Why faking posh won't land you the job

WE'VE heard of faking a CV to land a dream job, but some candidates are now resorting to putting on a posh accent or changing the way they speak to get noticed.

CV

WE'VE heard of faking a CV to land a dream job, but some candidates are now resorting to putting on a posh accent or changing the way they speak to get noticed.

However, changing the way you speak is not only misleading but can also do more harm than good for your career, a leading recruitment agency has warned.

The warning comes as new research reveals one in five people admitted to deliberately changing their accent or the way they speak to be understood or to sound better in situations such as job interviews.

The survey of 1000 people in the UK found 22 per cent of people had changed their natural accent, with eight per cent admitting to putting on a posh accent to make themselves sound more sophisticated, the Daily Mail reports.

Others have also toned down the way they speak, with four per cent changing the way they talk to sound less posh.

But general manager of Randstad’s HR consulting and recruitment division Adrianna Loveday warns faking an accent will only end one way - badly.

Ms Loveday, a workplace psychologist, admits certain accents can trigger certain stereotypes about education and background.

"Accents do shape our perception of people more than a person's looks," she said.

"Some people do put accents on during interviews because they're trying to put their best foot forward, but this is disingenuous and will eventually be discovered."

She said some job hunters may be concerned about sounding too ocker and may try to sound posh to come across as more sophisticated.

Ms Loveday also admitted some candidates may hide their ethnic accents for fear of negative stereotypes.

"There is a perception that the ocker accent, for example, is associated with lower intelligence," she said.

"But my advice to people is be authentic and true to yourself - don't fake an accent. Watching your body language, having good etiquette and knowing the organisation you're wanting to work for is much more preferable to faking an accent."

It seems changing the way we speak isn’t the only length job hunters will go to in order to land their dream role.

Some candidates have resorted to showy tactics including bringing coffee and donuts along to an interview and sending an ill hiring manager a get well card.