There are moments when having the ability to talk about your job in English is vital. Think about a job interview, or networking, or any occasion where you need to impress the person in front of you with your career highlights.
So what are the best ways to share your success stories in English?
Here you’ll learn phrases to explain your work experiences and achievements in English, and make a strong impression as a professional. Let’s communicate your skills and value when you talk about your job in English!
Your work experience
Here’s 4 ways to talk about your previous work experience in English.
- I have worked in [industry/field] for [number of years].
E.g. I have worked in marketing for six years.
An expression to introduce a previous job position is this:
- I have experience in [specific job position] with [previous company]
E.g. I have experience in project management with Sunrise Studio.
Maybe you want to focus on a specific skill or area of expertise that you developed while working at a previous company. In that case, say:
- I gained valuable experience in [skill or area] during my time at [previous company].
E.g. I gained valuable experience in digital advertising during my time at Sunrise Studio.
And if you want to go deeper with your key responsibilities in your previous job, say this:
- I was [previous job position] at [previous company] where I [describe key responsibilities]. E.g. I was Senior Marketing Coordinator at Sunrise Studio, where I oversaw campaigns, conducted market research, and analysed performance.
When focusing on the value of your professional experience, these phrases are effective ways to talk about your job in English.
“I successfully reduced customer waiting times by 40%.. “
Your professional achievements
When you talk about your job in English, it’s important to mention the big success stories of your career. The first thing that comes to mind are events like a promotion, awards, or giving a presentation.
However, perhaps none of those things have ever happened to you. If that’s true, don’t worry – there is always SOMETHING you can explain. Perhaps in your last job you received positive feedback from a client or your manager, or you contributed a successful idea, or you helped improve a system or process. Everyone has something that they can mention, you just need to think about it!
Here are some phrases to describe a professional achievement in English.
- I played a key role in [your achievement]
E.g. I played a key role in the rebranding initiative.
Another option is to say:
- I successfully [accomplished a specific task/project].
E.g. I successfully reduced customer waiting times by 40%.
Or another option:
- I contributed to [a successful outcome].
e.g. I contributed to a 25% increase in sales revenue.
It’s also important to follow up these sentences with an explanation of HOW you got this achievement. To do that, say:
- I was able to do this by [your skills and strategies].
e.g. I was able to do this by conducting market research and identifying key trends.
How can I talk about my job in English?
Being able to confidently highlight your professional value in English is essential for success in key career situations like job interviews, performance reviews, and networking conversations. Keep practicing! For more tips, check out my series: How to talk about my job in English?
Want to go further?
