Buy A Career in Your Suitcase

My Interview Communication Skills

Click here to print this page.

Circle S for Satisfactory or N for Needs Improvement.

S N I listen attentively for feelings, attitudes, and values as well as for facts.
S N I use positive body language (smiles, head nods, forward leaning) to convey interest and understanding.
S N I am careful never to interrupt the interviewer.
S N I don’t let distractions (phone, shuffling of papers, outside noises, interruptions, etc.) interfere with good listening.
S N I maintain eye contact much of the time.
S N My speech is concise, clear, and to the point.
S N I use open-ended questions to stimulate further information sharing.
S N I am aware of my body language and what it says about me to the interviewer.
S N I listen with my eyes and pay close attention to the interviewer’s body language and the message it is communicating.
S N I avoid using negative and inflammatory words that could irritate or distract my listener.
S N I accept complete responsibility for ensuring that the interviewer understands my message.
S N I listen with a "third ear" for what the interviewer does not say.
S N I keep in mind the total impression I am creating – not just the words I say.
S N I show genuine interest in what the other person is saying.
S N I keep my anger and other emotions in check and out of the conversation.
S N I clarify meaning and understanding by summarizing the other person’s message.
S N I refrain from allowing any expectations or prejudices on my part to influence how accurately I listen.
S N I guard against discounting what a person says because I don’t agree with them or find them likable.
S N I am aware of how my nonverbal behavior impacts my verbal communication.    
S N I stay actively "tuned in" to speakers who are difficult to follow (ramblers, repeaters, plodders, etc.).
S N I am alert to the other person’s nonverbal signals and their possible meanings.
S N I avoid formulating my response while the other person is still speaking.
S N I fully understand that the receiver may interpret my message differently than I intended because of personal experiences, attitudes, values, prejudices, needs, etc.
S N I use expanders ("uhm," "I see," "oh, really,") to encourage the interviewer to continue talking.
S N I seek clarification when the meaning is unclear.
S N Under no circumstances do I ever argue with the interviewer.
S N My body language is natural and reinforces the confident image I wish to project.
S N I maintain a positive, enthusiastic tone of voice throughout the discussion.
S N I focus outward, staying alert to how the interviewer is reacting to what I’m saying.
S N I use the power of silence to my advantage – not jumping in immediately after the interviewer stops speaking.
S N I keep quiet and listen attentively, showing authentic interest in what the interviewer is saying.
S N I probe delicately to discover the interviewer’s most serious concerns and most pressing problems.
S N I use leading questions to surface possible obstacles to hiring.

Contributed by Sally White & Associates: http://www.sallywhite.com.

Close this window.