Page 69 - Oscar Adler - Sell Yourself in Any Interview_ Use Proven Sales Techniques to Land Your Dream Job (2008)

LISTEN BETTER TO LEARN WHAT’S IMPORTANT

number of skills and traits that are highly prized in the work-
place and frequently difficult to convey during an interview,
including:
❏ Interest in the position and the company

❏ Ability to work independently
❏ Willingness to take responsibility

❏ Motivation to figure things out for yourself

BRING NOTES

When you go to an interview, it is okay to have notes. You
may never use them, but you will be more confident know-
ing that they exist and that you can refer to them if necessary.
Keep your notes brief. You don’t want to be fumbling through
a lot of paperwork. A single sheet with bullet points of your
major accomplishments and a few pertinent facts about the
company or industry are probably all you need. Write big so
that you can take a quick glance at your notes and then return
your attention to the interviewer.
You also may want to jot down a key word or two as you
are listening to the interviewer so that you can ask relevant
follow-up questions or respond to a specific concern with
an appropriate benefit.
Exhibit 3-1 is a list of habits that can hurt your ability to
be a good listener. Rate yourself by checking “Often,” “Some-
times,” or “Never.”
In this list of bad listening habits, you want to strive for
as many checks as possible in the “Never” category. Although
self-assessment is important, we are not always the best
judges of our own communications skills. Ask someone you

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