Communicating face-to-face

Speaking to someone you don’t know face-to-face can be daunting, but it helps if you:

• use the right language
• try to look directly at the other person or persons and give them your full attention
• listen as much as (or more than you) talk. Good communicators are good listeners
• try to answer any questions with a sentence or two – not one word, not a whole speech
• ask the other person/s about themselves or their views or ideas; people generally like it if you take an interest in them, and it takes the conversational pressure off you for a while

Special rules will apply if you go for an interview, and you can find some helpful interview advice here.