How To Use Listen During The Interview

By Matt Krumrie, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: November 27, 2005 - 10:00 PM

A cover letter and resume can get your foot in the door and get that interview. But poor listening skills in the interview can quickly eliminate you from any chances of getting the job.

Communication is one of the most important skills in a large percentage of jobs, says Carole Martin, The Interview Coach (www.interviewcoach.com).

"When a candidate is not listening during the interview, it is a sign that he or she will not be attentive on the job," says Martin, author of "Interview Fitness Training, Boost Your Interview IQ" and "Perfect Phrases for the Perfect Interview." "He or she will be judged by this first interaction and be eliminated based on that interview."

Listening is the most underutilized feature of the interview. There are two steps to take to begin to working on the problem, says Martin:

• Go to the interview with an agenda to find out what is going on in this job and company. During the interview, make it a point to listen to what is being said. What questions are being asked? Listen to what is "not" being said. In other words, listen and read between the lines. What is the situation here?

• Next, let the interviewer know that you heard what he or she has been saying. You can make a statement like, "From the questions you've been asking ... " "From the comments you've made it sounds like ... " This will not only show that you've heard what the interviewer said, but that you also understand the problems.

Kyle Krzmarzick, Minneapolis-based area manager for CDI Professional Services, a company that offers engineering, IT and professional staffing solutions for Fortune 1000 clients, says note-taking will help you focus on the questions being asked, and allow you to form questions of your own based on information provided by the interviewer. In addition, don't be afraid to paraphrase a point made by the interviewer. "So what you're saying is ... " "If I understand you correctly ... "

"Asking some good questions about the position shows you're interested and shows the interviewer you are paying attention, and trying to understand them better," says Krzmarzick.

Matt Krumrie is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, MN, and has seven years of experience reporting on the employment industry. The first Sunday of each month this column will answer readers' questions. E-mail questions or subject ideas to askmatt@startribune.com.

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