Page 85 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes 2. Interviewer: Problems with your immediate supervisor?
3. Interviewee: You will see that I do good work so long as people do not instigate me.
4. Interviewer: Instigate you?

3.7.6 Probing Questions

A probing question is stimulated by the interviewee’s previous response. Some interviewers
prepare a schedule, or list of questions, in advance. No probing questions could be included in
such a list, as they are unplanned. For example, if a job applicant says, “In my present job, I had
to learn how to assume responsibility,” the interviewer might then ask probing questions such
as these:
1. Exactly how does one assume responsibility?

2. How much responsibility does one assume?
3. Why did one have to learn that?
Through probing questions, the interviewer may elicit important information that had not been
anticipated.

3.7.7 Pauses

Although it is not actually a question, it may serve the same purpose. When the interviewer
wants the interviewee to elaborate, he may simply remain silent. The pause is the most neutral
approach of all, because it does not structure the answer or even suggest a topic for discussion.
At some point, his pause may turn into an embarrassing silence, which the interviewee will find
threatening. With experience, however, the interviewer will become comfortable and proficient
in the use of pauses to stimulate the interviewee.

The Communication Behaviours of Successful Interviewees

Behaviour Unsuccessful Interviewees Successful Interviewees
Statements about Had only gauge ideas of what they Specific and consistent about the
the position wanted to do; changed “ideal job” position they wanted; were able to
up to six times during the tell why they wanted the position.
interview.
Use of company Rarely used the company name. Referred to the company by name
name four times as often as unsuccessful
interviewees.
Knowledge about Made it clear that they were using Made it clear that they had
company and the interview to learn about the researched the company; referred
position company and what it offered. to specific brochures, journals or
people who had given them
information.
Level of interest, Responded, neutrally, to Expressed approval of information
enthusiasm Interviewer’s statements: “OK”, “I provided by the interviewer non-
see”. Indicated reservations about verbally and verbally: “That's
company or location. great” Explicitly indicated desire to
work for this particular company.

Non-verbal Made little eye contract; smiled Made eye contact after smiled.
behaviour infrequently.
Picking up on Give vague or negative answers Answered positively and
Contd...
interviewer’s cues even when a positive answer was confidently and backed up the
clearly desired (“How are your claim with a specific example of
math skills?”). “problem solving” or “toughness”.
Response to topic Resisted topic shift. Accepted topic shift.
shift by interviewer
78 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY
Use of industry Used almost too technical jargon. Used technical jargon: “point of
terms and technical purchase display”, “NCR charge”,
jargon “two-column approaches”, “and
direct mail”.
Use of specifics in Gave short answers – words or Supported claims with specific
answer less, sometimes only one word; did personal experiences, comparisons,
not elaborate. Gave general statistics, statements of teachers
responses: “fairly well”. and employers.
Questions asked by Asked a small number of general Asked specific questions based on
interviewee questions. knowledge of the industry and the
company. Personalized questions:
"What would my duties be?"
Control of time and Interviewee talked 37% of the Interviewee talked 55% of the total
topics interview time; initiated 36% of the time, initiated subjects 56% of the
comments. time.