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Answer Questions 89

your first name. Many interviewers will be offended by such familiarity.
The second use of positive form is inherent in the way you phrase
questions and answers. For example, rather than ask “What are the duties
af position?” ask “Wzat would be rny duties?” This form of
questioning subtly plants the positive thought of you in the position. This
is not presumptuous because you used the word “would, ” which indicates
you are not overly sure of yourself.
A third use of positive form relates to good grammar. Proper use of
language is not something to be left in the English classroom. Many so-
called “educated” people do not use good grammar, and many of these
people do not interview successfully. Check your use of grammar. If it is
not impeccable, male an effort to improve it before the interview.
Fourth, use good diction. One of the most common problems is to
shorten words. How many people do you hear say “goin” instead of
‘koing7 ” or “g~ni~a” rather than “going to”? Another problem is substituting,
eliminating, or adding on consonants “Adlanta ” rather than ‘Xtlanta, ’’
“din ’t ” rather than “didiz ’t, ” “idear” rather than “idea. ” Do you do this? Do
you ever say “yea” rather than 3esy7? The use of sloppy speech is a habit
many people - including the well educated - get into. But it is a habit -

learned and reinforced behavior -you can change. If you have a tendency
to modify words in these manners, it is a habit worth correcting.
Fifth, avoid using vocalized pauses. An occasional silence is accept-
able and preferable to overuse of “ah ” and “uhnz. ” Try not to fill silences
with “ahn or “and ah.” Vocalized pauses distract the listener from your
message, and the excessive use can be annoying.
Sixth, avoid the use of fillers. Fillers add no information and, if
overdone, also distract the listener. The most commonly used fillers are
gou know, ” “like, ” and “okay. ” If used frequently, the listener becomes
distracted and will find it hard to concentrate on the content of your
message. They may also assume you have a speech problem!
Seventh, use active verbs. When tallung about what you have done
or will do, active verbs like “organized, ” “analyzed’ ” or “suyewised” are
preferable to the nouns “organizer, ’’ “analyst, ” or “supervisor. ” Avoid the
passive voice, For example, instead of saying “The entire cor2ference was
organized by me” (passive) , say “I orgrrnized the entire ~onference’~ (active).
Eighth, avoid using tentative, indecisive terms, such as “I think, ’’ “I
guess, ” or ‘‘Ifeel. ” If you use them excessively, they will negatively affect
the impression you are trying to leave with the interviewer. Research