10 Mistakes That Don’t Sound More Professional in Interviews

Job interviews can be challenging for English learners — not just because of the questions, but because of how answers are phrased. To help you sound more professional in interviews, here are 10 common mistakes and better ways to respond.

Common Interview Questions and How To Answer Them

1. Saying “I don’t have experience”

❌ “I’ve never done that before.” ✅ “I haven’t had direct experience, but I’ve worked on similar tasks like…”

Always show transferable skills.

2. Sound More Professional in Interviews: Speaking too casually

❌ “Yeah, I did that a lot.” ✅ “Yes, I have extensive experience with that.”

Use formal tone in professional settings.

35 Questions for an English Interview (With Sample Answers)

3. Giving one-word answers

❌ “Yes.” ✅ “Yes, I managed a similar task in my last role where I…”

Add context to show your ability.

4. Apologizing for your English

❌ “Sorry, my English isn’t very good.” ✅ “Let me explain that more clearly.”

Focus on clarity, not your limitations.

5. Sound More Professional in Interviews: Saying “I don’t know”

❌ “I don’t know.” ✅ “That’s a great question — I’d approach it by first looking at…”

Show how you think, even if you don’t know the answer.

6. Using too many filler words

❌ “Umm, like, you know…” ✅ (Pause briefly) Then speak clearly and directly.

Practice speaking slowly to avoid fillers.

How to Avoid Language Barriers in Job Interviews

7. Sound More Professional in Interviews: Being too humble

❌ “It wasn’t a big deal.” ✅ “It was a successful project that taught me a lot.”

Own your achievements with confidence.

8. Overusing basic words

❌ “It was good.” ✅ “It was effective and led to a 15% increase in efficiency.”

Use descriptive, specific language.

The Thing About Hypothetical Questions In Job Interviews

9. Forgetting to ask questions

❌ “No, I’m good.” ✅ “Yes — could you tell me more about the team I’d be working with?”

Questions show interest and engagement.

10. Sound More Professional in Interviews: Ending without impact

❌ “Okay, bye.” ✅ “Thank you for your time. I’m excited about this opportunity.”

Leave them with a strong final impression.

Want to Sound More Professional in Interviews?

Avoiding these mistakes and practicing better responses will help you feel more confident and prepared. Want guided support?

Sign up with Learn Laugh Speak and get feedback, correction, and practice so you can sound professional in every interview.