There's a moment in almost every professional's life where the stakes are higher than usual. Maybe you're interviewing someone for a role on your team, or perhaps you're being interviewed for a new position yourself. Either way, the pressure is real because interviews are more than just question and answer sessions. They're decisions about the future.

Here's the tricky part. Interviews can go wrong on both sides. As a candidate, you might walk out thinking you wish you'd explained yourself better. As an interviewer, you might realize halfway through that you didn't get the insights you needed. Both situations lead to regret, and both are avoidable.

This episode focuses on the language that drives interviews forward. The right phrases keep conversations structured, professional, and human. They open doors, calm nerves, and uncover the truth. Whether you're leading interviews or preparing to be interviewed yourself, you'll walk away with practical phrases and strategies that build confidence and trust.

You'll discover how to set the stage with opening phrases that reduce uncertainty. We cover the difference between closed questions that invite one-word responses and open-ended questions that encourage storytelling. You'll learn how to explain roles clearly, use behavioral questions that reveal how someone behaves under pressure, and close interviews with respect and clarity. If you're the candidate rather than the interviewer, many of these same phrases apply to show confidence and professionalism from your side of the table.

Resources:

Download this episode's worksheet for all the interview phrases and practice exercises: lvlinguistics.be/episode46

Ready to Practice Your English with Real People?

Listening to podcasts is great for learning, but nothing builds confidence like actually speaking. That's where our English practice membership Level Up comes in. It's made especially for professionals just like you.

Inside Level Up, you'll find tons of exercises you can do on desktop or mobile, a community of professionals who are working on their English confidence for work and business, daily unlimited live practice sessions you can join anytime, anywhere, and support from our team of coaches who answer questions and track your progress.

If you're serious about getting confident with English, keep doing what you're doing right now - studying, listening to podcasts, doing exercises, but don't forget the critical piece: actually speaking. The more you speak, the more confident and comfortable you'll be with the English language.

My amazing team of coaches and I are ready to support you in Level Up. Head over to lvlinguistics.be/levelup for more information. I hope to see you on the inside.

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46. Building Stronger Teams. Essential Phrases for Conducting Effective Interviews