Long-Windedness: A Job Interview Killer

A year ago when I was being interviewed for a position, I had five interviews with different questions at each. Three interviews were scheduled in one days. I dressed appropriately and carried a briefcase with my resume' and other creditials needed for the interview. Each interview had a set of questions specific to the qualifications. One technique I used while sitting in the hot seat was to "utilize" the interviewers into each senario. Apparently, my technique worked because I was hired within a week after the third interview. It took three weeks to get the paperwork and logistics together and I was working at my job. When the interviews are limited as my were, sometimes we that are being interviewed have to become creative by demostrating the senarios in answering questions.

Roni of AZ 4:42PM July 19, 2010

Dear Alison,

What about the persons who do interview in a flip flop way. Some keep juggling technical and HR Questions. They usually cut us in the mid way of answering that shows we are talking too long. But after answering some questions shortly they give a pause, then what are we supposed to do should we continue with our short and specific answers or is it that he was just thinking of a question during that pause?

AJay R 11:27PM July 23, 2009

I absolutely agree with Ask A Manager. While long-windedness isn't necessarily a bad thing, if rampant, it can be a huge impediment to productivity in the workplace (who hasn't sat through a pointless, long-winded presentation?)

For example, I worked with a young girl just out of college who, in spite of her English degree, could not write a 3 sentence email to save her life. She would send these long, rambling, stream of consciousness email to customers who would then complain to company that it took forever to figure out what she wanted.

We coached her, edited her, but short of thinking and writing for her, we could not get her to be more succinct. This wasted huge amounts of time and resources and may have possible tarnished our reputation with our customers.

Seattle Girl of WA 4:13PM March 30, 2009