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I have noticed that I tend to use "hum, i mean, some like that..." during conversations and even interviews. Do you know how to get rid of such behaviors?
Thanks
Thanks
bad behavior for interview
- Thread starter gildas
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this may sound weird, but there are words you can get in your vocabulary that sound more intelligent than hum, um, like, etc... so if you think about it.. try to replace those words with things like:
for instance, particularly, especially, in regards.. i know they don't seem to match the conversation but lemme give you an example:
Me talking to my friends: Hey.. so I saw this really cool thing in lab, and it was like hanging off the side of the table... um, the red one in the back... and it was amazing, it kind of um, reminded me of that movie... uh.. frankenstein...etc.
Me talking to interviewer: While I was in lab, I saw this really interesting object that I had never seen before. IT particularly reminded me of a scene I remember from Frankenstein.
Okay.. that was weird.. but do you get the idea.. you can always use descriptive words to replace uhs and ums and likes and hmmmmmmms
for instance, particularly, especially, in regards.. i know they don't seem to match the conversation but lemme give you an example:
Me talking to my friends: Hey.. so I saw this really cool thing in lab, and it was like hanging off the side of the table... um, the red one in the back... and it was amazing, it kind of um, reminded me of that movie... uh.. frankenstein...etc.
Me talking to interviewer: While I was in lab, I saw this really interesting object that I had never seen before. IT particularly reminded me of a scene I remember from Frankenstein.
Okay.. that was weird.. but do you get the idea.. you can always use descriptive words to replace uhs and ums and likes and hmmmmmmms
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foolproof method: count the number of times you do that in a day and at the end of the day do push up's or something for each one. You'll be a subject of your own operant conditioning experiment! (it works tho, trust me...)
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Force yourself to pause instead of saying "um" when you aren't sure what you're saying. A pause sounds authoritative. Also, try recording yourself, or better yet, videotaping yourself. Hearing how it actually sounds will get you motivated to cut it out.
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Electroshock therapy.
OK, maybe that's a little extreme. I agree with the pause vs. umm method. People say umm because they are trying to fill time while they think of something. There's nothing wrong with a moment of silence to gather your thoughts before you go into an answer. You certainly want to come across as eloquent and loquacious in your interview, so you want to be able to choose words that show the breadth of your vocabulary, but I'd recommend trying to keep it simple. Don't dally about looking for that perfect word, dig one out that'll work and move on.
But I wouldn't obsess about it too much. If you get all self conscious about your vocal tics, it might throw you off your game.
OK, maybe that's a little extreme. I agree with the pause vs. umm method. People say umm because they are trying to fill time while they think of something. There's nothing wrong with a moment of silence to gather your thoughts before you go into an answer. You certainly want to come across as eloquent and loquacious in your interview, so you want to be able to choose words that show the breadth of your vocabulary, but I'd recommend trying to keep it simple. Don't dally about looking for that perfect word, dig one out that'll work and move on.
But I wouldn't obsess about it too much. If you get all self conscious about your vocal tics, it might throw you off your game.
