Interviews can be scary.
What is the best way to prepare for an interview? I find that public speaking skills are essential in almost all aspects of business.
This is true for interviewing as well.
The fundamentals of good public speaking are also at the centre of a good interview.
1.
Preparation.
Preparation is essential for delivering a successful presentation and for a successful interview.
Anyone who has conducted an interview will tell you that it is obvious who as prepared for the interview and who has not.
We can easily guess who makes a better impression.
Before the interview be sure to learn as much as you can about your potential employer.
Google is a great tool for this.
Find out about the company philosophy and mission.
Find out as much as you can about the future direction of the company.
Learn as much as you can about the department you will be working with and the particular job you are interviewing for.
2.
Audience analysis.
Audience analysis is critical for public speaking and for interviewing.
Who is your audience, why are they there and what do you specifically have to offer them? Who will you audience be for the interview? Will you be interviewing with someone from HR, your potential direct Supervisor or a committee? What interests do they have regarding the position? What are their needs? How can you develop your answers based on this information so that it is clear to them that you are well-prepared for the job? Find out as much as you can beforehand, so that you can prepare yourself.
3.
Prepare your presentation (your stories).
Take a good look at the job description and think of the skills and competencies that will be required and desirable for the job.
Then, think of examples in your past where you have demonstrated these skills and capabilities.
During the interview you can use these examples/stories to give a clear picture to the interviewer that you have the experience to be successful at the job.
4.
Voice control.
Work on your voice before the interview to be sure that you are speaking clearly, loudly enough and confidently.
You don't want a shaky and weak voice during your interview.
Before the interview, practice speaking softly and then raise you voice a little at a time until you feel you have control over you voice and volume.
5.
Non-verbal messaging and body language.
You will want to appear confident, interested, honest, caring, etc.
during your interview.
You can give all of these messages through body language by sitting up straight, sitting at the edge of your chair, having good eye contact with the interviewer(s) and smiling.
Of course, you will want to take care that your personal appearance is professional.
6.
Practice.
The key to successful public speaking and successful interviews is practice.
Practice "mock interviews" with friends or family so that you have a chance to answer questions, weave your stories into the conversation and get comfortable talking about yourself.
The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be when the interview takes place.
Improve your public speaking skills and you will improve your interview skills as well.