Debra,
Most definitely..these are the best transferable skills.
Elizabeth Kemler
A good interviewer has good self awareness and good communication skills. In order to answer the question, they also have to be active listeners. All of these (being aware of your self, communicating and listening) are vital to being a good employee.
Leah,
You are so right. People rarely mention self-awareness with regards to interviewing but it is key..and good listening skills are also often overlooked so glad you mentioned it!
Elizabeth Kemler
After reading most of the posts for this topic, I whole-heartedly agree with the idea that strong first impressions, confidence, and great communication skills in an interview translate to a positive hiring and employment experience. Our school is vocational and trains for the hands-on healthcare related industries.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills cannot be emphasized enough. If you don't project confidence and the ability to clearly communicate with client/patients you don't get very far.
We also have a professional ethics and communications class where we focus on building this skill set for our specific vocation.
By helping students develop and strengthen these skills throughout their training, they are ensured a high likelihood of success in the field.
Developing effective interview skills enhances/improves overall commmuncation skills. Good communication is key to success in an organization. Many people can do many jobs. Many can come up with solutions or more effective ways to solve issues. But if they are unable to communicate well (if at all), they will most likely fall short of their goals/outcomes.
Susan,
You described the importance of these skills perfectly-I'm afraid there's nothing more to add!
Elizabeth Kemler
David,
You are absolutely right about this; the Wall St Journal, NY Times and innumerable other news sources have reported on this very thing-communication skills surpass all others in the eyes of employers.
Elizabeth Kemler
Good Interviewing abilities means that our students have good communication skills and that's one big part of the social competence needed to be successful on a job.
Also, being a leader requires good communication skills. Any person who want to grown and become a leader in their job need to transmit a professional image, confidence and credibility.
This also helps their daily relation with co-workers even with friends and family.
Rocio,
You are so right about this-communication skills are consistently said by employers, to be the most important thing they look for in the hiring process. Having a professional demeanor is certainly critical as well. What kinds of things do you do with your students to help them develop this?
Elizabeth Kemler
In helps them to develop great communication and also give them a sense of what they would like to achieve.
Most of our students have never worked in their fields of study so interviewing can be a huge challenge. A big part of our career development class is to prepare the students for the interview, from proper dress to answering interview questions. When they do well in the interview and they are hired I see their confidence increase almost immediately. That confidence usually carries over to the job.
Deborah,
It sounds like you're doing a lot to prepare your students both for the interviewing process and for a career, which is great. As I'm sure you know, when you have no background in your chosen career, the more practice you get with interviewing, the better.
Elizabeth Kemler
Having effective interview skills helps maintain a high level of confidence and helps to create great communication skills with your co working.
Thacha,
This is very true..strong interview skills require the kind of communication skills that help us in all aspects of our work life.
Elizabeth Kemler
If a student practices interviewing in a safe environment there is an opportunity to make modifications that will lead to a more successful and comfortable interview. Mock interviewing also allows students to become comfortable with answering and asking questions. This offers the opportunity then for the student that gets the job to be able to confidently meet coworkers in what generally amount to small mini interviews.
B,
I couldn't agree more. Students benefit greatly from having the opportunity to make mistakes and modifications in a safe environment--particularly when the mock interviews are done over a number of months so the students have time to practice on their own and keep trying new things.
Elizabeth Kemler
Developing effective interview skills teach students how to communication in various ways such as how to utilize positive words, how to stand and sit attentively and engage others with good eye contact.
Yolanda,
This is very true..many interview skills translate into everyday communication skills which are so important in the workplace.
Elizabeth Kemler
Effective interviewing skills can contribute to improving a student's overall communication skills. Effective communication during an intrview that leads to a job offer, can increase a student's confidence and motivate them to continue on the path of confident and effective communication skills. I have had several students who have either not worked before or have never been on an interview. Role playing and participating in interviews during an employer spotlight event on campus helps ease some of the fears of talking to employers. As a result, I have watched students become more proactive wit their job search, more confident with interviews, and eventually more successful in the classroom communicating with peers and later on the job.
Tequilla,
You are so right about one success leading to the confidence that results in future successes. I also like the idea of employer spotlights as an opportunity for students to practice their interviewing skills.
Elizabeth Kemler
