How a Software Engineer From Russia Prepped for English Interviews

Interviewers are not grading your accent. They need to follow your reasoning in English. She was a software engineer in London. The gap was vocabulary & pronunciation — not the technical content.

At a glance

Role	Software Engineer
Location	London
English challenge	vocabulary & pronunciation
Interview problem	Interview English
Target	a Big Tech-style technical interview
Preparation	Live mocks with English feedback on the same answers
Outcome	Gained clearer, more confident English for interviews

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The Gap Between Knowing and Explaining

Interviewers are not grading your accent. They need to follow your reasoning in English. She was a software engineer in London. In the room, vocabulary & pronunciation was what broke down.

Before and After

Before coaching

Pronunciation made metrics and names hard to follow
Reached for words mid-answer and translated from a first language

After coaching

Said numbers and key terms clearly enough to keep the thread
Retrieved a small set of precise terms instead of long approximations

What We Worked On

Practice matched the round she actually had to speak: vocabulary & pronunciation. Each mock got notes on the same answer — where she paused, which words were vague, and where the structure broke.

Replaced vague verbs with the words interviewers actually hear (latency, trade-off, shipped)
Practised saying numbers, metrics, and product names until they were clear
Built a short retrieval list for this role — not a general vocabulary course
Repeated the same explanation until the terms came without translating

Useful references along the way: What to expect in English interviews, Pronouncing numbers and metrics.

What to Practise

Write the 20 terms you will actually say in this round. Practise them in full sentences.
Say numbers and names out loud until they are clear without slowing down.
Stop translating. If the precise word is missing, use a short definition and move on.
Record one answer and listen only for searches and approximations.

The Difference

Gained clearer, more confident English for interviews. She could explain the work more clearly when questions got hard. That readiness was the goal — not a promised job offer.

Why Vocabulary Breaks Interviews in English

You can know the work and still lose the round while searching for a word. Interviewers follow a sequence. Long pauses and vague verbs make strong engineering sound unfinished. A small, practised set of role terms is more useful than a general vocabulary list.

Preparing for a similar path? Read How a Software Engineer From Poland Prepped for English Interviews.

Where She Started

She prepared for English-language interviews as a software engineer. Written English was stronger than speaking under the clock.

Practise the vocabulary you will actually say in the interview

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Frequently Asked Questions

What English should a software engineer learn for interviews?

The language of the round you will face — here, vocabulary & pronunciation. Learn full sentences for that format, not a general business-English course.

Do I need to sound like a native speaker?

No. Clarity and structure are the bar. A small accent is fine if they can follow your decisions and numbers.

How do you prepare for a software engineer interview in English?

Practise the real format out loud, especially vocabulary & pronunciation. Get notes on pauses and vague wording after each mock — not only on the technical content.

How long does it take to feel ready as a software engineer?

Many B2+ candidates need several weeks of focused, spoken practice. Weekly mocks beat a last-minute cram.