Prague
International Interview Advice
by Mary A. Schumacher
Job search resources offer plenty of advice to successfully prepare yourself for a job interview. But what about when you go job searching in another country?
No matter what country you are in, job interview questions will be similar. The employer will want to know if you have the qualifications and experience to perform the job, and you will want to know if the employer will provide you with the salary, benefits, challenges and work environment that you desire. Both of you will want to know if you are a good match for each other.
What you say might not change across international boundaries. How you should say it depends on the country and the culture.
Be Culturally Ready
If you are planning an interview for a job in another country, and your interviewer comes from your own home country, you should already be culturally prepared. Furthermore, you should be able to find job search advice books and websites to help you prepare for your interview, no matter what country you come from.
Perhaps, however, you will have to interview with someone not from your home country. Perhaps you will have to fly to the country where you hope to be working, and have an interview with a local person. Will you know what to do? Should you indulge in some informal small talk with your interviewer when you arrive? Should you tell a joke? Should you call your interviewer by his or her first name? Should you look your interviewer in the eye? How should you dress?
If you've never considered these questions before, you'll probably want to, before you land that international interview. Understanding the basics of the culture of your interviewer can bring you to the forefront of a group of candidates, because your interviewer will know that you can conduct yourself in the host country without offending people or otherwise being ineffective in your job.
Do This, Don't Do That
For example, while many Anglo-Americans are used to looking people straight in the eye when they speak and offering information about themselves in a dynamic way, other cultures will find this behavior too abrasive. Some cultures want candidates to only answer questions about their work experience, and not offer unsolicited ideas for how to improve the company. Some cultures would not take you seriously if you tell a joke during an interview.
So how do you know how to behave appropriately during an international interview? Research is the answer. The Internet is a wonderful tool for finding out about cultural etiquette in other countries. Furthermore, try to seek out people from the country where you hope to be working, or better yet, try to find expatriates from your own country, who will be aware of differences in behavior and attitudes. Contact a chamber of commerce in that country, and ask about getting in contact with expatriates.
Of course, common sense applies here. Your Middle Eastern interviewer may have spent a lot of time in, for example, the U.S., and will know how Americans behave. Furthermore, different people have different interview styles. There is no one single interview pattern per country. The key idea here is, when you attend an international interview, be culturally sensitive. This approach will help you not only succeed with the interview, but also your international job.