Interview tip - Your tone of voice
An interview is similar in a way to a tune. The lyrics are the content of the interviewee's responses and the music is the tone of voice used. Certain songs may have an optimistic empowering effect or contrarily may be melancholy and blue.
An interviewee that responds in a confident manner is likely to induce confidence in the interviewer. On the contrary, an interviewee that will be shy and hesitant, similar to a sad tune, is likely to raise doubt and concern in the interviewer.
The interviewer may wonder, 'this person seems unconfident, will he/she be suitable for the position?'
The doubt emerging in the interviewer's mind may disqualify the job applicant (interviewee).
Many job applicants assume that if the content of their answers is good and worthy their path to success in the interview is almost certain. True, the content of the responses is extremely important but the tone of voice is just as important if not more! Your tone of voice sets the atmosphere during an interview. It projects your inner confidence, your authority and the ability to cope.
The degree of inner confidence projected through your tone of voice sets the tone and atmosphere of the interview to a large extent and induces a sense of confidence in the interviewer in relation to the applicant. An applicant can have perfect answers in an interview but if the music of the words spoken is hesitant and shy the interview may turn sour.
For your tone of voice to sound confident it must come from within. You must believe in yourself; in your abilities; in your talent and in your skills. In the previous sections ('treat yourself with respect – you deserve it' and 'your attitude to the workplace makes a difference') we discussed and reiterated the importance of having faith in your self and in ways of increasing your self–esteem and reducing self-criticism. The more you appreciate your past positions and achievements, the more confident you will be; the more confident you will be, the more it will show in your tone of voice.
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