You have the CV and the interview is booked. Preparation is what turns the interview into the job — and it is the same preparation, whether the employer is in Dili or overseas.

Before the interview

• Learn what the employer does. Two minutes of reading shows respect.
• Prepare your answer to “tell me about yourself” — 30 seconds, calm and clear.
• Have three examples ready: a problem you solved, a time you helped a customer, a time you worked in a team.
• Bring your CV, certificates and ID. Know how you will get there and arrive early.

Workplace English basics

For hospitality, NGO and overseas roles, a little confident English goes a long way: greetings, numbers, times and dates, asking for clarification (“could you repeat that, please?”), and the vocabulary of your trade. You do not need to be perfect — you need to be understood and willing.

During the interview

• Greet, smile, and use the interviewer’s name if you know it.
• Answer the question asked, then stop. It is fine to think first.
• Be honest about what you can and cannot yet do — willingness to learn is valued.
• Ask one good question at the end about the role or the team.

Servisu of Timor’s Training section will grow interview practice and English basics over time — cross-linked with Students of Timor.