| Think about the kind of impression you want to | | | | What phrases convey uncertainty? |
| convey to your interviewer or hiring manager in order | | | | I think |
| to secure the position you want: experience, ability, | | | | I hope |
| and confidence. If you’ve been paying attention to | | | | I would hope that… |
| me, you’ve got the experience and ability portions | | | | Hopefully, |
| down: a winning resume, a brag book, a 30/60 | | | | If |
| 90-day plan, and high-quality references. Having | | | | Try |
| these elements in place certainly boosts your | | | | Maybe |
| confidence, but it's important to remember that your | | | | Sometime |
| confidence also comes out in intangible ways: your | | | | With luck |
| physical presentation, your body language, and what | | | | If possible |
| you say and how you say it. | | | | Possibly |
| Good communication skills are essential. | | | | You don’t want to “hope” to handle this job, |
| Sounding even remotely uncertain of your ability to | | | | and you don’t want to “try” it. You want to |
| do the job you’re interviewing for (and do it well) is | | | | do it. |
| an interview killer. There are several phrases that | | | | There is no try, only do or do not. – Yoda |
| convey uncertainty, even if that's not what you | | | | Confident speaking is an interview skill that I coach |
| intended. You might not even realize what you're | | | | candidates on all the time. It's worth getting some |
| saying, because these phrases are common in | | | | help to train yourself not to use these phrases in a job |
| everyday conversation. However, they imply that | | | | interview. They undermine your message and your |
| you're not sure of yourself. No employer is going to | | | | credibilty, just as peppering your speech with "um," "uh," |
| hire someone who isn’t even sure himself if he is | | | | "like," or "you know" does. These phrases often |
| capable, or who promises to bring inferior | | | | sneak into your everyday conversation, but you |
| communication skills to the job–especially in any kind | | | | don’t want them in your job interview. |
| of sales. | | | | |