Q&A: I worry that my accent will distract prospective employers. What do I do?
January 26, 2010
Q: English is not my first language, but I consider myself fully bilingual. I worry that the people interviewing me for bilingual customer service jobs doubt my qualifications because of my thick accent. What can I do to ensure that an interviewer is focused on my qualifications and not my accent? Valdemar
A: I faced the same predicament when I first looked for a job in the U.S. I still have an accent because I spoke only Spanish until I was 21. I suggest interviewing in person as opposed to over the phone so that you have a better chance of making an impression with your credentials, your personality, and your willingness to work hard. If you are concerned about your accent during the interview, mention it directly. You can say something like ‘You might have noticed that I have an accent (the person might smile at your comment) but I want you to know that I am fully bilingual and would love the opportunity to prove to you that I can provide quality customer service in both languages’. Ask the interviewer if they have any particular questions about your qualifications for the job. In other words, don’t leave the interviewer with any doubts because of your accent.
You may also want to read some of my previous posts about interviewing, as well as this post about the stages of becoming bilingual. Good luck.
Filed under: Interviewing
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