Is my speech an issue?

BigPhil

I have been working in construction for most if my working life but last summer I had to pack it in because of a back injury. I am 33 years of and I have some experience working with computers as I did some PC repairs and temp admin work for some of the construction companies offices in the past as well as picking up some industry certs along the way.

So here is my problem. I have a stammer. It is not that bad, but in an interview situation I fall to pieces. I recently have had a few interviews and have stammered quit abit in them. I always take a positive outlook and make sure that I smile, make eye contact at all times and be as confident as possible. I always start by mentioning my stammer and I can always feel the uneasy tension build in the room. As soon as the questions start and I begin to answer the people that are interview me look at me like I have three heads or something, so I felt about 2 feet tall. Anyway, I always do my best and ask questions at the end etc. but I never get the job.

Is my speech that much of an issue? Are employers judging me just on a speech impediment? I mean, I never go for jobs that I don't think I could do and I think that I have the knowledge to do well in IT. I just need to be given a chance. It's hard, but I'll keep plugging away. I just want to hear people's thoughts on this.

Slow Motion

OP If the interview you are going for is conducted by professionals your speech should not be an issue, so chances are that is not the reason, if they aren't pros then you probably wouldn't want to work for them anyway. Secondly if it were me (and I know that's easy to say) I wouldn't say anything about it before hand as it might come accross as a lack of selfconfidence that you are explaining yourself even before the interview starts. Say nothing and let them find out on their own. And best of luck with the hunt, it's never easy to switch careers (I speak from personal experience on that one):)

little lady

IMO your stammer shouldn’t be a problem, I work with a guy who has a really bad stammer but it didn’t stop him getting the job, and no one pays any attention to it.

As Slow Motion said I wouldn’t mention it at the start of the interview, it shouldn’t be a big deal to them or to you and not mentioning it will show that to them.

Cancer-chick

OP i def would not mention stammer from the outset.

Best to let prospective employer see your skills and personality .. If they notice they will register it and move on! But if you mention it without having built up a rapport with them then it could be perceived wrongly and be the 'elephant' in the room..

PS my brother had a stammer and took a course which actually got it under control and is apparently amazing (Dont laugh but i read Gareth Gates took same and cured what was a pretty severe stammer)

If it is stopping you moving forward might be worth researching ..

Good luck

bman

I doubt the stammer is having any effect on their decision.

BigPhil wrote:

As soon as the questions start and I begin to answer the people that are interview me look at me like I have three heads or something, so I felt about 2 feet tall.

This is most likely in your head. You are probably getting way too stressed out over the interview before it happens. Just try your best, and if it doesn't work out then theres plenty more jobs out there. Not worth getting into a ball of knots over.

Cancer-chick

bman i was'nt saying that stammer was holding op back ..

Just that if he felt conscious of it might be worth looking into therapy

hallelujah

My friend has a stammer and got a job in IT no problem. He recently went for another IT job and got the job, no problems. Potential employers will assess your ability to do the job, nothing else. Employers who dont do this aren't worth working for IMO.

BigPhil

Thanks all for your replies

I feel better knowing that it seems to be just me that thinks that my stammer is hurting my employment prospects. It is also great to hear that there are other people with stammers working in IT and getting jobs without too many problems.

I just hate when I see 'Excellent Communication Skills Are Essential' in most job ads. Makes me feel like I'm taking a risk applying for some reason :rolleyes:

Anyway, thanks again and I'll let you know how I get on at my next interview.

Cancer-chick

Im facing back to full time work after a year and a half out having treatment for cancer .. not exactly what prospective emps want to hear !! ..

If they dont hire you you dont need them .. You will be fine.. Go forth and prosper

LegacyUser

BigPhil wrote:

Thanks all for your replies

I feel better knowing that it seems to be just me that thinks that my stammer is hurting my employment prospects. It is also great to hear that there are other people with stammers working in IT and getting jobs without too many problems.

I just hate when I see 'Excellent Communication Skills Are Essential' in most job ads. Makes me feel like I'm taking a risk applying for some reason :rolleyes:

Anyway, thanks again and I'll let you know how I get on at my next interview.

One thing. Dont ever apologise if you find yourself stammering - its nothing to apologise for!!!

Slow Motion

BigPhil wrote:

Thanks all for your replies

I just hate when I see 'Excellent Communication Skills Are Essential' in most job ads. Makes me feel like I'm taking a risk applying for some reason :rolleyes:

Don't worry about this AT ALL it's a stock phrase used when writing a job spec, and communication refers to your ability to express yourself, which in your case just means it might take a little longer to get your point across, and communication doesn't always have to be verbal, your original post being a case in point Seems to me you communicate quite well Again good luck

MarkR

I work in IT and the director of the company has a stammer. I don't think anyone makes an issue of it these days. It's not like you're going for a job as an auctioneer!

Don't mention it before hand, if you feel you must leave it to the very end when you are thanking them.

dublad23

Hi Phil

I would have a slight stammer aswell in day to day life and I know exactly how you feel about interviews.

I would be the exact same in where my stammer would go from mild to Severe.

I have to disagree with people saying that you shouldn't reveal your a stammerer.

I done the McGuire Course which a poster already mentioned and while it does help you need to work hard at it - It's mainly to do with your breathing technique.

They do recommend that if you feel unsure about a situation that you admit to being a stammerer or having a stammer.

I spoke to a HR Employer before on this matter - he is a friend of mine so his advise would be honest and although nobody would admit that it mattered in a lot of cases if the stammer is very severe in the interview they would probably give it to the next person if they had the same qualities.

I know it sucks believe me I have had a lot of knock backs but just get up and go at it again. You will get a job!

luckat

Sure it's an issue at an interview, because people doing interviews - the interviewers as well as the interviewees - are feeling shy and nervous.

But you can do what you can to relax everyone by smiling and being friendly, and not showing it if you feel tense about this.

Look at Proinsias De Rossa speaking in the Dail - he gets his point across perfectly.

If you stutter on a particular letter or group of letters, it might be an idea to work out what people are going to ask you and learn the answers by heart - answers that are expressed without those letters - and learn to say them with a friendly, appropriate manner.

dublad23

I wouldn't go down the road of avoiding letters although I did do this for so long.

It's all about being articulate and taking your time, breathing and having a glass of water by your side.

It does help believe me!

We should have no shame in being a stammerer but first impressions do count and you have to make the best out of those 30 mins! Just look at it as if you are speaking to your friends, rehearse your answers and know what your going to say!

You will be grand Phil - Positive thinking"!

BigPhil

dublad23 wrote:

I spoke to a HR Employer before on this matter - he is a friend of mine so his advise would be honest and although nobody would admit that it mattered in a lot of cases if the stammer is very severe in the interview they would probably give it to the next person if they had the same qualities.

This was the sort of think that was playing on my mind, particularly because I was told more then once by the recruitment agency that there were only 3 people including myself interviewing for a particular role. I mean, if it boils down to picking somebody very similar to me, but that person speaks fluently then they will most likely go for them over me.

But I cannot let this negative stuff get me down. The example of Proinsias De Rossa was a good one, his stammer never stopped him reaching his goals and hopefully I can take a leaf out of his book. I just need to be given a chance

Thank you all again for your input. It is much appreciated.

Oriel

I have a stutter too, but it's never been a problem for me in job situations. I mean, an inconvenience, but nothing more.
The important thing is to remember to smile, that's the difference between having a slight stutter and looking like a bumbling fool.

ILMF, you have no idea what you are talking about.

penexpers

I have a stammer too. It used to be pretty bad but it's getting better as time goes on. I've worked in alot of customer facing roles and it's never been an issue for employers.

bendaco

put mcguire / breathing skills & and the rest of the charlatan cures to one side for a second...

i am in retail management, working up to there from sales on the floor - i learned a few years ago that its self confidence/belief that got me that position. it still happens to me, im still in the job after an interview for a sales job where i could barely get a word out 6 years ago.........dont think about it - think of what do you do best, put your stammer to one side, and focus on your positives, it will serve you better than worrying about how you say it - its what you say that makes the difference

McGinty

I can't answer your question, but thought you would like to hear this but one of our english lecturers in UCD has a stammer, and for each new class she tells us she has a stammer, she has managed it as best she can, but she also made a joke that we can keep up with her for notekeeping, I know it may not help in terms of finding a job, but lecturing is one of the most public jobs so just thought I'd share

ILMF

Good Luck in the interview, Phil!

Chinafoot

McGinty wrote:

I can't answer your question, but thought you would like to hear this but one of our english lecturers in UCD has a stammer, and for each new class she tells us she has a stammer, she has managed it as best she can, but she also made a joke that we can keep up with her for notekeeping, I know it may not help in terms of finding a job, but lecturing is one of the most public jobs so just thought I'd share

She's an excellent lecturer and wonderful to listen to, very soothing voice. When I had her there were very few instances when she stammered and when she did she recovered very quickly.

Phil, don't be disheartened. Like McGinty said, this woman has a very public job where she stands in front of anywhere up to 400 students and speaks for 50 minutes straight.

Be confident when you walk in for an interview and remember that they called you for there on the basis of your CV and it shows that they're interested in what you can do. I would agree with those who said you should mention your stammer at the beginning of the interview and be confident with that too, make no apologies.

Best of luck with the job hunt.

Talliesin

Say at the beginning, "I have a bit of a stammer, so you'll have to bear with me".

If you're going for an IT position then you're dealing with people who are already used to having to be patient in interviews because it's not like we can fill those jobs solely with people who have English as their first language; compared to which a stammer is nothing in terms of what we really care about - working out if you're likely to be good at the job and fit into the company.

leahcim

I have a stammer as well.

If I were going for a job interview I would not start by saying I have a stammer.

Many interviewers may not give a sh1te whether you have a stammer or not.
But you opening the interview by saying you have one would likely make them think that it may be a problem. Why else would you be bringing it to their attention.

The thing with interviews it is vital you are extremly positive. If you have a stammer so what. Dont even mention it. If they ask you about it. Just talk about how it has not affected you in previous jobs and mention specific things you have done that involved speaking (meeting customers, public speaking in college etc). As a pervious poster pointed out make sure you dont apologise if you do stammer.

BTW I am a computer programmer and when they mention communication skills in job specs it is usually related to your ability to explain problems and solutions effectively not how well you speak.

Best of luck in your interview.

r3nu4l

Hiya Phil,

As someone who has interviewed someone with a stammer I have to say that it was no big deal to me at all. The guy didn't mention that he had a stammer because it was obvious as soon as the interview started.

I would say that there is no need to mention it as you never heard of a black guy sitting down in an interview chair and saying "by the way, before we start, I'm black!" It will become clear as time passes or even in the first few seconds.

I don't really have any tips except to say that you should be yourself. The only instance I can see where a stammer would go against you is in a job as a sales rep or in a call centre. I'm highly qualified with a good CV but at one stage in my career it took me 15 months to get a new job because various factors went against me at the time. Hang in there and keep plugging away. The stammer shouldn't be a problem to any intelligent interviewer and as has already been said, if it is a problem for someone then you really shouldn't want to work in that type of place!

Clarehobo

BigPhil wrote:

This was the sort of think that was playing on my mind, particularly because I was told more then once by the recruitment agency that there were only 3 people including myself interviewing for a particular role. I mean, if it boils down to picking somebody very similar to me, but that person speaks fluently then they will most likely go for them over me.

But I cannot let this negative stuff get me down. The example of Proinsias De Rossa was a good one, his stammer never stopped him reaching his goals and hopefully I can take a leaf out of his book. I just need to be given a chance

Thank you all again for your input. It is much appreciated.

Phil,

One thing you should consider is asking the agencies who put you across for feedback after the interviews. They should be getting feedback from the employers and it really can't hurt to know where you're falling down.
All criticism does is help you improve your prospects by acknowledging your failings and tackling them.

Don't worry about this AT ALL it's a stock phrase used when writing a job spec, and communication refers to your ability to express yourself, which in your case just means it might take a little longer to get your point across, and communication doesn't always have to be verbal, your original post being a case in point Seems to me you communicate quite well

Slowmotion is quite right: I work in IT & it is a case of being able to express yourself.
When it comes to support, it's the ability of breaking things into lay mans terms to carry out troubleshooting with users or explaining issues to management in such a way as they can understand the fault.

Good luck with the job hunting Phil: it's a bit of a long process but when you get the right job it'll be worth it;)

Talliesin

leahcim wrote:

If I were going for a job interview I would not start by saying I have a stammer.

Yep. My thinking had been that it can be as well, if something is causing you difficulties in doing something, to just say what that issue was. Since you could stammer doing that too, there's hardly much point though.

Really, I wouldn't give a damn if someone stammered for that sort of job.

BobTheBeat

Best of luck Phil. Be confident in your abilities and experience and allow these to shine through as best you can! Your time will come eventually

BigPhil

Thanks for all the replies.

One of the main things that I have noticed is that most people have said that I should not mention that I stammer at the start of the interview. I usually do mention it, mainly because I have done quite abit of research about interviews on the internet and most 'experts' say that it is important to mention that you stammer right from the get go. I have mixed feelings about this, I would prefer not to mention it like you guys have suggested but then again when the interview starts with a typically question like: 'Tell me about yourself', I dread to see the surprised faces of the interviewers when they first hear me stammer.

It's a tricky one, because a job interview is perhaps the single most difficult speaking situation people who stammer will encounter, but you have to sell yourself just as well as the other candidates that have applied for the same position. I guess that it is just down to the attitude of the people that are interviewing you, as people have said if they are professional then it shouldn't matter (I would hope so anyway).

Anyway, thanks again for all the replies It's been really great to read other peoples opinions on this matter.

Phil

LegacyUser

I wouldn't worry about it too much Phil. I think that employers are looking for the qualities that they see on your cv first and foremost and the fact that you stammer should not even come into the equation (if it does then I think that is discrimination anyway?).

It is entirety upto you if you want to mention about your stammer at the start of the interview or not. Some people might see this as a sign of confidence, that you are comfortable and open about your speech. But then again some others might think that if you mention it then it could be a problem for you, which could in turn be a problem for them.

I know most people hate going to interviews, but for people who stammer it must be much, much worse. Just be positive and smile and hopefully you will get an open minded interviewer he will focus on your other qualities. Good luck!

sadie9

Hi Phil, I have a stammer also (quite a few of us out there). I would definitely mention it at the beginning of the interview also. It means you are not trying to hide it, and gives the interviewers the message that it's okay to talk about it and that you are ok with it. There are some good courses now for adult stammerers see www.stammeringireland.ie as well as a support group in Dublin which is very active and meets twice a month. I worked for a major multinational IT company for years, some of that spent as a manager, before I gave up to look after the kids. As someone who has interviewed people before I would say that someone who comes across as self-aware, and has quiet self belief in their skills and abilities is a big plus in a candidate. Some of the most important lessons and insights about yourself came from having a stammer, and it helped make you the great person you are today!!!

crazy2000

you should try and focus on your positives instead of your negatives. by doing this your are getting across all the good things about you and leaving the negatives behind.. focusing on the positives allows the negatives to seem so small for anyone to take notice.

Zillah

Have you tried a speech therapist? A friend of mine had a stammer all his life and then it virtually vanished over the course of about a year. You could tell he still had it, but he handled it so much better that you'd barely even notice it.

Kell

BigPhil wrote:

I just hate when I see 'Excellent Communication Skills Are Essential' in most job ads. Makes me feel like I'm taking a risk applying for some reason :rolleyes:

Dont. What most are saying is "we dont want foreigners who have difficulty in communicating in English with our customers". While not directly involved, I see it every day.

Anyway, back to the original topic- have you questioned your interview style as opposed to your stammer? Nerves can make you answer a question immediately and without thinking, which is a bad thing to do.

At the next interview, pause before you answer a question. It a) gives you time to compose your thoughts which will probably be delivered with less of a stammer because you are confident in what you are saying and b) imparts to the interviewer an impression that you are taking due care about what you are saying.

Skills and experience are one thing. Interviews are won and lost on how you behave in an interview. Consciously watch what your body language is doing. If your hands are locked, unlock them and put them flat on the table/knee. If your arms are crossed, uncross them and do a Monty Burnes with your fingers (without the drumming action). If you are sat forward and uncomfortable looking, sit back and put your legs out straight under the table.

Gesticulate and embellish. All these things come across as you being confident and from an employers point of view, if you are confident and comfortable at an interview, you must rock in real life. Also, for the next interview, prep your áss off about who they are and what you can offer them, and afterward ask yourself if you could have done anything different. Prep really counts and impresses the pants off them.

K-

Slow Motion

Kell wrote:

Also, for the next interview, prep your áss off about who they are and what you can offer them, and afterward ask yourself if you could have done anything different. Prep really counts and impresses the pants off them.

K-

This is quite important (Actually I agree with all of what you said K) but preparation is the key, get one of your best mates to sit down with you (over a pint if you like) and get him to interview you, asking all the hard questions and then to give you feedback on what he observed, how you sat, how long you talked for on a given question, did you explain yourself well etc. It might feel a bit silly to begin with but believe me it helps, I have always done this before an interview.:)

Mini

just because you have a stammer who says you don't have excelletn communication skills.

what does that statement mean exactly ?

does it mean someone who can communicate what they want concisely and to the point and not waffle !

Or does it mean someone who can communicate without a stammer.

IMO it is the first one - stammer or no stammer it does not make a difference. you have said that you are going for a job in IT and to be honest I didn't read the whole thread to discover what type of job, but no matter what I can't see the problem with having a stammer.

If it makes you feel better to mention at the start of the interview that you have a stammer then do so, but ya know what - try not saying it for one or two interviews and see how you go.

I dont' have a stammer but i find if i tell ppl in an interview situation or whatever that I am nervous - then my nerves treble. But if i try and suppress it i am ok still nervous just not as nervous.

I think what you need to remember is that everyone is different. You need to find your own comfort zone in interviews.

Once you have that you will be fine.

best of luck

BigPhil

Thanks again for your post folks

Kell wrote:

Skills and experience are one thing. Interviews are won and lost on how you behave in an interview.

This is one of the main problems for a person that stammers. Because you stammer in an interview it does not necessarily mean that you will stammer on the job. When I worked in construction, a few people that I worked/dealt with didn't even know I had a stammer, mainly because I only spoke to them for short periods at a time, so I was fine. But in an interview situation where you are expected to speak at length and under pressure, that's where my stammer becomes very evident, and maybe the interviewer thinks that this is what I speak like all of the time?

To answer another point that was made about prep, I always try to prepare absolutely throughly by researching about the company, going over the specs of the role with a fine tooth comb, practicing answering common questions that usually come up, etc. I also make sure I look the part and always wear a nice suit and polished shoes. In the interview I always smile, keep eye contact and think positively, even when I am struggling to get an answer out. In my own mind I am sure that I have all of the bases covered, I might be wrong of course.

Anyway, I am still unemployed as I write this so it is obvious to me that I am doing something wrong, but I just cannot think what? I still have the feeling that my speech must be having a negative impact on interviewers even though the posts on this thread suggest otherwise. I suppose all I can really do is keep plugging away, do my best and hopefully I will get a break

Thanks again,

Phil

LegacyUser

'I have a stammer too and I know what you means. I dread interviews aswell, they can be very frustrating and quite frankly, very embarrassing. It is hard because the strangers that are standing between you and employment are most likely going to judge you on something that you cannot really control. Like somebody else said on this board, if HR have to decide between a person with a stammer and a fluent person, they will go with the person that speaks fluently nearly everytime. So the odds are servilely against us unfortunately All we can do is get back on the horse and hope for some much needed luck.'