Saturday, January 16, 2016

Communication and Your Job Search


In today's highly informational and technological environment it has become increasingly important to have good communication skills - Z. Hereford

How was your last interview?  Did you answer the questions well?  Did you understand what was being asked?  Did your body language communicate the message you wanted it to?  In other words, how were your communication skills?

Communication is the process by which we exchange information between individuals or groups of people. It is a process where we try as clearly and accurately as we can, to convey our thoughts, intentions and objectives.

Good communication skills are key to success in life, work and relationships. Without effective communication, a message can turn into error, misunderstanding, frustration, or even disaster by being misinterpreted or poorly delivered. Communication is successful only when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information.

The inability to communicate effectively will hold you back not only in your career, but in social and personal relationships as well.

Concise, clearer and more efficient communication reduces misunderstandings. The more clear the communicators in our workplace, the fewer mistakes we make, the fewer customers we upset. When we are clear, phrases like “I thought you meant” or “oh, now I understand” are rarely heard. 

Most conflict is the result of misunderstood communication. When you become an effective communicator, you can resolve conflict and create harmony by bridging the communication gaps that create conflict.   When we practice good communication skills, our relationships with other people will improve.

To be successful, a person requires an integrated set of communication skills. These skills are: writing skills, speaking skills, listening skills, and non verbal skills. If you need some help with your communication skills, check out a Toastmasters Club in your area.  Attending Toastmasters can help you develop your communication skills.

To your job search success,

Fran Watson