The art of listening or not listening can be the job qualification that sets you apart from your competition for better or worse. Listening will get the interviewer’s attention because interviewers remember employment candidates who are memorable for the right reasons.
Unfortunately during employment interviews, job candidates’ focus is usually on themselves: there career accomplishments, the skills they can offer an employer and how their skills are suitable for the position. They tend to focus on answering the questions effectively rather than listening. But listening is just as important as answering questions. If we aren’t listening to the questions it’s almost impossible provide the best response.
Not only does listening enable the job candidate to best answer the question that has been asked but it allows him or her to build rapport and create a high level of interaction with the interviewer. Prepared answers that sound like a nighttime infomercial won’t gain you favour with the interviewer. When you ask thoughtful and relevant questions your actions carry more weight than your words. Every resume that has ever been written claims that the candidate has “excellent communication skills”.
With less than 10 percent of any conversation communicated through words, active listening (listening with your ears, eyes, and brains to understand the message clearly) ensures that your non-verbal language is consistent with your words allowing the candidate to engage the interviewer and have a true conversation.
By taking the time to prepare for the interview, asking relevant questions and practicing your active listening skills you will make every interview memorable.