Words for your next conversation
Russian for introducing yourself in a job interview
By Nico Jaroszewski · Updated
An interview introduction works best when it is brief enough to say naturally and specific enough to invite a useful question. Prepare your current role, one relevant example and a reason for your interest in the position.
Reading time: about 5 min.
- Words and phrases
- 10
- Reading support
- Stress marks and transliteration
- Practice
- Examples and short dialogues
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An interview introduction works best when it is brief enough to say naturally and specific enough to invite a useful question. Prepare your current role, one relevant example and a reason for your interest in the position. This lesson helps you organise those facts in Russian without inventing an impressive biography. You will also practise asking what the job involves and checking the next step, because an interview is a conversation between both sides.
Give an introduction with a clear thread
Я рабо́таю… introduces your current work; у меня́ есть о́пыт… describes relevant experience. Follow with one concrete task instead of listing every employer. If you are changing fields, explain the connection between a previous skill and the new role. Practise a version that lasts about half a minute, then leave room for questions. A flexible outline is easier to adapt than a memorised paragraph that becomes difficult to restart after an interruption.
Describe what you did, not only the team
Я отвеча́л за… or Я отвеча́ла за… explains what you were responsible for. Give the situation, your action and its result in straightforward language. Do not add numbers you cannot explain just to sound convincing. When you do not know a technical term, describe the task in simpler words and ask whether the meaning is clear. Your goal is an accurate account the interviewer can follow, not the largest possible collection of business vocabulary.
Ask about responsibilities and expectations
Каки́е основны́е обя́занности? asks about the main responsibilities. Как устро́ена кома́нда? asks how the team is organised. Choose questions whose answers would change your understanding of the job. A vague question about the company may be harder to answer than a question about the first project. Practise listening to the reply and asking one follow-up. This turns the prepared question into an actual conversation rather than a line you say before returning to your script.
Handle an unfamiliar question calmly
Мо́жно уточни́ть вопро́с? asks for clarification. You can repeat the point you understood and check whether that is what the interviewer means. At the end, ask Каки́е сле́дующие ша́ги? to understand the process. Rehearse with a partner who changes the order of questions each time. Include one pause to think and one request to clarify, so your preparation covers a normal unscripted exchange rather than only a flawless performance.
Words and phrases to try
An accent marks the stressed vowel. Transliteration is a reading aid; ё carries its own stress.
| Russian | Transliteration | Meaning | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| собесе́дование | sobesédovanie | interview | Когда́ назна́чено собесе́дование? When is the interview scheduled? |
| до́лжность | dólzhnost | position / role | Каки́е зада́чи у э́той до́лжности? What tasks does this position involve? |
| о́пыт | ópyt | experience | У меня́ есть о́пыт рабо́ты с клие́нтами. I have experience working with customers. |
| обя́занности | obyázannosti | responsibilities | Каки́е основны́е обя́занности? What are the main responsibilities? |
| на́вык | návyk | skill | Э́тот на́вык поле́зен для кома́нды. This skill is useful for the team. |
| резюме́ | rezyumé | CV / résumé | Я отпра́вил резюме́ вчера́. I sent my CV yesterday. |
| Я отвеча́ю за… | Ya otvecháyu za… | I am responsible for… | Я отвеча́ю за подгото́вку отчётов. I am responsible for preparing reports. |
| Мо́жно уточни́ть? | Mózhno utochnít? | May I clarify? | Мо́жно уточни́ть вопро́с? May I clarify the question? |
| Сле́дующие ша́ги | Sléduyushchie shági | next steps | Каки́е сле́дующие ша́ги по́сле встре́чи? What are the next steps after the meeting? |
| На по́лный день | Na pólnyy den | full-time | Э́то рабо́та на по́лный день? Is this a full-time role? |
Try the conversation
A: Расскажи́те немно́го о своём о́пыте.
Tell me a little about your experience.
B: Я три го́да рабо́таю с клие́нтами и гото́влю отчёты.
I have worked with customers and prepared reports for three years.
A: Что вас интересу́ет в э́той до́лжности?
What interests you about this position?
B: Хочу́ развива́ть э́ти на́выки в междунаро́дной кома́нде.
I want to develop these skills in an international team.
A: Есть ли у вас вопро́сы?
Do you have any questions?
B: Да. Каки́е основны́е зада́чи в пе́рвый ме́сяц?
Yes. What are the main tasks in the first month?
Questions about this situation
How do I say that I have experience in something?
What if I need a moment to think?
How should I practise my interview introduction?
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