How to Do a Job Interview in Chinese
HSK 4
A job interview in Chinese can feel intimidating, but most interviews follow a familiar pattern: introduce yourself, talk about your experience, explain your strengths and why you want the role, discuss salary and ask your own questions.
This page gives you polished but natural phrases for each stage, including formal touches like 贵公司 (your company) and 期望薪资 (expected salary), plus a full sample interview with pinyin.
Prepare your own answers using these patterns, then practice this conversation with an AI partner that corrects you, so you sound confident on the day.
Key phrases
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 您好，我叫马克，很高兴见到您。 | Nín hǎo, wǒ jiào Mǎkè, hěn gāoxìng jiàndào nín. | Hello, my name is Mark. Nice to meet you. Use 您 with interviewers. |
| 我先简单介绍一下自己。 | Wǒ xiān jiǎndān jièshào yíxià zìjǐ. | Let me briefly introduce myself. |
| 我在一家外贸公司工作了三年。 | Wǒ zài yì jiā wàimào gōngsī gōngzuòle sān nián. | I worked at a trading company for three years. |
| 我之前主要负责市场推广。 | Wǒ zhīqián zhǔyào fùzé shìchǎng tuīguǎng. | I was mainly responsible for marketing. 负责 = be responsible for. |
| 我有三年市场经验。 | Wǒ yǒu sān nián shìchǎng jīngyàn. | I have three years of marketing experience. |
| 我的优势是沟通能力比较强。 | Wǒ de yōushì shì gōutōng nénglì bǐjiào qiáng. | My strength is that I communicate well. |
| 我学东西很快。 | Wǒ xué dōngxi hěn kuài. | I learn quickly. |
| 我很认同贵公司的理念。 | Wǒ hěn rèntóng guì gōngsī de lǐniàn. | I really share your company's values. 贵公司 is a formal, polite way to say 'your company'. |
| 我希望在这个领域长期发展。 | Wǒ xīwàng zài zhège lǐngyù chángqī fāzhǎn. | I hope to build a long-term career in this field. |
| 我有时候太追求细节。 | Wǒ yǒu shíhou tài zhuīqiú xìjié. | Sometimes I focus too much on details. A common way to answer the 'weakness' question. |
| 您的期望薪资是多少？ | Nín de qīwàng xīnzī shì duōshao? | What's your expected salary? What the interviewer may ask. |
| 具体可以根据岗位再谈。 | Jùtǐ kěyǐ gēnjù gǎngwèi zài tán. | We can discuss the details based on the role. |
| 我可以问几个问题吗？ | Wǒ kěyǐ wèn jǐ ge wèntí ma? | May I ask a few questions? |
| 这个岗位的主要工作是什么？ | Zhège gǎngwèi de zhǔyào gōngzuò shì shénme? | What are the main responsibilities of this role? 岗位 = position, role. |
| 团队有多少人？ | Tuánduì yǒu duōshao rén? | How big is the team? |
| 什么时候能知道结果？ | Shénme shíhou néng zhīdào jiéguǒ? | When will I hear back? |
| 我下个月就可以入职。 | Wǒ xià ge yuè jiù kěyǐ rùzhí. | I can start next month. 入职 = start a new job. |
Sample dialogue
Interviewer: 你好，请坐。先简单介绍一下你自己吧。
Nǐ hǎo, qǐng zuò. Xiān jiǎndān jièshào yíxià nǐ zìjǐ ba.
Hello, please have a seat. Start by briefly introducing yourself.
You: 您好，我叫马克，来自加拿大。我在一家外贸公司做了三年市场工作。
Nín hǎo, wǒ jiào Mǎkè, láizì Jiānádà. Wǒ zài yì jiā wàimào gōngsī zuòle sān nián shìchǎng gōngzuò.
Hello, I'm Mark, from Canada. I worked in marketing at a trading company for three years.
Interviewer: 为什么想来我们公司？
Wèishénme xiǎng lái wǒmen gōngsī?
Why do you want to join our company?
You: 我一直关注贵公司的产品，也很想在中国市场多积累经验。
Wǒ yìzhí guānzhù guì gōngsī de chǎnpǐn, yě hěn xiǎng zài Zhōngguó shìchǎng duō jīlěi jīngyàn.
I've followed your products for a long time, and I'd really like to gain more experience in the Chinese market.
Interviewer: 你觉得你最大的优势是什么？
Nǐ juéde nǐ zuì dà de yōushì shì shénme?
What do you think is your biggest strength?
You: 我能用中文和英文跟客户沟通，而且学东西比较快。
Wǒ néng yòng Zhōngwén hé Yīngwén gēn kèhù gōutōng, érqiě xué dōngxi bǐjiào kuài.
I can communicate with clients in both Chinese and English, and I learn quickly.
Interviewer: 你的期望薪资是多少？
Nǐ de qīwàng xīnzī shì duōshao?
What's your expected salary?
You: 我希望在市场平均水平左右，具体可以再谈。
Wǒ xīwàng zài shìchǎng píngjūn shuǐpíng zuǒyòu, jùtǐ kěyǐ zài tán.
Around the market average, and we can discuss the details.
Interviewer: 好的。你有什么问题想问我们吗？
Hǎo de. Nǐ yǒu shénme wèntí xiǎng wèn wǒmen ma?
OK. Do you have any questions for us?
You: 请问这个岗位的团队有多少人？什么时候能知道结果？
Qǐngwèn zhège gǎngwèi de tuánduì yǒu duōshao rén? Shénme shíhou néng zhīdào jiéguǒ?
How big is the team for this role? And when will I hear back?
Interviewer: 团队有八个人。我们一周内会通知你。
Tuánduì yǒu bā ge rén. Wǒmen yì zhōu nèi huì tōngzhī nǐ.
There are eight people on the team. We'll let you know within a week.
You: 好的，谢谢您的时间。
Hǎo de, xièxie nín de shíjiān.
Great, thank you for your time.
Tips
- Prepare a one-minute self-introduction (自我介绍) in Chinese. It's almost always the first question.
- Use 您 with the interviewer, at least at the start. Many interviewers will use 你 with you, which is normal.
- Back up each strength with a short example: 比如…… (for example...).
- Salary questions are common in Chinese interviews. Research the typical range for your role beforehand and decide how you want to answer.
- Always have one or two questions ready for the end. 没有问题 can come across as a lack of interest.
Common mistakes
✗ 我有三年经验在市场。
✓ 我有三年市场经验。
Descriptions go before the noun in Chinese: 三年 + 市场 + 经验.
✗ 我很好在沟通。
✓ 我沟通能力很强。
This is a word-for-word copy of 'I'm good at communicating'. In Chinese you say your 沟通能力 (communication skills) are 强 (strong).
✗ 我的工资要多少多少。
✓ 我的期望薪资是……
In an interview, 期望薪资 (expected salary) sounds more professional than 工资要.
FAQ
How do I introduce myself in a Chinese job interview?
Start with 您好，我叫……, then give your background in one or two sentences, e.g. 我在……工作了三年，主要负责…… Keep it to about a minute.
Is 贵公司 too formal?
No, it's normal and polite in interviews and formal emails. In casual conversation, 你们公司 is fine.
How do I talk about salary in Chinese?
Use 期望薪资 (expected salary). You can give a range or say 具体可以根据岗位再谈 (we can discuss details based on the role).
Practice this with an AI partner