Video call etiquette and technical setup. Body language: posture, eye contact with camera, gestures. Voice: pace, clarity, enthusiasm, volume. Eliminating verbal fillers: "um", "like", "you know", "basically".

Practice: 15-minute mock interview with focus on delivery, including recording and review

Focus: Professional presence and delivery in virtual interview settings

Note: This unit focuses on paralinguistic and non-verbal aspects of communication (body language, voice quality, technical setup). Grammar instruction is not included as the emphasis is on delivery and presence rather than sentence-level accuracy.

PHASE 5: MOCK INTERVIEWS & REFINEMENT

Note: Units 18-20 use a different structural format appropriate for assessment and practice. These units integrate all previously learned language rather than introducing new grammar or vocabulary. The format focuses on "What happens" rather than "What you'll learn" to reflect the summative, performance-based nature of mock interviews.

Unit 18: Mock Interview - First Attempt

What happens:
Full 30-minute realistic interview covering: self-introduction, background/CV walkthrough, 4-5 behavioral questions from different categories (random selection), strengths and weaknesses questions, motivation and fit questions, your questions for the interviewer.

Assessment areas: Use of language banks (vocabulary richness), STAR structure quality, grammar accuracy, fluency and confidence, non-verbal communication.

Focus: Comprehensive assessment with detailed feedback provided after the mock interview

Unit 19: Targeted Feedback & Refinement

What happens:
Full unit focused practice session. Comprehensive feedback review from Unit 18. Identify 3-4 priority areas for improvement: vocabulary gaps in specific competency areas, STAR structure weaknesses (missing elements, vague details), grammar errors that impact clarity, fluency issues (hesitation, fillers, pace), non-verbal communication (eye contact, posture, energy).

Intensive targeted practice: Vocabulary enhancement: drilling missing words and phrases. STAR refinement: rewriting and practicing weak answers. Grammar correction: forming sentences correctly. Fluency drills: reducing fillers, improving pace. Delivery practice: confidence and presence.

Focus: Strategic review ensuring all 8 stories are interview-ready, mental preparation techniques for interview day

Unit 20: Final Mock Interview & Assessment

What happens:
Final 30-minute realistic interview. Student demonstrates all improvements from Unit 19. Teacher plays a different interviewer style with different questions.

Assessment areas: Improved use of language banks, strong STAR structure throughout, grammar accuracy, fluency and confidence, professional presence.

Final Assessment: Compare performance: Unit 18 vs Unit 20. Celebrate specific improvements. Summary of strengths to leverage. Recommend ongoing practice areas. Discuss next steps for continued development. Confidence building and final encouragement.

Focus: Demonstrating mastery and confidence with comprehensive final assessment

Programme Benefits

Strategic Approach

• Not memorizing 40 answers → Creating 8 flexible stories with 8 language banks
• Not learning random vocabulary → Building systematic vocabulary sets per category
• Not guessing at questions → Recognizing patterns and responding strategically

Language Development

• ~140 vocabulary items taught deeply across 20 units (7 per unit average)
• Grammar, collocations, pronunciation for each vocabulary item
• Systematic repetition: introduced → practiced → integrated → tested

Real Interview Readiness

• Confidence from thorough preparation
• Flexibility to handle unexpected question variations
• Professional vocabulary that impresses interviewers
• Calm delivery from extensive practice

What You'll Have at the End

✅ One polished 90-second self-introduction
✅ 8 STAR stories covering all major competency areas
✅ 8 language banks with 15-20 vocabulary items each
✅ Answers prepared for strengths, weaknesses, and motivation questions
✅ 6-8 intelligent questions to ask interviewers
✅ Experience with 3 full mock interviews with progressive improvement
✅ Confidence and skills to succeed in English-language job interviews

How Your Learning Works

In Each Unit

• Clear learning objectives: You know exactly what language skills you're developing
• Strategic preparation: Each unit builds systematic vocabulary and frameworks
• Realistic practice: Activities mirror actual interview questions and scenarios
• Immediate feedback: Your instructor corrects errors and reinforces effective patterns
• Flexible stories: Learn to adapt prepared content to different question variations

Your Support

Your instructor will:

• Assess your starting point and identify your strongest competency areas
• Help you create authentic STAR stories from your real experience
• Build your vocabulary systematically across all 8 competency categories
• Provide detailed feedback on mock interviews with specific improvement areas
• Ensure you feel confident and prepared for your actual interviews

Ready to Begin?

This programme will transform your interview performance through systematic preparation, strategic thinking, and powerful English language skills. Let's get started with Unit 1!

Programme designed for B2 (Upper-Intermediate) level English learners
Individual units can be adjusted based on your specific needs and progress

Interview English for Interviewers Programme

Interview English for Interviewers Programme

Programme Overview

Who This Programme Is For

This programme is designed for HR professionals, hiring managers, and team leads who need to conduct job interviews in English but lack confidence in their language skills. Whether you're interviewing candidates for the first time in English or want to sound more professional and polished, this programme will give you the grammatical accuracy, vocabulary range, and functional phrases to succeed.

What You'll Learn

Over 20 units, you'll develop the specific language skills needed to conduct professional interviews—from question formation to managing challenging conversations. You'll master the grammar, vocabulary, and communication techniques required to:

• Form questions correctly using all major tenses and question structures
• Listen diagnostically to identify complete vs incomplete answers
• Probe systematically when candidates give vague or evasive responses
• Manage interview flow including redirecting, time-keeping, and pacing
• Use professional assessment language to evaluate and compare candidates
• Handle sensitive moments and difficult conversations diplomatically

Each unit uses authentic interview scenarios as a framework for teaching language, ensuring you learn grammar, vocabulary, and phrases in realistic professional contexts.

Programme Structure

The programme systematically develops interviewing language skills across 20 units. Units 1-6 build question formation mastery across all tenses and question types. Units 7-10 develop diagnostic listening skills. Units 11-15 cover managing interview dynamics. Units 16-19 develop assessment language. Unit 20 comprises a three-session mock interview cycle with progressive refinement.

Key Learning Approach

Master question formation across all tenses and structures. Develop diagnostic listening to identify incomplete or vague answers in real-time. Build systematic probing techniques to extract complete information. Use professional assessment language for objective evaluation. Result: Confident ability to conduct entire interviews in English with grammatical accuracy and professional presence.

Unit 1: Interview Opening & Structure Communication

What you'll learn: Professional opening phrases and welcome language. Explaining interview structure clearly using present simple. Setting expectations: "This interview will last...", "I'll be taking notes...". Transition phrases between interview sections.

Grammar: Present simple for procedures, future forms for outlining structure

Practice: Delivering professional interview opening (2 minutes)

Focus: Clear communication and professional tone from first moment

Unit 2: Past Simple Questions - Specific Events

What you'll learn: Past simple question structure: Question word + DID + subject + base verb. Understanding why auxiliary 'did' carries past tense marker (main verb stays in base form). Common errors: missing auxiliaries, double past tense markers, incorrect word order. Question patterns with different question words (What, How, Why, When, Where). Forming questions that sound natural while being grammatically accurate.

Grammar: Past simple questions with correct auxiliary verb placement

Practice: Forming 30 past simple questions correctly with immediate correction

Focus: Grammatical accuracy in asking about completed actions and specific incidents

Unit 3: Present Perfect Questions - Experience Over Time

What you'll learn: Present perfect question structure: Question word + HAVE/HAS + subject + past participle. Critical distinction: specific completed event (past simple) versus experience accumulated over time (present perfect). Past participle formation including common irregular forms. Choosing correct tense based on information you're seeking. Understanding how tense choice affects answer quality.

Grammar: Present perfect questions, distinguishing from past simple usage

Practice: Choosing correct tense for 25 different question scenarios with reasoning

Focus: Understanding which tense matches which question purpose

Unit 4: Conditional Questions - Hypothetical Scenarios

What you'll learn: Second conditional structure: "What would you do if...", "How would you handle...". Third conditional for past hypotheticals: "What would you have done if...". When to use conditionals versus past questions. Mixed conditionals for complex scenarios.

Grammar: Modal verbs (would, could, might) with conditional structures

Practice: Creating hypothetical scenarios and forming correct questions

Focus: Testing judgment and approach without requiring past experience

Unit 5: Open vs Closed Questions

What you'll learn: Open questions: "Tell me about...", "How did you...", "What was your approach to...". Closed questions: "Did you...", "Have you...", "Would you...". When to use each type strategically. Converting closed questions to open questions for better answers.

Grammar: Question transformation techniques

Practice: Rewriting 20 closed questions as open questions

Focus: Generating detailed responses rather than yes/no answers

Unit 6: Probing & Follow-up Questions

What you'll learn: Three categories of probing: follow-up questions (expanding points mentioned), clarifying questions (addressing ambiguity), deepening questions (exploring impact and results). Question embedding and indirect questions for conversational tone. Softening structures: "Could you tell me more about..." versus "Tell me more about...". Recognizing what's missing while candidate speaks. Forming appropriate probing questions in real-time.

Grammar: Embedded questions and polite question structures

Practice: Listening to vague answers and forming appropriate follow-ups without preparation time

Focus: Systematic probing to extract complete information while maintaining rapport

Unit 7: Identifying Complete vs Incomplete Answers

What you'll learn: Listening for the STAR framework: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Recognizing when answers lack specific details. Identifying missing elements in real-time while candidate speaks. Red flags: excessive "we", vague generalities, missing results.

Grammar: Understanding narrative structure in answers

Practice: Listening to 10 answers and diagnosing what's missing

Focus: Real-time analysis during conversation without disrupting flow

Unit 8: Recognizing Vague Language

What you'll learn: Identifying hedging devices that avoid commitment or specificity. Recognizing filler words and qualifying phrases that dilute clarity. Spotting generalizations presented without supporting examples. Passive voice constructions that obscure responsibility. Listening diagnostically while maintaining conversation flow. Planning probing questions while candidate speaks.

Grammar: Understanding how grammatical choices affect clarity

Practice: Identifying vague language in 15 sample answers and articulating what information is missing

Focus: Spotting when candidates avoid giving concrete information

Unit 9: Listening for the "We" Problem

What you'll learn: Distinguishing between team context and individual contribution. Recognizing when "we" obscures personal role. Patterns of deflection: "The team decided", "We all worked together". Probing phrases: "What did YOU specifically do?", "What was YOUR role?".

Grammar: Emphasis structures to focus on individual action

Practice: Listening to team-heavy answers and extracting individual contribution

Focus: Getting to personal accountability and specific actions

Unit 10: Recognizing Quantified vs Unquantified Results

What you'll learn: Strong result indicators: numbers, percentages, timeframes, metrics. Weak result indicators: "it went well", "successful", "positive outcome". Probing for metrics: "How do you measure that?", "What were the specific results?", "Can you quantify the impact?". Measurement and outcome language.

Grammar: Question forms for seeking quantifiable information

Practice: Comparing strong versus weak result statements

Focus: Pushing candidates to provide evidence of success

Unit 11: Managing Time & Pacing

What you'll learn: Time signaling language: "We have about X minutes for this section", "I'm conscious of time". Transitioning between topics: "Let's move on to...", "I'd like to shift focus to...". Speeding up: "In the interest of time, could you summarize...", "Briefly, what...". Slowing down: "Let's take a moment to explore this further", "Tell me more about...".

Grammar: Functional phrases for time management

Practice: Conducting 15-minute interview segment with strict time management

Focus: Balancing thoroughness with efficiency

Unit 12: Polite Interruption Techniques

What you'll learn: Using modal verbs and softening structures to interrupt diplomatically. Phrases: "Could we", "May I", "Would you mind if". Acknowledging what candidate said before redirecting. Judging when interruption is necessary: rambling, off-topic, excessive detail. Interrupting decisively but kindly. Maintaining professional relationship while managing time.

Grammar: Modal verbs for polite interruption

Practice: Role-play with teacher rambling; you must interrupt diplomatically without preparation

Focus: Firm redirection without appearing rude or damaging rapport

Unit 13: Redirecting Off-Topic or Rambling Answers

What you'll learn: Redirection vocabulary: "Going back to...", "Returning to my question...", "Specifically, I'm asking about...". The "parking lot" technique: "That's interesting, let's note that and come back if we have time". Refocusing questions: "What I'm really trying to understand is...", "The specific thing I need to know is...". Maintaining rapport while redirecting.

Grammar: Functional phrases for redirection

Practice: Managing 5 different types of off-topic responses

Focus: Getting candidates back on track without losing professional relationship

Unit 14: Handling Difficult Candidate Behaviors

What you'll learn: Vocabulary for managing defensive candidates, over-confident candidates, nervous candidates. Phrases for hostile or argumentative moments: "I understand your perspective, and...", "Let's focus on...". De-escalation language: "I appreciate your passion about this". Encouraging hesitant candidates: "Take your time", "There's no wrong answer".

Grammar: Diplomatic softening with "seem", "appear", "might"

Practice: Role-playing 6 difficult candidate scenarios

Focus: Maintaining control and professionalism regardless of candidate behavior

Unit 15: Non-Verbal Communication & Video Interviews

What you'll learn: Vocabulary for technical setup: "Can you hear me clearly?", "Your camera seems frozen", "Let me share my screen". Managing technical issues professionally. Explaining delays: "I'm just making a note of that", "One moment while I...". Body language vocabulary: maintaining eye contact, nodding, facial expressions.

Grammar: Present continuous for describing current technical issues

Practice: Conducting mock video interview with simulated technical issues

Focus: Professional presence in virtual environment

Unit 16: Describing Answer Quality

What you'll learn: Using present simple for objective observations and descriptions. Vocabulary for describing strong answers: specific, detailed, concrete evidence, clear structure, relevant. Vocabulary for describing weak answers: vague generalities, superficial treatment, rambling delivery, unclear connections. Professional collocations for assessment contexts. Distinguishing defensible observation from subjective opinion.

Grammar: Present simple for objective description

Practice: Describing 10 answers using professional assessment vocabulary with objectivity

Focus: Articulating observations clearly using language appropriate for professional assessment

Unit 17: Comparing Candidates Objectively

What you'll learn: Comparative and superlative structures: "more specific than" versus "the most specific". Balanced comparisons using "while" and "whereas". Qualifying comparisons: "slightly stronger", "significantly more detailed", "considerably less experienced". Vocabulary: exceeded expectations, met requirements, fell short, outperformed, comparable to. Balanced assessment language: "on balance", "taking everything into account", "overall". Articulating trade-offs when candidates have different strength profiles.

Grammar: Comparative and superlative structures with appropriate qualifiers

Practice: Ranking 3 candidates with written justification, then presenting comparative assessment

Focus: Clear, defensible comparison using professional language for assessment discussions

Unit 18: Presenting Recommendations and Justifications

What you'll learn: Organizing assessment clearly: opening with recommendation, supporting with evidence, addressing concerns, concluding with clear statement. Transition phrases guiding listeners through reasoning. Using present perfect to summarize career: "The candidate has demonstrated...". Conditional forms to address concerns: "If we provide X support, they would...". Modal verbs for appropriate certainty levels: "should be able to" versus "would definitely". Vocabulary for strength of recommendation: strongly recommend, recommend with reservations, recommend for advancement, do not recommend.

Grammar: Present perfect for summary, conditionals and modals for recommendations

Practice: Preparing and delivering 3-minute oral recommendations with justification

Focus: Presenting clear, well-justified recommendations using persuasive professional language

Unit 19: Closing Interviews Professionally

What you'll learn: Signaling closure: "We're coming to the end", "I have just a few more questions". Inviting candidate questions: "What questions do you have for me?". Explaining next steps clearly: "We'll be in touch by...", "The timeline is...", "You'll hear from us within...". Final phrases: "Thank you for your time", "It was a pleasure speaking with you". Avoiding false hope or premature rejection.

Grammar: Future forms for explaining next steps

Practice: Delivering professional closing for various scenarios

Focus: Clear communication of process while maintaining positive candidate experience

Unit 20: Mock Interview Cycle - Assessment and Mastery

What happens:

Session 1 - First Mock Interview (30 minutes): Conduct full realistic interview where teacher plays candidate with varying answer quality (complete, vague, rambling, defensive responses). Assessed on: question formation accuracy, diagnostic listening, probing effectiveness, time management, professional tone and presence. Detailed feedback identifies 3-4 priority areas for improvement.

Session 2 - Targeted Refinement (50 minutes): Intensive practice focused on identified weak areas. Grammar correction for question formation errors. Vocabulary drilling for missing probing phrases and assessment language. Functional skills practice for specific challenges (interruption, time management, note-taking). Repeated role-play of difficult scenarios. Strategic review and mental preparation techniques.

Session 3 - Final Mock Interview and Assessment (50 minutes): Final 30-minute mock interview demonstrates all improvements. Teacher adopts different interviewer style with new challenges. Remaining 20 minutes comprise final assessment comparing Session 1 versus Session 3 performance. Celebrate improvements, summarize strengths, provide recommendations for ongoing practice, confidence building and encouragement.

Grammar: All structures integrated in authentic interview performance

Practice: Three progressive mock interviews demonstrating systematic improvement

Focus: Demonstrating integration and mastery of all language skills through progressive mock interview performance

Programme Benefits

Language Skills Development

Grammar: Master question formation across all tenses, conditional structures, polite modals, embedded questions

Vocabulary: Build systematic language banks for probing (40+ phrases), assessment (50+ collocations), and managing dynamics (30+ functional phrases)

Listening: Develop diagnostic listening to identify incomplete answers, vague language, and missing information in real-time

Functional Language: Open, question, probe, redirect, assess, and close interviews professionally in English

Professional Interviewing Skills

Question mastery: Form grammatically correct questions across all tenses and structures. Probing techniques: Extract complete information from evasive or vague candidates. Time management: Balance thoroughness with efficiency in structured timeframes. Assessment clarity: Describe and compare candidates using professional, objective language. Difficult situations: Handle rambling, defensive, or challenging candidates diplomatically.

Professional Confidence

Conduct entire interviews in English without code-switching. Probe systematically when answers are incomplete. Redirect without seeming rude or losing rapport. Take effective notes while maintaining conversation flow. Assess candidates using clear, professional language. Handle sensitive or difficult moments with diplomatic language.

What You'll Have at the End

✅ Mastery of question formation across all tenses

✅ 40+ probing phrases for extracting complete information

✅ Diagnostic listening skills to identify incomplete or vague answers in real-time

✅ Techniques for managing time, pacing, and interview flow

✅ Professional vocabulary for interrupting, redirecting, and refocusing diplomatically

✅ Assessment language: 50+ collocations for describing candidate performance

✅ Note-taking system with abbreviations and shorthand

✅ Comparison language for ranking and recommending candidates

✅ Experience conducting 3 full mock interviews with progressive improvement

✅ Confidence to conduct professional job interviews entirely in English

How Your Learning Works

In Each Unit

Clear learning objectives: You know exactly what language skills you're developing. Authentic scenarios: Every unit uses realistic interview situations. Grammar focus: Each unit targets specific structures systematically. Realistic practice: Activities mirror actual interview challenges. Immediate feedback: Your instructor corrects errors and reinforces effective patterns.

Your Support

Your instructor will:

• Assess your starting point and identify specific areas needing improvement
• Correct question formation errors immediately and systematically
• Help you develop diagnostic listening skills through guided practice
• Build your probing and assessment vocabulary progressively
• Provide detailed feedback on mock interviews with targeted refinement plans
• Ensure you feel confident conducting interviews entirely in English

Key Differences: This is LANGUAGE Training, Not Interview Training

✅ What This Programme DOES Teach:

• How to form questions grammatically correctly in English
• Professional vocabulary for interviewing in English
• Listening skills to understand what candidates are really saying
• Grammar structures for probing, redirecting, and assessing in English
• Functional phrases for managing all aspects of interviews in English

❌ What This Programme Does NOT Teach:

• How to assess technical skills (that's role-specific)
• What makes a good hire (that's business judgment and HR strategy)
• How to design competency frameworks (that's HR methodology)
• How to avoid bias or ensure fairness (that's HR best practice and compliance)

This is Business English training focused on the language skills needed to conduct interviews professionally.

Ready to Begin?

This programme will transform your ability to conduct professional job interviews in English through systematic language development, diagnostic listening practice, and confident application.

Let's start with Unit 1!

Programme designed for B2 (Upper-Intermediate) level English learners

Individual units can be adjusted based on your specific needs and progress