How to Use your Vocabulary to Impress your Interviewer
Imagine your resume is flawless, and you have prepared meticulously for your interview. You appear for it well-groomed. You have already made your impression on your recruiters. But then you start speaking and before you know it, the interviewers are convinced that you are inarticulate.
Not many of us are born silver-tongued, which is why the need to develop communication skills arises. There are umpteen reasons why this would come in handy. In today’s day and age, where it is next to impossible to get a job without a basic knowledge of English, it is an added advantage if you’re well-versed or fluent in the language. And no, we’re not talking about some highfalutin jargon or grandiose la-di-da. Strong vocabulary and proper grammar- this is the kind of communication that’ll impress your recruiters into hiring you.
Significance of Vocabulary in Career
A lot of the time, candidates are refused jobs because of their poor English. This goes on to show that you could be a whiz at accounting or electronics, but without English, you’ll be going nowhere. There is no point being superbly skilled if you can’t communicate this to your interviewers. This is why we need a formidable vocabulary.
How to Build a Strong Vocabulary?
The key is starting as soon as possible. Vocabulary isn’t something you can build by reading the dictionary a day before meeting with your employers. Start now!
Step 1: Read relentlessly
The first excuse that people come up with when asked why they don’t read is that they simply have no time. Throughout school, children can’t be bothered to pick up a book let alone their textbooks. After schooling, people get caught up in the rat race for a job, so there goes another opportunity to read as well. These days, people read only the newspapers and many a time, only the entertainment section or mindless gossip columns. This is why it is important to inculcate the habit of reading. Go for novels, online blogs, editorials, journals, etc.
Step 2: Begin at the beginning
Start small. It wouldn’t be wise to jump into Tolstoy or Dostoevsky as a novice. It helps to start with something related to your interest or line of study/work. Pick from– sports, fashion, travel, food, politics, human issues, or any other topic. Begin with the newspapers and magazines. Make it a point to look up words you don’t know. Maybe even keep a separate diary for new words. Keep building and move on to writing that offers in-depth knowledge of your topic. Some words could very well be esoteric so familiarise yourself with them. Continue reading on a daily basis-preferably in the mornings or before sleeping.
Step 3: What to sidestep at the interview?
So now that your vocabulary is well-equipped, don’t make the rookie mistake of saying all of them at once. Equally important is knowing which word to say when. Synonyms could have different usages in different situations so choose your words wisely. Professionals have a strong vocabulary and are always careful never to go overboard with it. Do the same.
When it comes to enhancing your communication skills, word power is important and further, the knowledge of where and when to use it. But both of these depend on your passion and dedication towards improving yourself. So stick to these tips to emerge more eloquent, prepped and filled with aplomb!
This is a handwritten article by Team InterviewBuddy. InterviewBuddy connects students, job seekers & people looking to scale up their career with industry experts to practice interviewing.
