The ability to really listen is an
important skill for any interviewer to have. Listening allows you to
understand where the other person is coming from, and shows you’re
interested in what he/she has to say.
Unfortunately, we all experience common listening problems.
1. We let our attention wander.
2. We miss the real point of what is being said.
3. We let our emotions interfere with our judgment.
4. We interrupt and “step on” the statements of the candidates being
interviewed.
5. We think ahead, to what we want to say next and miss what’s being
said right now.
To improve your listening skills, use the three steps of Active
Listening.
- Non-Verbal Messages:
eye contact, an alert expression, head nodding, and a forward lean to
the body expresses
listening.
- Cues or Invitations:
these are the phrases like “uh-huh, O.K., Yes, go on, etc. that signal
our attention and invite an individual to continue talking.
- Clarification of what has been said:
We can do this in one of several ways—by asking questions, summarizing
what has been said, or paraphrasing the message in your own words.
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