To ask for advice on how to be more articulate?

[blushbouquet]

I am a recent university graduate and will soon have to start attending interviews for PhDs and/or graduate jobs.

I am terrible at interviews and have received rejections from the few interviews I have had at supermarkets for their part-time roles (I then gave up hopes of securing a retail job). Therefore, I have no confidence at all in my ability to successfully complete a graduate or PhD interview. At university we had an employability module and we did mock interviews in small groups and even with my friends I completely messed up and could not answer the questions properly. I was stammering and blushing and felt like I could not engage my brain. I have noticed it happens after presentations too. I am ok at giving presentations because I rote learn everything, but for the Q&A session afterwards I would really struggle to answer the lecturer's questions. I would answer open-ended questions with a simple sentence, I think as a self-preservation technique to get it over with as soon as possible.

My field is the sciences and I have been complimented on my scientific writing, so why is it I cannot express myself verbally to the same standard?

Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you.

There is an over-confidence in certain office-based workers which borders on the risible. People who assuredly state things with no evidence for their claim whatsoever, but they are then well regarded by colleagues for their "strategic" persona etc.

I say this because you come across as someone extremely considered and thoughtful which makes sense because of your work and your approach.

I would consider visualising beforehand some positive scenarios where you provide succinct, clear example based answers to things, and imagine the glow of positivity etc when someone responds well to it.

Think bullet points - are there two or three things i want to say here, and how can I say those in around half a dozen sentences, where I've acknowledged the question, provided an evidence-based example, and also explained my opinion if required?

From reading your post articulacy definitely isn't your problem at all! Perhaps it's confidence that the other person will receive you well at interview - in which case I think you should have that in spades, when you consider how the average British person communicates!

Take 5 seconds before starting your answers, and ask them to repeat it if the additional thinking time helps - no shame in doing this and makes you look considered :)

Practice does make perfect and I don’t think practising with friends helps - sometimes I feel worse in front of them!

I do what PP said and make bullet points of key things I want to get across, and evidence to back them up.

Then I try and write the questions in as many ways as I think they might be asked - I do lots of research on potential questions.

You could also try recording/videoing yourself and then watching back your responses.. and use this to help you improve your confidence :)

@GinDaddy @walnut87 Thank you both for such helpful advice. :) I definitely think it relates to a lack of confidence, I hate having the spotlight on me so find presentations and interviews unbearable (I even feel a little self-conscious making my own thread, lol). I like the idea of visualising positive scenarios, I think that would be really helpful. I also like the idea of preparing bullet points with evidence for answers to potential questions. Thank you :)

I find talking through answers to my reflection in the mirror strangely helpful! It’s definitely harder with friends; you feel more self conscious, somehow.

Good advice above, I agree the problem is not that you are not articulate, you are just struggling under pressure. Practice really will help. Also planning out answers to obvious questions, practising aloud summarising your experiences.

I am a lot older than you and have the same problem. My latest strategy is to try and treat questions like a presentation. I really badly misinterpret simple questions under pressure in interviews though. I just try and practice as many scenarios as I can before I go.

Is it just in interview situations? Does this happen when say, people ask you about your holiday, or school or family?

If you’re ok replying to social questioning, try applying that technique to an interview scenario.

@Annebronte I am relieved to know it is worse with friends as I was worrying as I was a complete disaster in front of friends! I think you are right though, it makes that I would feel self-conscious trying to "sell myself" in front of friends.

@HotPenguin Yes, maybe you are right that it is more to do with being under pressure. So many times at university when we would give presentations I would not be able to properly answer questions even if it was on topics that I am very familiar and comfortable with.

@jakeyboy1 That is a good idea! I used to find presentations terrifying but I learnt that if I practiced them enough times at home when I am up there I am just on autopilot and I don't feel nervous at all. I will try doing that with the most common interview questions.

@NightsOfCabiria It is mainly situations like interviews and presentations, yes. But also casual conversations if they are with someone I find intimidating (a university lecturer, a friend of my parents).

I find it easy to be articulate if I'm passionate on a subject. Sometimes we need to talk about things we aren't passionate about. In those situations it's ok to pause, reflect and then answer. You don't need to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.