The hardest stage of the job application process is the dreaded interview stage. The thought of having to sit through a 45-minute, face-to-face question-and-answer session leaves many people wondering, Is it worth it? I know my current manager is rude and obnoxious, and the pay is rubbish, but at least I don’t have to sit through 45 minutes of hell!
The modern interview is worse. Not only do you still have to attend the traditional Q&A interview; you now have to complete pre-interview tasks, take part in group activities and deliver a presentation.
Who wins in interviews — the sector expert or the confident interviewee?
As an interview coach, I meet thousands of professionals who are highly skilled and experienced but cannot seem to land that all-important promotion or job offer. The fact is, the best person for the job is not always recruited; it’s often the confident interview expert who lacks sector experience who is offered the desired position.
This can seem unfair to career professionals, but the reality is, being excellent in your given job role isn’t enough. You have to be able to interview well, which means you need to be confident, know how to sell yourself and — most importantly — be a competent communicator. (Tweet this thought.)
Part of the advice I give to many of my interview clients is to join their local Toastmasters group. When they looked surprised and asked why, I give them three key reasons:
1. Interview Table Topics
A key part of interview preparation is predicting interview questions and preparing answers that highlight key attributes. But no matter how much preparation you complete, you will always be asked at least one unexpected question. It’s these out-of-the-blue questions that throw the prepared interviewee off, creating confusion and a drop in confidence which leads to a lack of job offers.
Each Toastmasters meeting starts with a round of table topics. This impromptu speaking gives members a key skill that can be utilized in the job interview. No matter what question you’re asked, the skilled table topic speaker can always create a clever and entertaining answer.
2. Preparing for Presentations
As part of the process for many high-paid positions and managerial roles, you will be asked to deliver a presentation, often about yourself — an interview icebreaker. For many, public speaking is so terrifying they decline the offer to interview. For those who give it a go, their lack of experience and their lack of public speaking skills shine through like a grammarian’s nightmare, with every second word being an “erm” or an “argh.”
The Toastmasters member is king here; speaking is second nature to them. The interviewer doesn’t know what hit them: Who is this guy who commands the attention of the audience, using vocal variety, gestures and eye contact?
3. Confident Communicator
The real reason highly employable candidates are declined positions is because they lack confidence. Nerves and anxiety kill your interview chances; you are seen as weak and unbelievable.
You need to communicate with confidence, to highlight your unique selling point and to describe your past successes with such style and charisma the employer has no choice but to offer you the position. The competent communicator manual does just that — it gives you the skills to speak with confidence, not just on stage or in a job interview, but in everyday situations.
Why I Attend Toastmasters
For me, Toastmasters is much more than a public speaking club. The skills you learn do improve your ability to share your message with style, but these same skills can be used in everyday situations. The confidence you build from learning these skills can be life-changing, and in the job interview situation, these skills can be the difference between a successful career and a dissatisfying job.
How have your public speaking skills helped — or hindered — your job search? Share in the comments!
This post originally appeared on Employment King.
Image: Flickr
