Active Listening: Why It Is More Important Than Talking in an Interview

Be it a virtual or in-person interview, if you have ever been in a one-on-one interview round, you know it's not the easiest part of the job acquisition. The pressure of coming up with the right answer can be a daunting task. However, the importance of active listening often goes overlooked amidst advice on delivering a well-balanced answer and maintaining positive body language in interviews.

As important as it is to give a good answer, active listening plays a vital role in navigating an interview successfully. Active listening plays a crucial part in an interview, but what is it? Is it just about nodding and answering with yes and no?

Picture this: you are sitting in the interview room facing your interviewer, and your mind is loaded with pre-framed answers you prepared last night, ready to fire on one similar question. The interviewer asks the question, and you deliver it flawlessly, but in the rush of giving an answer, you deliver the wrong answer that doesn't address the question.?

Situations like this get you rejected and leave a bad impression on your hiring manager. So today, we are excited to present the latest edition of the Pitch N Hire newsletter. Here, you will learn the importance of active listening in an interview.

The reason behind the interview

Interviews are the last stage of the job acquisition process, and a study shows that, on average, 118 candidates apply for a single job, of which only 20% reach the interview round. So, if you have made it to the interview round, this means you have impressed your hiring manager with your skills, and they see some potential in you.?

Now, understand what additional information they seek.

• Are you capable of performing the job effectively under pressure?
• Do you culturally fit well within the workforce?
• Do you genuinely possess the knowledge?

Do you know an in-person interview lasts 45 to 90 minutes, whereas a video interview lasts 30 minutes to 2 hours? Believe it or not, all of your job interviews will have these three questions at their core. So, along with framing well-balanced answers, it is important to have active listening skills to gain an edge over your competition and improve your chances of landing the job.

What is active listening about?

• Processing the details: Active listening is not just about nodding while your interviewer is speaking but processing the information from the speaker and responding accordingly.
• Grasping non-verbal clues: Active listening also involves picking up non-verbal clues like body language and facial expressions and stepping up when needed to make the interview an actively involved process.
• Focus on the speaker's intent: Listing consists of responding to words, but active listening involves understanding the intent of your interviewer. Recognizing the purpose or underlying message will help you respond appropriately and constructively.

The importance of active listening

So, why is active listening more important than just "listening"?

Understanding the question

A major part of active listening is understanding the employer's real question; it involves reading the verbal and non-verbal clues. This helps you give the right answer and showcases your ability to process the information and come up with the relevant response.

Tailor response

Most of the time, the interview follows the 80/20 rule . This means the interviewer speaks for only 20% of the time. The interviewer talks with the interviewee, and by actively listening, you can understand the gravitas of the question and the internet behind it. This will allow you to highlight your relevant problem-solving skills and tailor an answer that addresses the question precisely.

Avoid miscommunication

As discussed in the previous example, a lack of active listening can narrow your chances of getting hired. Apart from this, it can also lead to awkward miscommunication between the interviewer and the interviewee.?

Shows your interest

Nobody wants to have a conversation with an uninterested person, and that includes our interview. Active listening ensures you deliver the right response, showing your interest in the job and attention to detail. This quality can help you land a job in a highly competitive job.

Adapt to the interviewer's style

According to a study, 2 to 3 interview rounds are required on average before choosing a candidate. Each round includes different interviewers with different communication styles. This can lead to disaster if you don't use their active listening skills, as they enable you to adapt to the interviewer's style, making the interaction smoother and more effective.

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Final word

If you are selected for an interview, it is natural for you to have the urge to tell the interviewer everything about yourself: your experiences, the skills you possess, basically everything that makes you the best candidate for the job.

But what you have to remember is that an interview is not an interrogation; it is a conversation between two who want to make the most of this hiring stage and just like any other conversation, sometimes it's best to stop talking or interrupting and let your interviewer express their thoughts while you give your undivided attention to the speaker.?

This will show your respect toward the interviewer, allow you to ask better follow-up questions, and collect enough context to evaluate if you really fit in with the company.?

With that, we conclude this interview edition of the newsletter. We hope this edition gives you a fresh perspective on effective interview techniques and strategies. If you seek better job opportunities, consider applying through Pitch N Hire's job board. Here, you will find a curated list of diverse job opportunities from reputable companies across various industries.