To nail the interview, it helps to craft a clear narrative about one’s career, stay honest about achievements, and have a solid grasp of strengths and growth areas. That guidance comes from an HR consultant who focuses on English for IT at Skyeng online school. She explained to socialbites.ca that a preparatory story matters just as much as the technical know-how a candidate brings to the table.
Even the most capable professionals can struggle to show their full talent during an interview. Many Russian IT specialists excel technically, yet they sometimes lag in social skills, especially when presenting themselves in person. This gap can put them at a disadvantage against foreign peers and may lead to interview setbacks at large companies, the expert noted.
One of the most common mistakes, according to the consultant, is preparing for only a single stage of the process or not preparing at all for the interview as a whole. The first meeting with a company representative centers on a concise self-introduction: a narrative of professional path, key strengths, and areas for development. In stressful moments, some applicants lose track of their successes or fail to recall meaningful examples. The situation becomes more challenging when the interview takes place in a non-native language, but even strong candidates can falter under pressure.
When describing experiences, it is important to avoid exaggeration and to anchor claims in concrete facts and figures that verify involvement. The candidate should explain exactly what role they played in achieving a goal, which resources they used, and what outcomes were reached. Exaggerating results, such as claiming to beat plans by 200 percent or inflating budgets, may create a misleading impression. Recruiters can verify such claims by contacting former employers, the consultant warned.
On the other side of the spectrum lies a phenomenon called the fraud syndrome, where a candidate downplays their own strengths during the interview. A steady emphasis on concrete contributions helps demonstrate expertise and shows how a person added value to a project and its outcomes. This clarity supports HR in assessing what a candidate could contribute to future work.
To make a strong first impression, the consultant suggested drafting a concise thesis that outlines what will be discussed in the interview. The outline should cover professional experience, concrete benefits delivered, and areas for growth, paired with relevant examples. It should also convey genuine interest in the company and how the candidate’s hobbies and personal interests connect with the role and culture.
She also advised practicing responses by recording them in audio or video. This technique boosts confidence and helps refine delivery. Leveraging technology can be particularly helpful for non-native speakers. Chat-based tools or neural network assistants can simulate HR conversations, offering feedback on language use and presentation. A bot can model an interview scenario and provide tips on readiness and tone, helping candidates rehearse more effectively before real interviews.
For many Russian professionals, the most challenging interview questions often revolve around past accomplishments, teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure. Preparing thoughtful, well-supported answers to these questions can ease nerves and present a candidate as a clear, capable contributor who is ready to add value to the next team.