Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews
By Roger Clark |
It takes a lot of time and effort to get invited to a job interview. Don't blow
your chances by being misunderstood by the interviewer. Not many people are
aware that giving one word answers to questions, substantially increases your
chances of conveying the wrong impression.
Active Listening Skill
Tips for Interviews
During a job interview, a potential employer
asks, “Can you take on more than one project at a time?” If you respond, “Yes,”
you may want to rethink that answer. According to Dynamic Listening: Interview
Skills, a computer based training module from Mindleaders in Columbus, Ohio, you
should avoid one-word or one-sentence answers.
Be specific. And speak
money-language. Here’s a preferred answer to the question above, “In general,
depending upon the type and length of projects, I believe in efficiently
handling more than one project at a time. This could save a company as much as
30%.”
Let’s check out the definition of “active listening skills” and learn
more to help with your next interview…
Active Listening
Skills
Just as everyday “speaking” is not the same as public
speaking; “listening” is not the same as active listening. Active listening
means two things: analysis and response to the message being
communicated.
An active listener maintains eye contact and good posture
with a slight lean towards the speaker. During the interview, the listener nods,
smiles and takes notes. Be ware, however, that a daydreamer or pseudolistener,
can adopt these behaviors. So a listener’s physical response does not
necessarily mean good listening skills are at work.
Nonverbal
communication, more than just the nod or smile, is important. Gestures,
appearance, timing, voice responses, facial expressions, spatial distance – all
affect how the speaker (or interview) interprets the listener. So a person
preparing for a job or work project interview should consider the cultural
climate and norms of society of the interviewer. In short, perceived active
listening based on nonverbal signals can vary from culture to
culture.
Especially in this age of such great cultural diversity, be
courteous of others regardless of cultural, sexual or societal backgrounds. If
you are a woman and get to a door before a man, open it. If your interviewer
doesn’t speak English very well and looks puzzled at your words, go back and
explain yourself again in different words and re-establish a good communication
exchange.
Note: a major part of active listening is paraphrasing. It’s
not the same as summarizing. A summary is a shortened version of the original
message, focusing on the main point. To paraphrase means to re-state the message
in your own words.
Active listeners take notes by paraphrasing or
restating what the speaker said in their own words, and summarizing main points.
A good listener is not the same thing as a silent listener. Good listeners ask
questions, even something like, “Is this an accurate paraphrase of you have
said?” to let the speaker know that you understand the message being
communicated.
About the Author
Roger Clark is senior editor at Top Career Resumes who provide free
information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical
Health News http://www.medical-health-news.com where you can find
the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle
topics.
Top of Page |
