It’s hard to believe the number of candidates I talk to over the phone who are unaware of how they sound to others. Their speech comes out in a monotone drone like they’re giving a patient assessment, with no enthusiasm or changes in pitch and riddled with “um’s” and “like’s.” Many individuals are not utilizing their ability to manipulate how they present themselves through their speech, a simple tool that can tilt things in their favor during oral boards.
I recently had a candidate who had such a voice, and I asked him if he was aware of it. He replied that he did realize it, but failed to see how he could change it. “It’s just my voice,” he said.
Trying to elicit some personal emotion, I asked him about his interests and hobbies. What did he like to do in his spare time? But nothing seemed to break him out of his monotone mold.
A few days later, I get a call from a man who sounded energized and animated. I didn’t recognize the voice at first, but then it hit me — it was Mr. Monotone. He told me that he didn’t realize how he was presenting himself until he listened to a recording of his coaching session.
“Man I sounded retarded,” he said, quite vividly. “I can’t believe how much stuff I left out and how many times I said, ‘Whatever,’ and other stupid things.”
With that, we uncovered the reason why a well-qualified candidate was not getting hired — he didn’t carefully choose not only what he said, but also how he said it.
So what tools can you use to practice and rehearse your oral board answers? A mirror is a start, since you need to see how you look during an interview. A video camera is better because you need to hear what you are saying, but is limiting in that you are confined to sitting in front of it. The best tool to practice your speech is a handheld audio recorder that can go anywhere you do.
Even though Mr. Monotone was enrolled in my program, which hammers on the point of using a recorder, he still didn’t get the message. This doesn’t surprise me; the majority of candidates fail to see the merit of taking the time to record and listen to their speaking tendencies. It’s unfortunate, because you are competing against those who know the value of clear and effective speaking, and they are the ones landing the competitive jobs.
I realize that listening to your own voice can be an uncomfortable experience. What is the first thing a candidate says when he hears his voice on a tape recorder?
“Oh, that can’t be me. I don’t sound like that.”
Once you get past this revelation, there are a few key points to consider when trying to listen and learn from your speech:
- Be aware of the timing of your response and the pace at which you answer questions and transition between sentences
- Notice the inflection — or pitch — of your voice. Avoid speaking too loudly or too softly.
- Monitor the volume of your speech.
- Pay attention to what you are saying as well.
- Be concise; cut out unnecessary ramblings and reduce those nervous “pause fillers.” You need to hear what the oral board is going to hear in order to succeed at the interviewing process.
Once you’ve practiced the audio qualities of your speech, it’s time to focus on the content. Most people think that they can write down their answers to interview questions and magically regurgitate them during the oral board. Trust me, the brain and mouth don’t usually work that way.
Try taking 3x5 cards and writing down your oral board questions on them. Practice your answers with a tape recorder and play it back. Each time you dislike your response to a question, write it down on that 3x5 card. The next time you go after that question, turn over the card first to see what mistake you don’t want to repeat.
Some people will argue that over-practicing will make your responses sound canned. I say that your responses will sound planned. Practice makes permanent.
