| One of the areas that an employer is looking at on | | | | gives you extra time to form your answer. |
| the job interview are your communication skills. Many | | | | For example, the interviewer asks, "How would your |
| people will go into a job interview and say to the | | | | former employer describe you?" |
| employer, "I have excellent communication skills." But, | | | | Your answer would start off as, "My former |
| if your interview suggests otherwise, then you're just | | | | employer would describe me as..." |
| blowing hot air. | | | | When answering a question, keep your answers |
| The interview gives you an opportunity to show off | | | | short and to the point. If you're telling a story, keep |
| your communication skills. Communicating is more | | | | it simple. The interviewer doesn't need to know the |
| than just talking someone to death or listening to | | | | life history of the people in the story. Don't use slang |
| yourself talk. Communicating is a two part process. In | | | | or a bunch of um's and uh's. Remember, you are |
| an interview situation, you have to use active | | | | trying to demonstrate to the interviewer that you |
| listening. | | | | have excellent communication skills. When you use |
| Active listening basically means paying attention to | | | | um's and uh's throughout your answers, it signals to |
| what the other person is saying. Many people | | | | the interviewer that you aren't sure of your answers |
| practice lazy listening. This is where you are not | | | | or you don't have excellent communication skills. |
| paying attention to the person speaking and you're | | | | Practice your answers before the interview. You |
| busy thinking about other things or what you're going | | | | can't know every question that he or she will ask |
| to say. | | | | you, but with practice, you'll be more prepared than |
| When the interviewer asks you a question, you can | | | | most people. |
| start off your answer by restating the question. This | | | | |