Avoid these mistakes and up your game when you interview

You’ve heard it before, but let me repeat it: what you say is not nearly as important as how you say it. Once a conversation is over, most people don’t remember what was said, but rather how they feel about that conversation and what kind of impression it left. With this being the case, when you are interviewing, you must focus on your non-verbal communication even more than the words that come out of your mouth. Here are some common areas for improvement when you’re meeting with prospective employers, colleagues, and clients:

Eye contact. There is a fine line between too much and too little eye contact. Err too much on either side, and the person you’re communicating with may become uncomfortable; it can also engender mistrust. 

Interpersonal space. Again, there’s a line between too much and too little. If you’re not sure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and give the other person(s) more space. In the current context of the coronavirus epidemic, this is likely to be welcomed. 

Poor hygiene. It astounds me that HR managers and colleagues often have to function as the middle school nurse and educate others on the importance of personal hygiene. Daily showering, brushing one’s teeth, and wearing clean clothes are a must. 

No filter. Self-edit! Just because you think it doesn’t mean you should say it.

Vocal nuances. This is mainly for women. Do? You? Use? Uptalk? And? Does? Everything? Coming? Out? Of? Your? Mouth? Sound? Like? A? Question? This is known as “uptalk,” and it automatically reduces your credibility. So does excessive use of “like” and vocal fry. Vocal fry is when you employ low, rattling sounds in regular conversation. A famous example is Kim Kardashian. Right or wrong, speaking in this manner does precisely nothing to help you. 

Unawareness of when/how to leave a conversation/meeting. You need to pick up on verbal nuances and non-verbal cues to know when it’s time for you to go or stop talking. 

Too much/too little self-disclosure. You don’t want to overshare or under share. People will think there’s something off if your first meeting entails you giving them your entire life’s history. Similarly, people will find it odd if you don’t share anything about yourself personally and come off just like a robot. There is a happy medium you need to embrace. 

When you’re interacting with other people in a professional setting, it’s important to remember that an actual person is at the other end of that communication. People like to connect with other people, not with skillsets or lists of competencies. Humanize your communication and interactions; you will improve the outcomes.