How to improve conciseness and clarity in job interview answers

[Javanaise]

I recently applied for a role, and got through to the first interview stage (the application process is made up of two interview stages).

After the first interview, the company let me know that I was unsuccessful, and mentioned that I could request feedback from the interview.

I've just received feedback, which matches how I felt I performed in the interview. I was asked several competency questions, which I had prepared for beforehand, but I wasn't concise when answering the questions and ended up rambling quite a lot. This was mentioned (kindly) in the feedback, where the interviewer suggested that I could work on my conciseness and clarity when answering these sorts of questions.

Any tips please on how to improve with conciseness and clarity when speaking please? This is something that I struggle with more generally when speaking, but especially in interview situations. I really did want this role, so it would be enormously helpful to think that I have learned something from the feedback and that I can apply it to future interview situations.

Thanks! :)

Practice with someone else sitting with you asking questions maybe?

Begin with your pre-prepared answers, learn to stick to facts. Once you've got those down move on to unexpected questions! :)

ps: i am the Queen of Waffle. I can do it for England. Luckily all the jobs i've ever wanted have needed talkers

I had problems with this too, especially at interview when nerves would kick in. You have to concentrate on thinking about what you're saying. Make sure you're listening to yourself and try to speak a bit more slowly that you usually would. That way you'll speak in a more measured way and your mouth won't run off ahead of your brain.

Good luck.

Me too. I prepare but the questions are always slightly different and it throws me.

STAR technique is your friend

Ah I've seen that mentioned before but hadn't used it. I will have a good read up about it.

Practice your answers and record yourself talking. Transcribe the answers and then edit it as though it were an essay. You'll be amazed at how much you can remove. Record again etc.

This is all brilliant advice. Thanks so much.

I prepare but the questions are always slightly different and it throws me.

Stealth that's exactly what seems to happen to me. I've found the STAR technique really useful when I've used it so far, but still struggle with thinking on my feet when a competency question is phrased slightly differently to how I expected.

I agree with PP that practice and perhaps thinking up lots of different ways in which they could ask the questions is a good way to prepare.

Practise practise practise. Preferably with someone else there. Ask them to listen to not to how good you sound but specifically to how much of your answer relates to the actual question.