Your College to Career Journey

Recently, one of the blog readers sent me an important question that gets asked a lot. So, I felt like posting up the answer to help anyone who may be in a similar situation:

" I feel like I understand the technical knowledge that the job requires, but whenever it comes to facing an interviewer or meeting someone at a career fair, I feel like I dont connect well to the person across from me, which may be the reason I am having a hard time getting any [interview] callbacks. What are some ways I can improve my communication skills?"

Again, good question. Experts from every magazine from the "Harvard Business Review" to "Self" emphasize that if there is one component that could keep you from getting what you want is your ability to communicate your thoughts effectively. In my experience (in computer science/engineering where, unfortunately, some people don't bother learning to talk to anyone else) the key differentiator between those who get a job offer (or close a deal) and those who do not is an individual's ability to connect well with others. Here are some tips I use, and some tips I ran into during my research:

*Is anybody there? - There is a high chance that the person in front of you is trying to understand you, and will be able to pick up if you are genuinely reaching out of your comfort zone to speak with them. Use your facial expressions, body language and attentive mannerism to show a genuine interest in the person's thoughts and ideas.
*I'm sorry, I'm a bit nervous - If you are a bit nervous and find yourself stuttering a lot, its okay to say that you are nervous(and infact perfectly natural in first impression situations). Pause (read: breathe) and then continue. Just remember the point you are trying to convey, and continue with that point in mind.
* Hey Fool, leave a message, aite? Peace! - If your voicemail is nothing but funny, or worse, obscene, make sure you change it to something that communicates your name, and your maturity. If your myspace or facebook picture is not something you could show your (conservative) GRANDFATHER, it shouldn't be your profile picture. Being unprofessional can seriously turn off your employer.
* Is there something you suggest?- If you are meeting someone, do not ask what they can do for you. Tell them about your problem, and ask if they have any advice or suggestions for you, and they will automatically be eager figure out new ways to help solve your problem! Try it.
* Follow Through - An important part of communication is what you do after- write those thank you letters (within 24 hours), send a general email connecting (if they could use your help with something you talked about, mention it here), and connect with them on linked-in! Just follow through.

If you are having a hard time, practice communicating professionally with your friends (you will get over how lame it is eventually)-If nothing else, it will make you more comfortable during more professional encounters. Good luck :)