Lesson 9 of 1220 minutesFree

Performing at interview

Timed practice with real senior questions, a speaking-speed check, self-rating and a debrief you'll use after every interview.

Goes with Chapter 9 of How To Get Your Dream Job. Everything saves in this browser only.

Before you start

Your path

Choose your field and level. The examples and suggestions in this lesson change to match.

The story

The lights went out

Ines · Senior civil engineer · international candidate

Ines had prepared thoroughly for an associate director interview at a UK consultancy. Then the first question came: “Talk us through your current project.” Her mind went blank. She spoke too fast, apologised for her English twice, and finished without mentioning the result she was proudest of.

She recorded six mock answers and found she was speaking at nearly 190 words a minute. With practice she slowed to about 140, with clear pauses, and stopped apologising, because there was nothing to apologise for.

“I didn’t become a different person. I just stopped letting the first five minutes happen by accident.”

Interviews are a performance as well as a test. Performance is a skill you can practise, without becoming someone you're not.

Step 1 · Timed practice

Two minutes, out loud

Draw a question, press start and answer out loud, ideally recording yourself on your phone. Stop at about two minutes. Then rate yourself honestly. At senior level, expect follow-ups: “What did the board think?”, “What would you do differently?”

Question

Press “New question” to start.

0:00

Step 2 · The speed check

Slow down: a pause sounds confident

Record one answer. Count the words in one minute of it (or paste a transcript and enter how long it took). Most people speed up under pressure; around 130–150 words a minute is easy to follow, especially in a second language.

Words

Seconds

Enter your words and time.

Step 3 · After every interview

Thank them, debrief, then let it go

Send a short thank-you email within twenty-four hours. Then debrief while it's fresh.

Question they asked

How it went (1–5)

What I'd change

What I learned about the role or organisation

★ Core activity

Your practice record

Your practice scores, speaking speed and debrief, on one page. The weakest answer is the one to practise again.

Before you move on

Three questions

Five minutes, in English or your own language: whichever lets you think most clearly.

What did your timed practice show you that you didn't expect?

What's your plan for the moment your mind goes blank?

What will your thank-you email say after your next interview?

What to remember

Five things to keep

A calm, warm, organised start gives you a platform for the whole interview.
Signpost your STAR stories out loud, and always finish with the result.
Slow down: a pause sounds confident, not hesitant.
At senior level, expect probing follow-ups; know the numbers and trade-offs behind every story.
Thank them within a day, debrief yourself, then keep your search moving.

Lesson 10: When the rejections come

Find which stage of your search is failing, ask for useful feedback, and write a setback card for the bad week.

Start Lesson 10 All lessons

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