On this page
Questions to practise
Tell me about your last role. What were you responsible for?
The hiring manager does not know your past employer. They want a clear picture of your real work.
Start with your title, then explain it in plain words. If it helps, compare it to a local job: "Here, that job is closest to a team leader." Name two or three main tasks. Add the team size if you had one.
What did a normal week look like for you?
Job titles mean different things in different places. Daily tasks show what you really did.
Walk through a simple week. Say what you did most days and what happened once a week. Use clear action words like planned, checked, trained and reported. Keep it short and concrete.
Tell me about a time you worked with a team or a manager from a different background.
The hiring manager wants to know how you communicate and work with different people.
Give one short, real example. Say what the work was, how you shared information, and how you solved any small misunderstanding. Focus on actions, such as asking questions or checking details. Stay positive and neutral about everyone.
What results did you get in that role?
Results show the value of your work, even if the interviewer does not know the company.
Give one result with a number if you can, for example time, money, people or errors. Example: "We cut delays by a third." If you have no number, describe a clear outcome. Say what you did to get it.
Can you give me an example of a problem you solved at work?
The interviewer wants to see how you think and act, not only what your title was.
Use four short parts: the problem, what you did, the result, and what you learned. Keep the example from real work. Name your own actions clearly. Use "I" for your part and "we" for the team.
How do your skills fit this job?
The hiring manager needs to see that your past work connects to the team's needs.
Pick one task from the job advert. Link it to something you did before. Example: "Here you need someone to plan shifts. I planned shifts for two years." One strong link is better than a long list.
Which part of this job do you think you can do well from day one?
The interviewer wants to know where you can help quickly.
Choose one or two tasks you have done many times. Say how often you did them and for how long. Then say how you will use that experience here. Be honest and specific.
What are you learning about how things work here?
The interviewer wants to see that you are actively learning about local rules, tools and ways of working.
Name one specific thing, such as a local rule, a tool or a way of working. Say how you are learning it, for example a course, reading or learning at work. Example: "I am doing a short course on local safety rules. I finish next month."
What is different between working there and working here?
The interviewer wants to see that you notice differences and can adapt in a calm, positive way.
Name one real difference, for example how teams share information or how reports are written. Stay neutral and do not criticise either place. Then say how you are adjusting to it.
Is there anything on your CV you would like to explain more?
This gives you space to clear up anything that is unclear for the interviewer.
Choose one role, skill or result that you have not talked about yet. Say it in one or two plain sentences. Then finish with how it connects to a task in this job. Short and clear is best.
In my last role, I was responsible for three main things.
Clara
AI coach
Leo
AI coach
Lines to try
In my last role, I was responsible for three main things.
The closest local job would be a team leader.
Day to day, I planned the work and checked the results.
One result I am proud of is that we finished every project on time that year.
One thing I am getting used to here is how teams share updates.
I am learning the local rules, for example through a short course or at work.
Common questions
The interviewer does not know my past employers. What should I say?
Do not focus on the company name. Describe the organisation simply, for example its size and what it did. Then explain your tasks and results in plain words. Clear daily tasks and real numbers help the interviewer understand your work.
Should I apologise because my experience is from another country?
No. Your experience is real and useful. Explain it clearly and calmly. If something is new for you here, name it and say what you are doing to learn it. This sounds confident and honest.
What if I do not have numbers for my results?
Think about time saved, people trained, mistakes reduced or tasks finished. A rough number is fine if it is honest, for example "about twenty people". If you have no number, describe a clear outcome, such as a project finished on time.