The document emphasizes the negative impact of filler words like 'umm,' 'so,' and 'like' on communication, especially in professional settings such as interviews. It outlines a four-step process to reduce fillers: awareness of one's fillers, identifying speech patterns, foreseeing when fillers may occur, and using pauses to allow for thoughtful responses. By practicing these strategies, speakers can improve their clarity and credibility.

1. Training Module – Interview Preparatory Kit
Attributes
IMA06 – Fillers
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2. Importance of avoiding fillers in Interview [1/2]
During our interaction with various industry experts we have come across many
well spoken speakers, but one thing that pulls some of them down is their
excessive use of “filler words”. You too could have probably come across such a
situation, Do you remember any speaker who used excessive fillers as a result
you lost the interest in the Topic/Lecture and found the whole interaction little
irritating. Chances are high that you may have come across such a situation.
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3. Importance of avoiding fillers in Interview [2/2]
What exactly are filler words or rather what all qualify as filler words? Generally
words such as “umm,” “so,” “ah” etc are known as the filler words. Also words
such as “like” ,“you know”, “Basically” etc which we use to cover up the pauses
or fill in the gaps in our speech also qualify as fillers. In normal conversation this
may seem fine but in a professional setting, Interview or a speech this can hurt
your chances and may affect your credibility as a speaker
In a job interview when you are unprepared for certain question there could be
high probability that you may use fillers unknowingly. And when you do that you
tend to sound unsure and uncertain leading to the downfall in the interview.
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4. What you can do [1/3]
Awareness
Pause/Slow Identify
speech Patterns
Foreseen
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5. What you can do [2/3]
Fillers can be reduced using this four step process. It will definitely take some
practice but we are sure once you use brace fillers will be thing of the past.
 Awareness: You need to be aware what are the kind of fillers you happen to
use. For this you can use interview master recording and see when, where and
what kind of fillers you use. How can you be sure if they are fillers? If any word
is used for 3 times in 2 mins please consider them as fillers.
 Patterns: It is very important to recognize the kind of patterns you use. Some
most common patterns examples are ; Some people start sentences with
“Basically” , some use “And” as connectors and their sentences never has a
period, some tend to use “you know?” at the end of every sentence, so find
your patterns. It helps to be aware of the problem and you can address it right
at the root.
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6. What you can do [3/3]
 Foresee the use of filler word: Once you are aware of the kind of patterns you
tend to use you can attack them and raise an alert in your mind when you are
just about to use these words.
 Pause / Slow speech: “The right word may be effective but no word was ever
as effective as a rightly timed pause – Mark Twain”. Use this strategy in case
you are a victim of fillers. Mostly the fillers are used when you are searching
the right words instead pause for a moment and keep your eyes focused on
the interviewer/listeners (Not too long). With practice this is the best filler
killer. This approach will give you time to think what to say and you can say it
with ease without inserting a filler. Also, this pause will not only give you time
to think and avoid fillers, but will help you add impact to your message. In long
run you will avoid fillers and sound impressive using this approach.
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7. IMA06 – Fillers Complete
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