Professional Communication & Interview Skills

Understanding Communication

Communication serves various purposes:

• Ideational: Conveying ideas and information.
• Textual: Connecting ideas coherently within a discourse.
• Interpersonal: Engaging with the audience and building rapport.

Methods of Communication

Communication can be delivered through different channels:

• Verbal: Spoken and written forms, encompassing linguistic (words) and paralinguistic (tone, pitch) elements.
• Non-verbal: Utilizing non-verbal materials (visual aids) and body language (gestures, posture, eye contact).

Mastering Academic Presentations

To deliver effective academic presentations, follow these steps:

1. Introduce Yourself: Clearly state your name and affiliation.
2. Connect with the Audience: Establish rapport early on.
3. Capture Their Attention: Start with an engaging hook.
4. Announce Objectives: Clearly state the purpose and goals of your presentation.
5. Enumerate Points: Outline the main topics to be covered.
6. Go Through Points: Systematically present each point with clarity.
7. Summarize: Recap the key takeaways at the end.
8. Facilitate Discussion: Ask a question to initiate discussion or invite clarification questions.
9. Conclude Thoughtfully: End with a statement that encourages further reflection.

A key tip: Your last slide should reinforce the message of your first slide, creating a cohesive presentation flow.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Discourse Markers Explained

A discourse marker is a word or phrase that plays a crucial role in managing the flow and structure of communication. They help listeners or readers follow the speaker's or writer's train of thought.

Functions of Discourse Markers:

• Addition: (e.g., furthermore, in addition)
• Contrast: (e.g., however, on the other hand)
• Sequence: (e.g., firstly, next, finally)
• Motivation: (e.g., because, since)
• Elicitation: (e.g., so, well - to prompt a response)
• Emphasis: (e.g., indeed, clearly)
• Evaluation: (e.g., frankly, honestly)
• Conclusion: (e.g., in conclusion, therefore)

Example for Instructions: Firstly, secondly, then, next, after that...

The RACE Method for Q&A

The RACE method provides a structured approach to effectively answer questions during presentations or interviews:

R - Respond:

Acknowledge the question and thank the questioner.

A - Answer:

Provide a brief, clear, and structured answer.

C - Check:

Confirm if the question has been properly answered to their satisfaction.

E - Encourage:

Invite further questions or discussion.

Job Interview Success Strategies

A job interview is a critical conversation between a job applicant and an employer's representative, designed to assess suitability for a role. Making a good first impression is paramount.

Addressing Strengths & Weaknesses

When discussing your attributes, be prepared to articulate both your strengths and areas for development:

Common Strengths:

• Hard worker
• Responsible
• Honest
• Punctual
• Friendly
• Polite
• Collaborative
• Enthusiastic
• Organized
• Ambitious

Common Weaknesses (and how to frame them):

• Trusting people too easily (can be reframed as being open and collaborative, but learning to be more discerning).
• Nervousness (can be reframed as passion or high stakes, with strategies for managing it).
• Being too emotional (can be reframed as empathy or passion, with emphasis on professional composure).

The STAR Technique for Interviews

The STAR Technique is a widely used interview method where interviewers gather detailed information about a candidate's specific capabilities by asking for examples of past behavior. It helps you provide structured, comprehensive answers.

S - SITUATION:

Set the scene and provide context. Describe a specific, real situation or problem you faced in the past.

T - TARGET (or Task):

Go into more detail. Identify the specific task or objective that was required of you in that situation, and why it was important.

A - ACTION:

Explain what you actually did. Detail the specific steps you took to address the situation or complete the task.

R - RESULT:

Conclude by discussing the outcomes of your action. What happened in the end? What was accomplished, and what did you learn from the experience?