In the second of two articles on how to succeed at job interviews, management trainer Chris Roach shows the exact qualities and skills that interviewers want to see from candidates. Not all interviews will assess all these areas, so draw from them what you need to prepare in your own situation.

In my previous article I said that people who can show they are productive, dependable and honest will have the best chance of success at interviews, because these are the most important things employers look for. Now, by following an interviewer's checklist you can decide where, if anywhere, stuttering prevents you from meeting the employer's measurements.

Interpersonal skills

Friendliness
Enjoys socialising
Looks forward to being around people
Likes doing things with friends
Creates good first impression
Smiles readily

Assertiveness
Takes charge of projects or tasks
Follows up repeatedly
Pushes herself into situations to make an impact
Leans forward in the interview

Teamwork
Can work alone or in groups
Bothered by people who slow down work or who make mistakes
Likes collaborating
Displays positive emotional facial expressions when talking about working with others

Verbal skills

(Okay, so here's our first hurdle...)
Gives straightforward answers (...not necessarily fluent answers...)
Uses words correctly and is grammatical (...the right words, not just fluent ones...)
Clearly explains ideas, situations and events (... explains, not speaks perfectly...)
Phrases complex statements in easy-to-follow manner (...that's easy-to-follow, not perfectly spoken...)
Confident and clear (...now these are the people who stammer I know!)
Shows ease in finding right words to use (... again, the right words, not right-sounding words...)

Now, let's go back to your ability to shine and show your cognitive capabilities.

Persuasiveness

Makes comments that persuade the interviewer
Displays mannerisms that interviewer finds convincing
Gives answers that satisfy interviewer that candidate is right on some potentially controversial topic
Sells his/her qualifications for job
Looks the interviewer in the eye

Tact

Disagrees tactfully
Shows respect for others' viewpoints
Says they are bothered by other people's bad or rude manners
Takes the 'politics' of a situation into account before taking action
Is polite and shows consideration
Treats everyone with respect before, during and after interviews
Is pleasant with receptionist or secretary
Does not act bothered if interview schedule does not go according to plan

Okay...now where does stuttering penalise us? Aha! I didn't think so. Read on...

Candidness

Openly acknowledges problems or mistakes
Answers questions about his/her weaknesses
Readily admits difficulties
Does not try to hide potentially negative information
Does not hesitate before admitting problems
Does not flinch or look uncomfortable while discussing errors he/she made

Personality traits

Persistence
(Talk about an incredible advantage for PWS! Persistence. Here's where we can shine.)
Completes long-term projects
Is tenacious despite encountering roadblocks
Resolves to finish whatever he or she starts
Shows pride in completing long-term or difficult project
Looks for work experience that rewards the persistence needed to earn a degree or to attain certain positions

Creativity
Generates imaginative solutions
Reports tackling projects in innovative ways
Mentions completing tasks without always following the procedures or rules laid out
Enjoys creative endeavours
Plays with ideas and alternatives
Smiles confidently when describing innovative methods
Spends more time reporting on imaginative problem solving than on uncreative problem solving

Okay, so maybe we coverts do have a little advantage here. Most people who stutter have found creative solutions in their lives to break through and overcome barriers. Emphasise these strengths and strategies.
Handles obstacles well
Mentions bouncing back from defeats or downfalls
Is emotionally objective when discussing hurdles
Views problems as opportunities in disguise
Develops skills through overcoming roadblocks
Relishes chances to show resilience
Looks confident about tackling obstacles

Wow! Talk about an opportunity for us PWS to show our best! What a perfect chance to show how we manage our stuttering instead of letting stuttering manage us.

Optimism
Focuses on solutions rather than the problem
Happily grapples with solutions to any problems
Has a can-do attitude
Enjoys overcoming obstacles
Does not mention feeling burned out or overly stressed
Expresses enthusiasm and exuberance
Appears confident
Shows pride in describing accomplishments

High energy
Does not indicate feeling worn out even after putting in long hours at work
Exerts effort with vigour and great stamina
Likes physically moving, not just sitting in one place
Maintains high energy level throughout interview
Exudes zest and vitality

Once more...now tell me where our stuttering keeps us from being competitive so far?

Poise under pressure
Describes thriving under pressure or stress
Doesn't mention feeling burned out or overloaded
Never indicates getting upset or out of emotional control
Won't focus on anxiety or nervousness
Seems to enjoy the interview
Doesn't twitch, tremble or blink excessively while talking

Even our secondary characteristics of stuttering can be done with a sincere smile and natural eye contact.

Being a self-starter
Tackles tasks and projects without being prompted
Sets goals and goes on to achieve them
Expresses no need to be told what to do by others
Exudes pride when talking about showing initiative

Desire to increase knowledge
Loves doing research and learning from job
Goes out of his/ her way to uncover data or other information
Asks interviewer for information on a variety of work-related matters, e.g. company facts and figures, history of job.
Shows alertness to new information
Expresses a curiosity for knowledge.

From the Summer 2005 edition of Speaking Out

First article by Chris Roach: The dreaded job interview: secret tips from an employer for people who stammer!

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