| The purpose of a job interview is to get acquainted | | | | Make sure, too, that you listen closely to what the |
| and to learn about one another. Employers evaluate | | | | interviewer is saying in general conversation. I will |
| how you qualify for the job. You help them (and | | | | readily admit it isn't always easy in a pressure situation |
| yourself) with this evaluation buy being prepared and | | | | as job interview to pay attention. Your mind drifts; you |
| able to sell your skills and experience through effective | | | | worry about something silly you said a minute or two |
| communication. | | | | earlier and in the process lose track of what the |
| The object of a job interview is not to "tell" the | | | | interviewer is saying now. Train yourself to look, the |
| interviewer about yourself. It's to communicate to the | | | | interviewer in the eye as he or she is speaking-not |
| interviewer the three things: your ability, your willingness, | | | | constantly, but enough to register the fact that you're |
| and your suitability. | | | | listening. |
| Communication is not just about talking | | | | How to Improve your Listening Skills |
| We all know how to talk, but most of us have never | | | | You can improve your listening skills by |
| fully mastered the art of communication. You talk with | | | | (i) allowing others to have their own say |
| your mouth, your hands, and your posture. Talking is | | | | (ii) paying attention to non-verbal messages |
| saying something to somebody else. Communicating is | | | | (iii) avoiding interrupting the other party |
| interacting with that person, or those people you're | | | | (iv) avoiding getting too emotionally involved |
| talking with. It's being sensitive to the feedback from | | | | (v) recognizing the feedings and emotion of others |
| these people that tell you whether what you're saying | | | | (vi) clarifying questions by restating your understanding |
| is making any impact or not. You don't become an | | | | of the other persons position |
| effective communicator overnight. You work at it. You | | | | (vii) showing the other person you want to listen |
| can master this difficult art. | | | | (viii) indicating to the other party that you're listening |
| The onus is on the candidate | | | | through non-verbal/prompting words like 'yes', 'that's |
| Communication competence (verbal and non-verbal) is | | | | true', 'hun-hun', 'and go on', etc. |
| a key issue in attending job interviews. It must be fully | | | | (ix) Ignore distractions. The secretary walks in while the |
| understood and accepted that the candidate is the | | | | interviewer is talking to you. If the interviewer keeps |
| one to sell himself. Total or partial failure of | | | | talking, don't you break the contact by looking over at |
| communications may result from errors of encoding, | | | | the secretary. |
| choice of channel, decoding and noise (distractions and | | | | (x) Don't overdo your attention energy. Eye contact is |
| irrelevant information/data). The effectiveness of the | | | | important, but if you overdo it, you'll make the speaker |
| communication is assessed on the extent of the | | | | uneasy and you'll lose track of the conversation. |
| understanding achieved by interviewers. It is obvious | | | | What to Find out |
| that the onus of successful communication lies | | | | One more thing: why are you attending the interview?. |
| squarely on the candidate. You need to develop your | | | | There are certain things you must find out at interview- |
| listening and questioning skills, and master the art of | | | | part of your own objective for choosing to honour the |
| non-verbal communication. | | | | interview. You need to find out |
| Active Listening | | | | (a) What the job entails |
| Learning to actively listen during conversation is an | | | | (b) What skills will be required to do well on the job |
| aspect of communication that relate directly to the job | | | | (c) Whether you would like to work with the people as |
| interview. Job candidates need to improve- if not | | | | exemplified by the people interviewing you |
| completely master -this area. To communicate well | | | | (d) If it is possible to persuade them that you are |
| you have to listen-really listen. The more closely you | | | | unique and better the other 14 people attending the |
| listen to the interviewer, the more closely the | | | | interview for this particular job position |
| interviewer will listen to you. | | | | (a) If it is possible for you to persuade the employer to |
| Make sure you understand each question that's asked | | | | pay you the salary I want or need. |
| you. If you're not sure what the interviewer asked, | | | | You can ask them (a) and (b) directly, in the course of |
| request that the questions be repeated. Don't make | | | | the interview. You will have to observe and read |
| the mistake many job candidates make of interrupting | | | | between the lines to find answers to the other |
| an interviewer in the middle of a question-of presenting | | | | questions. Of course you have a role in these - |
| an answer before the question is complete. Let the | | | | communicating that you best match the requirements |
| question register. Think a second or two before | | | | of the employer with your skills. |
| answering it. | | | | |