One of the most common comments you may receive after your pageant interview is that you sounded too rehearsed. The judges can say this in a number of different ways including the words “sounded too coached, memorized, programmed, stiff, fake, pageanty, formal, intellectual, nervous” and the list goes on. It boils down to the fact that you didn’t speak WITH the judges, but rather TO them.
The interview must be a conversation. A good conversation requires listening and speaking by both parties. Notice, I did not use the word “telling”. Telling is when you are focused on you. When you are truly listening to the other person, you are turning your attention from yourself and focusing on them. That’s when the conversation becomes magical and you will connect with the judges.
Here are 5 common mistakes that I see when I am judging a pageant or working with a client on interview.
- Being a copy cat. If you are imitating someone else’s style, using their words, or copying their information, you will come across as fake. You must take time to explore and reflect on who YOU ARE and expressing yourself.
- Thinking instead of feeling. In other words, speaking from your head and not your heart will back fire on you. Don’t waste your time trying to figure out what the judges are looking for or coming up with answers you think will sound impressive and great. Stop thinking. People connect with you when they “feel” something, not “think” something. Speak from your heart.
- Focusing on the words and not your message. Do you to remember why you hated history class in school? It was a class filled with too many facts, quotes, or words that didn’t mean anything to you. Focus on sharing your message instead being the next Jeopardy contestant. You do need to know your facts. It’s the way your present the facts that make the difference between being real and fake.
- Failing to prepare- Never memorize interview answers word for word. Even if you have been asked the same question 5 times before, when you answer the question your answer must sound like it is the first time you are answering it. This takes time and practice to develop. And the answer is no if you are thinking that you’ll sound more natural by not practicing and you’ll just winging it.
- Letting your thoughts and nerves control you. You need to be aware of your internal dialogue at all times. It can be both your best friend and worst enemy. Same thing goes for your nerves. You need to learn how to quickly relax when you get stressed.
If you can work on these 5 areas, not only will your interview scores go up; but you will become a better communicator and the quality of your relationships will increase in life beyond the pageant.
