How To Sound More Confident During An Interview

By: Kacie Bail

For many introverted IT professionals or members of the English as a Second Language (ESL) community, interviews can be particularly daunting. The pressure to articulate your thoughts clearly, maintain a confident demeanor, and leave a lasting impression can be overwhelming. As someone who is naturally shy and introverted, I have faced these challenges head-on and emerged successfully with job offers from top consulting and software companies such as Accenture, Infosys, and Appian. One of the key strategies that helped me achieve this was practicing my interview answers out loud.

The Power of Practice: Benefits of Speaking Out Loud

Practicing your interview answers out loud might sound simple, but it can have a huge impact. When you verbalize your responses, you are doing more than just memorizing words. You are training yourself to communicate in a way that feels natural and confident during the actual interview. This method allows you to:

1. Measure the Timing of Your Answers: By speaking out loud, you can gauge how long your responses are. This is crucial because interviewers often have a limited amount of time, and you want to make sure you are concise yet thorough enough to fully answer the questions. Based on my experience, I would aim for answers between 60 and 90 seconds, with 2 minutes being the absolute maximum. 

2. Control the Tone and Pace of Your Voice: Your tone and pace significantly impact how your message is received. Speaking too quickly can make you seem nervous, while a monotonous tone can make you appear disinterested. By practicing out loud, you can experiment with different tones and paces, finding the right combination that conveys both confidence and enthusiasm.

3. Improve Your Breathing: Proper breathing is essential for maintaining a steady voice and reducing anxiety. When you practice speaking out loud, you become more aware of your breathing rhythm and can make adjustments where it’s needed. If you notice your voice is still shaking or you’re running out of air at the end of sentences, you can try taking deeper breaths and projecting your voice more. This simple change can help you sound more confident and in control.

4. Enhance Sentence Flow: During an interview, your answers need to flow seamlessly from one point to the next. Practicing out loud helps you identify any awkward transitions or clunky phrases in your answers. This enables you to refine your responses and make them sound smoother and more coherent.

5. Simplify Your Language: If you find certain parts of your answers are difficult to remember or articulate, try simplifying your word choices. The goal is to convey your message clearly and confidently, so use words and phrases that come naturally to you.

Remember, confidence comes from preparation and practice. The more you rehearse, the more comfortable you will become with your answers, and the more natural and confident you will appear during the interview. Therefore, prioritize practicing your answers out loud during your job interview preparation until you feel comfortable answering any of the questions you prepared for on the spot and let your confidence shine through!

Your Dedicated Career Coach,

—Kacie

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