Are you a recent graduate entering the job market for the first time? That means it’s time to brush up your interview skills! While your skills and qualifications play a large part in whether you land the job, it’s likely that a number of other candidates with the exact same skill set are also interviewing for the position. Improving your communication skills and representing yourself like a confident professional during your interview can go a long way towards setting yourself apart. Ready to get started? Read on!
Cut Out Fillers: Fillers are words and phrases that are inserted into speech, but have no content like, “um,” “uh,” “like,” and “you know.” Using too many fillers will make you sound unprofessional, lacking confidence and unsure of your speech.
Don’t Rush: Many people speak more quickly than usual when they’re nervous, which is often the case during a job interview. Rushing your speech not only makes it difficult to seem collected and together, but also makes your words much more difficult to understand. Slow down, and pace yourself as you answer interview questions. It doesn’t matter how strong your interview is, if your interviewer can’t understand your speech.
Watch Your Slang: This can be a particular problem for young professionals or recent graduates new to the working world. Many phrases and words which seem natural may be completely inappropriate for the workplace. Take some time to take stock of your vocabulary and see which slang words and phrases you use most often. It may be helpful to enlist the help of a friend or colleague, as you may not even notice some of the slang you use!
If you are looking to polish your communication skills be sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. For additional information call us at 212-308-7725 or send us an e-mail at jayne@corporatespeechsolutions.com to learn more. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!
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