Job Interview
advanced求职面试
Prepare for job interviews in Chinese with essential vocabulary covering resumes, interview questions, salary negotiation, and workplace benefits.
40 words12 phrases2 dialogues~25 min study time
Vocabulary
40 words — click any row for an example sentence
Preparation
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 简历 | jiǎnlì | resume / CV | noun |
| 面试 | miànshì | interview (job) | noun |
| 申请 | shēnqǐng | to apply / application | verb |
| 职位 | zhíwèi | position / job title | noun |
| 要求 | yāoqiú | requirement / to require | noun |
| 招聘 | zhāopìn | to recruit / recruitment | verb |
| 求职 | qiúzhí | to look for a job / job hunting | verb |
| 投简历 | tóu jiǎnlì | to submit a resume | verb |
Interview Questions
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 自我介绍 | zìwǒ jièshào | self-introduction | noun |
| 优点 | yōudiǎn | strength / advantage | noun |
| 缺点 | quēdiǎn | weakness / shortcoming | noun |
| 工作经验 | gōngzuò jīngyàn | work experience | noun |
| 能力 | nénglì | ability / capability | noun |
| 专业 | zhuānyè | major / specialty / professional | noun |
| 毕业 | bìyè | to graduate | verb |
| 学历 | xuélì | educational background / degree | noun |
| 团队合作 | tuánduì hézuò | teamwork | noun |
| 责任心 | zérènxīn | sense of responsibility | noun |
Salary & Benefits
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 薪资 | xīnzī | salary / pay | noun |
| 福利 | fúlì | benefits / welfare | noun |
| 五险一金 | wǔxiǎn yìjīn | five insurances and one fund (social security package) | noun |
| 年终奖 | niánzhōngjiǎng | year-end bonus | noun |
| 加班费 | jiābānfèi | overtime pay | noun |
| 带薪休假 | dàixīn xiūjià | paid leave | noun |
| 工资 | gōngzī | salary / wages | noun |
Outcomes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 录用 | lùyòng | to hire / to employ | verb |
| 拒绝 | jùjué | to reject / to turn down | verb |
| 入职 | rùzhí | to start a new job / onboarding | verb |
| 试用期 | shìyòngqī | probation period | noun |
| 签合同 | qiān hétong | to sign a contract | verb |
| 通知 | tōngzhī | to notify / notification | verb |
General
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行业 | hángyè | industry / field | noun |
| 发展 | fāzhǎn | development / to develop | noun |
| 晋升 | jìnshēng | promotion / to be promoted | verb |
| 跳槽 | tiàocáo | to change jobs / to jump ship | verb |
| 面试官 | miànshìguān | interviewer | noun |
| 紧张 | jǐnzhāng | nervous / tense | adjective |
| 准备 | zhǔnbèi | to prepare / preparation | verb |
| 经验 | jīngyàn | experience | noun |
| 实习 | shíxí | internship / to intern | noun |
Key Phrases
Essential expressions
请做一下自我介绍。
Qǐng zuò yíxià zìwǒ jièshào.
Please give a self-introduction.
The most common opening question in a Chinese job interview.
你为什么想来我们公司？
Nǐ wèishénme xiǎng lái wǒmen gōngsī?
Why do you want to join our company?
A standard interview question about motivation.
你对薪资有什么期望？
Nǐ duì xīnzī yǒu shénme qīwàng?
What are your salary expectations?
Asking about salary expectations, usually towards the end of the interview.
你的职业规划是什么？
Nǐ de zhíyè guīhuà shì shénme?
What is your career plan?
A common question about long-term career goals.
请问什么时候可以知道结果？
Qǐngwèn shénme shíhou kěyǐ zhīdào jiéguǒ?
May I ask when I can expect to hear back?
A polite question candidates ask at the end of an interview.
我能胜任这个工作。
Wǒ néng shèngrèn zhège gōngzuò.
I am capable of handling this job.
Expressing confidence in your ability to do the job.
我在上一家公司工作了三年。
Wǒ zài shàng yì jiā gōngsī gōngzuò le sān nián.
I worked at my previous company for three years.
Describing your previous work history.
谢谢您给我这个面试机会。
Xièxie nín gěi wǒ zhège miànshì jīhuì.
Thank you for giving me this interview opportunity.
A polite expression of gratitude, usually said at the start or end of an interview.
你能接受加班吗？
Nǐ néng jiēshòu jiābān ma?
Can you accept overtime?
A common interview question in China, especially in the tech and finance industries.
你有什么想问我们的吗？
Nǐ yǒu shénme xiǎng wèn wǒmen de ma?
Do you have any questions for us?
The typical closing question from the interviewer, giving the candidate a chance to ask questions.
我最快下周一可以入职。
Wǒ zuì kuài xià zhōuyī kěyǐ rùzhí.
The earliest I can start is next Monday.
Responding to a question about your availability to start a new job.
恭喜你通过了面试！
Gōngxǐ nǐ tōngguò le miànshì!
Congratulations, you passed the interview!
Good news delivered by the HR department after a successful interview.
Dialogues
Practice conversations
A Job Interview at a Tech Company
A candidate is being interviewed for a software development position at a Chinese tech company.
Speaker A
你好，请坐。先做一下自我介绍吧。
Speaker B
您好。我叫李明，毕业于北京大学计算机专业。我有三年的软件开发工作经验。
Speaker A
很好。你为什么想离开现在的公司？
Speaker B
我觉得在现在的公司已经学到了很多，但是我想找一个有更多发展机会的平台。
Speaker A
你觉得你最大的优点是什么？
Speaker B
我的学习能力很强，而且我很擅长团队合作。
Speaker A
好的。你对薪资有什么要求吗？
Speaker B
我希望月薪在两万到两万五之间，当然也要看具体的福利和发展空间。
Cultural note: In Chinese job interviews, it is common for interviewers to ask directly about salary expectations. Candidates are expected to give a range rather than a specific number. Mentioning that you also care about development opportunities, not just money, is seen as a positive trait.
Receiving a Job Offer
An HR representative calls a candidate to inform them that they have passed the interview and discuss next steps.
Speaker A
你好，请问是李明吗？我是星辰公司的人事部。
Speaker B
是的，您好！
Speaker A
恭喜你通过了面试！我们想录用你。你什么时候方便来签合同？
Speaker B
太好了！非常感谢！请问试用期是多长时间？
Speaker A
试用期是三个月，试用期工资是正式工资的百分之八十。
Speaker B
好的，我明白了。公司交五险一金吗？
Speaker A
当然，入职第一天就开始交。你最快什么时候可以入职？
Speaker B
我需要一个月交接现在的工作，下个月初可以入职。
Cultural note: In China, it is standard practice for new employees to go through a probation period (试用期, shìyòngqī), typically lasting 1-6 months depending on the contract length. During this period, the salary is usually 80% of the full rate. Asking about 五险一金 (five insurances and one fund) is expected and shows you are informed about your rights.
Cultural Notes
Context that textbooks miss
Test Yourself
8 questions covering vocabulary, phrases, and dialogue comprehension.
Take the Job Interview Quiz (8 questions)→HSK Level Overlap
23 of 40 words appear in HSK levels
Further Reading
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