How to Improve Communication Skills Fast for an Interview

Acing the interview with good communication skills is the first step to a good career.

The ability to communicate clearly is a crucial career skill. Even the most brilliant job candidate or employee is ineffective if she is unable to communicate her ideas. Refining your speech, speaking with confidence and clearly articulating your ideas are all goals that can be achieved with a little bit of practice.

Things You'll Need

• Video recorder
• Friend
• Computer

Instructions

1. Locate a set of sample interview questions. These questions are readily available on many sites, such as JobInterviewQuestions.org, and on the career pages of many colleges. Even if the questions provided don't match the questions you'll be asked, they will help you articulate your thoughts about your career, relevant experience and your personality. Print the questions out and write your answers down.

2. Enlist the help of a friend to act as your interviewer. Have him ask you the questions listed, as well as a few questions off the top of his head. When you've finished, ask for his feedback. It is important to get input about the quality of your answers as well as your body language. Ask your friend if you seemed nervous or confident, and try to be aware of your behavior.

3. Set up a video camera and tape a second practice interview between you and your friend. Notice the way that you sit, how you cross your arms, how often you hesitate or stumble over your words and how fast you talk. Being aware of these elements of your behavior is the first step to refining them and presenting yourself as a calm, confident job candidate.

4. Create a strong resume that showcases all of your best talents. Though this can't stop you from stammering, it will allow you to point out major accomplishments, rather than stumbling to describe the details of every job and experience. It will also make you feel more prepared, and therefore more confident.

Tips & Warnings

• Always prepare a few questions to ask your potential employer at the end of an interview. This will make you appear engaged and inquisitive.

• Don't assume that you need to anticipate and prepare for every question your interviewer will ask. You can pause and think, as long as you are confident about it, and the more you prepare, the more confident you will feel.

References

• Job Interview Questions: Phone Interview Questions
• "U.S. News & World Report"; How to Prepare for a Job Interview; Alison Green; Feb. 7, 2011