Applying the Tenets of Public Speaking to the Job Interview

Delivering a great speech and going on a job interview are more similar experiences than you may think. Both incite feelings of fear, anticipation and anxiety. Prior to a presentation or interview, you may stay up all night hoping to persuade, engage, impress and delight your audience. Will they like you? Will you succeed?

You prepare your attire for the occasion. You want to present the desired image to your audience. You must remember to be enthusiastic, confident and proud, but not arrogant. Appear relaxed, even if you feel nervous. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly. Show dynamic emotion and feeling at the appropriate points in your presentation. Vary the tone of your voice and dramatize if necessary. Project your voice. Establish rapport with your audience.

We have all heard these familiar points about delivering a great speech, and this advice works surprisingly well for the interview too. But, there are more similarities than what meets the eye. Use the 7 tenants outlined below in your next interview, and you can’t go wrong.

1. Do your Research.
An effective public speaker is committed to the topic. Often, this is the result of extensive research and life experience. To be considered a strong candidate, apply this same commitment to the pre-interview research. Scour the company website. Read the most recent and relevant press releases, and then read a few more from the past to understand the company’s timeline. Don’t forget to acquaint yourself with the company’s competitors as well. The more you know about what is going on at the company, the greater your chances are to be viewed as an “insider.”

2. Tell a Story.
Stories bring your experiences to life. They make you a more likeable person. Always use specific and personal experiences to bring your value proposition to life. Use your unique experience to demonstrate your skills and capabilities to illustrate points in addition to telling the story. Always make your story relevant to the job at hand. Space stories at intervals to provide a change of pace and to reemphasize your message. Another important part of telling a story, is telling a concise story. Always stay on message. Figure out what the top 3-5 things you want this employer to know about you, and continue to drive it back to the topic at hand. When you leave, you want them to associate you with these things. Make them good.

3. Practice! Practice! Practice!
Any great public speaker will tell you that he has spent time in front of a mirror or family practicing a speech. These practice sessions rarely consist of covering the entire presentation from beginning to end; rather, simply practicing a piece will allow for a general indication of flow, usefulness and overall enjoyment. A “mock” interview provides the same opportunity for development. Go through some common interview questions with your spouse, children or friends, and see if your “story” makes sense. Would they hire you if it were their decision to make? Practice makes perfect, so use this as a chance to work out some of the bugs.

4. Speak with Passion and Enthusiasm.
In many ways, an interview is a show. You must try to speak loudly, clearly and with confidence. Do not mumble. Speak with conviction to demonstrate that you truly believe in what you are saying. Persuade your audience effectively. You must be one with your achievements, not withdrawn from them. If you are nervous, simply recognize it. Harness it. Then transform it into vitality, enthusiasm and confidence. Passion and enthusiasm are contagious. Share yours.

5. Throw in Some Humor.
An interesting and engaging speech makes the time fly by, but a speech of similar length can be insufferable if the speaker is drab and boring. Some of the best public speakers are also known for having a great sense of humor. In an interview, well-placed humor that is in good taste can go a long way toward lightening the mood and establishing rapport with the interviewer. If you have fun, the interviewer will too.

6. Use Props, but Limit them.
A “prop” is any physical item that is on stage with you during a public speaking engagement. Your flipchart is a prop. Your overhead projector is also a prop. Props can be very useful in the interview setting as well. The most commonly used prop in an interview is a resume. Never leave home without it. In fact, you should always have several copies of your resume with you. Other props in an interview include your list of references, portfolios, published articles and any material that demonstrates your value to the organization. They help to support your qualifications for the job, just as a Powerpoint presentation aids in the delivery of the speech. Be cautious, however, not to rely too heavily on interview props. Overuse of props may indicate that you lack self-confidence. When you use them, be sure that they add value to your “case.”

7. Act like a Consultant.
A confident, experienced public speaker has something the audience wants. He knows that they want to be thrilled, engaged, stimulated and inspired, and he is there to make that happen! In an interview, your audience is the employer, and they want you to succeed, if only to fill a position, or take the company to the next level. They have a goal and a gap or you wouldn’t be there in the first place. A great public speaker is always audience centric. He leaves the audience with answers. He offers solutions to their problems, much in the same way a consultant does. He finds a way to get out of his own head and into the minds of the audience members. In an interview, always be focused on the company. Ask yourself: What problem can I solve for them? How will bringing me on board turn this department around? Determine the need that you can meet and you will remain one step ahead of your competitors.

Getting the Job!
When used effectively, these 7 tenants have the power to help you transform the interview setting. So, the next time you find yourself going on an interview, remember these lesser-known tenants of public speaking, and apply them without fear. Give them a memorable presentation and you will go a long way toward getting the job you desire!