When I was studying my MBA, I had an interview for a finance position in a European startup. I was approached by a headhunter, and honestly, I had no clue about that company. However, I still decided to went for it to gain experience.

Because of the lack of preparation, the interview did not go well, and I did not get that job. However, the big surprise was the feedback I received from the interviewers. They claimed that my English was not good enough to work at an international company like theirs. My first thought was “Really? English?” It was totally out of my imagination.

Simply, I could not believe it. Firstly, I got IELTS 7.5, or equivalent to C1, which is pretty solid. Secondly, I worked nearly 5 years in Malaysia and Singapore, chatting and discussing in English with colleagues, superiors, or customers. Thirdly, I was studying a program in English. So, if my English was not good enough, how could I survive in my previous jobs, and get into that program and business school? I told my classmates, and they were like, “What? That’s ridiculous!”

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3. Really? My English? An Interview Lesson 09:12
4. Self-Study Strategies for Professional Certifications in Accounting, Auditing, Business & Finance 11:16

I decided to figure out what the real issue was. By doing it, I talked with others, recalled my performance on that date, and thought hard about what happened. Finally, I realised that it was not the fault of my English, but how I communicated. Instead of a clear and direct reply, I threw in everything with random details, no structure, and no key point. As a result, it was challenging for the interviewers to follow my answers. I did not focus much on that communication skill at that time, wrongly believing that it did not matter much.

That story taught me a couple of lessons and thoughts. Firstly, that got me thinking about those “language fluency” requirements you see in job ads. The companies can require the candidate to be fluent in several languages. However, what do they actually want? Unfortunately, it’s not just about a certificate or speaking the language. It’s about using it to explain, connect, make sense. In Germany, I heard about someone with C1 German who didn’t get a job because their “German wasn’t good enough.” Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? It’s not only the language, but also the ability to communicate in that language.

Secondly, it is about the consequence of vague feedback, which can mess you up. The interviewers provided feedback after the interview, which was really nice and appreciated. However, it was totally unhelpful. In my case, “English” was not an issue. It took me time, energy, and effort to analyse and realise the true reason was communication skill, then work to improve it. If a similar situation happens to you, it might make you get lost and doubt yourself.

So, next time you face confusing feedback, don’t just accept it – think hard about what it really means and focus on what you can improve, like I did with my communication. Have you ever experienced the similar situation? Share with me, and we can discuss about it.