面試英文 (Job Interview English) | 50+ Phrases to Ace Your Next Interview

Walking into a job interview conducted entirely in English can feel overwhelming, especially if English isn’t your first language. For professionals in Taiwan, English interviews are increasingly common at multinational companies, tech startups, and international organizations. Whether you’re applying at TSMC’s global division, a foreign bank, or a remote position with an overseas company, knowing how to express yourself confidently in English is essential.

This guide covers everything you need — from the self-introduction (自我介紹) to answering tough behavioral questions (行為面試問題), negotiating salary (薪資談判), and following up after the interview. Each section includes practical phrases you can practice and use immediately.

打好第一印象 (Making a Strong First Impression)

Your interview starts the moment you walk through the door. In Taiwan, many candidates focus too much on what they’ll say and forget about how they say it. Body language (肢體語言), eye contact, and a firm handshake all matter just as much as your vocabulary.

Here are phrases for the first 30 seconds:

• “Good morning / afternoon. Thank you for having me.” — 早安/午安，謝謝你們邀請我來面試。
• “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity.” — 很高興認識你。我一直很期待這個機會。
• “I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me today.” — 感謝你今天抽出時間跟我談話。

Avoid starting with “Sorry, my English isn’t very good” — this immediately undermines your credibility. Instead, let your preparation speak for itself. If you stumble on a word, simply pause and rephrase. Interviewers respect composure far more than perfect grammar.

自我介紹 (The Self-Introduction)

The dreaded “Tell me about yourself” (請你自我介紹) is almost always the opening question. This isn’t an invitation to recite your entire life story. A strong self-introduction follows the Present-Past-Future framework:

1. Present (現在): What you’re doing now
   “I’m currently a marketing specialist at a mid-sized tech company in Taipei, where I manage digital campaigns across Southeast Asian markets.”
2. Past (過去): Relevant experience and achievements
   “Before that, I spent three years at an advertising agency, where I helped clients increase their online engagement by an average of 40%.”
3. Future (未來): Why this role interests you
   “I’m excited about this position because it combines my passion for data-driven marketing with your company’s innovative approach to AI-powered customer insights.”

Keep it under two minutes. Practice with a timer until it feels natural, not rehearsed.

常見面試問題 (Common Interview Questions)

Here are the questions Taiwan professionals encounter most frequently in English interviews, along with strategies and sample responses:

1. “What are your strengths?” 你的優點是什麼？

Pick two or three strengths that directly relate to the job description (職位描述). Back each one with evidence.

Sample: “One of my key strengths is cross-cultural communication. Having worked with teams in Japan, the US, and Southeast Asia, I’ve developed an ability to bridge cultural gaps and keep projects moving forward even when communication styles differ significantly.”

2. “What is your biggest weakness?” 你最大的缺點是什麼？

The classic trap question. Never say “I’m a perfectionist” — interviewers have heard it thousands of times. Instead, share a genuine weakness you’ve actively worked to improve.

Sample: “I used to struggle with delegating tasks because I wanted everything done a certain way. Over the past year, I’ve been intentionally assigning more responsibilities to my team members and focusing on mentoring rather than micromanaging. The result has been better team morale and actually higher-quality output.”

3. “Why do you want to work here?” 你為什麼想在這裡工作？

This is where your research (研究) pays off. Mention specific things about the company — their products, culture, recent achievements, or values that genuinely resonate with you.

Sample: “I’ve been following your company’s expansion into the ASEAN market, and I’m impressed by how you’ve localized your product for each country rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. That kind of thoughtful market entry aligns with how I think about marketing strategy.”

4. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” 你五年後的目標是什麼？

Sample: “In five years, I’d like to be leading a regional marketing team and contributing to the company’s strategic planning. I’m particularly interested in developing expertise in emerging markets and helping build brand recognition in areas where the company is still growing.”

行為面試問題 (Behavioral Questions)

Many international companies use the STAR method (情境-任務-行動-結果) for behavioral questions. When you hear “Tell me about a time when…” your answer should follow this structure:

• Situation (情境): Set the scene
• Task (任務): What was your responsibility
• Action (行動): What you specifically did
• Result (結果): The measurable outcome

Example question: “Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult colleague.”

STAR response: “At my previous company, a colleague from the engineering team and I had conflicting priorities on a product launch timeline. [Situation] My task was to find a compromise that wouldn’t delay the launch or sacrifice quality. [Task] I scheduled a one-on-one meeting, listened to his technical concerns, and proposed a phased rollout that addressed his quality benchmarks while meeting our marketing deadlines. [Action] We launched on time with zero critical bugs in the first phase, and the approach became our standard process for future releases. [Result]”

薪資談判 (Salary Negotiation)

In Taiwan, talking about money (談錢) during interviews can feel uncomfortable. But international companies expect it, and being prepared shows professionalism.

Useful phrases for salary discussions:

• “Based on my research and experience, I’m targeting a range of NT$X to NT$Y.” — 根據我的研究和經驗，我的目標薪資範圍是…
• “I’m flexible on compensation, but I’d like to understand the full benefits package.” — 我在薪資方面很彈性，但我想了解完整的福利。
• “Could you share the salary range for this position?” — 可以分享這個職位的薪資範圍嗎？
• “I’d like some time to consider the offer. When do you need my decision?” — 我想要一些時間考慮。你們需要我什麼時候做決定？

Research typical salaries on platforms like 104人力銀行 (104 Job Bank), Glassdoor, or LinkedIn Salary Insights before the interview so you can name a realistic range.

面試後跟進 (Post-Interview Follow-Up)

Sending a thank-you email (感謝信) within 24 hours is standard practice in English-speaking business culture. Many Taiwan candidates skip this step, which means doing it gives you an immediate advantage.

Here’s a template:

Subject: Thank You — [Position Title] Interview

เรียน [ชื่อผู้สัมภาษณ์],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today about the [Position Title] role. I enjoyed learning more about [specific topic discussed] and I’m even more enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to your team.

Our conversation about [specific project or challenge mentioned] reinforced my belief that my experience in [relevant skill] would be a strong fit for this position.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any additional information. I look forward to hearing from you.

ขอแสดงความนับถืออย่างยิ่ง,
[ชื่อของคุณ]

台灣人常犯的面試英文錯誤 (Common Mistakes by Taiwan Candidates)

After years of observing English interviews with Taiwan professionals, certain patterns emerge. Avoiding these mistakes will immediately set you apart:

1. Answering too briefly — “Yes” or “No” answers kill momentum. Always elaborate with examples.
2. Memorizing scripts word-for-word — It sounds robotic. Know your key points, but speak naturally.
3. Not asking questions — When they say “Do you have any questions?” (你有什麼問題嗎), always have at least two prepared. Try: “What does success look like in this role during the first 90 days?” หรือ “How would you describe the team culture?”
4. Using Chinese filler words — Replace 那個 (nàge) and 就是 (jiùshì) with English pause fillers like “well,” “let me think,” or simply a brief pause.
5. Translating directly from Chinese — “My personality is very outgoing” sounds unnatural. Try “I thrive in collaborative environments” instead.

實用面試詞彙表 (Essential Interview Vocabulary)

English	中文	Example Sentence
qualifications	資格/條件	“My qualifications include a master’s degree and five years of experience.”
relevant experience	相關經驗	“I have relevant experience in project management.”
team player	團隊合作者	“I consider myself a team player who values collaboration.”
growth mindset	成長心態	“I maintain a growth mindset and actively seek feedback.”
track record	實績	“I have a proven track record of meeting sales targets.”
value proposition	價值主張	“My value proposition is my unique blend of technical and creative skills.”
compensation package	薪酬方案	“Could you walk me through the compensation package?”
onboarding	新人訓練	“What does your onboarding process look like?”

Watch: Job Interview English Practice

This video walks through a complete English job interview from start to finish, with common questions and model answers perfect for practice:

你的面試準備清單 (Your Interview Preparation Checklist)

Use this checklist before every English interview:

• ☐ Research the company — products, culture, recent news
• ☐ Prepare your 2-minute self-introduction
• ☐ Practice 5 common questions with STAR answers
• ☐ Know your salary range (research on 104, Glassdoor)
• ☐ Prepare 3 questions to ask the interviewer
• ☐ Do a mock interview with a friend or language partner
• ☐ Review the job description one final time
• ☐ Plan your outfit and route the day before
• ☐ Bring extra copies of your English resume
• ☐ Arrive 10-15 minutes early

English job interviews get easier with practice. Start by recording yourself answering common questions, then gradually work up to live practice with a conversation partner. The key isn’t perfection — it’s showing that you can communicate clearly, think on your feet, and bring real value to the team.

เอกสารอ้างอิง

• Harvard Business Review. “How to Ace a Job Interview.” hbr.org/topic/job-interviews
• 104人力銀行. “Salary Research Tools.” 104.com.tw
• Glassdoor. “Interview Tips and Common Questions.” glassdoor.com/Interview