Spring Break
All eyes on you
Jason M. Wallace
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Opinion
For those of you who get nervous in front of audiences, you will need to break that fear before you walk across the stage for your diploma. While graduation day may be daunting and exciting, the day of the first interview for a career position will put your education through the ultimate test. While a scholar may know everything in his or her field, the interview or presentation of a lifetime will only show if that is true or not.
For me, I can hold myself up during an interview until the third or fourth question, which is usually the one that comes out of left field. After that, all my words become jumbled and I rush from one sentence to the next without any kind of transition or clear setup. However, practice does make perfect … eventually.
A public speaking class should be a mandatory requirement in every major's general education. A class like this would not only help someone prepare for speeches, but the repetition of standing in front of a group of peers helps break down the barrier to the comfort zone that is needed in order to speak with confidence and clarity.
Professionally speaking in front of others is so important; people are judgmental whether they are possible employers or friends. Confidence, leadership, good decision-making and poise can be detected in a well-delivered speech or interview. If the interviewer hears "I'm not sure" answers and sees nervous mannerisms, then he or she probably will not want to hire you to be in charge of others.
When I see someone deliver a well-crafted speech where I understand the thesis and pick up on all of the supporting arguments, I stand in awe. Delivering a speech with a convincing voice that is calm and focused can persuade any listener into believing what you are saying is true, even if you know it is not.
While I am not condoning lying to the masses, a good orator does have the power to influence the thoughts of others. For solid evidence of a bad speech compared to a good speech on the same topic, look at Brutus' speech to the Romans compared to Antony's in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar."
There are several ways to practice for a speech or an interview besides standing in front of a mirror. As I have already stated, take public speaking under communications 2410. Secondly, the Career Center on Fifth Street offers resources in building resumés along with interview practices with professionals who can help critique weak spots. Finally, Toastmasters International is a free public program that started in California in 1924 and has since spread across the country to provide advice and practice to future orators. Greenville's division of Toastmasters meets at 530 Evans St. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 6:30 p.m.
With a narrowing job market, learning to market your skills is as important as the skills themselves. For those who are nervous, just know it takes a few falls and scraped knees -- figuratively speaking -- until your voice can walk on its own.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
For me, I can hold myself up during an interview until the third or fourth question, which is usually the one that comes out of left field. After that, all my words become jumbled and I rush from one sentence to the next without any kind of transition or clear setup. However, practice does make perfect … eventually.
A public speaking class should be a mandatory requirement in every major's general education. A class like this would not only help someone prepare for speeches, but the repetition of standing in front of a group of peers helps break down the barrier to the comfort zone that is needed in order to speak with confidence and clarity.
Professionally speaking in front of others is so important; people are judgmental whether they are possible employers or friends. Confidence, leadership, good decision-making and poise can be detected in a well-delivered speech or interview. If the interviewer hears "I'm not sure" answers and sees nervous mannerisms, then he or she probably will not want to hire you to be in charge of others.
When I see someone deliver a well-crafted speech where I understand the thesis and pick up on all of the supporting arguments, I stand in awe. Delivering a speech with a convincing voice that is calm and focused can persuade any listener into believing what you are saying is true, even if you know it is not.
While I am not condoning lying to the masses, a good orator does have the power to influence the thoughts of others. For solid evidence of a bad speech compared to a good speech on the same topic, look at Brutus' speech to the Romans compared to Antony's in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar."
There are several ways to practice for a speech or an interview besides standing in front of a mirror. As I have already stated, take public speaking under communications 2410. Secondly, the Career Center on Fifth Street offers resources in building resumés along with interview practices with professionals who can help critique weak spots. Finally, Toastmasters International is a free public program that started in California in 1924 and has since spread across the country to provide advice and practice to future orators. Greenville's division of Toastmasters meets at 530 Evans St. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 6:30 p.m.
With a narrowing job market, learning to market your skills is as important as the skills themselves. For those who are nervous, just know it takes a few falls and scraped knees -- figuratively speaking -- until your voice can walk on its own.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Be the first to comment on this story