Communicate You Have What Hiring Managers Secretly Want
Human resource professionals and hiring managers look for two things:
They want to know you are self-motivated and that you will do a job. (Will you show up on time? Do you have a can-do temperament? How well do you take direction?)
Second, they want to see that you will add value and bring more to the position than just what's listed in the job posting. (What will you say to others about the company? Can you be counted on to also serve as an unofficial spokesperson for the company? What energy will you bring to your colleagues and the overall work environment?)
There are unwritten expectations that a person who fills a position will also be a brand/company ambassador. The needle in the haystack for which HR professionals and hiring managers are searching, in the midst of your answers, is whether you sound like you will represent the company in a good light at all times. They want to know you are adept at advocating for the company no matter the position you fill. Prospective employers need to get the impression that, once hired, you will hold out the company everywhere you goes as a premier organization and THE place to work and conduct business.
How you communicate verbally and nonverbally can make all the difference in whether you get the job offer. All the difference. Read on for 6 big communication do's, don'ts, and best practices.
DO adjust your attitude. The fastest way to insure a positive first impression is to strike a power pose. If you hold that pose for two minutes in private prior to the interview, then you will feel more confident and more competent. And the bonus here is as you walk into the interview, you will also be perceived as more confident and competent.
DO give direct face contact when the interviewer speaks, and give direct eye contact when you speak. This is the most effective way to ensure you look interested and engaged and to demonstrate you have unshakable focus. You know how to pay attention, lean in, and give 100% to what's in front of you.
DO NOT forget about your walk. You have just a few seconds (7 to 10 seconds according to many sources) to make an impression on a person, and how you walk into the room is a part of that judgment. Shoulders back, head up, eye straight ahead, and a friendly but confident smile on your face send silent messages to everyone "listening" and watching. It demonstrates you have pride in how you represent yourself to others, and that transfers to how you will likely represent the company to others.
DO NOT spend too much time emphasizing weaknesses. When asked about a weakness, tell about the weakness but more importantly, spend overwhelmingly more time on what you’ve done to overcome the weakness. Show you can get beyond the negative, limit your harping on what's not working, and that you are committed to finding solutions and moving onward, and casting yourself in the best light. (Read more about that at this link and this link.) Doing this for yourself is an indication you would do this for the company for which you work.
BEST PRACTICE 1: Gesture while speaking because it shows your personality and shows you are passionate. Remaining stiff, sitting with your hands clasped in your lap the entire time, and looking uncomfortable communicate a lack of confidence and insufficient assuredness about yourself plus it's difficult to ascertain who you are and how well you would fit in with the company and its culture. Let them see your vibrant self! Sell them on you! Get more on effective interview body language here and here.
BEST PRACTICE 2: Lower your vocal pitch. If your pitch is too high, then it makes you sound anxious, nervous, or not in control. High-rising terminals or uptalk can be quite common and can make you sound less credible; it's when you end each sentence with a lilt in your voice that seems to communicate "I *hope you're following along, that you like what I'm saying and are buying what I'm dishing out. I'm not sure, so I'm ending my statements with the sound of the unspoken question 'Does this make sense to you?'" (So many people unintentionally do this; be very intentional in listening for and correcting this. A friend or, better yet, a presentation skills or public speaking coach can help you determine if you are using uptalk.) At the same time, avoid using too low of a pitch or sinking into using vocal fry because it makes you sound disinterested (and uninteresting!)
These practices create a culminating effect that you know how to make the right impressions, that you take pride in everything you do, and that you will confidently take ownership of being a reputable and ideal representative for and of the company.
You've got this!
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Did you enjoy this post? Get more communication strategies in Show Up and Show Out: 52 Communication Habits to Make You Unforgettable.
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