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.
George Int is an advisor for Job Interview. He has deep knowledge and skills in topic related to Job Interview. Check out http://job-interview.monstercyber.com
In my last column, I explored Jim Collins' "hedgehog" principle,... Read More
Moving to another state meant finding a new dentist. I... Read More
If you're reading this article, I'm sure I don't have... Read More
Deciding to leave a job isn't easy. In fact, quitting... Read More
Are you miserable at your job (or what you are... Read More
Today's employers scramble for creative ways to advise employees of... Read More
I was asked last week for an article about employment,... Read More
When we lose our jobs, no matter the reason, we... Read More
Do you feel like one in a million at work... Read More
Collect them all!Over the course of six months in my... Read More
What is "flow"? Flow as described by the psychology professor... Read More
Job searching alone is like hitchhiking a scary ride with... Read More
An employment interview is a goal oriented conversation in which... Read More
Today's society has created an environment that requires business owners... Read More
I begin this article with a bit of slang description.... Read More
Q. "I wasn't happy with my last performance review. Should... Read More
I spend a bit of time on airplanes. So, I... Read More
You'll get wet but the reward just might be a... Read More
Jobs and employment on the Costa BlancaThe Council of Europe... Read More
It has been over twenty five years since I started... Read More
So that you can decide just how critical your job... Read More
Often you see job postings with a request such as... Read More
That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break... Read More
Mystery shopping is an excellent way to make extra money.... Read More
That "B" word---B O R E D O M.How did... Read More
Like all new innovations, technology in the work environment can... Read More
If you are thinking about a career in culinary arts... Read More
10. Understand all of the opportunities available to you. Don't... Read More
If you are not busy living, then you must be... Read More
Just what is a "thurvival skill?" It's a skill that... Read More
I learned in first grade that one plus... Read More
The tragedy for millions of people is that they never... Read More
1.Define your objective: Know what kind of work you most... Read More
They're only words. Some believe the school-yard taunt: "Sticks and... Read More
Many well qualified and extremely able candidates fail at job... Read More
Too many job seekers set themselves up for failure before... Read More
If you're reading this article, I'm sure I don't have... Read More
Hi, I am Mr. Employer.Even though you think I can... Read More
To learn a language for career advancement is one of... Read More
The attorneys I coach have one common problem. They don't... Read More
Is your résumé getting lost in a flood of résumés?... Read More
Difficult Relationships at Work - How to Influence the UncooperativeWe... Read More
I am having a hard time understanding why a valuable... Read More
Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us... Read More
After a thirty (30) second glance lots of resumes get... Read More
Being a current job seeker can be quite a challenging... Read More
One day I walked into my boss's office and said,... Read More
Dealing with tough questions and objections is an essential part... Read More
Sample resume objectives. When a harried and possibly panicked job... Read More
Many interview guides advise candidates to answer the common "What's... Read More
Options for Resume LayoutsThere are many options of available to... Read More
At some point in every professional or managerial career, there... Read More
There's no denying that a healthy work environment is a... Read More
"Bill, thanks so much for your assistance with this search.... Read More
IntroductionThere are literally thousands, if not tens of thousands of... Read More
Another morning of job hunting lies ahead of you. You... Read More
"Roger, you must get those contracts completed for this month's... Read More
You have obtained an interview -- congratulations! You feel prepared... Read More
For some job opening, employers receive hundreds and even thousands... Read More
This is a question we get a lot. It seems... Read More
Creating a strong resume is a very important part of... Read More
Any job seeker looking for sample resumes usually doesn't have... Read More
It is a well-known fact that more and more people... Read More
The following 'difficult' questions are common to most tricky or... Read More
Are you in the job market? Sick of every blog-byte... Read More
Feel somehow your life is stuck in MS-OFFICE ? The... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |