How to Ace an Interview with a Foreign Accent - 4 Helpful Tips

Today's job market is more competitive than ever.  The more effective you are at communicating, the more likely you are to get hired or be chosen for a promotion.

Many students sign up for accent modification classes with me to help them achieve clearer communication as they prepare for job interviews. They often fear they will be judged unfairly because of their accent, and sometimes, the fear of being judged can keep well-qualified applicants from applying for their dream job.

Does this sound familiar? If you answered yes, don't get discouraged. These four tips will help you get through your next interview, even if you have an accent. 

1.  Relax and Breathe!

Interviews are stressful. When you are nervous, your pitch will be off, and the rate of your speech will be too fast.  When you speak fast, you have a tendency not to move your mouth well, so your voice drops.  Be sure to slow down.  Prior to your interview, practice this simple breathing exercise to help reduce stress.

• Practice breathing in for a silent count of 3
• Hold for a count of 3
• Breathe out for a count of 3
• Try to make the movements as smooth as you can
• Remember to feel relaxed and in control before you start speaking

2. Review the job description and make a list of all the words used for the job you are applying for

Make a list of all the words related to your field and practice saying them in a recorder.  If you have a friend who is a native speaker, ask them to critique the recording.  You can also hire an English teacher online for 1-2 hours to help evaluate and to make sure you are pronouncing the words correctly. 

3.  Write down all the questions you want to ask about the position and all the questions you might be asked.  

This is an excellent way to prepare for your interview, and practicing it often is important. You will feel more confident the more you practice. Be sure to use good grammar and practice enunciating your words.  Record yourself and listen to how you sound. If you don't sound clear, it's possible that others will think the same. Be sure to continue to practice and get some feedback from a native speaker.  It's also helpful to roleplay and have a friend pretend to interview you with a list of questions.  This way you can practice your responses before the actual interview.  

4.  Be proactive and inform the interviewer that you have been consistently working on improving your English grammar and pronunciation skills. 

Letting the interviewer know this upfront makes a good impression. It shows that you are proactive and ambitious about improving yourself, which is a great quality. You can sign up for our 7-week or 12-week transformation courses to help you pursue your professional and personal goals.  A customized Accent modification program can help reduce communication breakdowns, enhancing both your clarity and confidence.