Mastering the right vocabulary can make a real difference when preparing for a job interview in English. This module covers essential terms related to professional competencies, the distinction between hard and soft skills, and a set of practical phrasal verbs that will help you sound more natural and confident during any interview.

What are competencies and why do they matter in a job interview?

The term competencies refers to the abilities needed to perform a task efficiently [0:10]. They combine skills, abilities, and knowledge, and essentially represent your qualifications for a specific job. Understanding this concept is key because interviewers frequently evaluate whether a candidate's competencies align with the role.

Within competencies, two important categories stand out:

• Hard skills: technical abilities that are required and improved through practice, repetition, and education [0:22]. They are teachable, measurable, and directly connected to a job position. Examples include programming, data analysis, or proficiency in a specific software.
• Soft skills: non-technical skills related to how you work rather than to a specific job [0:34]. Communication, teamwork, and adaptability are common examples.

Another useful term is portfolio, which is a portable showcase of your work and talents [0:42]. It represents your skills and achievements, and having one ready can strengthen your candidacy.

Which phrasal verbs should you use during a job interview?

Phrasal verbs are a natural part of conversational English, and using them correctly shows fluency. Here are some of the most relevant ones for a professional context:

• Brush up on: to improve or refresh your knowledge or skills [0:55]. "I need to brush up on my Excel skills before the interview."
• Look into: to research or investigate [1:02]. "I will look into the company's latest projects."
• Take on: to assume or accept responsibility for something [1:07]. "I'm ready to take on new challenges."
• Get along with: to have a good relationship or work well with others [1:12]. "I get along with colleagues from different departments."
• Handle: to manage or be in charge of [1:19]. "I handled customer complaints in my previous role."

How can you talk about progress and follow-up?

• Move on: to progress to the next stage or move forward [1:25].
• Follow up: to take further action after an initial meeting or conversation [1:31].
• Get back to: to reply or respond after a period of time [1:37].

How do you express taking control or completing information?

• Take over: to assume control or responsibility for something [1:43].
• Fill in: to provide missing information or details [1:49].

Using these phrasal verbs in your answers will help you sound more natural and confident during interviews [1:55]. Practice them in context by creating your own sample answers, and try combining them with the vocabulary about competencies, hard skills, and soft skills to build strong, professional responses.