In a today's overly competitive job market, an applicant's speaking voice may make the difference in whether he or she gets hired or passed over.

"Do not underestimate the power of your speaking voice," says Renee Grant-Williams, expert voice coach to business professionals, political candidates and some of the recording industry's biggest stars. "The way your voice represents you is an essential part of the impression you make. During an interview, selling your presence is as important as selling your skills. It all comes down to what you communicate about yourself. "

"Clear audible projection and a strong voice are by-products of a strong presence," says Grant-Williams. "Using your entire body when you speak gives the impression that you are a person of substance and stand firmly behind what you say."

Grant-Williams offers five tips to help ensure that an applicant's voice is an asset during an interview:

1) Exercise. A short workout the morning of a big interview will get the blood flowing and increase that all-important energy and vitality.

2) Breathe. Take slow deep breaths before the interview. This helps to center the body, reduce stress, and keep the speaking voice steady and confident.

3) Be positive and enthusiastic. Everything discussed during the interview should be in a positive tone of voice. The prevailing vocal tone should register enthusiasm for learning more about the company, the position, and opportunities for advancement. When an applicant presents an upbeat attitude, it is difficult for the interviewer not to respond in kind.

4) Emphasize consonants. Use strong consonant sounds at the beginning of words that punch-up the positive aspects of all relevant qualifications and work history. For example, "That project was vvvery successful."

5) Pause for additional emphasis. Well-timed pauses give special emphasis to anything that is important for the interviewer to digest and remember.

Finally, Grant-Williams reminds job seekers that silence can be golden. "Demonstrate that you are comfortable with silence," says Grant-Williams. "Say what you need to say then quit talking. Don't volunteer information that is not requested unless you are absolutely sure it will advance your cause."

Voice coach Renee Grant-Williams presents communication skills programs and coaches business executives, sales professionals and celebrity singers including Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), Keith Urban, Christina Aguilera, Randy Travis, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), Martina McBride, and Huey Lewis. A professional speaker and NSA member, she is the author of "Voice Power: Using Your Voice to Captivate, Persuade, and Command Attention" (AMACOM, NY), which has been endorsed by Paul Harvey, was selected for the "Soundview Executive Book Summaries" program, and has been translated into Italian, Japanese, and Arabic. She created and taught a course in public speaking for the Barnes & Noble Online University.

Grant-Williams has written for or been quoted by: United Press Int'l, Associated Press, Business Week, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, New York Post and San Francisco Chronicle. Broadcast appearances include ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Bravo, Bloomberg, MTV, CMT, GAC, USA, BBC, PBS and NPR. Grant-Williams is a former voice instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as the former director of the Division of Vocal Music at the University of California, Berkeley.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Renee Grant-Williams, call 615-259-4900 or visit www.MyVoiceCoach.com/Media.html.