The secret to acing an English interview? Preparation. In this guide to nailing an interview in English, we’ll share our top tips to help you prepare. Then, to help you prepare, we’ll go over some of the most common English interview questions.
You can talk with confidence and move forward in your career if you take the time to get ready for an interview. Good luck!.
Getting hired at Preply, the leading online language tutoring platform, is highly competitive. With locations across Europe along with remote hiring in the US and beyond, they receive thousands of applicants for just a handful of open roles.
To stand out and make it from application to offer letter, you need to thoroughly prepare for the Preply interview questions you’ll face. While every role is different, some common themes and questions do emerge across Preply interviews according to lines like Glassdoor.
In this guide, we’ll overview:
- Preply’s hiring process from application to offer
- The most frequent Preply interview questions with sample answers
- Tips to prepare for a Preply interview
- Insights from current and former Preply employees
Let’s get started!
Overview of the Preply Hiring Process
The Preply hiring process typically follows these stages:
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Initial application – You submit your CV/resume and cover letter through Preply’s online portal. Nearly all roles require fluency in English along with any other specified language skills.
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Pre-screening call – If your background seems like a potential fit you’ll have a 30 minute phone or video call with a Preply recruiter. They assess mutual interest and fit.
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Technical interview – For some roles like engineering, you complete a remote technical interview focusing on hard skills
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Take-home assignment – Next comes a take-home project resembling real work, varying by department. It often takes 1-3 hours.
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HR interview – You have a 45-60 minute call with an HR representative to further evaluate culture fit.
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Hiring manager interviews – You progress through 1-3 interviews with your potential direct manager and their peers.
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Offer – With alignment across all stakeholders, Preply extends a written offer contingent on reference checks.
Clearly, the in-person and video interviews are make-or-break. Doing well takes practice and being ready for the wide range of questions covered next.
13 Most Common Preply Interview Questions
While every Preply interview is unique, certain questions appear repeatedly according to Glassdoor reports. Let’s break down the 13 most frequent questions along with how to tackle them.
1. Why do you want to work at Preply?
This open-ended question tests your knowledge of and enthusiasm for Preply. The interviewer wants to see you’ve done your research and connect with their mission and values.
- Do highlight if you or loved ones have learned languages helped by tutors
- Mention if you enjoy working at mission-driven startups – Preply aims to make education accessible globally
- Note any friends or peers who’ve enjoyed working there
2. What makes you qualified for this role?
With this common question, detail 2-3 highly relevant strengths or achievements on your resume. Focus on why you’re a great match versus just reiterating what’s already on your CV.
- Draw clear connections between past accomplishments and what’s needed for this role
- Quantify your achievements and impact where possible
- If lacking direct experience, describe transferable skills
3. How do you handle a heavy workload and tight deadlines?
Preply routinely asks this or similar behavioral questions to assess your working style. Diarrhea some examples of how you’ve succeeded before, even when stretched thin.
- Share how you prioritize the most critical tasks
- Explain your workflow methods and productivity tips
- Describe instances of salvaging projects despite aggressive timelines
- Emphasize how you collaborate with others when bandwidth is tight
4. Tell me about a time you lacked critical information needed to complete a project. What did you do?
Another common behavioral query, this reveals problem-solving abilities and communication skills. Answer using the STAR method:
- Situation – Asked to analyze market trends with insufficient data.
- Task – Needed to fill gaps to deliver recommendations on time.
- Action – Researched available proxies and interviewed internal experts to offset missing inputs.
- Result – Completed robust analysis enabling leadership to make informed decisions.
5. Describe a time you made a mistake at work. How did you handle it?
Don’t dodge or make excuses. We all slip up sometimes. Demonstrate accountability by:
- Being transparent about the error
- Outlining how you caught and corrected it
- Explaining lessons learned about processes or strategies to prevent recurrence
- Sharing how you apologized to affected parties
6. Why should we hire you versus another candidate?
Summarize your relevant background and fit for Preply’s needs. But also go beyond repeating your resume to share:
- What motivates you about the company mission
- Unique personal qualities you’ll bring to the team culture
- Areas you’re eager to contribute and make an impact after starting
7. What are your weaknesses?
Another common question across industries. Be honest but frame weaknesses positively:
- Discuss skills you’re actively developing rather than natural shortcomings
- Share how you’re working to improve, e.g. taking online classes
- Choose relatable areas still allowing you to excel in this role
8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Interviewers want to see you’re motivated but realistic:
- Demonstrate ambition by aiming for higher roles requiring developed skills
- Balance ambition with patience in recognizing promotions and growth take time
- Mention interest in expanded responsibilities but lack of urgency
9. Why are you looking to leave your current company?
However frustrated with your employer, stay positive:
- Focus on seeking new growth opportunities
- Share you’ve taken your role as far as possible
- Note the attraction of Preply’s mission and culture as a driving factor
10. What questions do you have for us?
Always prepare 2-3 thoughtful questions to show your engagement such as:
- How would you describe the culture and work environment here?
- What achievement would make you see an employee as successful in the first 6 months?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and training?
11. What are your salary expectations?
Do your market research beforehand using sites like Glassdoor so you can give a range in line with averages:
- If asked early in interviews, say you want to learn more first
- When required, give a range based on your research
- Frame as negotiable depending on the full offer package
12. Tell me about a time you faced conflict with a coworker or supervisor. How did you handle it?
Keep it professional when responding:
- Describe the situation factually without assign blame
- Emphasize listening to their perspective
- Share how you found compromise or agreed to disagree
- Note any lessons learned about differing work styles
13. Do you have any other job interviews planned?
Be transparent but emphasize your enthusiasm for Preply:
- Mention only advanced discussions unlikely to impact timing
- Reiterate your strong interest and why Preply is your first choice
- Share that other applications are on hold pending this process
Now that we’ve covered the questions, let’s look at tips for acing your Preply interview prep and performance.
8 Tips for Preply Interview Success
Beyond practicing answers to likely questions, how else can you maximize your Preply interview performance? Here are 8 proven strategies:
1. Research Preply’s mission and values – Study their “About Us” and “Careers” pages to understand their principles and purpose.
2. Follow Preply employees on LinkedIn – Doing so provides valuable insights into company culture and priorities.
3. Review Glassdoor reviews – Look for trends among current and past employee feedback at all levels.
4. Prepare examples and anecdotes – Having crisp stories illustrating your abilities will make you stand out.
5. Practice aloud – Speak your answers out loud to polish delivery and pacing. Have a friend conduct a mock interview.
6. Plan thoughtful questions – Inquiries about growth and culture signal your engagement.
7. Review your resume – Refresh yourself on key details you’ll want to highlight from your own experience.
8. Rest up – Get a good night’s sleep beforehand so you’re energized and focused.
Arriving well-rested with clear answers in mind will help you present your best self and win over interviewers.
Insights from Preply’s Employees
Beyond the repetitive questions, what’s the actual Preply interview experience really like? Reviews from current and past employees shed some light:
- “Super friendly interviewers who just want to get to know you”
- “Onboarding process was thorough and welcoming”
- “Passion for education is evident throughout the company”
- “Rapid growth provides opportunities to take on more and try new things”
- “Work and effort is recognized”
- “Work/life balance is respected”
While fast-scaling startups have downsides like occasional disorganization, Preply seems to foster an overall positive environment with engaged cowork
Tell me about yourself
This is likely to be the first question you hear in an interview for a job as a chef, a student, or an astronaut.
In most English classes, you learn how to introduce yourself in one of the very first lessons. Something like, “I’m 29 years old, I live in Brazil, I have two brothers, and I like to cook and jog.” ” But in an interview, you need a different answer: one that makes a professional first impression.
Come up with a short paragraph that describes your working history, focusing on your successes. Describe yourself how your favorite boss would. You should include some personal information to come across as human, but try to keep the ratio of career history to biography at 20% to 30%.
A good example might sound like this:
I was born and raised in a small Polish town. I then got my BA in Business and Hospitality Management from the International Telematic University in Milan. I loved the course and living in Italy; the food was so good! In my last year, I joined the Women in Business Society. After that, I started the Four Seasons Hotel Manager in Training program. I was lucky enough to work for them for six months in New York and six months in Oslo. Working with people from other countries and the fast-paced life at the hotels were two things I loved. I made a lot of friends in New York. I definitely thrive in that kind of environment, which is why this opportunity appealed to me.
What are your weaknesses?
Everyone has weaknesses. Your interviewer wants to know if you are aware of yours and willing to work on them.
If you want to answer this question well, choose something you used to be bad at and show how you have recently worked to get better at it.
Here’s an example:
I sometimes struggle to speak my mind at work because I worry about upsetting people too much. However, I have been taking steps to overcome this. I read a great book by James Oliver called “The Power of Positive Confrontation” that helped me understand why it’s sometimes important to be honest. I’ve started using some of the tips with my co-workers. I already think my communication skills are improving, and I plan to keep working on it.
Preply Tutor Interview with Joanna H.
FAQ
Is there an interview in Preply?
