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It can be tricky to strike the right balance between talking too much and talking too little during an interview.
On one hand, you don’t want to come across as someone shy or unwilling to share. On the other hand, you don’t want to overwhelm your interviewer with too much information.
So, how can you make sure that you share just enough information without going overboard? An interviewer wants to get to know you, but they also need to know that you’re the right fit for the job. You need to find a way to balance your need to talk about yourself with their need to learn more about you.
The importance of talking during an interview
You want to show the interviewer that you’re engaged and interested in the role. But you also don’t want to talk too much.
Why is that so?
Because if you talk too much, you may start rambling and lose focus. And the interviewer will start to wonder why you’re not paying attention to their questions. But if you don’t say enough, the interviewer will think you’re not that keen on the role or that you don’t have anything valuable to contribute.
So how can you strike the perfect balance? Well, read on.
How to know if you’re talking too much
How can you tell if you’re talking too much? Here’s a quick checklist:
- Are you monopolizing the conversation?
- Are you talking more than your interviewer?
- Are you talking about yourself more than you are asking questions about the company or the role?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you may need to readjust. Try to focus on listening more and sharing only the most relevant information.
How to know if you’re talking too little
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Are you worried that you’re not talking enough during your interview? Here are a few signs that you might be:
- You’re not asking any questions.
- You’re not giving any examples of your past work.
- You’re not talking about your skills and experience in handling projects.
If you’re exhibiting any of these behaviors, it’s a sign that you might be talking too little. Try to engage more with your interviewer and share more information about yourself.
Tips for speaking the right amount
Here are a few tips for striking the right balance:
- Listen carefully to the interviewer. They will ask you questions, so answer them.
- Keep your answers concise. You want to respond to the question, but you don’t want to drone on and on.
- Don’t just talk about yourself. The interviewer wants to get to know you, but they also want to know what you can do for the company. So make sure to share how you can contribute as a new hire.
When it comes to job interviews, striking a balance between talking too much and talking too little can be difficult. On one hand, you don’t want to monopolize the conversation and end up talking more than your interviewer. On the other hand, you don’t want to say too little and make it seem like you’re not interested in the position. So what’s the right amount to talk? As a general rule, aim to share about three or four thoughts or stories during the interview. Remember to relax and take your time—you don’t want to rush through an interview and wind up saying something you would regret later.
