How to Hold a Job Interview in a Candidate's Second Language
Ten tips for smart interviewing, so that strong candidates from overseas don’t get overlooked.
What You'll Learn
☑ Why great candidates don’t always shine in interviews, even when they’re more than capable of doing the job
☑ One simple change to your process that levels the playing field, and costs nothing to make
☑ What to listen for instead of fluency, so you don’t mistake confidence in English for competence in the role
I’m Shelley Purchon, founder of English Unlocked.
After 25 years teaching English as a Foreign Language, I pivoted to training UK organisations on how to communicate clearly with people who are learning English. Healthcare teams, housing services, careers advisors, and employers trying to recruit more diversely.
There is so much untapped talent in the UK. Hiring managers have unfilled vacancies – meanwhile, strong candidates don’t get recruited. Often it’s the format working against them, not their ability to do the job.
This free guide suggests ten changes that can make a difference, whether you’re hiring for entry level roles or senior positions.
“It was helpful to take a fresh look at the typical recruitment practices we use here in the UK and see them through the eyes of people who grew up overseas.”
If recruitment feels harder than it should,
this might explain why.
© 2026 by Shelley Purchon
