I suck at talking to machines.

bluestarultor · 10-22-2009, 01:36 PM

Simply put, I'm kicking myself every five seconds right now because I was dumb enough to think I could handle leaving a voice mail to my only interested prospect in getting the internship I need for my class. I started off good for about 15 seconds, and then it suddenly dropped into every ten seconds being separated by "uhhh..." and a really weak finish that might even give the impression that I wasn't going to take it ("thank you for your time and goodbye," which is killing me right now, even though I expressed earlier that I still wanted word back).

My message was slightly mixed at best and really doesn't reflect well on my actual ability to talk to people.

Does anyone else have this problem? Like, thinking about it, every time I mess up, I get more nervous every mistake I make, leading to more mistakes until I kind of just hang up and run away. Does anyone have any tips or tricks?

Melfice · 10-22-2009, 01:42 PM

I hate talking on the phone.
I've been reprimanded more than once for actually visiting people when I need to find something out, instead of calling them.
I mean... if I need to talk on the phone, nothing really embarrassing happens, but I just hate talking on the phone.

TopHatAssassin · 10-22-2009, 02:37 PM

I kinda do. That's why I rehearse what I'm going to say like a hundred times before I get anywhere near the phone. Write yourself a script? It's goofy, sure, but if it works.

Magus · 10-22-2009, 08:02 PM

I've written myself a script before, many times. Or notes, anyway. Take advantage of not actually being there with the person to sound extremely lingual. I myself am better at talking to people in person than over the phone.

bluestarultor · 10-22-2009, 08:40 PM

Well, I ended up writing him an email like I probably should have started with under the pretense of "making sure I got to him," since he didn't call back (yet). Depending on my luck, he'll check his mail first and then take my message as, "wow, yeah, he sucks at talking to machines," and everything will be fine, or if I'm not so lucky, he'll find the message first, say, "God, this kid is a blathering idiot," and then maybe even delete my email. Worst case scenario, of course.

Edit: A script would be all fine and dandy, but I read much faster than I can talk and my brain tends to trip over itself due to the processing disparity. I found in my speech classes that I do MUCH better when I simply know what I'm going to say and come up with the words on the fly, which is why it's frustrating I trip over myself when talking to, essentially, no one. I do pretty well in front of a room full of people, but for some reason, I can't leave a decent message over the phone.

Funka Genocide · 10-22-2009, 09:16 PM

just keep it simple.

and street.

"Yo dawg, I heard you had the hook up, hit me back. Word."

Ecks · 10-23-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Simply put, I'm kicking myself every five seconds right now because I was dumb enough to think I could handle leaving a voice mail to my only interested prospect in getting the internship I need for my class. I started off good for about 15 seconds, and then it suddenly dropped into every ten seconds being separated by "uhhh..." and a really weak finish that might even give the impression that I wasn't going to take it ("thank you for your time and goodbye," which is killing me right now, even though I expressed earlier that I still wanted word back).

My message was slightly mixed at best and really doesn't reflect well on my actual ability to talk to people.

Does anyone else have this problem? Like, thinking about it, every time I mess up, I get more nervous every mistake I make, leading to more mistakes until I kind of just hang up and run away. Does anyone have any tips or tricks?

Me. I get the feeling I've been passed over for several job interviews because of this right here.

Corel · 10-23-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Does anyone else have this problem? Like, thinking about it, every time I mess up, I get more nervous every mistake I make, leading to more mistakes until I kind of just hang up and run away. Does anyone have any tips or tricks?

The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Simply put.

Many people always feel nervous when they have to give speeches, act on a stage, make important calls etc. However they are able to overcome their anxiety and still do a decent job.

For tips it depends on person to person. Personally I would just throw myself into situations where you are forced to become nervous and have to perform well. Hopefully you will learn that a) Things aren't as scary as they seem and b) Become more confident and learn tactics you can employin these situations.

Like many things, Interviews and talking about how great you are to employers is a combination of practise, confidence, improvisation, planning and experience.

Was this your first telephone interview, out of interest?

If so, don't feel too down. I think most people feel like they've could have done much better on their first try. I remember one applicant I interviewed and they couldn't say a single word to us. They had recited what they planned to say but as a result of being too nervous had forgotten everything. We let them take a break, and tried again at a later date. Didn't get the job, but their interview was much much stronger (As in they actually said something!)

The good thing about this is that you've identified where you went wrong, and can improve on this!

Edit: This advice is also useful to just talking to machines, if you don't have a problem with the above in person. I believe it's just another form of anxiety.

bluestarultor · 10-23-2009, 11:48 AM

Telephone interview? No. I've never done one of those at all. This is just about my inability to leave a decent voice mail. When I have an actual person on the other end, I'm totally fine.

Corel · 10-23-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Telephone interview? No. I've never done one of those at all. This is just about my inability to leave a decent voice mail. When I have an actual person on the other end, I'm totally fine.

Ah! My apologies for misreading the first few lines.

That case, just picture that there is another person on the end and they are being quiet listening to you.

10-22-2009, 02:37 PM	#3
TopHatAssassin Like a millionaire Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 637	I kinda do. That's why I rehearse what I'm going to say like a hundred times before I get anywhere near the phone. Write yourself a script? It's goofy, sure, but if it works. __________________ Aye, num nums indeed.

10-22-2009, 08:02 PM	#4
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	I've written myself a script before, many times. Or notes, anyway. Take advantage of not actually being there with the person to sound extremely lingual. I myself am better at talking to people in person than over the phone. __________________ The Valiant Review

10-22-2009, 01:42 PM	#2
Melfice Vigilo - Confido Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,846	I hate talking on the phone. I've been reprimanded more than once for actually visiting people when I need to find something out, instead of calling them. I mean... if I need to talk on the phone, nothing really embarrassing happens, but I just hate talking on the phone.

10-22-2009, 09:16 PM	#6
Funka Genocide Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4,566	just keep it simple. and street. "Yo dawg, I heard you had the hook up, hit me back. Word."