Pat has an important interview coming up but has no interviewing experience. She has worked on

Question

developing a 30?second commercial but needs to know how to use this information most effectively
during an interview.
Additionally, a communications self?assessment indicates that during the communications process, Pat
tends to prefer talking more than listening. However, she knows that listening is an important piece of
effective interviewing, and she is looking for tips on how to be a more effective and active listener.

Prepare an even shorter summary of the commercial by condensing it to no more than five of the most important points you need to make in an interview. This will be useful in showing Pat how to apply this information most effectively during an interview.

Answer 1

Students’ answers will vary depending on the content of their 60-second commercials. The purpose
is to get students to focus even more on remembering the most important items they need to
emphasize during interviews.

? Address your interviewer using his or her proper name.
? Communicate with undivided attention; resist distractions.
? Nod as appropriate.
? Repeat or summarize main ideas.
? Ask questions as appropriate to clarify meanings.
? Listen between the lines for the underlying messages.
? Don’t argue or interrupt.
? Maintain eye contact (steady, but not too intense).
? Maintain an "open" position. (Don’t cross arms or legs; keep hands unclenched.)
? Maintain the same eye level. (Sit or stand as appropriate.)