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Communicate Complete Thoughts

Communicate. Complete. Thoughts.

Do you want to stand out from your cleared job seeker competition? Work on your verbal and written communication skills.

Increasingly the influence of new forms of communication is having an impact on communication clarity or understanding by the recipient of the message. From texting to Twitter, from #hashtags to pronouns, we are seeing increasing frustration in job search and in the workplace due to a failure to communicate complete or clear thoughts due to all the shorthand we’re using.

No matter the environment – email, phone, or offline – you encounter individuals who convey information differently than you do. That’s only natural. And while this is not learning how to speak Russian or Cantonese, it is important to learn how to convey your thoughts to an audience who is not at the same level of information as you are.

Communicate Clearly During Your Job Search

For job seekers this is critically important in your communications with recruiters and hiring managers. In your initial cover letter, email, phone screen interview or other interaction, remind yourself that this first communication is laying the foundation for your professional relationship with the company.

Be extremely clear in your thoughts – both online and verbally. Recruiters and hiring managers deal with hundreds of job seekers a day. You may eventually build a great rapport with a recruiter, but be sure to remind yourself to be extremely clear in your communications with them to ensure that your message is being received. Every job at every company requires you to convey your thoughts and interact with others. It may not be in the job description, but clear communication is part of the job, and part of getting the job.

Common Errors

One common communication error is using jargon, slang or abbreviations that others may not understand. Know your audience and their level of understanding. Don’t assume it’s the same as your level of understanding. When in doubt, err on the side of being crystal clear.

Another common error is the overuse of pronouns such as “it” or “they”. After writing a cover letter, email or other communication, review the piece and try to put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. Is your use of a pronoun going to be confusing to your audience?

The same holds true when you’re verbally describing your professional achievements or success stories to a recruiter. Do you pepper these stories with “it”, “they” or too many acronyms? Practice these stories with friends or colleagues to be sure that the points you are trying to get across are received with the meaning that is intended.

After You Land the Job

Communication skills don’t end with getting the job. The need to communicate well stays with you throughout your career. Presenting your accomplishments to your manager, outlining solutions to your team, or responding to a customer inquiry, you will always be presented with opportunities to clearly communicate vital information.

You may say, “Yeah, I don’t need to communicate, I do technical.” I would strongly disagree. Technical proficiency is in high demand, but what is in even higher demand are professionals who can assimilate technical challenges and solutions and communicate that information to non-technical professionals. Professionals who may be your managers, or more importantly the managers who control budgets.

Communication is a two-way process and success can only be obtained when all parties have the same understanding of what has been conveyed. To be successful in your job search and career, be clear and communicate complete thoughts.