You’re preparing for a job interview. What are the most important public speaking skills to develop?

Be prepared! The preparation will give you confidence. Do not pretend that you know everything, however recognize the collective goal. Be honest. Speak eloquently, clearly, and avoid slang. Read the room. Dress and look the part.

Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of effective communication. By grasping their needs, expectations, and background, you tailor your message for maximum resonance. It’s about empathy—putting yourself in their shoes to connect on a deeper level. This skill transcends mere presentation; it's about engaging, inspiring, and making a lasting impression. Your delivery should not only convey information but also evoke emotion and action. Mastering this not only elevates your public speaking but turns every interaction into an opportunity for impact. Remember, the goal is to transform your message into a meaningful experience for your listeners.

When preparing for a job interview you'll never be able to know every question they will ask. But, one thing you can make sure of is that you know how to structure your answers, no matter what the question is. By doing this you will ensure that you are not rambling or repeating yourself. Instead you will offer concise well structured answers to any question they ask you.

Before you structure stories/situations, you need to brainstorm and assemble your 'Story Bank' - a long list of professional and personal stories that could be relevant to tell or reference in your answers. Be prepared to lean on 3-5 stories during your interview process that bring to life different aspects of what makes you a special fit, but this exercise will remind you of other relevant stories if you need to "take them off the shelf." And do not shy away from personal stories that give insight into what makes you YOU. Stories about something unique you experienced or overcame can really stand out. Sometimes a short story can be effective i.e. "I grew up one of five kids, so I learned early how to manage through chaos... "

Interview answers that are multi-dimensional rise to the top. Answer questions using the STAR method, but expand in ways that show multi-dimensional thinking. For example: a question like "what do you look for when hiring?" could be answered with "I want people who 1) are smart, 2) work hard, 3) bring something different to the team..." A multi-dimensional answer expands into a story that highlights your experiences hiring. Perhaps this expanded answer touches on your own POV / philosophy around hiring (and how that POV was shaped) OR a story about a recent hiring experience.

We all have one. Don't be afraid to use your voice. Use it to change the pitch and tone of your answers. Use it to engage with the interviewees and to excite them about the prospect of you working for them. Use your voice to showcase your own unique personality as that is what people want to see.

On a scale of 1-10, interview energy and volume should be around a 6 or 7, then go slightly up or down throughout the interview.

Especially in an interview, you want to make sure you are using body language the right away. Don't cross your arms or avoid eye contact. The interviewees want to know you are interested. They want to see you are motivated and excited about this job prospect, so by using your body language to show that you are, you are one step closer in getting that job.

Some interviewers are predictable. You know the age-old questions to prepare for, so, do it. Others try to be quirky in their questions, to observe how easily adaptable, prepared and quick you are. As long as 1) you know yourself (e.g., your weaknesses and motivations, what got you where you are), and 2) why are you interviewing with them in the first place (why them when their competitor is *right there*, or that other shiny career path unravels next to you?), most questions can be improvised. All in all, don't overly prepare. We fantasise about the dream roles we apply for too often, and we forget *they* might not suit *us*. And that's fine.

Practice and preparation is integral. An interviewee will know when someone is underprepared. They won't expect you to know your answer immediately every single time, but they will know if you have prepared some of your examples. By not rambling and keeping your answers structured and concise, you will show them how prepared you are for the interview.

Specifically knowing what your personal unique selling point is. What experience, skill set or perspective do you bring to a job that is wholly unique to you. Other applicants will have similar skills and experiences, but what is your personal differentiator in the space. Know what your USP is for every job and how to illustrate it through your stories and examples.

Becoming comfortable with silence during the interview. If you receive a thought provoking questions from an interviewer feel free to take a pause to think. This will allow you to not only come up with more organized and fuller response, but also can help you to avoid the word fillers like “um”, “so”, and “like”. As you share your response you will notice there is less brainstorming going on while you are sharing your answer. The Result: You will show up more confidently in your interviews!