Wow...guess you can tell I am from old school, this "news" just kind of sounds like common sense to me. It is a sad state of affairs we are in when someone needs to be told good listening skills is a newsflash when related to interviewing for a job. This just sums up what state we are in regarding the workforce. Course no one wants to hear what a lttle hard work and common sense would do these days...and look at the country, world for that matter..
J Paul London
of PA
@
Sep 22, 2008 15:30:53 PM
The likeability factor
True, true. Once you've made it to the interview stage, they've already decided you're probably qualified, so the trick is to be the most likeable of the qualified candidates... and nobody likes a person who can't shut up.
Julie O'Malley
of MA
@
Sep 18, 2008 16:34:31 PM
absolutely agree
Being concise is an incredibly underrated skill. I have disqualified otherwise good candidates because they rambled throughout the interview. I'm not talking about one overly long answer. I'm talking about people who take five minutes to answer every single question, questions that should have been answered in one minute. I need people who are inefficient and concise; rambling is truly the kiss of death.
Alison Green
of DC
@
Sep 17, 2008 20:29:15 PM
Keep it simple!
Great advice! I always think the best approach in an interview is to keep your answer under a minute long (unless impossible) and make sure you answer the question they asked.
No tangent has ever gotten anyone a job! If you can answer a question in a concise way, chances are you'll appear to be the kind of person employers want to hire!
Erika with Qvisory
of WA
@
Sep 17, 2008 20:14:59 PM
It's not "don't pick your nose?"
Another great post. And now I really WILL have to tell my plate-licking interviewee story!! Stay tuned...
almostgotit.com
of TN
@
Sep 17, 2008 19:00:19 PM
I interviewed many prospective employees in my career, and I think the advice given in this column is exactly right. Any prospective interviewee would be well served by reading carefully and retaining.
A. Reader
of
@
Sep 17, 2008 16:41:16 PM
Har har
I once worked with a woman who everyone thought was reflective and deep. She never said much. But when I got to know her better I realized that her reticence was concealing her utter lack of substance!
of
@
Sep 17, 2008 13:26:42 PM
What's that old saying? You can remain silent and be thought a fool or open your mouth and remove all doubt?
Alastair JR @ Jan 19, 2009 10:59:32 AM
J Paul London of PA @ Sep 22, 2008 15:30:53 PM
Julie O'Malley of MA @ Sep 18, 2008 16:34:31 PM
Alison Green of DC @ Sep 17, 2008 20:29:15 PM
Erika with Qvisory of WA @ Sep 17, 2008 20:14:59 PM
almostgotit.com of TN @ Sep 17, 2008 19:00:19 PM
A. Reader of @ Sep 17, 2008 16:41:16 PM
of @ Sep 17, 2008 13:26:42 PM
of @ Sep 17, 2008 11:03:15 AM
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