Clients sometimes ask me which words to use in interviews. Of course, interview preparation has many facets and vocabulary should be one of them.
I have been involved in interview preparation, helping people identify and tell their stories for over 20 years. This includes identifying what is relevant and interesting to the audience, crafting the stories – making them brief and potent, stagecraft and logistical preparation. All of these things are important, but what often gets overlooked is the language you use.
Different companies and brands have different internal ‘good’ and ‘bad’ vocabulary – if you use these words they will either be a plus or a negative. Different industries have their own vocabulary too. This is their shorthand language that you should know and demonstrate if you want to convince the audience that you are able to fit in and contribute. You should be doing basic interview research before every interview (ideal world I know – but seriously!!) and this should be one of the things you must find out.
You don’t need big words for big ideas. But you should also be true to yourself – that is more important than deciding which words to use in interviews. However, if you NATURALLY use huge words and it is genuinely part of you (Jacob Rees-Mogg MP is the obvious example) then you should retain your integrity and authenticity and be yourself. Never try to be someone or something that you are not.
Which words to use in interviews.
So my rules on which words to use in interviews are (roughly and in equal order):
- be your self – sound like you
- know the industry vocabulary
- know and use the ‘good’ words of your potential employer
- avoid their ‘bad’ words
- use simple and meaningful words rather than long and pretentious ones (unless they like your using them!)
- use descriptive words rather than overused and abused adjectives.