Chinese Job Interview Phrases — Ace Your Interview in Mandarin

First impressions matter. Greet your interviewer with 您好 (nín hǎo) — using the polite 您 instead of 你 shows respect. Follow with 很高兴见到您 (hěn gāo xìng jiàn dào nín) — very pleased to meet you. If the interviewer says 请坐 (qǐng zuò) — please sit, reply 谢谢 (xiè xiè). The most common opening request: 请简单介绍一下自己 (qǐng jiǎn dān jiè shào yī xià zì jǐ) — please briefly introduce yourself.

Structure your self-introduction (自我介绍 zì wǒ jiè shào): start with your name — 我叫... (wǒ jiào...) or 我是... (wǒ shì...). Then your background: 我毕业于... (wǒ bì yè yú...) — I graduated from... For work experience: 我有...年的工作经验 (wǒ yǒu...nián de gōng zuò jīng yàn) — I have...years of work experience. Mention your current status: 我目前在一家...公司工作 (wǒ mù qián zài yī jiā...gōng sī gōng zuò) — I currently work at a...company. To state your field: 我的专业是... (wǒ de zhuān yè shì...) — my major/specialty is... End with motivation: 我对这个职位很感兴趣 (wǒ duì zhè ge zhí wèi hěn gǎn xìng qù) — I'm very interested in this position.

Expect these typical questions. "Why do you want to work here?": 你为什么想来我们公司工作 (nǐ wèi shén me xiǎng lái wǒ men gōng sī gōng zuò). Answer with: 因为... (yīn wèi...) — because... Then talk about company reputation: 贵公司在这个行业很有名 (guì gōng sī zài zhè ge háng yè hěn yǒu míng) — your company is very well-known in this industry. Mention growth opportunity: 我觉得在这里可以学到很多东西 (wǒ jué de zài zhè lǐ kě yǐ xué dào hěn duō dōng xi) — I think I can learn a lot here.

"What are your strengths?": 你的优点是什么 (nǐ de yōu diǎn shì shén me). Good answers: 我做事很认真 (wǒ zuò shì hěn rèn zhēn) — I'm very thorough in my work, 我善于沟通 (wǒ shàn yú gōu tōng) — I communicate well, 我学习能力很强 (wǒ xué xí néng lì hěn qiáng) — I learn fast, 我抗压能力比较好 (wǒ kàng yā néng lì bǐ jiào hǎo) — I handle pressure well. For weaknesses: 我的缺点是... (wǒ de quē diǎn shì...) — my weakness is..., followed by how you're improving: 但我正在改进 (dàn wǒ zhèng zài gǎi jìn) — but I'm working on it. For past experience: 请介绍一下你之前做过什么 (qǐng jiè shào yī xià nǐ zhī qián zuò guò shén me) — tell me about what you've done before. Use specific examples: 我负责过...项目 (wǒ fù zé guò...xiàng mù) — I was responsible for the...project.

Describe your work history with these patterns. For leadership: 我带领过一个团队 (wǒ dài lǐng guò yī gè tuán duì) — I led a team. For results: 我帮助公司提高了百分之...的... (wǒ bāng zhù gōng sī tí gāo le bǎi fēn zhī...de...) — I helped the company improve...by...percent. Technical skills: 我会使用... (wǒ huì shǐ yòng...) — I can use..., 我熟悉... (wǒ shú xī...) — I'm familiar with... Language ability: 我的中文水平是... (wǒ de zhōng wén shuǐ píng shì...) — my Chinese level is... (use HSK level or describe: 日常交流没问题 rì cháng jiāo liú méi wèn tí — daily communication is no problem).

To show problem-solving: 当遇到...的问题时，我的做法是... (dāng yù dào...de wèn tí shí, wǒ de zuò fǎ shì...) — when facing...problems, my approach is... For teamwork: 我喜欢团队合作 (wǒ xǐ huān tuán duì hé zuò) — I enjoy teamwork, 我跟同事的关系一直很好 (wǒ gēn tóng shì de guān xi yī zhí hěn hǎo) — I've always had good relationships with colleagues. For achievements: 我最大的成就是... (wǒ zuì dà de chéng jiù shì...) — my biggest achievement is... If asked about challenges: 我遇到过最大的挑战是... (wǒ yù dào guò zuì dà de tiǎo zhàn shì...) — the biggest challenge I've faced is..., followed by how you overcame it.

When the interviewer asks about salary expectations: 你对薪资有什么要求吗 (nǐ duì xīn zī yǒu shén me yāo qiú ma) — do you have any salary requirements. You can respond with: 我期望的薪资范围是... (wǒ qī wàng de xīn zī fàn wéi shì...) — my expected salary range is... Or defer politely: 我们可以再谈 (wǒ men kě yǐ zài tán) — we can discuss this further, or 根据公司的标准来定 (gēn jù gōng sī de biāo zhǔn lái dìng) — based on the company's standard.

Key questions to ask about the role: 这个职位的主要职责是什么 (zhè ge zhí wèi de zhǔ yào zhí zé shì shén me) — what are the main responsibilities of this position. About the team: 团队有多少人 (tuán duì yǒu duō shǎo rén) — how many people are on the team. About benefits: 公司提供哪些福利 (gōng sī tí gōng nǎ xiē fú lì) — what benefits does the company offer. Common benefits vocabulary: 五险一金 (wǔ xiǎn yī jīn) — five insurances and housing fund (standard benefits package), 年假 (nián jià) — annual leave, 双休 (shuāng xiū) — two-day weekends, 年终奖 (nián zhōng jiǎng) — year-end bonus. About working hours: 工作时间是几点到几点 (gōng zuò shí jiān shì jǐ diǎn dào jǐ diǎn) — what are the working hours. About probation: 试用期是多久 (shì yòng qī shì duō jiǔ) — how long is the probation period.

End the interview professionally. When the interviewer asks if you have questions: 你还有什么问题吗 (nǐ hái yǒu shén me wèn tí ma) — do you have any other questions. If you don't: 暂时没有了 (zàn shí méi yǒu le) — not for now. Or ask one final question: 大概什么时候会有结果 (dà gài shén me shí hou huì yǒu jié guǒ) — roughly when can I expect a result. Closing phrases: 非常感谢您的时间 (fēi cháng gǎn xiè nín de shí jiān) — thank you very much for your time, 希望能有机会加入贵公司 (xī wàng néng yǒu jī huì jiā rù guì gōng sī) — I hope to have the opportunity to join your company.

Follow up after the interview. A polite WeChat or email: 感谢您今天安排面试 (gǎn xiè nín jīn tiān ān pái miàn shì) — thank you for arranging the interview today, 期待您的回复 (qī dài nín de huí fù) — looking forward to your reply. If you get an offer: 我很高兴收到录用通知 (wǒ hěn gāo xìng shōu dào lù yòng tōng zhī) — I'm very happy to receive the offer. To accept: 我接受这个职位 (wǒ jiē shòu zhè ge zhí wèi) — I accept this position. To negotiate further: 关于薪资，我们可以再讨论一下吗 (guān yú xīn zī, wǒ men kě yǐ zài tǎo lùn yī xià ma) — regarding the salary, could we discuss a bit more. If declined: 谢谢您的考虑 (xiè xiè nín de kǎo lǜ) — thank you for your consideration. If you need to decline: 很遗憾，我决定不接受这个职位 (hěn yí hàn, wǒ jué dìng bù jiē shòu zhè ge zhí wèi) — unfortunately, I've decided not to accept this position.