One of the best social skills in real life is to prove yourself an active listener. The first impression is the last impression, and this is evidenced in building rapport which is possible only by showing your real engagement with the questions that the person before you is making, and nuances behind those questions.
It’s great to be prepared for your interview, but if you walk in with a rigid platform of five taking points that you want to address, you risk missing the boat on what the employer is looking for. Sure, the interview is an occasion to vend yourself and make implicit employers want you, but you must also be open and open to their standpoint. Really listening to where the canvasser is coming from may reveal exactly what they’re looking for.
You should never forget that the process of the interview is two-way.
A job interview is essentially a conversation between two professionals – a give and take. The best way to be both engaged and engaging is by participating in what we call “active listening.”
Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again.
ANDRE GIDE, Nobel Laureate in Literature
Yes, it’s normal to let the beginner lead the process, but you should also prepare to solicit him her. This is impeccably natural after all you’re going to be in the company if you are accepted so the hiring director won’t be offended. Just picture the interview with just them asking you questions, and you putting or adding nothing to the discussion other than answering their questions. It may feel like you’re just trying to get the interview over with as soon as possible.
1. Never Interrupt!
Don’t talk while the canvasser is still talking, and if he or she pauses, as if to find the right word, don’t jump in with your own words. stay a many seconds to let the other person gather his studies. Your intention may be to help, but it may appear that you are just rushing him or her by filling in the blanks. Be regardful and stay your turn.
2. Be fully aware of the question.
It’s easy to get lost in your own mind-world of how you just asked the last question, or what the diploma on the wall says, or what-have you. But the best way you can honor your interviewer and really get what they are after is to give each question your full attention.
Many times you should with the intent to respond instead of to understand. But being so focused on your response can shift your awareness and you could miss some really valuable information from your interviewer. Give your mind permission to wander after you have fully taken in the question.
3. Restate the question before responding.
Restating the canvasser ’s question works in two ways If it’s a question you no way anticipated, it can give you some time to suppose of a proper response. It’s also a way to convey to the other person that you are laboriously trying to understand his or her query. Flash back that you don’t have to do it every single time, as that could be abstracting.
4. Ask questions.
After doing your exploration, have a list of questions on hand so that you have commodity to say once the canvasser is done asking you questions. It shows that you have been harkening and are interested in laboriously taking part in the discussion.
The stylish way to handle this is to plan and prepare your questions at least a many days in advance. You can exercise active listening with a friend, coworker, or relative to hone your listening chops further.
5. Play the mirror game.
Mimicking your interviewer’s movements shows that you are indeed participating in the conversation. Follow his or her tone of voice — the pitch, the speed. But a word of caution: Copy only the good gestures and not the bad (e.g. finger-tapping).
The act of listening is often confused with the exercise of waiting for one’s turn to speak.
Anonymous
Finally to summarize, active and intelligent listening during job interview showcases your ability to demonstrate your skills in communications, collaboration, and working well with others in productive manner. These are the soft-skills you the interviewers always set him/herself before and during the interview time.
Besides, you should be able to convince the interviewing person naturally in consolidating your overall personality and abilities in his/her minds that you are are always keen to understand the questions seriously, willing to demonstrate your traits of engagement with your colleagues and seniors, your are no more interested in a ready-made response (sometimes little artificially customized reply), but always willing to make straight and tailored response, and considers in adapting feedback.
Active listening during your recruitment process involves not only hearing words but also understanding the emotions and nuances behind them. This level of emotional intelligence can be valuable in interpreting the interviewer’s expectations and responding appropriately.