Speak up: The sound of your own voice is vital in job interviews

Do you cringe at the sound of your own voice? Well, get over it… especially if you're looking for a job. Love it or hate it, a new study says your voice may be your biggest asset at your next job interview.

The study, published in The Journal of Psychological Science, found that potential employers rated job seekers as “more competent, thoughtful, and intelligent” when they heard their pitches spoken-- instead of just reading them on paper. This was true even if what they were saying was identical to what was written.

Researchers from Chicago University’s Booth School of Business asked a group of MBA students to develop a short pitch to the company they wanted to work for most. Their pitches were both written and spoken. The evaluators who heard their pitches liked the candidates more and were more interested in hiring them. The research concluded that when it comes to conveying how intelligent you are, "it's important that one's voice, quite literally, be heard."

So yeah, that great resume of yours won't do the job on its own.

Anyone who’s ever misinterpreted a text can tell you that tone and inflection are key. It’s probably why emojis are so necessary in texts- one winky face changes everything. Unfortunately, you still can’t use those in a cover letter. (Well, you could... but we wouldn't recommend it.)

The lesson here: Big conversations should happen with words. If you have something important to say, SPEAK! Your voice makes you YOU-- and just might land you that dream job!