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I was sitting in an airport lounge recently and overheard two young women lamenting about not getting call backs from job interviews. Listening to their conversation I could easily guess one big reason why they were not getting their foot in the door. It was not by what they were saying but by the credibility-killing vocal habit commonly used by too many women, and some men, age 40 and under: Ending every sentence with an upward inflection. What I mean by “upward” inflection is when the voice rises up at the end of a sentence and the speaker sounds like they are asking a question. Ending every sentence—or almost every sentence—with an upward inflection, gives the impression of uncertainty, and worse, immaturity. The speaker’s credibility immediately plummets. If you still are not sure you understand what I am talking about, listen to any of the Kardashian sisters speak. Almost every sentence they utter lifts up at the end. True, we do not seek, or expect, great words of wisdom to come from the Kardashians, but sounding like them, by using the same weak upward vocal inflection, sends the message, “I have nothing of substance to say.” The solution is simple: Practice using a downward inflection at the end of statements. You will sound more authoritative, confident, and credible. Of course, you have to back it up with substance, but sounding self-assured will get positive attention, whether interviewing for a job or trying to move up the ranks in your present position.
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