18 Communication Skills to Master for a Successful Job Search

1) Practice Makes Perfect

Practice, practice, practice. New skills are awkward at first. If possible, perfect your small talk skills before you urgently need them for a job search.

The more you can practice your small-talk skills, the more quickly they’ll grow. So take advantage of every opportunity to put your skills to work. There are people everywhere. For example, try introducing yourself to your new neighbor. Or, if you’re waiting in line at the store, strike up a conversation with the person next to you.

Practice with everyone you meet. You can become great at anything with enough practice. You come into contact with other individuals throughout your day. Take advantage of the opportunity to work on your skills. Co-workers, friends, and strangers are all fair game.

2) Have Your Elevator Pitch Ready to Deliver

During a job search, it is inevitable that hiring managers, recruiters, and other people you meet will ask you the common question: “tell me about yourself.” Be prepared to confidently and eloquently answer this question with a well-thought-out 30-second elevator pitch. Write out your answer, memorize it, and practice it until you can confidently deliver it.

3) Compliments Break the Ice

Try starting the conversation with a genuine compliment or comment. For example, you can ask questions about the artwork on the wall or inquire if they’ve had a chance to try the fantastic artichoke dip. A sincere compliment is also an effective way to start a conversation. Avoid being excessive or insincere. If the other person feels uncomfortable, you’ve gone too far. For a compliment to be effective, it must be sincere.

4) Look to Your Environment for Ideas.

Your immediate environment is rich with small talk topics. Some examples include:

• The weather
• The people around you
• Architecture
• The artwork on the walls
• The music
• The food
• The trees and flowers
• Anything you can see, hear, smell, taste, or touch

5) Do Your Research

Before any interview or networking event, research the company or person you are meeting. This pre-research will help you come up with topics of conversation ahead of time and will also show that you have done your due diligence.

You don’t want to appear uninformed or uninterested in the position. Instead, look for interesting articles about the company or topics related to their industry that might spark a conversation. Also, practice introductions and questions you’d like to ask ahead of time. This way, you won’t get caught off guard during the small talk.

6) Read Up On Current Events

It’s always good to stay up-to-date on current events so that you can comment intelligently if any arise during your conversation.

Before each interview or networking meeting, read business journals, company press releases, and industry-related news, so you’re prepared with some knowledge about them.

7) Avoid Controversial Topics

No politics. No religion. No potentially emotional topics. Just don’t go there. Small talk is meant to be light and casual to help you break the ice, build rapport, and make a connection with the other person. Nothing will kill this faster than controversial or emotional topics.

8) Learn the Power of Adding On

This is an easy-to-use technique where you take what someone else has said and add something to it, with a question at the end. This helps keep things rolling even if someone else has stopped the conversation cold with a yes/no question or something about the weather.

For example, if you’re asked if you saw the game last night, you might say, “Yes, that play at the end was really something. It reminded me of when I went to see the Patriots game in person. Tell me, what’s the best game you ever saw?”

9) Ask “Open” Questions

An “open” question is a question that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no answer. Open questions will allow you to get more information from your interviewer or networking contact and also give them a chance to show off their expertise.

This type of question will also help you establish a better connection with the person since they will appreciate that you are engaging in dialogue instead of just giving one-word answers or giving only short responses.

Examples of open questions include: “What do you like most about working here?”, “How did you decide to pursue this career path?” and “What do you think has been the biggest challenge for this organization?”

1) Embrace Your Uniqueness

Be You

There is nothing more compelling than someone who comes across as genuine. Being authentic is a hundred times better than any role you could ever pretend to play.

This means being you without pretense. If you’re nervous, own it. You can even say something about it or make it into a joke. You’d be amazed at how many people can identify with these feelings.

2) Listen Actively

Be a good listener. Most people fail to truly listen. Active listening is vital when it comes to communication.

Being able to listen attentively and not just wait for your turn to talk shows respect and makes the other person feel heard. This also allows you to gather more information about the company and ask relevant questions about their needs, which will help you stand out from other candidates.

Pay attention to what the other person is saying. It’s obvious to most people if your mind wanders. Avoid interrupting someone before they’ve finished speaking. This drives others crazy and shows that you’re more interested in speaking than listening.

Learn to be a great listener, and you’re halfway to becoming a great communicator.

3) Speak Clearly

When speaking, make sure that you articulate your words clearly and use language that is appropriate for the situation.

Keep your tone professional while avoiding jargon as much as possible unless specifically asked by the interviewer or hiring manager.

Speak confidently without being overly aggressive or overbearing; this will inspire confidence in those around you and show them that you take yourself seriously.

4) Pay Attention To Your Body Language

When it comes to communication, body language is just as important as the words that you say.

Many people underestimate its power, but body language can convey various messages about how you feel and what you think. As a result, it can help you stay engaged in a conversation and turn an interview into a job offer.

Positive body language, such as nodding and smiling when someone is speaking, indicates your presence and understanding of the conversation at hand.

On the other hand, negative body language like crossed arms or avoiding eye contact can interfere with communication and make the other person feel unwanted or unvalued.

Pay attention to your body language during conversations–especially interviews and when meeting a networking contact.

5) Practice Expressing Your Thoughts Succinctly

Avoid rambling. Practice being brief and getting your point across with fewer words and less time. People appreciate brief conversations and respect others who don’t go off on tangents. However, ensure you’re still providing enough information while you talk. You don’t want to be vague or miss important details.

This skill may take time to develop, so practice it often. The next time you have a conversation, try to get your point across with less talking. Try to summarize the essential parts and only focus on them while you talk.

6) Be Genuinely Curious

Show that you’re interested, and other people will find you interesting.

Become genuinely interested in other people. Ask questions related to their interests. Ask for their opinion. Nothing is more meaningful to a person than the request for an opinion. It says that you trust them and value their judgment.

Respect what is said. You don’t have to agree with it. This isn’t the time to judge or criticize. The other person will greatly appreciate you for this and will remember you.

7) Avoid Oversharing

Talking with someone you’ve just met about your bitter divorce and child-custody battle is sharing too much. Be interesting without making the conversation uncomfortable.

Always respect boundaries and stay aware of the other person’s body language, as this will give you clues on how receptive they are to what you are saying. If someone is uncomfortable, move the conversation along.

8) Have a Plan

If you are going to a networking meeting or professional conference where you need to make conversation and feel anxious about it, plan ahead. Try memorizing a set of conversation steps.

For example:

Step 1 – Introduce yourself and ask for the person’s name.

Step 2 – Comment positively on something the other person is wearing. For example, it might be their cool glasses, shoes, or dress color.

Step 3 – Next, comment on something or someone in the room. Maybe the cheese dip is the best you’ve ever tasted, or the man in the red shirt looks just like the governor.

Step 4 – Ask about their profession. Follow up with several additional questions. What do they like the most about their job? How long have they been working there? Keep peeling the onion.

Step 5 – Inquire about their education, hobbies, and how they spend their free time. Find common ground and allow the conversation to continue naturally.

9) Have Your Career Success Stories Ready To Go

People love to hear stories. We are wired that way. If you have the communication skill of being able to tell stories, people will remember you for this.

Career success storytelling can positively impact your job search in multiple ways. You can use these stories in your written communications. We recommend you write your resume to communicate your stories of accomplishment and value add. The CAR technique is an especially popular model to follow as you develop these stories. You can also use these stories in other written communications, such as your cover letters, LinkedIn profile, and professional biography.

But you can also use these stories in your verbal communications throughout your job search in other ways, such as when having a conversation with a networking contact or as answers to questions asked of you during job interviews.