job interview
The Basics of a Job Interview
The first Chinese-language interview: announcing yourself at reception, the ninety seconds of self-introduction that always come first, describing what you have done, and the questions you should be asking back.
Essential phrases
In the order you are likely to need them. Play each one, repeat it, and read the note underneath — knowing when to say a sentence matters as much as saying it correctly.
您好，我是来面试的，我叫……，约的是十点。您好，我是來面試的，我叫……，約的是十點。
Nín (second tone, rising) hǎo, (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling) lái (second tone, rising) miànshì (fourth tone, falling) de, (neutral tone) wǒ (third tone, dipping) jiào..., (fourth tone, falling) yuē (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) shì (fourth tone, falling) shí (second tone, rising) diǎn. (third tone, dipping)
Hello, I am here for an interview. My name is …, and my appointment is at ten.
When to use it
Your line at reception. Giving the time as well as the name lets the receptionist find you on the list immediately; 约的是 (yuē de shì) means "the appointment is for".
我先简单介绍一下自己。我先簡單介紹一下自己。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) xiān (first tone, high and level) jiǎndān (third tone, dipping) jièshào (fourth tone, falling) yíxià (second tone, rising) zìjǐ. (fourth tone, falling)
Let me briefly introduce myself first.
When to use it
Almost every Chinese interview opens with 请你自我介绍一下. Prepare ninety seconds and rehearse them aloud until they arrive without assembly — this is the one part you can fully control.
我毕业于拉巴特大学，专业是国际贸易。我畢業於拉巴特大學，專業是國際貿易。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) bìyè (fourth tone, falling) yú (second tone, rising) Lābātè (first tone, high and level) Dàxué, (fourth tone, falling) zhuānyè (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) guójì (second tone, rising) màoyì. (fourth tone, falling)
I graduated from the University of Rabat; my field is international trade.
When to use it
毕业于 (bìyè yú) is the written, formal way to say "graduated from" and it is expected in an interview. 专业 (zhuānyè) is your subject or field of study.
我在一家法国公司实习过半年，主要负责客户沟通。我在一家法國公司實習過半年，主要負責客戶溝通。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) zài (fourth tone, falling) yì (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) Fǎguó (third tone, dipping) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) shíxí (second tone, rising) guo (neutral tone) bàn (fourth tone, falling) nián, (second tone, rising) zhǔyào (third tone, dipping) fùzé (fourth tone, falling) kèhù (fourth tone, falling) gōutōng. (first tone, high and level)
I did a six-month internship at a French company, mainly handling client communication.
When to use it
The pattern to memorise is 我负责…… (wǒ fùzé…, I was responsible for…). It converts any past role into one clean sentence, and it will come up in every interview you ever have.
我的中文可以应付日常沟通，专业词汇还在学。我的中文可以應付日常溝通，專業詞彙還在學。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) Zhōngwén (first tone, high and level) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) yìngfù (fourth tone, falling) rìcháng (fourth tone, falling) gōutōng, (first tone, high and level) zhuānyè (first tone, high and level) cíhuì (second tone, rising) hái (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) xué. (second tone, rising)
My Chinese is good enough for everyday communication; I am still learning the technical vocabulary.
When to use it
An honest and well-received way to place your own level. Overstating it is quickly exposed; understating it costs you the job. 应付 (yìngfù) means to cope with or manage.
我会说阿拉伯语、法语和英语。我會說阿拉伯語、法語和英語。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) huì (fourth tone, falling) shuō (first tone, high and level) Ālābóyǔ, (first tone, high and level) Fǎyǔ (third tone, dipping) hé (second tone, rising) Yīngyǔ. (first tone, high and level)
I speak Arabic, French and English.
When to use it
Say it plainly and early. For a company with North African or European markets this is the most concrete thing you bring, and it is often the reason the interview is happening at all.
我做事比较细心，也愿意学新东西。我做事比較細心，也願意學新東西。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) zuò (fourth tone, falling) shì (fourth tone, falling) bǐjiào (third tone, dipping) xìxīn, (fourth tone, falling) yě (third tone, dipping) yuànyì (fourth tone, falling) xué (second tone, rising) xīn (first tone, high and level) dōngxi. (first tone, high and level)
I work carefully, and I am willing to learn new things.
When to use it
The answer to 你有什么优点. Keep it to two qualities and use 比较 (bǐjiào) to soften the self-praise, which is the tone Chinese interviews expect.
不好意思，这个问题我没听清楚，您能再说一遍吗？不好意思，這個問題我沒聽清楚，您能再說一遍嗎？
Bù (fourth tone, falling) hǎoyìsi, (third tone, dipping) zhège (fourth tone, falling) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) méi (second tone, rising) tīng (first tone, high and level) qīngchu, (first tone, high and level) nín (second tone, rising) néng (second tone, rising) zài (fourth tone, falling) shuō (first tone, high and level) yí (second tone, rising) biàn (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)
Sorry, I did not catch that question — could you say it again, please?
When to use it
The most valuable sentence in the room. Asking once is professional; guessing and answering the wrong question is not. 没听清楚 says you did not hear it clearly, not that you did not understand.
请问，这个岗位主要负责什么？請問，這個崗位主要負責什麼？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) zhège (fourth tone, falling) gǎngwèi (third tone, dipping) zhǔyào (third tone, dipping) fùzé (fourth tone, falling) shénme? (second tone, rising)
May I ask what this position is mainly responsible for?
When to use it
岗位 (gǎngwèi) is the post or position. Asking a substantive question about the work is expected and counts in your favour; having nothing to ask does not.
请问，团队有多少人？我会跟谁一起工作？請問，團隊有多少人？我會跟誰一起工作？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) tuánduì (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping) duōshao (first tone, high and level) rén? (second tone, rising) Wǒ (third tone, dipping) huì (fourth tone, falling) gēn (first tone, high and level) shéi (second tone, rising) yìqǐ (fourth tone, falling) gōngzuò? (first tone, high and level)
How many people are in the team, and who would I be working with?
When to use it
A practical question that also reveals where the post sits. Note the coverb 跟 (gēn) comes before the verb: 跟谁一起工作, never after it.
请问，工作时间和加班的情况是怎样的？請問，工作時間和加班的情況是怎樣的？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) shíjiān (second tone, rising) hé (second tone, rising) jiābān (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) qíngkuàng (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) zěnyàng (third tone, dipping) de? (neutral tone)
What are the working hours, and what is the situation regarding overtime?
When to use it
A normal question, phrased neutrally. Asking about 加班 (jiābān, overtime) with 情况 (qíngkuàng, the situation) rather than a yes-no question makes it easy for the interviewer to answer honestly.
关于签证和工作许可，公司可以协助办理吗？關於簽證和工作許可，公司可以協助辦理嗎？
Guānyú (first tone, high and level) qiānzhèng (first tone, high and level) hé (second tone, rising) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) xǔkě, (third tone, dipping) gōngsī (first tone, high and level) kěyǐ (third tone, dipping) xiézhù (second tone, rising) bànlǐ (fourth tone, falling) ma? (neutral tone)
Regarding the visa and work permit, is the company able to help with the process?
When to use it
Ask this early rather than at the offer stage. Not every employer is in a position to sponsor a foreign national, and finding out at the end wastes both sides’ time.
请问，什么时候能有结果？請問，什麼時候能有結果？
Qǐngwèn, (third tone, dipping) shénme (second tone, rising) shíhou (second tone, rising) néng (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping) jiéguǒ? (second tone, rising)
When can I expect to hear the outcome?
When to use it
Ask at the end, always. It gives you a date rather than an open silence, and it makes a follow-up message a week later reasonable rather than pushy.
谢谢您的时间，期待有机会合作。謝謝您的時間，期待有機會合作。
Xièxie (fourth tone, falling) nín (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) shíjiān, (second tone, rising) qīdài (first tone, high and level) yǒu (third tone, dipping) jīhuì (first tone, high and level) hézuò. (second tone, rising)
Thank you for your time — I hope we have the chance to work together.
When to use it
Your closing line, said standing. 期待 (qīdài) is to look forward to; the phrase is formulaic and expected, which is exactly why it is worth having ready.
Cultural notes
A Chinese interview has a predictable shape, and knowing it removes most of the anxiety. The application starts with a (CV), which in China conventionally carries a photograph and more personal detail than a European one; ask the employer what format they expect rather than guessing. Interviews usually run in rounds — first HR, then the , the department that actually needs the person, and sometimes a final conversation with a director. Arrive ten or fifteen minutes early; punctuality is read as seriousness. The opening request is almost always , so a rehearsed ninety-second self-introduction in Chinese is the single highest-return preparation you can do. Expect direct questions that would be considered blunt elsewhere, including your (expected salary); giving a range and saying it is negotiable is a normal answer. It is entirely acceptable to ask about , the standard shorthand for statutory social insurance and housing fund contributions, and about the (probation period) and what (confirmation in the post) depends on. For a foreign national, the visa and work-permit question is the one that decides everything else: the requirements are set by the authorities, they are revised from time to time, and not every employer is registered to sponsor. Do not rely on what a friend’s company did two years ago — ask the employer directly and check the current position with the relevant official channel. Interviewers may switch into English to test you; answer in whichever language they used, and if you would rather continue in Chinese, say so politely. A short follow-up message on WeChat after the interview is normal and welcome.
These notes describe common practice, not rules. Requirements and procedures differ between cities, institutions and years — confirm anything procedural with the office, clinic or company itself.
Vocabulary
No word list has been attached to this scenario yet. Every phrase above is searchable word by word in the dictionary, and tapping a word inside the tutor role-play adds it to your review queue.
Dictionary →Dialogue
The same errand as a full conversation, with pinyin, translation and sentence audio.
A Job Interview →Offline phrase card
Everything else on this page is hidden when you print. What comes out is the card below: Chinese, pinyin and your language, in the order you need them — one page that works with no signal.
HSK Guide · Offline phrase card
The Basics of a Job Interview
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您好，我是来面试的，我叫……，约的是十点。您好，我是來面試的，我叫……，約的是十點。
Nín hǎo, wǒ shì lái miànshì de, wǒ jiào..., yuē de shì shí diǎn.
Hello, I am here for an interview. My name is …, and my appointment is at ten.
我先简单介绍一下自己。我先簡單介紹一下自己。
Wǒ xiān jiǎndān jièshào yíxià zìjǐ.
Let me briefly introduce myself first.
我毕业于拉巴特大学，专业是国际贸易。我畢業於拉巴特大學，專業是國際貿易。
Wǒ bìyè yú Lābātè Dàxué, zhuānyè shì guójì màoyì.
I graduated from the University of Rabat; my field is international trade.
我在一家法国公司实习过半年，主要负责客户沟通。我在一家法國公司實習過半年，主要負責客戶溝通。
Wǒ zài yì jiā Fǎguó gōngsī shíxí guo bàn nián, zhǔyào fùzé kèhù gōutōng.
I did a six-month internship at a French company, mainly handling client communication.
我的中文可以应付日常沟通，专业词汇还在学。我的中文可以應付日常溝通，專業詞彙還在學。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén kěyǐ yìngfù rìcháng gōutōng, zhuānyè cíhuì hái zài xué.
My Chinese is good enough for everyday communication; I am still learning the technical vocabulary.
我会说阿拉伯语、法语和英语。我會說阿拉伯語、法語和英語。
Wǒ huì shuō Ālābóyǔ, Fǎyǔ hé Yīngyǔ.
I speak Arabic, French and English.
我做事比较细心，也愿意学新东西。我做事比較細心，也願意學新東西。
Wǒ zuò shì bǐjiào xìxīn, yě yuànyì xué xīn dōngxi.
I work carefully, and I am willing to learn new things.
不好意思，这个问题我没听清楚，您能再说一遍吗？不好意思，這個問題我沒聽清楚，您能再說一遍嗎？
Bù hǎoyìsi, zhège wèntí wǒ méi tīng qīngchu, nín néng zài shuō yí biàn ma?
Sorry, I did not catch that question — could you say it again, please?
请问，这个岗位主要负责什么？請問，這個崗位主要負責什麼？
Qǐngwèn, zhège gǎngwèi zhǔyào fùzé shénme?
May I ask what this position is mainly responsible for?
请问，团队有多少人？我会跟谁一起工作？請問，團隊有多少人？我會跟誰一起工作？
Qǐngwèn, tuánduì yǒu duōshao rén? Wǒ huì gēn shéi yìqǐ gōngzuò?
How many people are in the team, and who would I be working with?
请问，工作时间和加班的情况是怎样的？請問，工作時間和加班的情況是怎樣的？
Qǐngwèn, gōngzuò shíjiān hé jiābān de qíngkuàng shì zěnyàng de?
What are the working hours, and what is the situation regarding overtime?
关于签证和工作许可，公司可以协助办理吗？關於簽證和工作許可，公司可以協助辦理嗎？
Guānyú qiānzhèng hé gōngzuò xǔkě, gōngsī kěyǐ xiézhù bànlǐ ma?
Regarding the visa and work permit, is the company able to help with the process?
请问，什么时候能有结果？請問，什麼時候能有結果？
Qǐngwèn, shénme shíhou néng yǒu jiéguǒ?
When can I expect to hear the outcome?
谢谢您的时间，期待有机会合作。謝謝您的時間，期待有機會合作。
Xièxie nín de shíjiān, qīdài yǒu jīhuì hézuò.
Thank you for your time — I hope we have the chance to work together.