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:
- I develop state-of-the-art solutions that optimally utilize resources.
- 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!