Active Listening The Job Seekers Secret Weapon

Active Listening The Job landseekers Secret WeaponActive Listening The Job Seekers Secret WeaponUh, what did you say?Most of us feel we listen pretty well, almost all of the time, but in reality we dont listen very well at all much of the time. I can say that with confidence because good listening is exhausting, takes complete concentration, and doing it regularly is extremely hard work for all of us. Even expert communication people fail at listening well some of the time. So, what is a job binnenseekers secret weapon when it comes to communication? Find out belowI recognize that were all pretty distracted in general these days, with multiple activities and technologies filling our every moment and long lists of things we need to get done on our minds. Listening almost feels like a luxury.The problem is, however, that not taking the time to actively listen as much as possible means we can miss a lot of really useful- and even key- information that could be helpful when searching for a job or when bewerbungsinterviewing for one.So what is deepor activelistening, and how does it become a job seekers secret weapon during a job search?Firstly, hearing and listening arent the same thing. I can hear you ask me to take out the trash, but until I actually process that information in my brain through listening, the trash is going to stay under the sink and departure to stink. Hearing is part of the process, but listening means having that internal conversation with ourselves around what to do with the information we hear. If I hear you ask me to take out the trash, and I tell myself I will do it at the next commercial break, then theres a better chance I will remember to do it. There are no guarantees but a better chance. If you ask me to take out the trash, and I tell myself I will do it before I go to bed, AND I write it down on my to-do list, chances are even better that Ill remember, because I have heard and listened and processed the information.Active listening, listening deeply, and even listening beyond words are a job seekers secret weapons, and these techniques can make a huge difference in what you learn about the company for which you wish to work.In print format, there are clues you might pick up to help you learn more about the company before you even apply. For example, when reading a job posting, notice not just the words written, but the tone of the posting itself. Is it formal? Casual? Conversational? Does it use technical jargon or industry language?What about the website? What tone does the company website set with the words and the images it uses? What are other people saying about the company when you research the organization? What are you finding when you type the company name into your search engine?There are ways to listen when reading that can tell you the story behind the place to which youd like to apply. Getting this extra information doesnt work in print the way it does when speaking on the phone or meeting in perso n, but language, word choice, and tone can be conveyed somewhat through the written word and as such will sometimes provide you with more insight into the organization if you pay attention.Of course, its easier to actively listen in person and to pick up more information.During actual face-to-face job interviews, deep listening is utterly essential. Listening beyond words means not only paying attention to the words the other person is using but to their body language, vocal tone, and facial expressions. You can learn more about the interviewer through listening well than any other means. If theres a look you see that shows interest, for example, then what you are saying is resonating. If the look you see seems confused or unhappy, you might say, Im sensing something Ive said isnt sitting rightcan I ask what it is? This opens up more honest discussion and could lead to a learning opportunity.Often, we hear what we want to hear, especially when our interests are at stake. In this cas e, as with all soft skills, deep listening is a practice that requireswellpractice Its not something you will suddenly be able to do after reading this article, but you will be on the right track.Heres how to practice and hone the job seekers secret weapon techniquesChoose an unsuspecting person perhaps during the next face-to-face conversation you have.Make sure that youre looking at the person and have all devices and potential distractions put away.Listen to the words spoken and to the tone of voice theyre spoken in. Do they match?Try not to interrupt.Ask clarifying questions- questions that clear up any confusion you might have about the situation the person is relating or about what the person is saying with words.Be curious You can even say you are curious. For example, Im curious, Lee, you say you enjoy your job, but you sound sad when you say that. Would you like to tell me about that?Active listening means that you listen more and talk less. (This might not be the case duri ng an actual job interview when the interviewer wants to hear all about you, but it will be the case when youre simply practicing this skill.)Watch for body language. Eye movements, facial expressions, how the person is positioned, and what theyre doing with their hands can all give more information than words alone can. Youll also be able to tell by noticing these elements whether or not youre connecting with the person.Use small words like uh-huh or right to encourage the person to continue speaking. Use silence sometimes, too, as silence in our North American culture often causes people to want to fill the void. This will often spur the other person into continuing.Evaluate your own listening skills once your conversation is over. What did you do right? What could you work on next time? What messages did you pick up on that werent verbal ones?Honing your deep- or active- listening skills is absolutely free and can be done anytime and anywhere. This skill is often an unspoken yet highly valued skill employers want their employees to have, and you can begin your practice immediately. Not only will excellent listening skills guide you to choosing better-fitting job postings, theyll serve you well during the interview process and far beyond.Happy listeningReaders, what challenges do you need to overcome incommunication? Will you utilize thejob seekers secret weapon- active listening- to enhance your success? Tell us why in the comments belowJennifer Swanson is the author of a best-selling new book What They See How to Stand Out and Shine in Your New Job. She has taught communication and human relation skills since 1993 to college students entering the medical field. She is also the creator and host of the Communication Diva Podcast, which has an international audience and helps people deepen workplace and personal relationships through more effective communication. Swanson has a masters degree in public and pastoral leadership and is a certified conflict coach and master NLP practitioner. Shes also a mother and stepmother to two young adults and two teensand to a four-legged hairy little beast named Bandit. You can connect with Jennifer on Twitter JennSwanson2 and on iTunes with the Communication Diva Podcast.