3 Job Interview Tips for Those Who Stutter

Interviewing for a new job is like standing naked in front of a total stranger. Your professional life is fully exposed and you have to share stories from your past jobs with a stranger, knowing you are being judged by every word you say. “Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss.” “Tell me a time when you failed.” The adrenaline is coursing through your body and your stress level is on overload!

For people who have a verbal stutter, the stress level can be compounded. The stress alone can exacerbate the stutter. Is the hiring manager really listening to what you say? Will he/she question if you can do the job simply because you have a stutter?

A recent study found that people who stutter may be more likely to be discriminated against when interviewing for jobs. The Stuttering Foundation cites that, “More than 70 million people worldwide stutter, which is about 1% of the population. In the United States, that’s over 3 million Americans who stutter.” In the United States, stuttering is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

With any job interview, preparation is the key to success. Companies want to hire people who demonstrate such things as dependability, talent, honesty, and the ability to fit within the company culture. Job interviews are structured to measure a person’s capability, problem-solving skills, and behavioral competencies. So how you prepare to exhibit these attributes is crucial!

Below are 3 job interview tips for people who stutter:

1. Introduce your stutter

During the job interview, it can be helpful to introduce your stutter when you first stutter. You can say something like, “As you can tell, I have a stutter. That is why I have some repetitions or hesitations when I speak. My stutter does not and has never interfered with my work.” Being confident and open about your stutter makes everyone more comfortable while taking the pressure off of you.

You may even want to ask the hiring manager if they have any questions regarding stuttering. Tell them you’d be happy to speak to them and answer their questions. This statement could help you come across as confident, helpful, charismatic, and fearless.

2. Describe your communication skills

If you are asked questions during the job interview regarding your strengths and weaknesses, or how you’ve previously dealt with a personal challenge, you may choose to mention your stutter and how you’ve worked diligently to clearly communicate with your team members. Let the hiring manager know if you have used any speech therapy programs or even Toastmasters to learn techniques to better communicate and master any fear of making presentations or public speaking.

3. Memorize your answers

Try memorizing answers to common job interview questions. Some people who stutter have revealed that memorizing the material keeps them from stuttering when they repeat it. This could be especially helpful during job interviews when you’ll need to answer common questions like, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

Job candidates who stutter have to do what is right for them. As yoga teachers like to say, “You do you!" If you choose to discuss it or not is your personal decision. Some people who stutter feel they have an advantage because on top of their qualifications for the job, they feel that they will be a memorable candidate and less likely to be lost within the sea of job applicants.

It is extremely important for employers to see beyond the stutter to the talents and abilities of the job candidate. Hiring managers should listen to what is being said by the candidates, not how it’s being said.

I offer a free ½ hour introductory job interview coaching session. Contact me today to prepare for your tomorrow!