Blog Post: Why Being “Pithy” Can Be a Compliment

Like me, however, most interviewers or hiring managers are in a hurry; we want to be thorough but don't want to waste our time in the process. Yet, most of my interviews lately have resulted in never-ending answers that just go ‘round and ‘round. Get off the merry-go-round, and answer the question clearly within one to two sentences. If you’re not sure you’ve given enough feedback, ASK. There’s no harm in asking, “Would you like me to elaborate?” Rather, the harm comes when you elaborate without permission and end up talking yourself out of a job. Here are some more tips to follow:

• Don’t talk without a purpose.  Dead air is okay sometimes; you don’t need to fill every second with verbiage. If asked a question, answer each part of it and that’s all.
• At all costs avoid talking over or—gasp—interrupting your interviewer. You learn more by listening, so keep your ears peeled. The hiring manager may give you key insight into what his/her company is looking for, but if you’re not listening, you can’t match your qualifications to what he/she is saying.

In short, (pun intended) next time you’re on an interview, phone or in-person, please answer with thought—not length. I'm confident the brevity will serve you well!

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