I’m Talking, Are you Listening? By Jerrold (Jerry) Clifford
Two hunters were walking in a forest when one of them suddenly collapsed. The other one reacted quickly and immediately called 911. When the operator answered he asked, “What should I do?” The operator responded, “Let’s make sure he is dead.” Then she heard a gun shot and the hunter said, “OK, now what?” While funny, this joke actually points out (perhaps to the extreme) how what seems to be a clear communication can be perceived differently by different people. The job seeker may think that his/her language is clear and concise but the message that is received could be the exact opposite of what the communicator is trying to say.
For example, job seekers use a resume as an introduction to try to obtain an interview. People use the resume to show that they have the experience and knowledge to meet a company’s job requirements. To get that desired interview it is important to communicate effectively. But
Volume 6, Issue 3 June-July,2014 what the job seeker is trying to say is not necessarily what is perceived by the reviewer. Suppose, for example, that you want to convey the message, “I know my stuff.” You write that, “I have over 20 years experience.” What the company may actually hear is, “I am an older candidate and may be too expensive”. Or perhaps you wish to let the company know that even if you don’t know their exact processes or systems you can readily learn them, so you state, “I am a quick learner.” What the company inferred might be “this person is inexperienced”. Sometimes jobseekers will say that they are “looking to change careers”. In effect, they are having a conversation with themselves. Companies hear, “Please be a career counselor and analyze your openings for anything you feel I can do”. Their reaction to this conversation is, “This person wants us to be career counselors but we are not in that business”. Instead of having this “conversation” in a resume, the jobseeker would probably be better served by selecting a potential alternative career, then finding an experienced person in that career and arranging an “informational (fact finding) interview” with that individual.
One way to avoid miscommunication is to review your correspondence as if you were the receiving party looking for an excuse to filter out candidates so only the most qualified pass muster. To do this, be sure to choose your words carefully and use phraseology that is not likely to be interpreted other than as intended. To convey, “I know my stuff” you might substitute, “highly experienced.” For “quick learner” try, “quickly expands my solid knowledge.” Remember, effective communication takes a presenter and a receiver. While the receiver is not obligated to really hear what you have to say, by carefully choosing your words you can help ensure that your intended message is the one that is received.
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