Effective listening skills will get you far in the interviewing process.
Interviewing is a two-way dialog, not just a question and answer
session. The discussion goes both ways. However, many times candidates
feel the need to talk as much about themselves as possible, as quickly as
possible, in order to make sure they fit everything within the interview
timeframe. It’s good to be able to confidently talk about yourself (e.g.,
“It’s Not Bragging if It’s a Fact”), but the overall quantity must be carefully
thought out. Unfortunately, I fell into this trap in one of my interviews.

In doing my homework for a position, I learned that the hiring manager
was concerned that, although I was a leader of many tasks specific
to the role for which I was interviewing, she wanted examples of when
I’d rolled up my sleeves and actually done the job. I was prepared with
multiple examples, and tried to find a way to include them all—and I
mean all. I needed to better listen to the questions, stay succinct, and remain
on task with my answers. I overwhelmed the interviewer and spent
most of the time talking, and in my own view, unfairly dominating the
discussion. The interviewer most likely felt that she’d lost control of the
interview, that I wasn’t engaged, and that I was simply sticking to my
own agenda. Listening skills are critical to ensure that both parties get the
most out of the dialog. Ironically, I went back to my handwritten notes
and noticed insider information that I needed to remember: “(Hiring
manager) likes to talk.”

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

As an interviewer, I once sat back for twenty minutes and waited for
a candidate to finish answering the first question of the interview,
“Tell me a little bit about yourself professionally.” The answer was rambling
and meandered all around with no particular end in sight. I could
have stopped him, but part of the interview was to determine how effectively
an individual could communicate with others. When in an interview,
it’s important to provide an answer that has context to the question,
supported with a strong example, than a quick wrap up and conclusion.
Rambling creates questions in the interviewer’s mind about your overall
communication style, skills, and ability. You obviously don’t want oneword
responses, but you do want to use solid and supporting examples
using an economy of words.

As I teach in From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide,
there can never be too much practice and preparation, whether you are
doing mock interviews or practicing in front of a mirror using any one
of the thousands of “typical” interview questions you can find on the
Internet. It’s not about memorization—it’s about using an economy of
words that hits the interviewer between the eyes with an unforgettable
impact. Pull out a list of ten to twenty questions, write out your answers,
and practice speaking them. The self-assessment on whether you are babbling
or hitting the mark can make a huge difference in being invited
back for more interviews, or even offered the job.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com

As isolated as we may feel in this sea of angst, we have a support
system. The support can come from your immediate family, your
extended family, your old friends, new friends you meet along the way,
your social network, and your business network. It is not possible to do it
alone. As much as you may feel alone in the process, it is critical to lean
on the people around you for support, for a shoulder to cry on, for the
push you need but may not want. Your success is dependent on the people
around you. Statistically, the analysis will tell you that networking is
the main reason for successful job searches. Even for a little bit of sanity
during the process, you can use the people around you to help you think
more clearly or to be the wall to throw something at to see if it sticks. As
much as you may feel alone in the process, you are not—just ask my running
partner, Kevin. Okay, he’s not a person, he’s a dog, but the morning
jogs with him were just as much for clearing my head as they were for
physical wellness.

Thomas B. Dowd III’s books available in softcover, eBook, and audiobook (From Fear to Success only):

• Now What? The Ultimate Graduation Gift for Professional Success
• Time Management Manifesto: Expert Strategies to Create an Effective Work/Life Balance
• Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job…A Reference Guide to Finding Work
• The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World
• From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide received the Gold Medal at the 2013 Axiom Business Book Awards in Business Reference
• The Unofficial Guide to Fatherhood

See “Products” for details on www.transformationtom.com.  Book and eBook purchase options are also available on Amazon- Please click the link to be re-directed: Amazon.com