Talk your way into a job

This post came out from The Straits Times (17 March 2012)
Title - Talk your way into a job - Practice public speaking can transform your communication skills and impress employers

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Building confidence
2. Be more comfortable
3. Speak with ease
4. Keep practicing
5. Get feedback

On Building confidence

• Many people are intimidated or downright scared to speak in front of large groups. Yet the good news is that this issue can be overcome with practice. If you are intimidated by speaking in public, the best way to conquer this fear is to simply begin speaking to larger groups. 
• Speaking in front of groups will build your confidence, and that will speak for itself when you go on future job interviews. Most of the time, employers like having confident employees. After all, a confident employee is one that believes that he or she can handle tough situations and "get things done".

On Be more comfortable

• With confidence usually comes a level of comfort. Public speaking will not just help you build your confidence, but will also help you become more comfortable around others. 
• Comfortable people are generally viewed as being warmer and more personable, and these are the kind of qualities that employers routinely look for when hiring. Personable people are easier to work with, as they are more likely to get along with others and be a valuable contributor to a team.

On Speak with ease

• To be comfortable speaking around others, it is also important that you are not only comfortable around others, but also in your "own skin" as well. The simple fact is that many people are not happy hearing themselves speak. When you are at an interview, you want to be satisfied with your performance and not worried about what you sound like. 
• The more practice you have with public speaking, the more likely you are to develop your own style. This, in turn, will help you build your confidence levels even further. It's a positive feedback loop in that the more you practice, the better you will get at public speaking and the more confidence you will have. Now, you are really getting ready to tackle job interviews.

On Keep practicing

• Part of developing communication skills and an effective communication style is to practice in front of other people. It is one thing to practice any activity alone and quite another to practice in front of others. 
• The pressure of having other people watch you perform adds a level of psychological pressure that must be overcome and adapted in order to progress. You may find it easy to transition from practicing public speaking alone to speaking to groups, but you won't know until  you get out there and start talking!

On Get feedback

• The final major way that public speaking will help you during job interviews is that when you speak to groups you can get feedback. You can acquire this feedback in a variety of ways. This includes having trusted friends or associates watch your public speaking and give you tips, as well as the opportunity to ask strangers what they thought of your speech. Some circumstances might even allow for you to ask people to fill out short surveys or send you their feedback via email. Don't be shy about asking for feedback, as it is extremely valuable and will help you improve your speaking skills. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big