CHAMPION STRATEGIES – PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP – OCTOBER 21, 2021- (PT.2)
USE PUBLIC SPEAKING TO NAIL YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW
Now say it with periods instead of question marks. Hear the difference? So can the boss. The periods convey conviction and confidence. The questions convey hesitation and uncertainty. Now listen to yourself and practice ending your sentences — and your numbers — with hard periods.
Pause for Concern. When the interviewer starts a question, wait for it to end, take time to answer it, and don’t be afraid to pause. Pauses can actually project confidence if they result in a strong answer. I always tell my public speaking students that it’s fine, even good, to let someone see you think; it just proves that you can. (Note: If your interviewer looks at his watch, then your pause time’s up.)
For Example…. Your boss wants to visualize you in the job, so paint that picture for her with a real moment. In advance of the interview, identify a few impressive things about your work style, and come up with a workplace illustration of each. Give examples of when you saved a company energy or money (not including the time you shook a free Twix bar from the candy machine). End the stories with what you learned from the experience — unless it was at that point that you learned you wanted to quit.
Water You Waiting For? If you’re offered water, accept it. It’s not a test of your camel-like endurance. Accepting an offer of hydration shows that you’re both comfortable and human. Water is a better idea than soda, but if you must caffeinate, don’t be picky about, say, Pepsi versus Coke. This is your next job, not an Olive Garden.
Any Questions? When a prospective boss asks if you have any questions, he’s not just being polite, but still measuring your interest in the company. Prepare four to five questions in advance: “Where do you see the company in five years?” “Can you describe the workplace environment?” “How would you describe your managerial style?” It’s fine to turn the tables and interview the interviewer. After all, the job has to be right for you, not just you for it. When you ask good questions, the interviewer will appreciate your efforts to find a good fit. And every boss likes to wax on about the company, when he knows you can’t do a damn thing to stop him.
Hopefully these tips will serve you as well as that Banana Republic suit you just picked up, but if there’s one thing to keep in your head, it’s that the job you want is not just within your reach, but yours to lose. Be strong, be likable, and don’t lose it.
