Why English Matters in Job Interviews: Impact and Underlying Factors

Abstract

English proficiency is now often required in job interviews. This is especially true as organizations in Thailand work more closely with international clients and regional partners. National data shows that Thailand has one of the lowest English proficiency scores in Asia, which raises a practical question: how does this affect individual jobseekers in interviews? This conceptual article looks at why English matters in job interviews, how it affects interview outcomes, and what factors explain why candidates perform differently. The discussion draws on three theories: human capital theory, cultural and social capital, and communicative competence. It is supported by existing studies of Thai university students, jobseekers, and employers. The analysis shows that English acts as a sign of communication skill and adaptability, and that stronger English proficiency is linked to better interview outcomes and wider job opportunities. Four underlying factors explain why performance varies: foreign language anxiety, exposure and practice, university curriculum design, and socioeconomic background. On this basis, the article offers a practical guideline for interview preparation. This covers self-introduction, talking about educational background, and common interview questions matched to each underlying factor, followed by recommendations for students, universities, and employers. Interview readiness is then mapped onto the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), from A1 through B1.1 and B1.2 to B2, in order to state what a candidate can do at each band and which stakeholder is best placed to support the next step. The article concludes that English should be treated as a communication skill to practice, not only as an academic subject, and that universities should add more workplace-oriented speaking practice to English language curricula.