the Interview Expert Newsletter

 
Greetings!
 
Welcome to your latest issue of the Interview Expert newsletter.

Every issue explores the key elements of a successful job interview and strategic job search techniques - so you can master your skills and land the job you really want!
 
In this issue we talk about how you can make a difference in your interviews by choosing your words carefully. 
 
To listen to this article simply click Audio Library .
Watch Your Words:
Curb the Sleepers & Stoppers
 
The words you use during an interview can make a difference in whether you ace the interview and get the job - or not. Your words can captivate the interviewer's attention or lose them. Words that make an interviewer's mind drift are what I call sleepers; and words that arrest their thoughts completely - while they stop to try and figure out what you've just said - are stoppers. Your goal is to ensure that the interviewer actually hears everything you say, and, most importantly, remembers what you said after the interview.
 

Sleepers 
 
Sleepers are words and phrases that are so overused they've lost any real meaning. Because they fail to resonate with the listener, sleepers can cause the interviewer's mind to drift. And if that happens, the interviewer misses what you've said. Here are some common examples of sleepers:  
  • state-of-the-art
  • optimally utilize resources
  • core issues
  • cost-effective
  • leading edge
  • revenue enhancement initiatives   
If you've caught yourself using these words and phrases, or similar ones, during your interviews, learn to watch for these sleepers and remove them from your conversation.
 
Here's an easy way to do it. Read these two sentences aloud:
  1. I develop state-of-the-art solutions that optimally utilize resources.
  2. I create fresh, new solutions that squeeze the most out of limited resources.
If you were the interviewer, the second sentence, which uses plain language in place of sleepers, is the one the interviewer will remember.  
 
Stoppers
 
Stoppers are words and phrases that aren't immediately familiar to the interviewer. When you use stoppers, the interviewers' thoughts literally stop and they wonder, "Hmm, where have I heard that before?" or, worse,  "Oh no, I should really know what that means!"
 
Common stoppers include:
  • Technical terms that are unfamiliar to the interviewer
  • Uncommon words that are seldom used in everyday conversation, [for example, pretentious words such as "erudite" instead of using plain language and saying "educated"]. 
Technical terms
How do you stop yourself from using technical term stoppers? Use technical terms, but only when it means something to the interviewer. For example, let's say you worked with XYZ software in your previous employment. You know that only a handful of Canadian companies use XYZ software, and, most importantly, you know that the hiring organization isn't one of them and is unlikely to use it in the future. Instead of using the unfamiliar brand name, refer to the software by type, e.g. record-keeping software. That way, you'll keep the interviewer's mind focused on what you're saying.
 
Uncommon words
"Big words don't equal a bigger brain, intelligent people who are confident in their message and passionate about what they do don't need to use obscure language to communicate." - John McFerran 
 
Instead of using uncommon words, get your message across more effectively by usingplain language. Here's one way of doing it. In mid-career, I moved into a new consulting field by creating a sentence that was simple, targeted to the hiring organization and memorable to interviewers: "I get and keep clients". When I cold-called  prospective employers, this simple sentence got me in the door every time. Think of the words and phrases like this that you can use to make your message simple, targeted and memorable.
 

Choosing your words carefully is a powerful way to make a difference in your interviews. By using plain language, you'll have interviewers on the edge of their seats, listening for more - and remembering you from the many other qualified candidates who haven't learned how to watch their words!
 
 
Heather
-----------------------------------------------------------Questions?  Comments?  Topics for future newsletters?
Feel free to e-mail us anytime at the Interview Expert newsletter.
 
 
And don't forget to check the Expert blog for more free resources. 
Can't get past the first interview?
Are you always a close second in the final round?
It could be your interview skills.
 
We help you master the language of results, solutions and outcomes 
by providing you personalized, professional, one-on-one coaching
so you can land the job you really want!
 
Sincerely,
 
Heather
 
Heather McNab
the Interview Expert 
 
416-239-4406
[email protected]      
 
Training top professionals who give their best,
to get their best:  Promotions. Jobs. Careers. 
Learn to Sell Yourself as the Solution
So You Can Land The Job You Really Want!
 
Small Group Coaching Workshops
A Small Group Coaching Workshop is an easy and affordable way to learn the foundations of mastering your job interview skills.
 
Working in a small group setting of three to five other job seekers, you'll get all the individual attention you need to take your skills to the next level - without the expense of private, one-on-one sessions.
At the end of this workshop, you'll have the skills and confidence to land the job you really want - and deserve.
 
You'll learn how to:
  • Make your message resonate by thinking from the hiring organization's perspective.
  • Prove you can do the job by relating memorable interview stories.
  • Increase your confidence by learning how to handle the most-asked interview questions with ease.
This 3-hour Small Group Coaching Workshop is available to NOW for only $234 (plus GST).   When you sign up,  you receive 2 free bonuses.  Just click Small Group Coaching Workshops for all the details.
Our next workshops will be held:
  March 24 and 31.
What Top Professionals Need To Know - Your Guide to Answering Job Interview Questions
Ebook
 
Want to Ace Your Next Interview? 
 
The Interview Expert has created this eBook to help you respond to typical job interview questions with confidence.
 
What you'll receive:
 
 12 most-asked interview questions
 
 Sample answers to help you land the job you really want
 
Coaching tips and guidelines to prepare you for the most difficult questions
 
To learn more and receive your download copy today, click eBook.
Quick Links
 
 
 
Newsletter Archive
 
See all our past issues in the Newsletter Archive
Join Our Mailing List 
Interview Skills Assessment
How do your interview skills really stack up?
Find out before your next interview.
 
You can get an objective evaluation of your current interview skills by requesting a professional assessment.   
  • During a 30-minute phone interview, we'll ask you questions that help us assess your current skill level and your preparedness for upcoming interviews.
  • Within 24-hours, you'll receive a detailed personal report that tells you exactly how you can polish your skills.
The Interview Skills Assessment is available for a discounted fee of $97 plus GST (regular value - $300).
Just call 416-239-4406 now to schedule your assessment.