Interviews-how much talking?

[peace84]

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I haven't had an interview yet, so I'm just wondering how much we should be talking during the interview? How much do the interviewers usually talk? I've heard not to talk too much but also not to say too little. When you get asked a question that you can go on and on about, how do you know when to stop? 😕 If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

 

[tank you]

i hope were not expected to ramble on, bc i dont say much in the first place.

 

[06applicant]

i hope were not expected to ramble on, bc i dont say much in the first place.

I think I speak about 90% of the interview, but I don't think I ramble.

 

[badlydrawnvik]

I think it varies from interview to interview, some of my interviews went on a lot, which is sort of nice because it feels like they are comfortable with you, especially when you get into a nice discussion.

 

[Daichi Katase]

68% - You talk
32% - other poyson

 

[ExtraAverage]

I haven't had an interview yet, so I'm just wondering how much we should be talking during the interview? How much do the interviewers usually talk? I've heard not to talk too much but also not to say too little. When you get asked a question that you can go on and on about, how do you know when to stop? 😕 If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

BE YOURSELF

 

[DrMike24]

I think you should gauge the interviewers response. For my first interview, I was nervous and so I tended to ramble. But I could tell that he kept wanting me to shut up, which is probably why I am now on hold at that school 🙂

 

[MoosePilot]

BE YOURSELF

Best advice!

I think you should gauge the interviewers response. For my first interview, I was nervous and so I tended to ramble. But I could tell that he kept wanting me to shut up, which is probably why I am now on hold at that school 🙂

Hopefully "being yourself" includes being empathic enough to do this too

 

[crazy_cavalier]

68% - You talk
32% - other poyson

Hmm I was pretty sure it's 67% you talk, 33% they talk...

 

[67192]

68% - You talk
32% - other poyson

It's 69%, 31%! Sheesh, off by a whole percent! j/k

I think it depends on the Question tho. For instance, questions like "tell me about yourself, why do you want to be a doctor, how have you challenged your initial desire to go to med school?" require quite a bit of a lengthy answer. Other questions like the "you're the doctor, what do you do in this case" can be answered much shorter. Just watch for the interviewer(s) facial and verbal clues. If they look like 😴 or 😕 or then it means you have been talking for too long.

 

[Flopotomist]

The former bartender in me has two suggestions.

1. Remember to be yourself

2. People like to talk - so if your interviewer wants to talk NEVER cut him or her short, and in fact, if you are able to keep the interviewer talking, you will be doing even better.

 

[67192]

Hmm I was pretty sure it's 67% you talk, 33% they talk...

Dude, Crazy Cavalier- you and I are on the same wavelength! (by it's 69-31, not 67-33)

 

[crazy_cavalier]

Dude, Crazy Cavalier- you and I are on the same wavelength! (by it's 69-31, not 67-33)

I noticed the timestamp too 😉 I was like, lizanne! There's some kindred linkage here.

 

[QofQuimica]

It definitely depends on the interviewer. I've had some that talk a lot about themselves, and others that tell me to tell them about myself and never say another word until the end, when they then ask me if I have questions about the school. I also tend to have interviews that run over time; I've missed one or two lunches.... 😛

 

[Saluki]

It definitely depends on the interviewer. I've had some that talk a lot about themselves, and others that tell me to tell them about myself and never say another word until the end, when they then ask me if I have questions about the school. I also tend to have interviews that run over time; I've missed one or two lunches.... 😛

You must be good at the whole chit chat thing; in interview situations I'm a nervous wreck. I think mine at my state school was about 50% me talking, 30% interviewers talking (sometimes to each other rather than to me🙂 and about 20% awkward pauses...

 

[QofQuimica]

You must be good at the whole chit chat thing; in interview situations I'm a nervous wreck. I think mine at my state school was about 50% me talking, 30% interviewers talking (sometimes to each other rather than to me🙂 and about 20% awkward pauses...

No, I'm just old. I have 12 years of post-secondary life to discuss, and it's actually difficult for me to get through it all in half an hour. 😛

 

[Camillekc]

I feel like I barely do any talking during my interviews. My interviewers go on and on, and it's fun, but when I leave, I know all about their hiking trip with their son or their favourite book, but do they know anything about me? Is this bad? In my last, I tried to get a word in, but didn't want to interrupt, so I didn't really get to.

I thought interviews were going to be a chance to talk about myself for an hour. I have to say I'm a little disappointed- who doesn't like talking about themself? =)

 

[moinmoin]

I thought interviews were going to be a chance to talk about myself for an hour. I have to say I'm a little disappointed- who doesn't like talking about themself? =)[/QUOTE]

This is exactly why is might not be such a bad thing if your interviewer did lots of talking. If he/she is telling you about a recent camping trip, it's (a)probably because they like you, or (b) you have absolutely nothing to say and they're trying to fill empty space! I'm willing to bet it's option (a).

 

[Kiroro]

You should be very careful about talking too much. It is sometimes much harder to control the amount you talk than being overly expressing yourself.

Many premeds tend to drag out their answers by adding not so related components to their response. This could give bad impression because many interviewers are trying to have conversation with you. They are not trying to be your faithful listener. For prepared interviewer, this could be even more annoying because they cannot move on to their planned next questions.

I think it is more important that we stick to strict answers of what they asked. Ask good questions when they ask “Is there any question?” and be a good listener to their answer. People tend to be more satisfied with their conversation when they are the talker. I suppose this is same for the interviewers too.

 

[Camillekc]

I thought interviews were going to be a chance to talk about myself for an hour. I have to say I'm a little disappointed- who doesn't like talking about themself? =)

This is exactly why is might not be such a bad thing if your interviewer did lots of talking. If he/she is telling you about a recent camping trip, it's (a)probably because they like you, or (b) you have absolutely nothing to say and they're trying to fill empty space! I'm willing to bet it's option (a).[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I'm really hoping it's (a) too.

 

[Risa]

I've had interviews where I did 95% of the talking, interviews where I did like 20%, and everywhere in between.

It's all about the dynamic between you and that particular interviewer.

Which makes sense, since it's a conversation.

 

[jmnykrkts]

Ask good questions when they ask “Is there any question?” and be a good listener to their answer.

Not totally related to the OP (apologies), but I understand this question is commonly tagged onto the end of interviews. Has anyone had an experience where they had NOT prepared any good questions but were met with this question? What did you say? "Um, nope -- I'm good, thanks." ??