Key takeaways
- Match the main job requirements to examples of your work.
- Practise your introduction and key answers in the languages you will use.
- Confirm the salary range early and prepare questions about the role.
“What was your contribution to that project?” A good answer needs more than the project’s success story. The interviewer needs to understand the problem you faced, the decisions you made and the result.
Preparing those examples is a useful place to start. You will also need to research the employer, rehearse your introduction and decide what you want to learn about the job.
Match your experience to the job description
Pick four or five of the role’s main requirements. For each, note a recent example: the task, your contribution and the outcome. Where relevant, include the budget, team size, turnaround time or another measure that helps explain the work.
If your experience is less direct, prepare a specific explanation. For example: “I have worked with regional teams in Singapore and Shanghai, although I have not managed a regional team.” Follow this with the responsibilities you did hold.
Read the company’s website and recent announcements. Note a product, project or business priority that interests you, and be ready to explain why. Ask HR or your recruiter whether the role is new or a replacement and who it reports to.
Prepare a short introduction and two detailed examples
Aim for an introduction of around 60 to 90 seconds. Cover your current work, the experience most relevant to the position and the move you want to make.
For questions about past projects, keep the background brief and spend more time on your actions. Compare these two answers:
General answer
“Our team was short-staffed, but everyone worked hard and we finished on time.”
More specific example
“During month-end, our finance team was two people short. I reorganised the reconciliations, introduced an Excel macro for bank matching and agreed a revised timetable with the finance director. We completed the close in five working days instead of eight.”
The second answer identifies the candidate’s decisions and their effect on the work. Use that structure when preparing your own examples.
Rehearse the language and the questions you find difficult
Confirm the interview language in advance. If the role involves English and Cantonese, practise your introduction and two work examples in both. Include Putonghua if the position requires it. Say the answers aloud so you can spot awkward wording and explanations that run too long.
Prepare a concise explanation of why you want to move, any career gap you expect to discuss and your availability. Check your notice period so you can give a clear answer about a possible start date.
For a technical question you cannot fully answer, explain how you would approach the problem and what you would check first.
Confirm the salary range early
Ask HR or your recruiter about the budget during initial discussions. If it is below your expectations, it is useful to know before committing to several rounds of interviews.
A question to ask
“Could you share the budgeted salary range before we arrange the next stage?”
As the process progresses, clarify the full package: base salary, guaranteed payments, variable bonus and benefits. Revisit the range if the responsibilities turn out to be broader than first discussed.
Ask about the work and the team
Use the meeting with the hiring manager to understand the team’s priorities and how the role operates. HR or your recruiter can explain the recruitment process and employment terms.
- What would you want this person to achieve in the first six months?
- What is the team’s most pressing challenge?
- Which decisions would I make, and which would need approval?
- Why is the position available?
- What are the next stages, and when should I expect an update?
Choose the questions that matter to your decision and follow up on the answers, rather than working through a fixed list.
Check the arrangements and follow up
Confirm the address or meeting link, interviewer names and any exercise or presentation required. For an office interview, allow time for building registration and lifts. For a video interview, test your audio, camera and connection.
After the interview, note what you learnt about the job and any questions still to resolve. A short thank-you message can refer to a specific part of the discussion. If a recruiter is coordinating the process, share your feedback with them and confirm when to expect an update.
Before you leave: a quick checklist
- Job description, company notes and work examples reviewed
- Introduction practised in the relevant languages
- Location, time and interview format confirmed
- Notice period and salary expectations checked
- Questions for the interviewer ready
Updated 13 October 2026.
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