Are you about to record your first voice CV?
So you're about to record your first voice CV because you've finally managed to land your first interview and want to impress the hiring manager with the best possible professional impression. It's a good idea to do some research beforehand so that you know what they will be looking for.
It turns out that there are many different things that hiring managers are listening for when they assess how good your voice is, such as how clear and articulate it is, whether it matches the job requirements, how confident and enthusiastic you sound, as well as how well-spoken you are. They may also be listening for speech impediments such as an accent or lisp.
For any job, there is an appropriate tone of voice that is required. For example, the sales person at a shop needs to sound enthusiastic and knowledgeable, while the teacher needs to be respected and have command over their classroom.
Are you trying to sound too enthusiastic and authoritative? Trust your instincts as well as what you have picked up from previous experience in similar sectors. Generally speaking, hiring managers are looking for someone who can adapt their tone of voice depending on the situation or environment they are in. However don't change your natural accent if it isn't correct for the type of job you are applying for!
Usually when making a recording, it's best to keep things natural whilst avoiding any distracting background noises. The recording really should just be about your voice, however if you are recording outside, make sure you are in a quiet area and not near any noisy vehicles.
Do your research beforehand to know what the company is looking for when hiring. Listen to the radio adverts that they have put out and see what type of person they are trying to portray. For example, if they want someone with a professional tone of voice then it's best to sound serious and straight-laced as opposed to someone who is trying to sell their product in a super enthusiastic and cheerful way.
You should also try and find out why they have placed an advert for this particular position. For example, if they are looking to fill an administrative assistant job in a busy office then they will want someone who is able to communicate clearly and appropriately on the phone or via email.
If you've recently moved to a new area or country, then it's best not to mention it and give the impression that you have been living there all your life. This is because people with a foreign accent are often given less credibility than a native speaker.
It's important that you remember the adverts that you have heard on the radio or television, as these will be what the manager is expecting for your voice. Also bear in mind that it can take some time for your voice to get used to speaking in certain ways. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities and try to sound as natural as possible.
If you have a stutter, or stammer then this could be something that is picked up by the interviewer. There are various things you can do to help eradicate this, such as talking in front of a mirror and recording yourself speaking so that you can hear where any problem areas are. Once you've found them, think about how these can be improved.
Hiring managers also need to know that you will be able to get along with their other employees, so if there is anything in your voice that may indicate otherwise, then it's best not to include it when making your recording.
If there is an accent that you have which isn't related to the job you are applying for in any way, then don't try and change it. For example, a baker should sound like a baker, but they shouldn't sound like they are trying too hard.
If you have a regional accent then this is fine so long as it matches what the company is looking for. If they want someone with a certain style of voice in their radio commercial then they will probably want someone with that same style in their office.
When listening to your recording, listen carefully to your tone of voice so that it matches the segment that you are playing it against such as a news report or advertisement for an item on sale in the store.
If you are unsure of how to adapt your voice to match a particular segment, then think about what the segment is being used for.
If you're looking for more advice on finding the right type of position, then Google offers up a range of possibilities such as "job search" and "jobs in my area", but always bear in mind that if it's not related to your area there really isn't much that you can do about it.
For example, if you have recently moved from London to New York and are trying to look for work there, then it's best not to mention this unless asked.
It's also worth bearing in mind that if you are applying to a job which is across the border, then your voice should reflect where you are living. For example, if you live in the USA but apply for a job in Australia, then it's best to have an American accent. The same goes for people who live in England but apply for jobs in America or India.
Other things that hiring managers are looking out for when assessing your voice is to see whether there is any emotion or feeling behind your words. They don't want you to be hollow and uninterested but they also don't want someone who is so full of enthusiasm that they sound fake and like they're trying too hard.
It's best to sound like you mean what you are saying, as opposed to sounding like you are trying too hard to convince someone of something.
Another thing that they will be listening out for when assessing your voice is how confident you sound when answering simple interview questions such as "Why do you want this job?" or "What makes you the right person for this job?".
There are various ways of going about tackling and answering these questions, but generally speaking, it's best not to be over-the-top and try too hard to impress people with your knowledge. For example, if the interviewer says that they need a new secretary then it's best not to give them an example of when you were in a similar position.
Instead, offer an anecdote about something that you have learnt about your new job and the skills that you have gained from it.
Referencing your previous experiences can also go a long way in making you seem more intelligent and well-rounded than someone who is too shy to speak their mind.
If there is any emotion or feeling behind your voice then this will be picked up by the interviewer as well as whether or not they think you're intelligent enough to get the job.
These are all things that they want to hear when listening to a recording of your voice but if they don't hear them, then this will make them dismiss you out of hand.
There is nothing worse than getting your hopes up because you've listened to a sample of your voice and then finding out later that it's not what the job is looking for.
It's best to remember that it's not uncommon for hiring managers to be in contact with you throughout the process, so make sure that you keep them updated about any changes in life as things might come up. If there is any word or phrase that seems to crop up time and time again, then consider whether or not it will be something that will make an impact on the interview and if so, then whether or not it's something that would be a good idea to include.
Conclusion
All of the things discussed above are some of the key things that hiring managers will be looking out for when listening to a recording of your voice and if you can achieve all of these then there's a good chance that you'll get your job.
All of the mistakes that so many people make when applying for jobs are just down to not understanding how important it is to make sure that your voice is perfect to start with so that you don't have to change it.
If anyone can benefit from reading this article then it's managers looking for new speaking talent as this article covers everything they need to know in order to assess if someone will be suitable for their company.