4 Ways to Overcome the Ums, Likes, and Aahs in Your Job Interview

4 Ways to Overcome the Ums, Likes, and Aahs in Your Job Interview 4 Ways to Overcome the Ums, Likes, and Aahs in Your Job Interview Are your interview spiels full of “ums,” “likes,” and “aahs?” Then this blog post is for you. We encounter a lot of professionals who unconsciously use these filler words. When they use “um,” “ahh,” “you know,” and “like”  once or twice, there really isn’t an issue. In some ways, it makes people  sound like they  studied their words carefully before speaking.  It’s when they keep repeating them â€" that’s when the problem arises. Why? It kills their credibility, making them sound  like teenagers instead  of professionals. So how do you overcome the “ums,” “likes,” and “aahs?” Here are 4 ways: Speech Rhythm When you don’t plan and organize what you want to say in an interview, you ramble or use unstudied speech. If your thoughts are organized before going on your interview, you will speak better. Ritchelle Blanco Dejolde, a presentation and speech improvement trainers suggest that you chunk your sentences before you speak and then pause for a second or two. This will help you create a rhythm when you talk. For example: spoken words / break / spoken words / break. If you can maintain this rhythm throughout the interview, the “um’s” and “aahs” will fade away. Make a recording Have you ever recorded yourself delivering a speech? It can be brutally painful to do this but it is absolutely necessary. Listening to your own voice and hearing your mistakes is an eye opener. If you listen well, and study yourself, and all the little fillers you use, you will be astonished at how often you use them. These are called speech crutches and once you learn what yours are, you will be more careful not to use them the next time you sit down for a job interview. Use pre-planned transitional fillers When you say the filler “um,” you’re telling the interviewer that you are still gathering your thoughts and that your train of thought is incomplete. Use transitional phrases instead. Instead of “um,” use “moving on,” or “let’s talk about,” or “another valid point is…” In the beginning it will sound a little fake, but if you practice these phrases, you will start sounding more natural. Use tip number two here as well. Make eye contact When you apply making sincere eye contact throughout a job interview, you are less likely to use these filler words because it’s really awkward to say “um” when you’ve locked eyes with the interviewer. Try it on a friend or a spouse before your interview. Position your body and gaze directly into their eyes with engaging attention and have them ask you interview questions. It may feel a little silly but you will also find that you use your filler crutches a lot less. With consistent practice of these effective strategies, you will lessen the need to use these credibility stealing fillers in no time.