|
How
To Listen and Response During a Job Interview
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.
1howto.com
--------------------------------------------------
Please
Share Your Tips with Us
|
