“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”
Not just in a job interview but in a everyday setting is it extremely important to have good listening skills. Now a days I strongly believe that we are so concerned with keeping up with the conversations via texting. When was the last time you had a decent conversation on the phone with someone? When was the last time you had a decent conversation face to face and engaged and ACTUALLY paid attention? My professor actually opened my eyes when she introduced us to mini presentations. Mini presentations meaning that each member in the class must stand up for a minute or so and just discuss a topic relevant to business communications (chosen from a list). While students were presenting other students around took notes, some did not and some just had no interest as they were on their laptops and/or cellphones. Once all students were done presenting their short pieces she asked if we can remember what each student talked about. I could not. I could remember a few. The only reason that I remembered the ones I did was because the speaker said something to me that stood out. My mind was not letting me soak in a lot of information as I was thinking about what I was going to do that night or what should I buy myself for lunch. This is why I chose this topic "what demonstrates good listening skills in a job interview"... not to just know what to do in a job interview but also what I can do to enhance my listening skills and communication skills in general.
Here is what good listeners know... a.k.a what you SHOULD be doing to enhance your communication and listening skills during a job interview:
1. Face the Speaker - Your body language does say a lot, so it is important to sit up straight to show your attentiveness.
2. Maintain Eye-Contact - Keep good eye contact with the speaker. Make sure it is comfortable eye contact and it does not seem like a "stare".... Awkward.
3. Say NO to external distractions - Whatever you may think will distract you, turn it off or put it away. It could be your cell phone, laptop or book.
4. Respond - To show you are engaged... add a few comments once and a while. A nod is okay too. Just to show that you comprehend what is being said and do not be afraid to ask any questions.
5. Focus - Limit yourself to just focus on that conversation and do NOT let your mind wander. .
6. Engage yourself - Ask questions to show you are paying attention. Ask questions to clarify answers but wait until the speaker has finished. Do not interrupt because you might ruin their train of thought
“Listening is the act of hearing attentively”
