Part 2: Turkish Candidate in International Job Interview

Today I will share with you another common pattern among Turkish candidates preparing for international job interviews.

The previous one was about a challenge for Turkish candidates to shift from «we» to «I» when discussing personal achievements and contributions.

You found it insightful and I promised to share more of my observations.

Here’s another one: “Thinking out loud”.

When Turkish candidates face a question that they don’t know the answer to, they often don’t take the time to think it through.

Instead of saying something like “That’s a great question! Let me think about it for a moment.”, and then gathering their thoughts silently, they try to find the answer while speaking.

This usually results in talking around the topic and trying to “swim out” of the situation, without addressing the actual question.

I wonder if this is due to a belief that you must know all the answers or a fear of being judged if you can't figure something out immediately.

It’s fine to take a moment to reflect on the question during the interview.

You are a human.

🟡 It’s ok to take your time.
🟡 It’s not a fast-speed exam.
🟡 It’s ok not to know everything.

Answering the actual question is more important than providing an immediate, but potentially irrelevant, response.

Wish you good luck in your job search!

P.S. If you’d like to prepare for your next job interview together, take a look at my Interview Practice service or send me a message, and we’ll take it from there.

Your Job Search Coach Inuta
(the one who celebrates your win with a cake🍰)

If you found this blog issue helpful, don't hesitate to share it with your network. Your questions and topic suggestions for future issues are most welcome.

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Hi, I’m Inuta Sert.
A Career Coach and former Executive Recruiter in Türkiye.
I help mid to senior-level professionals in securing more interviews and getting the right job in Türkiye and abroad.