If you want to can the nerves and exude confidence, you gotta practice. Having a go-to script will get you through stressful situations where you might find yourself otherwise speechless. Use these guidelines for networking situations, interviews, and day-to-day interactions with your new coworkers.
When meeting someone new…
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, [Insert Name Here]. What do you do for [Insert Company Name Here]? I’d love to hear more about it.”
Repeating someone’s name immediately after meeting them will not only solidify the name in your memory, but will also display your friendliness. If introduced to each other through a third party — in which you’ve already been told what someone does — ask how long he or she has been with the company.
When stalling during an interview question…
“That’s a great question. Let me take a minute here to gather my thoughts and form the best response.”
There’s nothing worse than being completely stumped. If nothing comes to mind after a one-minute pause, ask if you can come back to that question later in the interview. But if you know that you won’t be able to answer this question, try your best to spin the question slightly and answer it to the best of your abilities.
When saying goodbye to a potential new connection…
“It was really great to meet you and I’d love to stay in touch. Do you mind swapping contact information with me?”
Don’t let someone great walk away. If they work at your dream company or have ties to your dream job, get their email or phone number. Then tell them you’ll shoot them an email tomorrow – and be sure to live up to your promise. You’ll still be fresh in their mind and they’ll be more likely to follow through.
Image by bmhkim.
February 20, 2013
Career Advice