Is interviewing in the United States the same as interviewing in other cultures?
Over the past few years, we have helped our English students prepare for job interviews in Boston and New York.
But your preparation for your next job interview in the United States should include more than just learning the correct vocabulary words and role playing with your English tutor. There are cultural differences in the way that interviews are conducted around the world.
For example, in your home country, if you are being interviewed for a job, are you expected to ask questions about the company and the position? If not, that is one major difference between your country and the United States.
Find out why it's important to ask insightful questions in a job interview in the United States in today's article.
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How does culture affect interviewing styles?
In certain workplace cultures, hierarchies are more important and more accepted than in others.
Culture and cultural communication styles can vary depending on context and can be extremely different from one person to another even if they come from the same country.
In the United States, many (though not all) workplaces operate with a limited hierarchical structure. The person who interviews you for the job often will expect you to ask questions and will not consider it disrespectful if your questions are based on research that you have done on the company or the industry.
Why is it important to ask questions in an interview in the US?
Employers want to see that you are interested in the company and that you have knowledge of the field.
You should ask questions that are based on your own research of the company, its products, its place in the market or the future of the company.
In the US, creative thought is highly valued. Employers want you to ask questions because they can learn a lot about you from the kinds of questions that you ask.
Ask questions to find out if the job is a good fit for you
Remember, when you are being interviewed for a job, you are also interviewing the company to figure out if this position is right for you.
Will the position allow you to reach your professional goals? Are there opportunities to be promoted? These questions will be important when you decide wether or not to take the job if it is offered to you.
photo credit: ed_needs_a_bicycle, bpsusf
