Learn Italian: Il candidato sta aspettando il colloquio. - The candidate is waiting for the interview.

Both can translate to "is waiting", but sta aspettando uses the present continuous tense (the verb stare + a verb ending in -ando or -endo). Italians use this structure to emphasize that the action is unfolding right at this exact moment.

In English we say "waiting for the interview". Why isn't there a word for "for" before il colloquio?

In Italian, the verb aspettare (to wait) already includes the idea of "for". It is followed directly by the object or person you are waiting for. Adding a preposition like per before il colloquio is a very common mistake for English speakers!

Does colloquio always mean "interview"?

It usually refers to a job interview (colloquio di lavoro) or a private, formal discussion (like a parent-teacher meeting). If you are talking about a journalist interviewing a celebrity or politician, you would use a completely different word: intervista.