Page 97 - 101 Dynamite Answers to Interview Questions

90 Nail the Job Interview!

indicates that women use these tentative terms more frequently than men.
By using these indecisive terms, you can - male or female - appear
indecisive and somewhat muddled. You want to communicate that you
are a clear and purposeful individual.
Most people could improve their use of positive form. But it’s difficult
for someone to follow those suggestions after reading them the night
before the interview. One needs to begin malung the necessary changes
well in advance of the interview. It can be done if one really wants to
make the changes, but for most people it tales concerted effort over time.

Analyze Your Listener and Use Supports

Public speakers are always advised to analyze both their audience and
their situation before speaking. The same advice should be followed when
you interview. The language you use should vary according to the
interviewer. If the interviewer is from the personnel office with little or
no background in your field of expertise, your language should be less
technical than it would be if you were tallung with someone who shares
your technical background. If you are interviewing with someone in your
area of expertise, who also has the technical background, you should use
a vocabulary relevant to the job in order to build common ground as well
as your credibility. But don’t overdo the use of jargon.
Analysis of your situation should tell you this is not the time for
excessive modesty. Of course, you do not want to become an obnoxious
braggart, but you do want to present your strengths - skulls and accom-
plishments - in a positive way. Therefore, don’t be reluctant to talk
about yourself and your accomplishments. Remember, the interviewer
wants to lu-tow more about you, especially your potential value to him or
her. The more positive information you can communicate to the
interviewer, the stronger your position will be in the final hiring decision.
When you male statements about your skulls or accomplishments, try
to back them up with supports. Can you give an example of how you
improved production on your last job? Can you describe the sales
campaign that won you the Best Copywriter of the Year Award? Can you
compare the previous booldceeping system with the one you instituted
that saved your last employer so much money? Can you cite figures that
demonstrate how you increased sales at the last company you worked for?
When you back up your assertions with supports, you gain several