How to Train Your Voice to Get the Job You Want
Not everyone’s a public speaking virtuoso, but that doesn’t mean it’s an area to be ignored.
In fact, a 2014 study published in PLOS ONE shows how vocal fry — or squeaks and cracks in your speech — can be perceived negatively and hurt your chances of getting a job. The study found young adult females with vocal fry are perceived as less competent, less educated, less trustworthy, less attractive, and therefore less hirable.
While the negative perceptions of vocal fry are stronger for females than for males, men are still susceptible to undesired voice cracking. That means all young job seekers could potentially be at risk if their recruiters have picky ears.
It is bad form to criticize someone’s natural way of speaking. But if you want to sound more professional and have your voice leave a lasting impression on hiring pros, it is worthwhile to try these techniques.
Here are a few tips to help you train yourself to speak like a leader so that you can be prepared to ace your interview:
1. Speak with authenticity.
Save your impressions for your improv group. Interviewers don’t want to hear you imitate Christopher Walken or Barack Obama. They want to get to know the real you, whom they’ll ideally be working closely with each day. Whether public speaking or speaking one-on-one, take pride in your voice and work with what you have.
2. Embrace your natural low tones.
The PLOS ONE study found men and women with lower-pitched voices are usually perceived as stronger and more dominant. Instead of trying to hit those high notes, try allowing your voice to execute its natural low tones.
As you practice and exercise the naturally low-sounding aspects of your tone, pay attention to accidental vocal fry. Those low tones at the end of sentences tend to cause fry most often. So if fry is something you’re trying to avoid, take caution here.
3. Speak with self-assurance.
Voice conveys information about social status and power. In fact, researchers believe tiny changes in the biomechanical interplay of the throat, tongue, vocal folds, and larynx — caused by distress or injury, for example — can alter the voice in subtle ways that change how people respond, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“Our voice transfers our essence to others,” speech physiologist Bruce Gerrattat UCLA’s Voice Perception Laboratory was reported saying in the article.
To speak like a leader, your speech should convey the essence of self-assurance. Give others the confidence you know what you are talking about and they can trust you. You can accomplish this in an interview by conducting company and industry research beforehand, so you’re well-versed in the topics that will be discussed.
4. Perform vocal exercises, video, and self-evaluate.
These are some of the best steps you can take for rapid improvement. Practice vocal exercises for public speaking and interviews regularly to train your vocal cords away from any squeaks. Take a video of yourself answering interview questions, and then — the painful part — watch.
Don’t be too hard on yourself, but do take notes about what you’d like to improve next time. Self-awareness is key. You can’t fix what you don’t know.
Achieving vocal perfection isn’t easy. It’s likely something you’ll have to work at if you aren’t naturally gifted with a set of cords perfect for voice-overs. Keep working at it and public speaking will gradually come more naturally. You’ll notice speaking to anyone will be easier so you can present yourself as a confident professional during an interview.
Looking for more interview tips? We’ve got you covered: 10 Things to Never Say During a Job Interview
