Do you want to know how to prepare for a job interview in Italian? A job interview can be nerve-wracking enough in your mother tongue but one in a foreign language can be extremely stressful and requires a bit of preparation beforehand. If you will be having a job interview in Italian, we have some great tips for you!
The first step in preparing for your job interview is to do some research into the company you are interviewing with. Showing the interviewer that you know a few facts about their company will impress them and will give you a better chance of getting hired.
If you need to send a few emails to the company before the interview, you can read our blog post about how to write a formal email in Italian.
Pay attention to the way you dress for the interview and stick to business smart attire in neutral colors. Your hair and makeup should be neat and tidy and your shoes polished.
Contrary to what you may believe, when you greet your interviewer in Italy, do not kiss them! Kissing is fine for casual situations but a firm handshake and a professional greeting is more suitable for an interview.
As with any company in the world, it is always best to be honest about your experience and qualifications. Answer questions truthfully and clearly and be honest as to why you are applying for the job.
Any Italian learner will know that there are two distinct ways of saying “you” in Italian: the “tu” form which is informal, and “Lei” which is the formal way of addressing someone. During your interview in Italian, always stick to the formal case and refrain from using their first names as this can be seen as disrespectful, especially in an interview setting.
We also don’t recommend talking about your pastimes or hobbies during your job interview in Italian as this is viewed as fickle, superficial and frivolous and has no relevance to your interview.
Here is a helpful list of questions you may encounter:
Job interview questions in Italian:
- Mi parli della sua esperienza lavorativa. (Tell me about your work experience)
- Com’è venuto/a a conoscenza della nostra offerta di lavoro? (How did you know about this position?)
- Cosa sa della nostra azienda? (What do you know about our company?)
- Perché vuole cambiare posto di lavoro? (Why do you want to leave your current job?)
- Perché le piacerebbe lavorare con noi? (Why do you want to work with us?)
- Perché pensa di essere la persona adatta a svolgere questo lavoro? (Why are you the best person for this job?)
- Cosa potrebbe apportare alla nostra azienda? (What can you do for our company?)
- Quali sono i suoi pregi? (What are your strengths?)
- Quali sono i suoi difetti? (What are your weaknesses?)
- Preferisce lavorare da solo/a o in gruppo? (Do you prefer to work on your own or with a team?)
- Qual è il salario che si aspetta? (What are your salary expectations?)
- È disposto/a a viaggiare? (Are you willing to travel?)
- Quando potrebbe iniziare a lavorare? (When can you start?)
Now that you have a few tips and common phrases for your job interview in Italian, you should be all set to succeed. However, if you want to improve your Italian level with a native and qualified Italian teacher, remember that Parlando Italiano offers face-to-face Italian lessons in London and Italian lessons online. For more information about our Italian courses, contact us.