The Voice

Except for conversations, interviews are perhaps the most frequently occurring form of communication ... in an organization. ... Interviews are so common that they are taken for granted. - David A. Whetten and Kim S. Cameron, Developing Management Skills.

Your voice plays an important, although easily overlooked, role in the interview. The quality, pitch, clearness, intelligence, and expression all are important. When interviewing, monitor these voice characteristics. In addition, clear up your speech, use proper grammar (avoid slang), use persuasive articulation and steer clear from speaking in a monotone. In Communication for Business and the Professions by Patricia Andrews and John Baird, Jr., they found that after looking at several studies, "the applicant's communication effectiveness has a profound impact on how she or he is rated by the interviewer and on whether or not she or he receives a job offer" (349).

In the book, verbal communication guidelines that will lead you to success are identified on pages 349-350:

• Show how you and the position are a good fit.
• Compliment the organization.
• Substantiate your self-assertions with evidence.
• Accentuate the positive, don't dwell on the negative.
• Develop your responses adequately.
• Speak fluently.
• Communicate honestly.

These are some basic guidelines that have been found to be useful in successful interviews. While they seem intuitively obvious at times, its important to revisit them before an interview. You'll be better prepared if you know what to do to prepare! The next blog will be an extension of this, or a look at attitudes during interviews.