The Pause That Refreshes: A Golden Job Interview Technique

Interviews can be tough to master, especially for those who are new to the workforce or don’t particularly enjoy being on the front lines of interrogations.

And lets face it; most times interviews feel like question and answer sessions. The back and forth duel between you and an employer does not make for a successful interview.

“What? But aren’t interviews supposed to be about asking questions and getting answers?”

Absolutely. You won’t get the answers you want without asking the right interview questions but the interview should be more of a conversation rather than an interrogation.  So how do you manage to make the conversation more fluid and a little less stiff?

Use the 5-second pause.

When I was studying journalism in college, one of the best tips a professor ever gave to me was applying the 5-second pause. As journalists, we have to be masters at performing interviews and getting the most detailed and juicy answers to all our questions. And while the journalist and job seeker are on opposite sides of the conversation, the rule and the overall goal of getting the best answers applies to both people.

So what is the 5-second pause exactly?

When you, the job seeker are asking a question to the interviewer, don’t jump into another question after you think the interviewer has finished answering. Although it may seem awkward at first, the 5-second pause will usually prompt the employer to delve deeper into answering your question or change direction and move on to another subject.

The best way to get the juicy details you’re looking for is to let the conversation be exactly that. A conversation.

If you feel awkward or uncomfortable with this concept, try using it in your everyday conversations. You’ll be surprised as to how much more information you’ll get from the person you’re talking to.

For this post, YouTern thanks our friends at WetFeet!

About the Author: This post was previously published on WetFeet.com and has been reprinted with permission. WetFeet provides career advice through our magazine, insider guide series, and website (WetFeet.com). Our mission is to equip job seekers with the advice, research, and inspiration to plan and achieve a successful career. Follow WetFeet on Twitter!