We all know the importance of interviews. They give you the opportunity to present yourself to future employers and when done well, you can gain a competitive advantage and truly stand out from the rest. If you are currently studying English and have confidence in establishing it as your second language, your interview will play a crucial role in portraying your suitability for the role. Especially if it’s a requirement in the day-to-day responsibilities of the job, employers would want to know your level of proficiency. If you’re about to kickstart your job search in Singapore, here are some tips that might just help increase your chances of scoring the job.
4 Tips on demonstrating your English skills
1. Emphasise your English fluency
You can first highlight it as one of your skills in your resume and cover letter. Depending on your job scope, your future employer may want to know if you have the potential to do well in the role. From beginner to advanced, it is good to state your level of proficiency so that your future employer has a clearer idea of your English language abilities. If you are in the process of learning English in Singapore, describe how comfortable and confident you are in communicating in English to set expectations. Your future employer may also hop on over to LinkedIn to learn more about you before getting in touch, so consider keeping your profile up-to-date with your accomplishments – and that includes any English proficiency certifications.
2. Feature written work
It is also a good idea to focus on the experience you’ve had so far when it comes to utilising your English skills in everyday work-related contexts. Bilingualism can set you apart from other candidates but if you are competing with people who can speak more than one language as well, you’ll want to impress your potential employers with your skills. You can do so by providing some written work in your portfolio when applying for the job through email conversations, for instance. Keep a lookout for any spelling or grammatical errors and proofread your application documents before sending them over.
3.Perfect your pronunciation
If the job is mainly an English-speaking role, you’ll want to set aside some time to work on your pronunciation beforehand and pay attention to any mispronunciation mistakes. Especially during this current pandemic situation, your interviewer might decide to schedule an online interview as a start before proceeding with a face-to-face interview follow-up. Taking into account sound distortion, you’ll want to make sure he or she can hear you clearly over Zoom or any other video conferencing platform. On top of polishing up on your English-speaking and listening skills, it can also make a difference when you feel comfortable speaking in front of the camera.
4. Practice switching between languages
On the other hand, if it’s a bilingual role, your employer will want to see how easily you’re able to switch between languages. If you’re practicing and preparing for potential interview questions, try doing so in your native language as well as in English to make sure you’re all set to present yourself professionally.
Let’s help you work towards your dream job
To ensure you are well-equipped for your dream job in Singapore, consider taking up English language courses as a refresher to brush up your spoken English skills or even improve further on your fluency – and ULC has got you covered for that. Discover our Essential English courses or for a more industry-specific style of speaking, you can get started by signing up for our Corporate classes today. Feel free to get in touch with us for more information.
