Both applicants and interviewers alternate between speaking and listening in an interview. At least they alternate between speaking and not speaking - whether they are listening can be a matter of debate. For some people, especially those who are articulate and extroverted, listening is sometimes defined as "waiting for my turn to talk."
If you are not a good listener by nature, it's a skill worth developing before you go into an interview. Listening is a social skill that can be critical in some professions. A good interviewer will be evaluating your listening skills as carefully as he will your speaking skills. The following are some essential listening skills.
Making good eye contact
Eye contact is important for establishing relationships. Lack of eye contact can make you seem uneasy or less than candid in your responses. Even if your hesitation to look into other people's eyes is due to shyness, it may appear to signal something else. Researchers tell us that there is more direct gaze when people like each other and cooperate than when they dislike each other or disagree. Your shifting gaze may unconsciously signal a dislike for your interviewer or her ideas.
Mirroring the speaker
"Mirroring" is the tendency humans have to reflect each other's body posture and expressions. It's something we've all experienced - a smile can be "contagious," as can a frown. During an interview, you may find yourself leaning in when the interviewer does, or reflecting his body language in other ways. This unconscious social behavior helps us relax with strangers and bond with each other, which can help you focus on what the other person is saying. Another aspect of mirroring is the small signals your body wends to indicate that you're listening and understanding the speaker. Small nods and vocal cues ("mm hmm," "I understand...") will help the speaker feel that you are following her train of thought.
Critical Listening
It's important to understand that every interview question has a purpose. Listen carefully to the entire question before beginning to formulate your answer. There is a big difference between the answer to "When do you feel that training makes a difference ..." and "How do you feel that training makes a difference..." You'd be surprised at how many applicants start to answer a question that simply wasn't asked. At best, they seem inattentive; at worst, they may appear to be avoiding the question.
It's also important to understand the intent of the question you've been asked. "Have you had supervisory experience?" might seem to merit a simple yes or no answer. But the intent of the question is to determine whether you have had a chance to manage people, which may occur outside a supervisory role. Adding information to your answer about project teams you've managed, or volunteer groups you've led gets to the heart of the issue - whether you can help a team accomplish its goals through your leadership skills. Many applicants waste opportunities like this to showcase skills in the interview.
Most applicants are nervous during interviews, and a good recruiter will try to make them more comfortable. It's not just about being kind; nervous applicants don't listen well and don't usually give thoughtful or coherent answers. If nervousness is your challenge, work on breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques before your meeting. The calmer you are, the better you'll be able to focus on the speaker. Feel free to take a moment after hearing the question to formulate your answer. Many applicants begin speaking before they think, and their answers are less organized and ramble a bit longer as a result. Your pause gives the interviewer a chance to breathe, as well. A few seconds of occasional "white space" in an interview can help both speakers become better listeners.