How to answer "How good is your English?" in a job interview

Short answer

Be honest, positive and specific about English at work. Say what you can already do in English for this job, give one example, and say what you are doing to improve. Do not apologise, and do not claim a level you cannot show.

Why they ask

The interviewer is usually not testing grammar. They want to know if you can do this job in English: understand instructions, speak with customers or colleagues, and write what the job needs.

You are already showing your English by answering. So the best answer talks about tasks, not about how you feel about your English.

A simple structure

What you can do: "I use English every day at work for…"
One example: a real task you did in English: a phone call, an email, a shift handover.
What you are improving: one area, and what you do about it.

Example answers

Warehouse or kitchen job

My English is good for work. I understand instructions and safety signs, and I can talk with my team and my manager. In my last job I trained two new colleagues in English. I am still improving my writing, so I read and write a little every day.

Customer service or shop job

I speak English with customers every day in my current job. I can explain prices and returns, and handle complaints calmly. Sometimes people speak very fast, so I ask them to repeat, and that works well. I am now improving my phone English.

Office or professional job

I have used English at work for five years. I write reports and emails and lead calls with clients in English. My grammar is not always perfect when I speak quickly, so I check important emails carefully. I am taking an evening course in business writing.

If you have a test score

I took an English test last year and my score was B2 level. More importantly, I use English every day now, at work and at my children's school. I am confident I can understand instructions and speak with customers in this role.

If the question comes in another form

"Is English your first language?": "No, my first language is Tagalog. I've used English at work for six years." Short, true, and back to work.
"Would you be comfortable on the phone in English?": Say yes only if it is true, and give an example. If it is new for you, say you are practising, and how.
"Can you write reports in English?": Name what you have written: notes, emails, incident reports. Offer to do a short written task if they wish.

Describing your level

If you know your CEFR level from a test or a course, you can mention it once. If you do not, describe tasks instead. Words like "fluent" and "native-like" can lead to questions you cannot answer comfortably, so use them only if they are true.

Common English mistakes, and how to fix them

Instead of "Sorry, my English is very bad": say what you can do: "I can speak with customers and understand instructions." An apology makes the interviewer focus on weaknesses.
Instead of "My English is perfect": say "My English is strong for work, and I keep improving my writing." A claim of "perfect" invites the interviewer to look for mistakes.
Instead of "I am speaking English since ten years": say "I have spoken English for ten years" or "I have used English at work since 2016."
Instead of a long story about learning English at school: talk about how you use English now, at work. Keep the answer to about four sentences.

Useful phrases

Short sentences you can use in your answers. Each one has a job.

"I use English every day for…": The first sentence. Name the tasks the new job also needs.
"For example, in my last job I…": Your one real example. Choose a task close to the new job.
"I'm still improving my…, so I…": An honest weakness with an action. It sounds positive and real.
"If I don't understand, I ask — it works well.": Shows you have a strategy, not a problem.
"I'm happy to do a short written task if that's useful.": For jobs with writing. It shows confidence in a calm way.
"My first language is…, and I've used English at work for…": When they ask directly about your first language. One sentence, then back to your work.

What an interviewer may and may not notice

An interviewer may notice how you answer more than the words: a calm, clear four-sentence answer already shows your English.
An interviewer may notice if you claim a high level and then ask for many repeats. Honest and specific usually sounds stronger.
Some jobs need a lot of spoken or written English, and an interviewer may ask a follow-up, a role-play or a short written task.
What an employer decides depends on many things you cannot see. No page and no practice tool can tell you what one interviewer will decide.

Questions people ask

Should I say my CEFR level?

If you know it from a test or course and it helps, mention it once. Then talk about what you do in English at work. Tasks are easier for an interviewer to picture than a letter and number.

Is it all right to say my English is not perfect?

Yes, if you say it with what you can do and what you are improving. "Not perfect, but strong for work" is a normal, honest answer.

What if they say my accent is hard to understand?

Stay calm. Speak a little slower, pause between ideas, and ask: "Would you like me to say that again?" Accents are normal; clear speed and pauses help most.

Should I answer in a long, impressive way to show my English?

No. Short, clear sentences show your English better than long ones you may lose your way in.

Should I apologise for my English in an interview? — what to say instead
What to say when you don't understand the question — phrases to check before you answer
How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?" — a similar honest structure

About this page

Published by EnglishJobReady. Last reviewed: 10 October 2026.

This page gives general advice for practice. Every employer is different, and it cannot tell you what a particular interviewer will think or decide.

See how your English sounds in an interview

Answer a few real interview questions out loud or by typing, and see what an interviewer may notice about clarity. Get your free English Interview Readiness Score. Free to start, no card needed.

Check your interview readiness free