Many English mistakes Arabic speakers make are not gaps in knowledge. They are word-for-word translations from Arabic. The interviewer usually understands you, but these small slips make you sound less sure of yourself. Here are six that come up again and again in job interviews, each with the correct form.
Since needs the present perfect
In Arabic we say “I work here since 2020”, so we carry it over word for word. English needs a tense that links the past to now.
Not: I am working here since 2020.
Say: I have been working here since 2020.
Agree is a verb, not an adjective
Agree is already a verb, so it does not need “am” before it.
Not: I am agree with you.
Say: I agree with you.
Discuss takes no "about"
We say “discuss about the plan” because of the Arabic, but discuss takes its object directly.
Not: Let’s discuss about the budget.
Say: Let’s discuss the budget.
Good at, not good in
The preposition is “at”, not “in”. It is one of the most common slips in CVs and interviews.
Not: I’m good in Excel.
Say: I’m good at Excel.
Talking about your degree
You graduate from a university, not from a subject. Name the subject after it.
Not: I graduated from commerce.
Say: I graduated from Cairo University with a degree in commerce.
Asking someone to repeat
“Repeat” already means “say again”, so “again” is extra. A polite form sounds better in an interview.
Not: Can you repeat again?
Say: Could you say that again, please?
How to stop making them
Don’t just memorise the rules. Pick two mistakes this week, write three sentences about your own job for each, and say them out loud until they come out without thinking.
The goal isn’t to never make a mistake. It’s to stop making the same ones.
