Interview Secrets: 5 Ways Your Communication Skills Will Help You Get The Job

By Tabitha Makumi,
There’s a lot that goes on during interviews which end up determining whether you’ll get the job or not reveals Beth Wanjira a recruitment consultant with Corporate Staffing Services. “It all starts with the time you enter into the interview room, what kind of an impression do you make? Are you dressed for the part? How do you answer the questions? Do you tend to smile a lot? And most importantly how are your communication skills?” she poses

With the emphasis on communication skills, I set to find out what this is all about.

1. Articulation and clarity is important.

Speaking to Nancy Kang’ethe, HR Officer at APHRC, she advises that good grammar is key in any job interview. “When conducting interviews, we look out for that person who can communicate well and good grammar here does not mean you have to use big words, just be polished and avoid using slang,” she says.

2. You MUST exhibit confidence in the way you speak

While a lot of people get nervous during job interviews Ms Kang’ethe stresses out on the importance of being confident. “This most applies when you are answering the questions, how is your tone? Do you believe in what you are telling the interviewer? Are you looking him/her in the eye or avoiding their glance as you answer the questions?” such small details as they seem count she says count a big deal.

3. It’s all about listening

“If I ask you a question and you keep asking me to repeat myself, it clearly shows you don’t listen,” say Ms Wanjira who poses that, “How can I be sure you will not take this ‘not listening thing’ to the job if you are successful?”

She asserts that, “Listening skills are critical as you will have to give your full attention to the person who is speaking.” She adds that you may need to recall the information a few minutes later in order to ask intelligent questions based on what was said which will be impossible if you were not listening keenly.

4. Make it a discussion or a conversation
Ms Wanjira admits that, “A lot of job seekers especially the young graduates go into interviews expecting to be grilled and they have this answers ready to shoot for any question you have to them,” she asserts that in such cases it’s hard to get to know the REAL person during the interview because they have this generic answers which they think it’s what the interviewer wants to hear.”

She confesses that, “One of the best ways I get people to open up is by presenting a disagreement up for discussions and it’s not wrong to disagree with the interviewer provided you present your argument in an interesting and friendly way,” she says

5. Be sure to use non verbal communication as well
CollegeJournal reports that, according to some studies, “Body language comprises 55% of the force of any response, whereas the verbal content only provides 7%.

“Our facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, and tone of voice speak the loudest,” admits Ms Kang’ethe who adds that, “These messages don’t stop when you stop speaking either. Even when you’re silent, you’re still communicating nonverbally.”

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