Most non-native speakers lose the interview before the real questions even start — not because their English is bad, but because they use phrases that sound off to native speakers.

Here are 5 common ones and what to replace them with:

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❌ "I am very passionate for this job"

✅ "I'm genuinely excited about this role"

"Passionate for" sounds unnatural. Native speakers say "passionate about" or skip it entirely and show enthusiasm through specifics: "I've been following your product launch and I'd love to be part of what's next."

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❌ "I have a good communication skill"

✅ "I communicate well across teams"

Don't list skills like a résumé. Show them. "In my last role, I ran weekly syncs between engineering and marketing — keeping everyone aligned was my thing."

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❌ "I am a hard worker"

✅ "I'm someone who figures it out"

Every candidate says "hard worker." It means nothing. Instead, prove it: "When our vendor dropped out two weeks before launch, I sourced three alternatives over the weekend and we shipped on time."

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❌ "My weakness is I work too hard"

✅ Name a real weakness + what you've done about it

Interviewers have heard the fake weakness a thousand times. Try: "I used to over-commit to projects. I've since started using a priority matrix — now I say no to the things that don't move the needle."

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❌ "Do you have any questions?" → "No, I think you covered everything"

✅ "What does success look like in the first 90 days?"

Never say "no questions." It signals low interest. Always have 2-3 smart questions ready. The 90-day question works every time because it shows you're already thinking like an employee.

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Want the full playbook? Our Interview English Mastery course covers 13 lessons of real idioms, frameworks, and practice exercises — from small talk to salary negotiation.

Sound like a native speaker in your next interview. 🎯