What does 'active listening' involve during an interview?

Active listening involves fully engaging with the speaker, which is crucial during an interview. This means not only hearing the words being spoken but also understanding the underlying emotions and intentions. Engaging with the speaker through verbal affirmations, such as nodding, using phrases like "I see" or "I understand," demonstrates that you are present and actively processing the information. This interaction not only encourages the interviewee to open up further but also helps to build rapport and trust, which can lead to more insightful responses.

In contrast, simply making eye contact does not constitute active listening if there is no verbal or emotional engagement. Similarly, asking repetitive questions can come off as disinterested or mechanical, deterring open communication. Taking notes without any form of engagement might lead to a lack of connection and could miss out on the emotional nuances that active listening aims to capture. Thus, the practice of providing verbal affirmations distinguishes active listening from other forms of communication.