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10 Jun, 2018

How to Sound Professional during Your Internship

The fact that you’re an intern doesn’t omit the law that it’s important to behave “professionally” in the workplace. Being professional is vital if you want to get ahead, be taken seriously, and have your boss think of you as an asset to the team. It’s not only about doing your job well but it can also from the way you speak. Luckily, there are ways you can consciously learn to sound professional during your internship.

Image source: carolinarecruitment.com

Slow down

No need to talk too fast. It will be hard for the other person to understand what you’re saying. It will also make you look like you’re in a rush and want to finish the conversation as fast as possible. One easy way to sound professional during your internship is to slow down. Take your time. Let each word sink in and resonate with the listener. Slowing your words down will often instantly make people tune in to what you’re saying.

Get rid of fillers

Do you find yourself often use “Like,” “Umm,” “You know,” “Well,” “I mean,” or other similar things? Most people do as a matter of habit or nervousness, but know that fillers can damage the confident tone you’re trying to strike. Using filler words will make you sound unsure, inarticulate, even unconfident. Make an effort to not say these words to sound professional during your internship.

Don’t Fear the Pause

Pausing is not dead-airing. Letting a few seconds elapse when you normally would have jammed in an um or ah is not the end of the world. In fact, it can help your listener sit up and take notice. It will make the words ‘around’ each pause sound that much more well thought out and weighty.

Have Some Good Posture

No one looks like the picture of professionalism when they slouch. Sit up straight at your desk, and stride around the office with confidence. Holding your head high and rolling your shoulders back won’t just make you look confident; it will improve the sound of your voice as well. So to maximize the power of your voice, sit, or stand up straight and take a deep breath.

Use your hands

The body language that accompanies your message is just as important as the words coming out of your mouth. People will perceive you to have more positive traits such as warmth and energy when they use a variety of gestures. While some physical gestures, such as fiddling with clothing or touching hair, can distract or convey a lack of confidence, using your hands when you speak is a great way to communicate your excitement and knowledge about the topic.

Be Sure

Be sure you know what a word means before you throw it out there. Using words incorrectly can be a major turn off for most people. So, if you aren’t 100% sure you know the meaning of a word or common phrase, don’t risk it. Don’t say it.