Preparing for the interview

As world travelers know, the Spanish spoken in Mexico City differs from that in Buenos Aires, and the German spoken in Vienna differs from that spoken in Frankfurt. Similarly, the English spoken in New York City is different from that spoken in Los Angeles.

Why is this important? You want to speak in a way that the interviewer can imagine you as part of the team. After all, studies show that most people, consciously or subconsciously, like to be around other people who are like them.

Foreigners interviewing for jobs in the U.S. - even if they are native English speakers - often have accents of their country of origin. In some global companies, this is a particular plus. Such a candidate could be more appealing as the company tries to boost its image as an employer with a global workforce. However, it’s one thing to have a native accent and it’s quite another to speak English in a way that your interviewer struggles to communicate with you.

Dress appropriately. In Silicon Valley, "casual" rules. However, for a job interview you should never match the informality of the interviewer. Instead, dress “one step up.” You want to show that you care enough about the interview to make an effort. On the other hand, you don’t want to appear so overdressed that you intimidate the interviewer - or subconsciously signal that you are far too formal of a person to fit into their culture. Do your research and dress a bit more formally than your interviewer will dress. Feel free to ask the assistant coordinating your interview for suggestions.

 

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