Interview Tips
Interview Tips for International Positions
Research organizations of interest and know how you will fit into the system. You may have to make a case for why an organization should hire a foreign national over a citizen. Highlight your cultural knowledge, language and other skills.
Can you exhibit these skills?
- Adaptability
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Flexibility
- Openness to diversity
- Independence
- Commitment (to living abroad)
- Communication (knowledge of language)
Become knowledgeable about the country’s legal work and immigration policies. Some employers are reluctant to hire a non-citizen because they fear the legal paperwork process. If you know much about the process, you can inform them on how it is done.
Have a strong command of the country’s language so you can interview in that language. If you cannot interview in it but have a strong knowledge of the language, be sure to emphasize your language ability and that you hope to gain fluency while abroad.
Do research on how interviews are conducted in that country and what things they might look for in a candidate outside of skills and experiences. For instance, in Japan, recruiters pay more attention to the personal attributes (honest, honorable, etc.) of the applicant than to experience or career skills.