Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy
Interviews are stressful enough without the added pressure of having to make sure you use the correct pronunciation, tone, grammar and follow the formalities of the English spoken language. If you are originally from a different culture or background in an English speaking country fighting for your rightful place up the corporate ladder but without much success then you are not alone.
You may have managed to get an interview because of your resume which highlights your achievements and relevant skills and qualifications. The employer likes it and invites you to an interview to find out more. The only problem, he or she does not understand you and concludes that you do not have a good command of the English language and therefore do not meet one of the critical criteria of the job role - good communication skills.
I have worked with many clients who have come to me because of their inability to effectively and confidently articulate their skills and attributes. Time and time again they have missed out on positions because of their language skills and many of them eventually give up hope and decide they should not even try to advance within their organizations or chosen career path. It was Nelson Mandela who said, "There is no passion to be found in playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living". Think about what is possible and focus on that - there is always a way and there is always someone who can help.
The strategies I use with my clients to improve their communication so they can compete strongly and on more even ground has a lot to do with confidence. When a person is nervous, it is more difficult to think clearly and convey a message. The first thing to do is to try and understand your fear or nervousness. Applicants for whom English has never been their first language become different people when they have to communicate in English, particularly in a testing situation like an interview. They lose their confidence, doubt their abilities and they try and avoid too much conversation in the fear that they will be ridiculed or asked to repeat themselves over and over again. Unfortunately, there are many 'lazy' listeners in the world today. Everyone is in a rush and does not want to spend the time trying to understand or get to know someone with an accent that distracts from what they are trying to say. We have to assume that the interviewer is the same. He or she may have a dozen or more candidates to interview in a week and they do not want to work to understand what it is an applicant is saying.
Once we have determined the degree to which language is the barrier to them interviewing successfully, I work with them to build their confidence in the language. We use language to bring out their true personalities and build their confidence through improved focus and fluency.
It is important for candidates who find it difficult to communicate in a second language to work with a coach or a trusted friend to understand exactly what the interviewer is asking, the nuances behind the language and how to structure simple, but effective answers to commonly asked questions. Work out what your key strengths and personal traits are and develop a personal statement which is unique to you. A coach will help you understand how to make clear statements that immediately capture the attention of the interviewer.
Identify the key job criteria that they are looking for applicants to fulfill - these could be things like: good communication, excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, good attention to detail, proven negotiation skills and so on. Develop questions based on these criteria and then structure answers so they are manageable and they make sense to you. It is very difficult to sell something you do not believe in, that is why, it is absolutely essential you understand what you are communicating and that it makes sense to you. Work with a friend or coach to fully understand the meaning behind the questions so your answers are relevant and address the question being asked.
Prepare answers to tricky questions such as 'what is your greatest weakness?' or things in your resume which may be perceived as 'negative'. This could be a gap in your employment history or the fact that you were made redundant. Write down answers to these questions, get them reviewed by someone with good communication skills and practice, practice, practice.
With many of my clients, after we have addressed their fears, understood their motivations, prepared a long list of written questions and answers and ensured they have a full understanding and a strong belief in what they are saying, I tape myself answering the questions. They use this tape to improve their pronunciation by listening to my voice and tone on the way to and back from work on the train and whenever they have spare time to practice. This has been an invaluable strategy and the improvement from one session to the next is remarkable. They have to however, put in the time and effort and be prepared to work hard.
Presentation and grooming, being punctual and being fully aware of interview etiquette are also part of being properly prepared. Sometimes there are also cultural issues or social "norms" that need to be addressed as part of the interview process. Get the appropriate advice on what to wear - it is always better to be more conservative and wear a suit or at least a business jacket. Use eye contact throughout the interview and engage the interviewer. If language has been an issue in the past, do not rush through what you need to communicate. Slowing down will produce a much clearer message and ensure the interviewer does not miss out on hearing all your positive qualities.
Life is often testing. We have to prove we have the strength, confidence and conviction to realize our goals. Some people are born with a natural ability to communicate, engage an audience and capture positive attention. Others have to work really hard and some struggle for a long time to get to their destination. Those that do not accept defeat and are always searching for new ways to approach things often succeed. It was Harriet Beecher Stowe who once said, "Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn". The more we struggle and fight off defeat, the more we grow and learn and the stronger we become. We can then use the strength we gained during hard times to build on our successes. The result is a much more confident and competent individual and any gaps that existed at the start between those with the natural ability and those that had to work twice has hard to reach their goals will continue to narrow and eventually, disappear. Be informed, be prepared and realize your full potential.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar