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PA Enterprise
your message across. person (such as your boss, perhaps), you might
By being willing to enter into a dialogue, even want to convey your message through email.
with people with whom you disagree, you People will appreciate your thoughtful means of
will be able to have more honest, productive communication and will be more likely to respond
conversations. positively to you.
8. Respect How to Make Your Skills Stand Out
People will be more open to communicating with Match your skills to the job. Analyze the job
you if you convey respect for them and their ideas. listing, paying special attention to the hard
Simple actions like using a person’s name, making and soft skills that are highlighted in the job
eye contact, and actively listening when a person description. Then, personalize your resume and
speaks will make the person feel appreciated. On cover letter to match their requirements.
the phone, avoid distractions and stay focused on Familiarize yourself with other in-demand
the conversation. skills. Soft skills like communication may not
Convey respect through email by taking the get a direct nod in a job description, but they’re
time to edit your message. If you send a sloppily still highly desired by hiring managers.
written, confusing email, the recipient will think Use job interviews to your advantage. Job
that you do not respect her enough to think interviews provide an opportunity to show
through your communication with her. the hiring manager that you have the verbal
9. Feedback communication skills necessary to succeed
in a job, rather than just telling them that
Being able to give and receive feedback you do. Prepare for your interview, practice
appropriately is an important communication beforehand, and don’t be afraid to pause
skill. Managers and supervisors should before answering their questions – or to ask for
continuously look for ways to provide employees clarification if you need it.
with constructive feedback, be it through email,
phone calls, or weekly status updates. Don’t stop when you get the job. Want to
make a lasting impression on your colleagues
Giving feedback involves giving praise as well after you’re hired? Use your communication
– something as simple as saying “good job” or skills at work. Whether it’s participating in a
“thanks for taking care of that” to an employee company meeting or talking with a client, you’ll
can greatly increase motivation.
have many opportunities to show how well you
Similarly, you should be able to accept and even communicate.
encourage feedback from others. Listen to the
feedback you are given, ask clarifying questions Key Takeaways
if you are unsure of the issue, and make efforts to HR want more than job-specific skills: to impress
implement the feedback. potential employers, be prepared to show your
10. Picking the Right Medium communication skills.
An important communication skill is to simply Highlight these soft skills during the process:
know what form of communication to use. For scan the job description for keywords related
example, some serious conversations (layoffs, to communication skills and use them in your
resignation, changes in salary, etc.) are almost resume and cover letter.
always best done in person. Show, don’t tell: job interviews are your chance to
You should also think about the person with demonstrate that you have what it takes.
whom you wish to speak. If they are a very busy By Alison Doyle
PA Enterprise is published by
24 October/November 2021
