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Rob Kallick
Making connections is what the job search is all about. Whether it be through networking or in an interview, it's important that you always get your point across to an interviewer, co-worker, supervisor or client. And one of the best ways to do that is by getting good at the little things, like small talk.
"Small talk is an interesting subject because oftentimes, if you have someone who doesn't know you, then you need to engage the conversation," says Steve Swanson, managing partner for Princeton Search Group in Oakland, Calif.
Be original
Swanson says that he tells people to first and foremost stay away from the obvious when trying to make small talk. "Going back to sports or weather can be a little trite," he says. "That's a little too obvious."
In an interview setting you'll need to do some preparation to make sure you adequately engage the conversation.
"Prepare a short and upbeat little talk," says Robbie Kaplan, author of "How to Say It in Your Job Search" (Prentice Hall Press, $16). "It should be an introduction that quickly conveys your credentials and interests. Include your occupation, expertise and current career pursuits."
You can use this speech when answering standard interview questions such as, "So tell me about yourself…", or as a conversation starter with co-workers and professional colleagues.
"Avoid sad stories or negatives," says Kaplan. "Even if you were terminated unfairly or felled by too many mergers, negatives are a real conversation stopper."
Laugh it up
If you are in a situation where you don't know anyone or have any information, you should try to use your sense of humor and personality to make a connection.
"A lot of times there is a current event that is funny that you can bring up," says Swanson. "Something in pop culture, something that just happened in the world. Humor is one of the saving graces — make light of the world if you can. Anything you can think of can potentially be funny if you say it in the right way."
Both Kaplan and Swanson agree that one of the keys to good small talk has nothing to do with actually talking at all.
"The secret to successful small talk is a little talking and a lot of listening," says Kaplan.
"Most people like to talk but few are good listeners. No matter what the workplace situation, it's important that others have a quick understanding of your qualifications and interests."
Listen up
Listening is crucial, but it's also important to show the other person that you are, in fact, listening to what they’re saying.
"Some people you know right away by their response if they have no interest at all," says Swanson. "That can really hurt your rapport building."
If you can prove yourself to be a great listener you'll have a definite leg up on the competition.
"Everyone loves a good listener," says Kaplan. "Pay attention and you'll gain a career advantage - it's the listeners that can easily identify needs and communicate how they fill them."
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Small Talk
September 11, 2005
Rob Kallick
Making connections is what the job search is all about. Whether it be through networking or in an interview, it's important that you always get your point across to an interviewer, co-worker, supervisor or client. And one of the best ways to do that is by getting good at the little things, like small talk.
"Small talk is an interesting subject because oftentimes, if you have someone who doesn't know you, then you need to engage the conversation," says Steve Swanson, managing partner for Princeton Search Group in Oakland, Calif.
Be original
Swanson says that he tells people to first and foremost stay away from the obvious when trying to make small talk. "Going back to sports or weather can be a little trite," he says. "That's a little too obvious."
In an interview setting you'll need to do some preparation to make sure you adequately engage the conversation.
"Prepare a short and upbeat little talk," says Robbie Kaplan, author of "How to Say It in Your Job Search" (Prentice Hall Press, $16). "It should be an introduction that quickly conveys your credentials and interests. Include your occupation, expertise and current career pursuits."
You can use this speech when answering standard interview questions such as, "So tell me about yourself…", or as a conversation starter with co-workers and professional colleagues.
"Avoid sad stories or negatives," says Kaplan. "Even if you were terminated unfairly or felled by too many mergers, negatives are a real conversation stopper."
Laugh it up
If you are in a situation where you don't know anyone or have any information, you should try to use your sense of humor and personality to make a connection.
"A lot of times there is a current event that is funny that you can bring up," says Swanson. "Something in pop culture, something that just happened in the world. Humor is one of the saving graces — make light of the world if you can. Anything you can think of can potentially be funny if you say it in the right way."
Both Kaplan and Swanson agree that one of the keys to good small talk has nothing to do with actually talking at all.
"The secret to successful small talk is a little talking and a lot of listening," says Kaplan.
"Most people like to talk but few are good listeners. No matter what the workplace situation, it's important that others have a quick understanding of your qualifications and interests."
Listen up
Listening is crucial, but it's also important to show the other person that you are, in fact, listening to what they’re saying.
"Some people you know right away by their response if they have no interest at all," says Swanson. "That can really hurt your rapport building."
If you can prove yourself to be a great listener you'll have a definite leg up on the competition.
"Everyone loves a good listener," says Kaplan. "Pay attention and you'll gain a career advantage - it's the listeners that can easily identify needs and communicate how they fill them."
Executive Search | Recruitment Process Outsourcing | Contract Staffing | College Recruiting | Site Map
This site is optimized for 1024x768 resolution and Internet Explorer.
Copyright © 2010 PrincetonOne