Small talk: What do you say after "hello"?

It's that time of year when many soon-to-be graduates are interviewing for their first jobs. Even though they have terrific skills in technical areas, many of them from other countries still struggle with soft skills, such as making "small talk". The reason is that various countries have their own style of doing this, and these interviewees are uncertain of the American version.

In the United States, "small talk" is used at the start of interviews, or in pre-interview dinners and other social occasions, to help people find areas of commonality. It is also used to relax the nervous interviewees.

After the host says "hello", he or she usually asks a question, about a general topic. The guest responds, and then may ask a question to the other person.

For example, the host might say, "How was your trip?" The interviewee might respond, "It was great! I love the weather here. Is it usually this nice in spring?"

Think of small talk like a tennis game. Each side makes a statement and asks a question.

Based on the information provided by the other person, the questions will naturally change. For example, if the host mentions that he saw a great exhibit at the local museum yesterday, the guest could follow-up with a question about the museum, such as "That sounds wonderful. What are some of the other exhibits the museum has had recently?" or "What other great museums are here in town?"

Once the interviewer starts asking interview questions, the interviewee naturally responds to those without asking questions. At the end of most interviews, the interviewer asks if the person has any questions about the position (or company). This is the time to ask for more details about the position, such as responsibilities, training, a typical day, or relocation to another community if this is expected.

For more tips on starting, maintaining or ending a conversation, get Business Speech Improvement's concise e-book, Small Talk: Connecting with Others. Learn the secrets of small talk, American-style!

Job/school interviews and your communication skills

It's that time of year again, and many people are interviewing for jobs. New grads, experienced managers, and many others are hoping to find a great position - and they know their communication skills count. In fact, "excellent verbal communication skills needed" appears on many job descriptions. Most likely, you already know about having great eye contact and a firm handshake. The part that likely worries you is answering the questions. Start by searching online for lists of questions often asked of people in your industry, or going to your type of college or grad school program. Then try to answer the most common questions, and record yourself. For starters, answer these 5 questions: 1. Why do you want to work for our company/go to our school? (This is a trick question to make sure you know enough about the company or school to have an intelligent answer. Make sure that you have researched the company/program thoroughly.) 2. Why do you think you would be a great fit for this company/program? (Start by researching the program's or company's mission statement, and think of 1-2 examples of when you have done something similar.) 3. What are your strengths? (Think ahead of 3-4 specific strengths that would help this organization. Team-work and communication skills fit into any scenario.) 4. What are your weaknesses? (Choose minor weaknesses, and stress how you are working to improve them.) 5.Do you have any questions for us? (After studying the information about the company online, think of 2 intelligent questions. One quesiton might be to ask the company representative about they would describe their ideal candidate for the job or program. Do NOT ask about salary, pay grade, when you would be paid, or anything similar. Focus on how you can give to the company, not how much you will get!) At the end, if the company rep does not mention it, stress that you are very interested in the job and ask when you might expect to hear from the company. Set yourself apart from the rest and write a thank-you note! Interviewers receive these very rarely, and appreciate your effort. Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching in many aspects of verbal communication. Individual coaching on preparing for job interviews is available on request.