How often do you read a job description that necessitates, “ability to communicate” or “must have strong communication skills”? Today, it’s always a pre-requisite. It’s an obvious requirement but it’s always included. No one is looking for someone that has poor communication skills.
How can you improve communication skills? Suppose you aren’t communicatively gifted – how can you develop it and improve it? We are who we are and some of us just don’t have an instinct for communication. In this very competitive job market, where there are so many qualified and talented people looking to secure the same job as you – you need to be a stand out. After your resume is successfully reviewed, there is some verbal contact and that’s the opportunity to really make an impression. Phone or face time – either way, you need to shine and differentiate yourself.
Appearance plays a role in the process. How you present yourself, how you brand yourself, how you advertise yourself is all vital to securing a job, but broadcasting yourself, when you get an opportunity to use WORDS is where the attention grabbing is most effective.
The ONLY way to do it is with words. The content of the conversation is critical. What you say is important, however the tone of what you say – HOW YOU SAY IT, that’s just as important and maybe more significant. Communication, by definition is, “the interchange of thoughts, opinions or information by speech, writing or signs.”
The purpose is to interface with someone and make sure you share these thoughts and opinions in a meaningful way. You think about the question and you position your answer with direct response and keep the conversation on point. Have a discussion – exchange ideas and give the interviewer a reason to think more about you than the other candidates.
Research before contact is made. Learn as much as you can about the company, the people, the culture and their processes.
If you have a command of information and know what you are talking about, you can easily convey and connect. Make that connection and you make an impression.