Why You Need Interview Soundbites
Prepare concise stories (with details to back them up) to articulate your skill set in front of potential employers.
Lisa B. Marshall
Before an interview, most people get hung up on researching the company and don’t spend enough time on figuring out exactly what they’re going to say to the interviewer. In order to make a good impression, you’ll need to refine and rehearse as much as possible. For example, you’ll need have long and short versions of your job history in mind. You’ll need to know how to articulate your skills and have specific evidence that support your claims. It’s important to practice with someone so they can give you feedback.
Refine your sound bites so that they’re clear, concise, and compelling. Practice them several times a day in short bursts, so that when you deliver them, they sound spontaneous and not rehearsed. During the interview, your words need to be second nature. The idea is that you are so comfortable with your words, that instead of thinking about what you’re going to say next, you can focus on the subtle reactions of your interviewer and adjust your responses accordingly.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Lisa B. Marshall Lisa holds masters with duel degrees in interpersonal/intercultural communication and organizational communication. She’s the author of Smart Talk: The Public Speaker’s Guide to Success in Every Situation, as well as Ace Your Interview, Powerful Presenter, and Expert Presenter. Her work has been featured in CBS Money Watch, Ragan.com, Woman’s Day, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many others. Her institutional clients include Johns Hopkins Medicine, Harvard University, NY Academy of Science, University of Pennsylvania, Genentech, and Roche.