The Estonian Job Interview: Questions, Phrases and How to Prepare
You've landed an interview in Estonia — congratulations. The next question is a practical one: which language will it be in? For many international, tech and startup roles the whole conversation happens in English. But for customer-facing jobs, the public sector, and regulated professions like healthcare, security, teaching and driving, part of the interview will be in Estonian — because those roles carry a legal language requirement. And even in an "English-language" interview, Estonian employers often slip in a few Estonian sentences to see how you cope in everyday situations.
This guide gives you the real questions you'll hear, natural phrases to answer them, the vocabulary for your CV and cover letter, and how to state your Estonian level honestly. Learn the phrases below and you'll walk in prepared for either language.
How Estonian workplaces interview
Estonian interview culture is direct, calm and understated. A few things worth knowing before you go:
- Punctuality is non-negotiable. Arrive a few minutes early. Being late — even by five minutes without warning — reads as unreliable.
- Modesty beats hard selling. Estonians are wary of over-the-top self-promotion. State your strengths plainly, back them with a concrete example, and stop. "Quietly competent" is the tone that wins.
- Answers are factual and to the point. Long, emotional storytelling can feel like padding. Say what you did, what the result was, and move on.
- Use the polite form first. Address the interviewer with teie (formal "you") until they invite you to switch to sina (informal). In smaller startups the switch to sina often happens fast, but let them lead.
- Silence is normal. A pause before answering is fine — it signals you're thinking, not struggling.
Common interview questions in Estonian
Here are the questions you're most likely to hear, with natural English translations. Read them aloud until you recognize them instantly — half the battle is understanding the question the first time.
| Estonian | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rääkige endast. | Tell me about yourself. | Almost always the opener |
| Miks soovite siin töötada? | Why do you want to work here? | Show you researched the company |
| Miks te sellele ametikohale kandideerite? | Why are you applying for this position? | ametikoht = position |
| Millised on teie tugevused? | What are your strengths? | tugevus = strength |
| Millised on teie nõrkused? | What are your weaknesses? | nõrkus = weakness |
| Rääkige oma töökogemusest. | Tell me about your work experience. | töökogemus = work experience |
| Mis on teie haridus? | What is your education? | haridus = education |
| Miks te oma eelmiselt töökohalt lahkusite? | Why did you leave your previous job? | Keep the answer neutral |
| Kuidas te lahendate konflikte meeskonnas? | How do you resolve conflicts in a team? | Give a short example |
| Kirjeldage keerulist olukorda tööl. | Describe a difficult situation at work. | Situation → action → result |
| Kus te näete end viie aasta pärast? | Where do you see yourself in five years? | Show you plan to stay |
| Mis on teie palgasoov? | What is your salary expectation? | Answer in gross euros / month |
| Millal saate tööd alustada? | When can you start work? | Have a date ready |
| Kui hea on teie eesti keel? | How good is your Estonian? | Answer with a CEFR level |
| Kas te olete valmis vahetustega tööks? | Are you willing to work shifts? | Common for care/retail/security |
| Kas teil on küsimusi? | Do you have any questions? | Always say yes — ask 1–2 |
Strong answer phrases and self-description
These are ready-made building blocks for your answers. Mix and match them — a single well-said Estonian sentence often does more than a paragraph of English.
| Estonian | English |
|---|---|
| Mul on kogemus… | I have experience in… |
| Mul on viis aastat kogemust selles valdkonnas. | I have five years of experience in this field. |
| Ma olen hea meeskonnatöös. | I'm good at teamwork. |
| Ma õpin kiiresti. | I learn quickly. |
| Ma olen usaldusväärne ja täpne. | I'm reliable and punctual. |
| Ma olen kohusetundlik. | I'm conscientious / dutiful. |
| Ma tulen hästi toime pinge all. | I cope well under pressure. |
| Ma olen paindlik ja avatud uutele väljakutsetele. | I'm flexible and open to new challenges. |
| Ma pean tähtajatest kinni. | I keep to deadlines. |
| Ma suhtlen klientidega meelsasti. | I enjoy dealing with customers. |
| Minu tugevus on probleemide lahendamine. | My strength is problem-solving. |
| Ma töötan iseseisvalt. | I work independently. |
| Ma olen motiveeritud ja tööka. | I'm motivated and hard-working. |
| Vahel olen liiga enesekriitiline, aga ma töötan selle kallal. | Sometimes I'm too self-critical, but I'm working on it. (a safe "weakness") |
| Ma soovin siin töötada, sest… | I want to work here because… |
| Teie ettevõte on tuntud oma… poolest. | Your company is known for its… |
| Ma saan tööd alustada kohe / kahe nädala pärast. | I can start immediately / in two weeks. |
| Minu palgasoov on 1800 kuni 2200 eurot bruto kuus. | My salary expectation is 1800–2200 euros gross per month. |
| Aitäh, et mind vastu võtsite. | Thank you for meeting with me. |
CV and cover letter basics in Estonia
In Estonia your CV is called an elulookirjeldus (literally "life-course description") or simply CV. A one-page cover letter — kaaskiri — is expected for most professional and public-sector applications. Estonian CVs are concise, factual and typically list experience in reverse-chronological order. A photo is optional and increasingly left out. Below are the section words you'll need to read a job ad or fill in a CV template.
| Estonian | English |
|---|---|
| elulookirjeldus / CV | curriculum vitae / résumé |
| kaaskiri | cover letter |
| isikuandmed | personal details |
| töökogemus | work experience |
| haridus | education |
| oskused | skills |
| keeleoskus | language skills |
| emakeel | native language |
| arvutioskus | computer skills |
| juhiluba | driver's licence |
| soovitajad | references |
| kandideerin ametikohale… | I am applying for the position of… |
How to talk about your Estonian level honestly
Estonia uses the CEFR scale (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) for language levels — the same scale as the official state language exam (tasemeeksam). In an interview, name your level plainly and don't inflate it: the moment the conversation switches to Estonian, an exaggerated claim collapses. A modest, accurate answer with a willingness to keep learning lands far better.
| Estonian | English |
|---|---|
| Minu eesti keele tase on B1. | My Estonian level is B1. |
| Ma saan aru igapäevasest suhtlusest. | I understand everyday conversation. |
| Ma räägin natuke eesti keelt, aga õpin veel. | I speak a little Estonian, but I'm still learning. |
| Vahel teen vigu, kuid minust saab aru. | I sometimes make mistakes, but I'm understood. |
| Ma õpin praegu aktiivselt eesti keelt. | I'm actively learning Estonian right now. |
| Ma valdan inglise keelt vabalt. | I'm fluent in English. |
| Ma olen valmis eesti keele eksami sooritama. | I'm ready to sit the Estonian language exam. |
If the role legally requires a certain level — for example B2 for nurses and security guards, or B1 for taxi drivers — expect the employer to ask for your tasemeeksam certificate or a clear plan to obtain it. See Estonian language requirements by job for the level each profession needs.
Interview-day etiquette and follow-up
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early and turn your phone to silent. If you're delayed, call or message — Estonians value a heads-up over an excuse.
- Greet with a handshake and "Tere" (hello), then wait to be offered a seat. A brief "Meeldiv tutvuda" (Nice to meet you) is a warm start.
- Bring printed copies of your CV and any certificates, even if you applied online.
- Ask 1–2 real questions when invited: "Milline on tööpäev selles ametikohas?" (What does a working day look like in this role?) or "Millised on järgmised sammud?" (What are the next steps?).
- Close politely: "Aitäh teie aja eest." (Thank you for your time.)
- Follow up within a day with a short email: "Tänan meeldiva vestluse eest. Ootan huviga teie tagasisidet." (Thank you for the pleasant conversation. I look forward to your feedback.) One polite message is welcome; repeated chasing is not.
Frequently asked questions
Will my job interview in Estonia be in Estonian?
It depends on the role. International, IT and startup jobs are often interviewed fully in English. Customer-facing, public-sector and regulated jobs (healthcare, security, teaching, driving) will include Estonian, because those roles have a legal language requirement. Even in an English interview, employers often add a short Estonian exchange to gauge your everyday level — so prepare a few sentences either way.
How do I say my Estonian language level in an interview?
Use the CEFR scale and be honest: "Minu eesti keele tase on B1" (My Estonian level is B1). You can add "Ma saan aru igapäevasest suhtlusest, aga vahel teen vigu" (I understand everyday conversation but sometimes make mistakes) or "Ma õpin praegu eesti keelt" (I'm currently learning Estonian). Overstating your level backfires the moment the conversation switches to Estonian.
What salary question should I expect?
Employers commonly ask "Mis on teie palgasoov?" (What is your salary expectation?). Salaries in Estonia are usually discussed as a gross monthly figure (bruto) in euros. It's normal to name a range, e.g. "Minu palgasoov on 1800 kuni 2200 eurot bruto kuus."
Should I send a cover letter?
Yes — a short cover letter (kaaskiri) is expected for most professional and public-sector jobs, alongside your CV (elulookirjeldus / CV). Keep it to one page: why you want the role, what you bring, and your availability. If the job requires Estonian, writing the kaaskiri in Estonian is itself evidence of your level.
How formal are Estonian interviews?
They're direct, calm and understated. Interviewers value punctuality, clear factual answers and modesty over hard selling. Use the polite teie form until invited to switch to sina, arrive a few minutes early, and don't oversell.
Walk into your Estonian interview ready to answer in Estonian
EstoniaSpeak includes an "Estonian for Work" track with profession vocabulary, example sentences, native audio, and practice exams for nurses, security guards, drivers, customer service and teachers — plus the full A1–C1 course.